Unexpected Christmas present wins

[SilverGlassHare]

There was a thread a couple of years back where people posted their unexpectedly brilliant present wins - it was quite heartwarming so I wondered if anyone had any this year? I do - we got DS these tiny rubbery creepy crawly tentacle things you chuck at a wall and they slowly roll down, as a stocking filler, and he’s been playing with them all morning - the greens and yellows are zombies and the others are the goodies apparently - there has been much monologue-ing! He’s barely touched anything else 😂😂😂

DD2 bought herself, her twin brother, DD1 and DH, me and the dog all matching fleecy headbands with big sticky-up Shrek ears. Apart from the dog who hated it, we wore them all day.

This is an ad for the headbands (none of us - definitely not the dog. She wasn’t smiling.)

I made DS(14) a game from scraps in my sewing box. It's fold up version of Nine Men's Morris, with the lines drawn on to a piece of cloth with marker pen, button for counters, his initials stitched onto the board, all in little canvas bag i found in the Christmas deca box (I was about tho make one from a tea towel). He's played it for hours with whoever he could get to play with him.

This is always my favourite Christmas thread 🙂

Agree, lovely thread.

What does the plasma ball do and is it safe? It's dd's birthday next week and this could be right up her street. Where do I get one from?

Unexpected successs this year: Hoody with fleece lining for dh, National Geographic book for ds, squishy cushion for dd who says it's the best xmas present ever.

I bought myself a shower curtain liner and I love it. I love my shower curtain but it gets soaked and never seems to dry out and then gets that pink algae bloom. Now it looks just the same but it stays bone dry. It arrived Christmas Eve, cost £6 and it's made my Christmas.

Maybe it doesn't count as I bought it for myself.

Adding origami post it notes & the cat book to next years list. Thank you

The 8yo got the educational version of Minecraft. I wasn't sure about it as it wasn't wrap-able and she hasn't shown a huge interest in videogames or Minecraft to date (she'll play but never for long, and doesn't badger for more time), but DH was keen. I can see battles over screen time ensuing in the coming weeks as she's clearly hooked already. Another surprise win was a levitating Harry Potter wand pen. It has been kept next to her all day.

6yo DD2's biggest hit has been the bundle of knock off Barbie clothes I bought from Amazon. She spent hours playing with them yesterday.

Interesting so many said highlighters - these were on both DCs' lists too this year. They are coming from family we'll see today, and are much anticipated.

Clay beads set for 10yr DD only £7.99 and she was busy making bracelets for everyone all day

Also Herd Mentality and What do you Meme Family games both went down well

A few from other years:

• nail clippers! I always used to moan at ds for borrowing mine and not returning them.. he bought me a wee set with large and small clippers in a metal box.. they still make me smile every time I use them.
• digital scales. My ex was terrible at choosing gifts (think really bad QVC style yellow gold jewellery, made worse that I only wear silver metal, those make up kits you used to get in Argos with the sixty eyeshadow colours and some dodgy lipsticks that all give you a rash..) but he actually listened to the thing I wanted that year! He’s long gone, but I still use the scales 😂

DD didn't get on with Airpods so I bought both DC much cheaper alternatives (rave reviews generally). After initially being a bit sniffy about them, they've both decided the sound quality (and external noise cancelling benefits) is excellent.

DS loves his bottle of bloody Prime! Stupid stuff and not sure what the obsession is but he was thrilled to get some in his stocking

www.bookwiseonline.co.uk/paperscapes--the-cat---the-book-that-transforms-into-a-work-of-art-15257-p.asp?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsb7pmp2X_AIVD4BQBh26ygAlEAQYAiABEgKFKPD_BwE

the range is called paperscapes and there are dog ones, plants, nutcracker, cities it’s been such a hit I’ll definitely look at others for her

Magic 8 ball and Slingshot. The former was a last minute purchase to even up the number of presents in their stockings. Most of the other gifts in them were really carefully thought through and planned, but it was the impulse buy that won through.

Slingshot was actually a gift to DH and I from my brother. We've all loved it and spent ages playing.

the big ticket presents have barely been touched, but I think they will have great longevity.

Just turned 3yo has played her magnetic fishing game from Flying Tiger most of yesterday and today!
It's a self tidying toy (we told her the game was to catch the fish and out then in the tin...) Perfect lol

flyingtiger.com//products/fishing-fun-3007799?currency=gbp

Which ones did you get and where from?