Best Christmas gift you gave?

[Jazzman]

So everyone is posting about what they got, but what about the really important part of Christmas? What really cool gifts were you totally excited about giving to others?

For me, I was stoked about some of my wife's gifts. I gave her:


A cool wine set that includes an ice bucket, classy wine stopper, wrapper cutter and one of those complicated but uber-cool de-corking contraptions with the ratcheting lever.
A hooded Oregon Ducks sweatshirt that is white with OREGON across the front in pink, and a matching hat.
A soft and fluffy pink fleece jacket to keep her cozy and warm.
Loads of goofy Christmas socks with Santas, Snowmen and Christmas trees all over them.


I also gave my brother-in-law an awesome gray and black Nike windbreaker that I totally wanted for myself. Oh well, he looks great in it. :)

So did any of you get all excited and eager to watch anyone open a certain gift/gifts from you?

[katiesue]

Most fun-

* Grill Pan for my Aunt who loves to cook and I know she wouldn't buy it for herself.
* Camera for Maddy, pink of course. She loves to take pictures and movies.
* Electric razor for Maddy. She's been horrified in PE and I wouldn't let her shave them before.
* Travel book on England for my Mom. Now that she's retired she may actually leave the state.

I'm more about the giving than the getting.

[Jazzman]

* Camera for Maddy, pink of course. She loves to take pictures and movies.

Awesome! A couple of my nieces got cameras and I think that is such a cool idea for kids. I didn't own my own camera until my late teens (senior year even, I think) and looking back I totally wish that I had had a camera with me when I was running around with my friends. The memories captured would have been priceless.

Great gift!

[Chernabog]

My brother and I got my parents two tickets to Disneyland (they went two Fridays ago, and ate at the Napa Rose). They really enjoyed it -- they stayed till midnight, which is SOOOOO not like my parents!!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Wrestlemania III on DVD. Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant. Legendary! I can't wait to borrow it myself.

Fuzzy socks for lounging and sleeping. I want hundreds of these.

[JWBear]

I bought Bill a Bose speaker system for his PC.

[Morrigoon]

I was so jazzed my dad actually liked my gift this year. I got him a USC tshirt and a pair of PJs. Apparently he was vastly in need of some new PJs and impressed that I might know that. I didn't, technically, but I know he wears PJs now, and what PJ-wearer can't use another set?

[Kevy Baby]

Give?

Screw that; Christmas is all about me getting gifts!!!

[libraryvixen]

(I don't know how we could've lost a board game)...

B and I lost our Disney Scene It (1st ed) about 3 months ago. I bought the new 2nd edition Disney Scene It and "Santa" gave it to her. On the tag I wrote "To replace the one that's missing".

B's eyes got big and she said "I can't beleive Santa knew! He DOES know everything."

That warmed my heart that she believe in Santa and it made her so happy! It made me happy too.

[CoasterMatt]

I gave Rose vanity plates for her car "BAD RX" - Bad Medicine
I also got her a new camera, but it won't be here for a few weeks

[3894]

I gave my husband Tom four pairs of socks I knit for him. That's his "Winter Starter Pack" for Helen's Socks-of-the-Month Club (membership: 1). Each month on the first, he'll get another handknit pair ... until he begs for mercy.

[lashbear]

I gave Greg (amongst other things) a GPS car navigator and a picnic backpack, which has settings for 4 and chopping knife, breadboard, corkscrew etc, and a bottle of expensive french champagne sitting in the cooler compartment of said picnic backpack.

... now he has to navigate to a picnic spot and feed me champagne out of 4 glasses.

[Disneyphile]

I gave Ken Way of the Peaceful Warrior (book), and the movie to go with it. :)

[Alex]

Nothing struck my fancy, so I gave no gifts this year.

I thought of a perfect gift for Lani but was unable to find it (I'm not even sure it actually exists).

[scaeagles]

We gave 8 total of these (http://www.hasbro.com/nerf/default.cfm?page=viewproduct&product_id=17889), one to each of our kids, a niece, a nephew, me, my borther in law and my father in law. Then we had a huge war today. It was a freakin' blast.

[Moonliner]

We gave 8 total of these (http://www.hasbro.com/nerf/default.cfm?page=viewproduct&product_id=17889), one to each of our kids, a niece, a nephew, me, my borther in law and my father in law. Then we had a huge war today. It was a freakin' blast.

Cool! We did the same thing (http://stumptowngirl.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/taser.jpg). Well sort of the same thing.....

[Not Afraid]

I gave Greg (amongst other things) a GPS car navigator and a picnic backpack, which has settings for 4 and chopping knife, breadboard, corkscrew etc, and a bottle of expensive french champagne sitting in the cooler compartment of said picnic backpack.

... now he has to navigate to a picnic spot and feed me champagne out of 4 glasses.

Perfect! So you'll be at some Cemetery Screenings this year?

[Kevy Baby]

Cool! We did the same thing (http://stumptowngirl.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/taser.jpg). Well sort of the same thing.....Makes for a short battle.

[Morrigoon]

Meh... battles come and go, but vendetta is forever :evil:

[~MS~]

I gave some fun stuff and some 'boring but needed stuff"

Fun stuff, the standard gift to all the younger ones in our family ...a set of Pirates Dice. I'd bought a couple sets at the park last year and everyone LOVES to play so this christmas everyone now owns their own and we can play in larger groups.

boring stuff...a new soft top for a jeep so that I can hear a conversation while he drives down the highway and he doesn't have to keep a roll of duct tape on the passenger seat.

gifts of time are my favorite gifts...so I gave several of those.

[MouseWife]

~MS~ I love that one, given or received, the gift of time is best!

I would say that was one that gives to all involved. We are all very busy usually with out time for others, barely the ones inside this house. But, the other night we made sure to keep it open. I had my niece down from L.A. that I haven't seen since, over a year and a half ago, if not longer, as well as my sis and 3 of her kids.

We started out the night with my niece and family at the Hotel Del {thought of you, Lash & Stout, especially when we were sneaking around the back areas, thinking of 'Some Like it Hot'}. The sunset was awesome. Then walking around, there were carolers, crowds, and the ice skaters. The Del is lit up so very pretty, but, no tripod so not any great shots of that.

After we met up at my house, with a variety of Mexican food from Lolitas' and pizza from Lil' Caesars. The kids had cookies to decorate and, for the piece de resistance, I put on the family home movies.

Okay, now, I can already feel the massive eye rolling going on, hear the groans. But, for the three of us {my sis, my niece and myself} it was a gift to watch them together.

To end it, as the kids left we gave them bags of gifts to take home. Included for a couple were tickets to the High School Musical being done at the Civic Theater. {that was probably their best gift but they are young, they don't know.....}

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/MouseWife/PC230056.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/MouseWife/PC230030.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/MouseWife/croppeddowntownskyline1207-1.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/MouseWife/coronadosunset3122307-1.jpg

[wendybeth]

I don't know that I gave out any super-duper gifts, not for lack of trying but I simply (and happily) got pre-empted by Eric. He bought Tori a new Chocolate phone with all the bells and whistles, and the High School Musical sing-along game. She is in heaven- absolutely loves both items, and he wisely bought the PS2 version of HSM, which is the platform she uses in her room.:D I may get cranky with his ass on occasion, but he is a great dad and he knows his Girl. (She's in her room singing away as I type this).

[Motorboat Cruiser]

In terms of sheer fun, the best gift I/we gave was the Playstation game, Guitar Hero, to Matthew's little brothers. We all spent a few hours together learning how to play it and had a blast.

[madmonkeygirl]

I gave CM a nice gaming mouse but it doesn't work :( and a Lego set that took him a few hours to put together. :)

[Moonliner]

I almost hate the say this but it's starting to look like it might be the automatic litter box (http://www.littermaid.com/)I gave my wife.
So far the cats appear to like it and it seems to be working as advertised. In goes the cat junk and a few min later it's scooped into the disposable receptacle.

[Ponine]

Best gift I gave.... THIS YEAR? wow...

so I guess I cant count the broom my mother wanted that I told my aunt to buy.
or the I.O.U. that i gave my son for the Wiimote re-charger....

It would have to be the bangle I gave my step mother.
A stedrling silver bangle with all three of the grandkids names and birthdates.
Thats been the gift to talk about this holiday season.

(Thank you to the lovely seller on etsy!)

[madmonkeygirl]

Moonliner just make sure you use Littermaid litter or else it will break. Trust me we've had so many returns on this particular automated liter box. We sell 3 different brands and i really steer customers away from Littermaid...but glad yours is working well

[Moonliner]

Moonliner just make sure you use Littermaid litter or else it will break. Trust me we've had so many returns on this particular automated liter box. We sell 3 different brands and i really steer customers away from Littermaid...but glad yours is working well

24 Hours does not a test of time make.... I'll keep an eye on it.

Supposedly this is the "new" model with a stronger motor.

Thanks.

[blueerica]

I was pretty light on the giving and getting (the move prompted me to ask for no gifts and give just a few), so the best gift was for my dad, the coffee aficionado... Couple pounds of coffee, a new tumbler, and miscellaneous coffee grinding and brewing accessories.

[Kevy Baby]

I almost hate the say this but it's starting to look like it might be the automatic litter box (http://www.littermaid.com/)I gave my wife.
So far the cats appear to like it and it seems to be working as advertised. In goes the cat junk and a few min later it's scooped into the disposable receptacle.

Moonliner just make sure you use Littermaid litter or else it will break. Trust me we've had so many returns on this particular automated liter box. We sell 3 different brands and i really steer customers away from Littermaid...but glad yours is working well

24 Hours does not a test of time make.... I'll keep an eye on it.

Supposedly this is the "new" model with a stronger motor.

Thanks.We've had the ScoopFree (http://www.scoopfree.com/) for six or so months now and it has worked great. Our fussiest cat LOVES it. She used to be right next to whoever cleaned the cat box and would jump in as soon as it looked like you were done.

The one drawback is that I can't find discounted refill trays ANYWHERE. At $15 a pop at PetSmart (surprisingly, they have the best price), it adds up quickly with three cats in the house.

[swanie]

I don't know if I really hit a home run with any gifts this year, but these are the ones I enjoyed giving the most.

1. I made mr. swanie a "man-blankie." The poor guy has never complained about being the only male in the house, but I know he has to cringe everytime he gets under any of our fleece blankets. We have a 70's flower design, a pink balerina, and a pink Nemo blankie, but we had nothing that exudes testosterone. This year I made him a USC fleece blanket so he can feel a little more secure in his masculinity. :D

2. We gave the girls, and katiesue's madz a trip to the DLH for a few days. We wrapped up random Disney crap and made a little puzzle out of it. Unfortunately, it turned out more like an Abbott and Costello routine. Eventually they got it, but it was harder for them than we thought it would be. Regardless, I think they are excited about it and I had a lot of fun putting my girls' package together.

3. Through an Art Masterpiece program at my kids' school, we had some of their art made into coasters, pot-holders, photo albums, and note cards for all of the different grandparents. They turned out nicely and are completely original. It also gives them something to really brag about :)

swanie

[alphabassettgrrl]

Mom-in-law and my mom got sweatshirts from the university where hubby and I both go. I have to exchange m-i-l's for a larger size, but she liked it. Got sis-in-law and her family tickets to a hockey game; hubby and I went, too so we all enjoyed it together. Got hub's stepdad a gigantic remote control. Amusing and functional, and he's not likely to lose it. Got my brother a battery-powered cell phone recharger. My other brother and his wife got little keychain flashlights which they claim to like. I thought they were cute and useful.

Mostly it was nice to spend time with family. My mom sent me a few family portraits from when we were young. I didn't have any, and it is nice to have pics of my dad. I know- that's a recieve. So shoot me. I thought it was cool.

[Stan4dSteph]

I got my dad a hat with built-in light. He's always complaining that there's not enough light when he's trying to fix something.