5 sleeps to go...........

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo .................................

Bring it on........I am ready!!!!!!!!!!!:}:}

Don't tell me, I need another 2 weeks!!!!!!!!

Be glad when it's all over myself. Far too commercialised for my liking. If I could stop at giving one small gift to each grandchild, that would be fine, but the mums and dads all want pressies too. And this year I'm going to son and daughter-in-laws where her parents, grandparents and a nephew will also be, and no doubt expect something to exchange. Call me a miser if you like, but it's a struggle.

Lorna

Oh no!! not already. I have been chasing stock around all morning. They decided to do a bolt. Gone through all the fences, into the neighbours. I need a sleep to get over it. But I can't. I am going on a bus trip tonight to see the Temple lights a Hamilton. Should be good.

Lorna, we stopped giving to adults years ago and only give to the children now. As you say, it is too commercialised and we run ourselves ragged so everyone else can have a stress-free day! Having said that I still seem to give gifts to the adults, but from my kitchen, and they are more likely to be spread through the year. Lyn.

We only give pressies mainly to the kids. My side of the family: Mum, Dad, four kids plus spouses for 3 of them, all put names into a hat and the grand kids pull out one name at a time. We then have another container and they do a draw to see who that person buys for. Its a re-draw if its the same names from both containers, or if its their spouse, or if it is the same combination as last year. Surprisingly, we very rarely get a re-draw. Thats who we buy a present for. Means every adult will also get a decent present ($50 - $70 price range) and we don't buy anything for the other adults. Actually works out no more expensive than we were all doing $5-$10 presents, which ended up being junky.

Our kids (9 and 7) are the oldest grand children and actually look forward to being involved in the draw.

On husbands's side we only buy for the kids, as there is only him, his one sister and her husband, plus his parents who are getting harder and harder to buy for as they get older. His father is 81 and one of those "has everything" type of people. For his birthday, I always end up getting food, as at least I know it will get eaten.

Linda.