I hear you on the packaging thing- they must lie awake at nights dreaming up new tortuous devices to make freeing the desired object from it's paper and plastic prison even more difficult. I mean- sewing the doll's hair to the box? Wtf? Bastards.
Our Christmas went fairly well- I think most everyone got what they wanted and if they didn't too bad. After breathing a sigh of relief at having survived both mentally and economically, I get in my car today and lo and behold! Damned brakes are screwed up. Not the front, 'cause those were just replaced last month.
I realise my car is at 100,000 miles, but on a Honda that's supposed to be a halfway point. Just when I think there is nothing left to fix, something new pops up. So, I am thinking I need to go car shopping, because I am not putting another damned cent in that beast!
My girl is growing up as well, although she still likes her American Girl stuff, so she got a new doll and some jammies that match her doll's. I suspect that this may be the last Christmas for dollies.
(Although, when I think of how much they cost, that may not be a bad thing...)