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Email a FriendPosted by Robin on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 1:05 PM (EDT):
I think we need a guest column from Dan for our husbands, the title of which would be “gift-picking for your wife”.
What Did You Give? What Did You Get?
Tell us about this year's winning gifts!
Posted by Danielle Bean in Reviews on Monday, December 28, 2009 12:00 PM
After spending so much time and energy thinking about, shopping for, and wrapping Christmas gifts over the past few weeks, I thought it might be fun to do a bit of a gift assessment today.
Did you give anything that was especially fun or well-received this year?
Did anyone give you anything especially touching or thrilling?
I can give us a start ...
The most fun and unexpected present Dan gave me this year was a very cool Coal hat. Honestly, I think he’s more style-savvy than I am sometimes!
One of the biggest hits we gave our boys was a Nerf Nerfoop
This year, though, we had the foresight to add an extra ball to each of the boy’s stockings. They are thrilled to all shoot at once and it has saved us from many a fight over taking turns. Why did it take us so long to figure that out?
Now it’s your turn. Please share your hit gifts of the season!
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Posted by Therese on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 1:17 PM (EDT):
I had the most wonderful gift ever this year! I just completed six weeks of cranial radiation. We knew my imune system would be at risk, but we were hoping it would not take a dive until after Christmas. But on the morning of Dec. 23, my oncologist told me I was neutropenic and attending Mass was out of the question. I know as a cancer patient that does not seem unreasonable…but as a Mom who wants to go to Mass with her family and a member of our choir who worked hard preparing for Midnight Mass, it was a devestating blow. Then, my oldest son Matthew, arranged for a miracle to happen. His friend and our High School Chaplain, Fr. “G”, said a very small Midnight Mass with us. It was simple, with us singing Christmas carols and praying together, and yet to me it was the most beautiful Christmas Mass I have ever attended. It kind of reminded me of the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”...Christ came to me at Midnight Mass, even without all the glamor and beauty of Mass in our parish…Christ still came, just the same. It was the best present I could have asked for!
Posted by Kim on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 1:20 PM (EDT):
My husband warned me about what our son picked out for me. He said I would have wear it and I wouldn’t be happy. I was prepared for the worst. But, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a sterling silver necklace with a little turtle pendant. The ‘body’ opens and you can put different in different colored ‘shells’ in to match your wardrobe. It’s adorable and I’ve been wearing it proudly ever since I opened it. That’s what happens when you manage expectations!
Posted by Maureen on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 2:04 PM (EDT):
I love my gift from my husband this year. I’ve wanted an outdoor Nativity for years. This year I got one. Our house is setback about 100ft from the road so he found an old lighted set on e-bay that can readily be seen from the road. Dan took Wednesday off from work so that we could drive to Long Island to pick it up and he and the kids set it up out front on Christmas day. It looks great at night. I enjoyed watching the kids help, the kings are taller than they are and they kept hugging the Holy Family.
Posted by Darren A. Jones on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 4:27 PM (EDT):
My wife made me a wonderfully snuggly blanket, to replace the one she gave me 3 years ago that has been confiscated by my 7 year old son 
I bought my husband a VW bug! Don’t be too impressed; it is old and in need of a LOT of work. But my hubby loves a car project, so it was perfect. I bought him three other, much smaller, gifts as well and he LOVED them all. I did so good this year!
Posted by Karen on Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 11:47 AM (EDT):
I bought my dh a 1978 VW Westy for Christmas about 10 years ago :D
We call it the ‘Funbus’ as it was all painted up when we bought it with sky and clouds with happy faces, bunches of grapes and wine glasses on the back and a sunset on the side. It’s been a total money pit (as all non-fully (and never will be) fully restored cars are) but worth it. A lot of fun and a lot of family memories and we’ll never get rid of it.
Posted by Claire on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 5:16 PM (EDT):
My son absolutely loves a toy garage that a neighbor got him at a garage sale, as well as a set of vegetables and cutting board, and a new set of blocks. My greatest gift is seeing my son enjoy the magic of the season. It sounds like a cliche, but it’s true.
Posted by Sparki777 on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 5:18 PM (EDT):
I think the best gift was the two sets of doll bunk beds that my 10-yr-old son made out of PVC pipe, styrofoam, quilt batting and scraps of pink and purple satin for his sisters. (I did help, especially with the measuring, gluing it square and sewing parts!) He was SO proud and they were so excited!
Posted by Pat on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 5:30 PM (EDT):
My husband and the kids got me an electric blanket. Don’t laugh! I love it!!! We crank it up about an hour before we go to bed and then climb into a warm bed at night. Its awesome!!!!!!!!! I feel so pampered and spoil, though. Who knew an electric blanket would make me so happy??
Posted by Monique on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 6:16 PM (EDT):
Our 20 yo daughter got a, no kidding, a lighted hippo with a tutu & holly necklace! She jumped around like crazy, beaming. The 14 yo had to unwrap 5 boxes to get to her stuffed cow that she’s wanted for ages!
The best gift I received was a copy of a poem I set to “The Night Before Christmas” that I had written for my siblings, after our Mom passsed away 12 years ago. I never kept a copy for myself, so one of my sisters redid it and framed it for me.
Posted by Karyn on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 6:31 PM (EDT):
I wrapped up a positive pregnancy test and gave it to my husband while all the children were gathered around. My 12 year old daughter has prayed DAILY for years for a new baby. To see her tearful joy and my husband’s utter confusion was priceless. He thought it was a pen box!!
Posted by Lina Martin on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 6:33 PM (EDT):
that is BRILLIANT! i’m glad i’m not the only one who thinks stuff like this is ok (never done it, but have been told by people its “gross,” since you peed on it :-p)
congrats!
Posted by Kathleen on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 6:43 PM (EDT):
When I got pregnant with our first son I told our parents and my sibs on Christmas Eve. Happy bedlam ensued, my sister exclaimed, “Who needs presents, this is the best present ever!” and so it was. Congratulations to you and wishing you many many more happy Christmases with your baby!
Gave: nice water bottles, snuggies, and flashlights to all my kids
Got: a wonderful frame from my daughter of all of us saying, “All because two people fell in love” and a trip for all of us to a beach hotel (so cheap in the winter) with indoor pool!!! It was a great after Christmas treat for the kids to look forward too.
Posted by Kathleen on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 6:48 PM (EDT):
I am so happy with my shopping this year. My husband can be difficult to buy for. This year he has developed a new hobby: playing the mellophone (like a french horn but bigger, it is used in marching bands). He gets them on ebay and they come in old, musty, mildewy cases. I bought him a new case and a music stand. He has been leaning his music against my cookbooks, on the top of the bookshelf in the kitchen. Our son got him a book of Beatles songs scored for the mellophone. So he was very happy.
Seeing my kids playing happily under the tree is really the best gift. I remember the first year we had Declan, my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas…I told him there is nothing you could put under the tree that would be better than our little boy. I know this sounds very sentimental , and I am grateful that I do receive nice gifts (usually earrings, books and bath soap), but I am truly grateful that we are all together, everyone is healthy and our families are more or less intact. After 9/11 I can never take Christmas for granted. OK sorry to go on so long. I just love reading and writing about Christmas!
Posted by Stephanie on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 6:57 PM (EDT):
We’ve had an Mp3 player sitting in a box in the house for about two years (long story, but it’s a refurbished one that we ended up not needing at the time). My husband surprised our 12 yo son (and me) and gave it to him for Christmas. The look on our son’s face and his entire reaction were awesome! He was soooo happy! My husband told our son, “Mommy reminded me that your sister got to have one when she was twelve.” I’m so glad he gave it to our son.
I got two things that I wanted. The first was a necklace I saw at our church holiday craft sale. I dragged him over to the display and pointed out the exact one that I wanted. He has not done a good job of getting me things I actually want for Christmas for quite a long time. I was glad he listened and actually got it for me. The second thing was a box with a Wii remote charger in it. I wasn’t sure what it was at first. We don’t have a Wii but I have talked about how much I’d like to get one. We’re getting one! I really didn’t see that one coming. He has been so against any type of video game system for so long that I am still in shock that he actually decided to get one. He wanted to check with me as to just what I wanted with it. We’ll still be limited as to the types of games we can get. He won’t allow Mario Kart Racing or anything like that. He’s all for the sports games and the Wii Fit (the Wii Fit is what I wanted).
The best gift for my oldest and youngest (15 yo daughter and 8—almost 9—yo son) is a rabbit hutch that will be delivered this week. They’ve been doing 4-H with a friend’s rabbits and want to buy the rabbits. Now we’ll be able to do that. They’re excited.
Posted by Amy on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 6:58 PM (EDT):
My favorite present took way more thought and focus than it did money. My mom gave each of her 10 children two books: one was her memoir of her grandmother - our great-grandmother; the other was the same great-grandmother’s autobiography.
She spent several months diligently polishing her own writing, then went to Kinko’s to “publish” it. Someone else had typed up cassette recordings of my great-grandmother’s autobiography, but she supplemented with several pages of photos, and “published” this at Kinko’s as well.
What a wonderful treasure for us to keep!
Posted by Jennifer in MI on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 8:15 PM (EDT):
Both DH and I had agreed ahead of time not to shop for eachother this year, but he’s been needing warmer socks since the beginning of winter, so I got him a package of three thermal socks. He wore them to work today and said they are wonderful. He gave me a beautiful scarf… guess I had mentioned more than once that the kids had “borrowed” and lost mine. 
Blessed Christmas-tide, all!
Posted by Therese on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 8:21 PM (EDT):
My favorite material gift that I got would be either the $10 gift card to Panera bread or the 12 pack of Blue Moon beer from my dh. I was very grateful and touched by the cards that my 17yo, 15yo, 12yo and 10yo each made for dh and I (despite the fact that we told them that was what we wanted most of all and for them to not spend money they don’t have) One of the best family gifts was the Wii Beatles Rock Band. We’ve had fun, especially since we got a microphone for it too.
But I especially appreciated being with family this year since we had 2 family members hospitalized in Dec with serious issues and a good family friend who started chemo.
Oh, the best gift I got ... that’s easy! ... a gift certificate from my hubby for a night together, just the two of us. We’re going to go to a B and B for one night and my folks will watch the kids. Huzzah! Twenty-four hours of uninterrupted conversation with my favorite guy! I’m so excited I can’t stand it.
The best gift I gave ... that would be the tiny remote-controlled helicopter I gave my husband. He promptly opened it and started playing with it. I keep walking into the living room and finding him playing with the controls while my three-year-old son watches with rapt attention. It’s been a while since my hubby got a toy for Christmas ... too long, I guess!
My husband got me the player so netflix will play on the tv. The kids love it and my hubby and I have been snuggling on the couch and watching old tv shows every night since.
Our 3 yr old really really loves her new play kitchen. We really splurged on the melissa and doug one.
My 22 yr old is thrilled with a new vera bradley purse.
Posted by Elizabeth Anne on Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 9:35 AM (EDT):
My husband and I were just talking about getting one of those since we’ve had netflix for a few months and really enjoy it. Can you tell me more about the player you got? We’re starting to look, but there are so many different items with quite a price range…
Posted by Amy on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 9:45 PM (EDT):
The best gift I gave this year was a canvas tote bag for my sister with her family’s last name embroidered on it. She can use it for her family for the pool, the beach and the lake. The other gift that we gave was a photo album filled with family photos to my mother in law. Her reaction was priceless. She loved it so much. It was a last minute job to upload all the pictures and send them to the store for developing, but it was so worth her smile and hug.
I received a Sirius satellite radio for my car and home. I can now listen to catholic radio more conveniently and I am so very excited.
Posted by Claire on Monday, Dec 28, 2009 11:44 PM (EDT):
I love receiving giftcards for things that my husband and I can do together. I used to love receiving the Entertainment book, because it was fun to look through it on Christmas day and think about the places we could go. Other favorite gifts from previous years are a CD of a variety of my favorite Christmas songs that my sister-in-law burned for me, and a clothespin/string system for displaying Christmas cards.
My older brother gave me a one pound box of my favorite dark chocolate cordial cherries from the local candy shop in my hometown (over an hour drive from my current home). I was totally surprised and delighted that he even thought to buy them for me. I have an amazing brother. I think my husband wishes he had thought to procure a box of those cordial cherries for me.
Posted by Elizabeth Anne on Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 9:42 AM (EDT):
Best gift I gave: Our first baby : ) and tiny, folding icons from the Vatican (we bought them last summer while on a belated honeymoon) with a picture of Jesus as an infanct and Mary and a picture of Jesus.
Best gift I was given: Of course, other than the baby…
The cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking! (I’m in love with Julia Child after seeing Julie and Julia last summer!) and a wooden box with our son’s name on it for all his keepsakes.
Posted by Karen on Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 11:54 AM (EDT):
My mom got me a awesome food processor that benefits us all and dh had some ink and watercolors we purchased in Salzburg framed. They look beautiful and I’m so happy he thought to have them done as a present because I really expected them to sit in the tube for years, as would be our typical MO.
If you are ever in Salzburg, stop by Igor’s stand in the Mozartplatz :D Lovely ink and watercolor scenes (and cheap) and Igor is just a wonderfully eccentric and happy guy.
I am writing this from my hotel room overlooking the Monterey Bay. My husband knew I was severly burned out and in need of rest. As a mother of nine, my days are busy and my nights are sometimes even busier and I was exhausted and crabby. He sent me to Monterey for 2 nights and it was heaven on earth. I feel like a new woman. This is the first night I have spent alone in 17 years.
Posted by Ginny on Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 6:38 PM (EDT):
Gretchen, I’m so envious! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished someone would magically give me a weekend off ... and I only have TWO kids! I’m so glad you got this rest and I hope it’s fun & renewing.
Posted by Marie on Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 12:52 PM (EDT):
My husband had wrapped his gifts to me a week or so before Christmas. There were a few small ones and one large heavy one. I had asked for a cast iron pot so I assumed that was what was in the large heavy box. Imagine my surprise when I opened the box on Christmas to find a small box inside along with several weights. Boy was I tricked! He gave me a pair of diamond earrings! I was completely shocked, esp since we had a budget for gifts, and this certainly was not in the budget! His parents gave him the diamond earrings that his dad gave his mom many years ago (she has since received a larger pair that she wears) and he had them put in a new setting for me. I still can’t believe he did that for me. So incredibly sweet. He is so great to me.
I can ask my hubby for real technical details but he got it from amazon (I think a vendor) It’s roku brand and my hubby told me he got the one around $100 not the very cheapest. I think because it’s capable of HDTV. I could have that detail wrong since on our ancient tiny tv it doesn’t matter. (I think I have a big hint for his gift next year) He also bought a seperate little router (a switch thingy) so our wii, the netflix player and the leapfrog keyboard can all be plugged in at once and you just need to move the switch instead of unplugging/plugging wires all the time.
Posted by Becky D. on Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 1:20 PM (EDT):
The post above is in reply to the netflix player. I don’t know why it didn’t post right.
Posted by Ellen Mongan on Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 10:30 PM (EDT):
I wrote my mom, who is an 83 year old widow, a touching, yet humorous poem, about her life. In it I honored her for who she was and for what I learned from her. I framed the poem and my husband read it to her at the Christmas Diner, where she was surrounded by all her children and grandchildren. I also wrote my seven, grown, children, a poem, which I framed as well. It was a poem about my faith. I wanted to have something in words to pass on as a legacy. It was a gift from the heart. I think that gifts from the heart are the best gifts of all, to give or to receive. In gift giving it is all about personal touch.
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