What Didja Get?! Post your Christmas Bounties!

[sorraia]

Imo christmas is basically a materialistic hallmark holiday now. Im not saying there shouldnt be presents but i dont think there's any need for parents to be shoving the entire contents of a Toys R Us underneath the tree. Its stupid. When youre little its different but as i got older i really care much more about seeing family who i dont get to see often and eating good food. My grandparents are getting up there in age. Every time i get to see them could be the last so i try and make the most of it. And prime rib is just amazing so you gotta savor that too lol!

I feel the same way. I look forward to the holidays more to see family, with the potluck style meal, than for anything else. This year Christmas was with my in-laws, and that's always hard for me because it DOES feel very materialistic. Everyone is given two names of people to buy gifts for, and if you try to opt out of that you are pressured until you give up and do it any way. This year my husband and I just did baked goods for everyone, because for us it felt better, since we were putting our time and effort into it ("baked with love"...) rather than just going out and buying something. It also took more thought because we had to really think about the person we were doing it for: Do they have any allergies? Health issues (i.e. diabetes)? Anything they don't like? What would they like?

It was still fun watching our baby with her present though. She's not even a year old yet, so she really didn't get anything super high tech (although her great-aunt and my husband's cousin's girlfriend did get her a couple of those stuffed toys that makes noise... bringing those toys up to 4 now! the things they have for kids these days...) , mostly some blocks, stacking toys, a regular stuffed toy, and some books (she really likes books, even at her tender young age). It was fun watching her open the packages (she likes that paper ripping noise lol), and of course showing off for everyone. My husband and I didn't actually buy her anything, all her gifts came from other family members! We figure, we are her regular providers, and she's too young to understand, so she doesn't need any extra gifts from us. lol