That's a new one on me, I just emailed that link to a bunch of Jews. I'll be interested in the response.

All 4 of my kids, and my Grand-daughter here for Christmas... Instead I got pictures, and my 14 yr old..... Thats ok... but one day I wish I had them all together.

At risk of tearing everybody up as much as I am ... more time with momwolf.

I think it's probably a pretty common Christmas wish for those with recently passed loved ones.

Even loved ones who annoyed the snot out of us at times.

This morning I woke up for the first time in (I won't say quite how many) years, and didn't smell bacon frying and hear pyrex clanking as the cheese strata was being readied for the oven (okay, I'm lying. The only clank would be the pyrex hitting the oven, you have to make the strata a day ahead and let it rest quietly in the fridge overnight, but I'm trying to build atmosphere here, people!).

I opened my Star Trek Ornament ... purchased just a few days before momwolf's passing ... she got me one every year. Some years I negotiated her up to include the Star Wars one too ... especially that year that Darth Vader was facing Luke off in the final battle in Empire. You pushed a button and James Earl Jones said "Luke, I am your Father." How can you pass that up, even if you were only supposed to buy one ornament?

Oh Wolf! I was avoiding all the family stuff and can't think of anything else that matters to go in this thread.

A sock puppet.

Amen, Pie and Wolf. Although this was by far the best adult Christmas I can remember, it would have been a lot better with mt dad around

gifts.

Besides the gift from my boss, I got one gift from my family. One. and I spend thousands of dollars every year on gifts for my kids and grandkids.

I'm not really sure how to feel about it. Truthfully, I love being generous at Christmastime; love spending time, thought, and yes, money, choosing the right gifts for my loved ones. And yes, I know my daughters are poor--I just keep expecting somehow that someday, the tide will turn, and they will have the money to shower me with gifts, instead of the other way around. I know in my heart that it's unrealistic, but something in me dies a little when I get one gift when everyone else has spent hours opening a multitude. When I hear people ask or talk about "what did you get for Christmas" it just makes me think they're kids, not adults.

Just make them one gift each next year

every year I swear to myself it'll be different; and every year I overgive.

. . . or better yet - get them all ONE group gift and then let them figure it all out.

We (my mom, dad, bros and sister) quit gifting years ago and it greatly improved our gatherings. We enjoy the fellowship a lot more without the pressure and financial burden. Everybody buys gifts for their own spouses and kids and that's it. My baby Bro is ALWAYS having money problems and I've actually seen him make up bullshit excuses and not even show up as a result of gifting embarrassment. Now he shows up happy every year!

We generally go a little mad with each other at Christmas; but there have been times when one or more of us is struggling financially. At those times, the gifts we give are small and cheap. I have, before now, turned up with a bottle of wine for my SiL and a 4-pack of beer for my Bro. One year we set a limit of £5 for gifts (apart from for the girls). Another year we set a make-it-yourself theme and I gave everybody home made flapjacks and fudge. On another occasion I literally had no money and turned up with a promise of gifts in January. It was fine.

@cloud: presumably your BD's are caught up in baby-stuff right now; but I can't help thinking they could each have got you a little something. Even if it was just a silly little stocking filler. or a framed photo of babes.

Although I like Cap'in Howdy's suggestion a couple of years ago I started a gift exchange because we have too many family members and like cap'in said it was a burden to some.

So this is the game.

Everyone brings one gift unmarked. Everyone puts there gifts down then eat visit and then when ready gather in a circle then choose one person to start. They open the gift then the next person in line can choose a gift. They can keep it or swap it with another person. This goes on until everyone has the gift they want.

It's a whole lot of fun and of course separate private gifts can be given to the moms,dads and kids and maybe a duplicate hidden away in case you think on gift two people might want.Everyone ends up with what they want and it is a load of fun.

We did not do it this year opting to have a nice pie social with my mother just us girls. She got a wool coat from me and a memory foam mattress from my sister and something from her grand kids.

I have a large family on my mom's side with 6 uncles and aunts along with all their children and grandchildren so we too stopped giving each person gifts years ago. Now gifts are only given to the children under the age of 12 and are only small gifts. Several years ago we played the 'white elephant' game like sky's family and we had loads of great fun! We used a lot of 're-gifts' and gag gifts and just enjoyed the laughter and competition of the game!