83 days ... the countdown is on!

[themaskedposter]

FGS

It is only just October !

so how much u all spending on your kids then! lol.

sad f**kers

You are a one and no mistake themaskedposter
Talk about an expert and observant lurker...!

got my cards all written and ready to go. Have most of dd's presents on layby so they are taken care of - just need to buy for rest of family and overseas family.

SPent more than I did. Have huge toy sales here with fab bargains - July/August and you can layby them until Christmas eve - so great specials and paying them off at $5 a week - BARGAIN.

very busy time for us in the lead up to Christmas - so like to be prepared. ALso our summer holidays then so need to get cards etc out early Dec before people go away. Need to get cracking with making presents.

That way do not need to go out - however many weeks preggers in the stifling summer heat fighting moany paretns and whingy kids.

ahhhh - marina ... I have stopped my week of lurking and have been trying to forge a place in MN for myself over the last ooooo, I don't know, about 72 hours .... I will be around for quite a while, this is FAR too much fun not to!!!

but batters - I have a 4yo with sn and a 2yo - not get much time to myself to do the shopping, card writing etc so gotta do it when I can. Getting out to do things is not easy.

I did mine at the weekend. Both Ds's were away for the weekend so I could go and do it. I have the added problem of having a Xmas baby and dd's birthday before so I need to think about what to get in advance.
Presents were all sorted in to ds1 xmas pile, ds2 xmas and birthday piles and dd xmas and birthday piles. We also have a party for 6 kids coming up in November so I had to buy for them. Haven't done dh or any other family, thats December for them. As for cards, well they go last thing.

Only cause I managed to get all I wanted to at the toy sales are the girls presents organised ( and 1 neice's) still have everyone else to do but will start doing it bit by bit over the next few weeks.

I have sn teacher and 2 aides, kindy teacher and 2 aides to be done by start of Dec - ready for school break up. Inlaws bits and pieces to send to the UK.

When working - always did it first week of holidays - mid Dec so just gone other way now.

[panic]
3 birthdays before xmas including dd1
Xmas
5 birthdays after xmas

IT'S THE 2ND OF OCTOBER!!!

Have stocking fillers done (I gather little things all year round). Got 3 dds and no shopping time on my own (dh working abroad most of time till Christmas) but as to specific presents, if I bought them now I'd be worried that the dds would change their minds (tut, women eh?). Can't bear the thought of disappointment round the tree...

done it all but dd bday is actually on xmas day so it would be really expensive to do it all in one go so we have done it all over the past couple of months, next month i will get all the frozen food so in dec i can concentrate on sorting out dd birthday party

looove Christmas! Christmasy things are starting to appear in the shops. Haven't done any shopping etc but only have dh, my kids and niece and nephews to get. Already starting to ponder what colour theme to go with on the Christmas tree this year. Loooove Christmas.

Have been thinking a lot about it.

Have set on little people stuff for the girls as well as a DVD for Jess and a new outfit for Rebecca.

My nieces are getting money sent to their mum and dad because i am at a loss as to what to buy them, same with my little cousins.

PIL's - not got a clue - some random crap i pick up in a shop no doubt.

SIL/BIL - We dont bother as buy for the girls.

Bro/SIL - vouchers i reckon - what do you you buy the couple who buy whatever they want?! They both have over £600 a month to spend on themselves once bills etc are paid so they can go choose their own!!

My dad - The Da Vinci Code on DVD - £13.99 pre-ordered on play.com

My grandparents - photobox calander of the girls
DH's Gran - as above
My aunt and uncle - as above

DH - dont get me started - he refuses to want anything and insists he only wants a card (is saying the same for his birthday which is sunday) and doing my head in lol

go christmas...go christmas...

I LOVE it too!!! It is a bit early for me yet though.....november I get all excited.

Have started collecting tree decorations though, have decided to just have a whole selection of different colours this year. Fed up with themes, have done silver and black, silver and purple and last year gold and red.

Am making my cake at the weekend too.

If anyone in your family is cynical about Christmas
buy them this

I have been looking around for stuff but haven't really had any ideas yet. Have some small stuff but no ideas for big stuff for kids or anyone else really.
What can I get for my grandad????? he is just about blind, doesn't eat much,not interested in tv,or talking books

Last 2 years have got my Mam vouchers for 'treats' and she hasn't used them yet what can I get her?????

nikkie - does your mam go to the cinema or theatre?? Perhaps you could get her vouchers for those. Not sure about your Grandad though. Grandparents are hard as they have everything already. New socks?? .

No prpoer theatre locally and she never goes to the cinema.last year I got her a spa day and she never used it, got mam and dad flights one year and they had to use them.Grandad is awful to buy for especially as he really spoils me and kids but never needs/wants anything, people buy himclothes but he only wears the old ones.