What Was Your Favorite Gift This Year? Fun Question...

My family adopted a newly single (divorced) mom with two daughters this year and gave her close to $600 for her holiday. It was life-changing for her this season.

I don't get to see my little 19-month-old granddaughter very much and she doesn't want anyone except my son or her mother to hold her when we all get together. We were at a family holiday gathering (her mom was holding her) and getting ready to leave. She leaned toward me, reached out, and caressed my cheek twice, said, "gramma," and leaned for a kiss. It just warmed my heart and thinking about it makes me happy because I love her so much.

My husband handed me a little blue box from Tiffany's and I nearly passed out! He bought me a pretty silver necklace with two little key pendants. Normally I am very practical (I would seriously not be offended if he bought me a vacuum or blender or something), so it was a nice surprise to get something unexpected and pretty that I'd never have bought for myself. We finally dug ourselves out of debt this year after struggling and scrimping for years, so it was nice to have an "anguish-free" Christmas (as my SIL put it). LOL

Congrats on your engagement! What a wonderful Christmas gift!!

My favorite part of Christmas, We bought presents for a struggling single mother and her daughter and singed Santa on them, then we snuck them under their Christmas tree when they were not home. They were so surprised and have no idea who did it. They loved all the presents and the mother and daughter told me that it was the best Christmas they ever had!

My favorite part is right now because I am home relaxing on the couch not doing a thing. My hubby took our daughter and went off to his family's after our Xmas morning (which was awesome) so I could get some much needed rest. Been having some complications with my second pregnancy and really just needed to nap with my feet up---he made breakfast, cleaned the house, got our daughter ready, and left me with strict instructions to do nothing! It is HEAVEN.

--Oh and Congrats on your engagement!

When my son was actually HAPPY to get books for christmas (he's hated reading for years, ever since he was 4, now 8. ). He still puts on a facade of hating books but... He was thrilled. Absolutely THRILLED.

Yay Rick Riordan!

My Frappuccino Maker! I just need to perfect the ingredients to make them Starbucks worthy :-)

My favorite thing was when my 3 year old opened her new Baby Ariel, she said "Santa brought me a creepy doll!" hee.

took the girls outside in 20F weather so they can ride their now rip riders. woooow those things rock. they were all over. caught them on camera.
m

Christmas was so amazing for me this year. First my Mom made amends to me on the 15th so mt daughter and I got to spend time with my parents, siblings, Aunts, and cousins on Christmas Eve (my birthday) which was so incredible. We all hung out, ate, played with my daughter, and looked at a ton of old pictures my aunt found in my (deceased) grandmother's trunks. We had a blast going through pictures of our entire family (several generations) at all stages and all these mementos my grandmother had saved.
Then, this morning getting to see my little girl's face when she was her presents and watching her open them was so awesome. We are finally at a place where we can breathe and with all the sales I caught we were able to give her the most crazy awesome Christmas. She got almost every single thing on her list. She was so happy.
Also my husband and I were able to exchange gifts for the first time in 5 years- which was cool. I got some nice bakeware and I was able to help my daughter give him a theme gift of all stuff to make pancakes with a new griddle, pjs, mixing bowl, spatula, box of pancake mix, and a nice maple syrup. She was so excited to give it to him (they love to make pancakes together- it's their thing). So it was a great day today.
Oh and my Mom family gift to us was a red Wii.

Congratulations on making the holiday so special for your children and a big congratulations on your engagement!! It all sounds wonderful for you!!

I am just grateful that my SIL and her family made it to our house for Xmas. She has been sick for awhile now and it was questionable if they would make it. That made me VERY happy! I also greatly enjoyed my eldest telling me he loves me over and over b/c we got him an iPod that he has been CRAVING for years. My 2 yo didn't want to open any gifts until yesterday. Once he saw the Kit Kats and M&Ms Santa left in his stocking - it was all about the chocolate. Should have seen that one coming since there are usually restrictions on the junk food - LOL! I did love giving my husband the sequel to the book that sort of brought use together (long story). I wrote a sweet sentiment inside and he seemed moved. Really, my gifts were a bust (but I hadn't made it easy since I really don't want more "stuff") but just being together with everyone healthy and happy made it a perfect Xmas!

My honey bought me a BEAUTIFUL necklace. I have been wanting one of those old fashioned key pendants and he got me one it is sooo beautiful. Plus the first jewlery that he has ever bought me (not too big on jewlery personally) so it is very special.

Congrats on your engagement! My favorite was just seeing the happiness and pure joy on my kids faces when they opened their gifts. My son is super into fire-trucks and firefighter stuff so we got him this adorable outfit that is velcro's with the whole suit, radio, axes, hose etc. He has been wearing it all day! My other son loves garbage trucks and anything that moves, so we got him a really cool handmade garbage truck from Africa---so cool and amazing design. He loves it and wants to sleep with it tonight.

As far as me, my hubby and I don't really do gifts-but he gave me a really beautiful thoughtful card with some really loving sentiments. Special, priceless and just means a whole lot to me.

M

The grin on my son's face (2.5) as he opened his gifts. His cheeks are just so darn cute I wish I'd had a camera to take his picture. Grandparents were so generous. I spent only maybe $5 on Xmas on my son. They spent plenty more, so it was a super-great Xmas for my son.

I got some cash so that I can pick out a camera I want. :) .... so I can take my son's picture NEXT year.

My favorite moment this year is seeing my grandma out of bed and dressed. I recently had to admit her to a nursing hom after a stroke. Then she had to get a feeding tube because the stroke caused it to be very difficult to swallow anything without aspirating. Now that she does not have to leave her room/bed to eat, she doesn't leave at all. (The staff has strongly encouraged her, but she refuses and they cant force her. She also has threatened (and followed through with it) to purposely fall when they try to get her out of bed.) When i got there, i had someone help me get her dressed in her christmas outfit, complete with bra (!) sitting in her wheel chair, attempting to draw a picture while i rearranged her room and hooked up the converter box to her television. While it tired her out, it gives me hope that she will get out of bed more often now.

One of my other favorite parts was my daughter (11) opening her Moxie doll, and being excited that the doll was good at math ! (she has really been struggling with it this year) and my son (8) completely stopped opening up presents so he could open up his transformers and play with them. I got my husband a superman t shirt (its a private joke between us) and he said it meant alot to him because he knew that i spent alot of time into deciding what to give him. Plus he kept commenting on how soft and comfortable it was.

I loved seeing my youngest's face this morning when he came downstairs and saw what Santa brought him. The favorite gift I received was a new vacuum, mine had not been working well for a Long time, but had just really bit the dust and been set out to the curb on like the 22nd, so it was great timing! It was from my mom, she always gives awesome gifts.

R.,
OHHH congrats!!!! Happy engagement. Yeah i know how that is, my fiance and I got engaged last year, now finally wedding planning :)
My fiance had the day off. He has worked every Christmas since we've been together. We waited to the last minute to decorate the tree so having a nice slow Christmas day with him home was THE BEST present, corny but true. We veen went to see Tangled that night which was fun to see as a family.
pammy