Apparently, I was very good this year.

I received:
1. A moose keychain that simulates pooping.
2. A Garmin GPS system
3. A really neat reusable shopping bag
4. A curved shower rod to give me more elbow room in the shower.

Next?

I must've been really good this year too. Either that or my husband felt sorry for me being all pregnant and miserable! LOL

He got me this gorgeous watch I've been eyeballing!
{{!gwi}}

And a KitchenAid mixer for the house at the lake, some other kitchen items and some gift cards for the movie theatre (guess he's implying we don't get out enough for 'dates' - he's right! lol)!

I'm sparkling.
A beautiful diamond journey ring that I knew about...but the surprise was in my stocking - the matching earrings!

I received clothing from my 2 daughters-all things I can use. DD20 gave me two tops and two pairs of pants. DD19 gave me a new winter jacket, black Calvin Klein. DH gave me two boxes of chocolates, to prove I am not yet fat enough!

My DS's gave me an IPOD! I have been wanting one for awhile but that is one of those "nonnecessity" items that you put off buying for yourself. I love it!

I also got an iPod Shuffle from my brother and a great book called "Beach Cottage Bliss" from our friends who have the beach house we stay at. I can't wait to read it, but then I know I'll want to go to the beach! Woody gave me money. I gave Woody money. lol

Dave was very good to me this year. He bought me a beautiful red coral tear drop pendant in a sterling setting and matching earrings. Then he bought a white gold rope chain to wear the pendant on. Very pretty.

Then he gave me a beautiful blue scarf/shawl and leather driving gloves, and a gift certificate to my favorite clothing store.

I am a happy camper!

i let DH off easy this yr and we went on a week long cruise, got back this past sat. he does not do christmas well at all, so this was an easy fix. i packed our schedule full of excursions, infact we spent more on that than the suite for 5 days LOL, we both had such a wonderful time we're already planning one for June then another for christmas-new yrs, maybe even w/ family. i'm still surprised that DH loved it sooo much he wants to go again, he HATES 'planned' vacations unless i guess it includes snuba, snorkeling and deep sea fishing, ohhh and all the food you can eat lol.

we did get a few small gifts and splurged bigtime on the furbabies but i resisted getting my usual piece of tacori jewelry, you never know if you might need that $$$$$$ in this economy. i'll probably use that $$ for a new car in jan anyways. ~ liz

Steph, my late DH gave me a couple of Movado watches over the years. Also my KitchenAid mixer!

This year my DD gave me a big Cuisinart stir-fry pan, a digital picture frame, and a pump bottle of Clinique moisturizer. (Sorry, Softball, but that is very cool!)

My DS gave me a 4GB MP3 player, a 4GB flash drive, and a TomTom GPS. Nice toys!

Got a couple of generous gift cards from DH. Kids gave me a countertop water heater for tea, etc. during the day.

I got a 8GB flash card for my camera so I can try the movie feature. I have never done that before because it takes up so much memory.

Also got several books I wanted. The latest Dean Koontz - "Odd Hours"; Glen Cook - "Cruel Zinc Melodies" (ongoing Garrett P.I. series) ; Kim Harrison - (Rachel Morgan series 1 thru 5).

And some warm fake fur lined Dearfoam slippers. I need those at 6AM when I take the dog out and it is only in the 30's.
Clare

Santa gave me an 8 GB hot pink iPod - total surprise! Also the Jim Shore mini Nativity set which I love. My nieces gave me a Jim Shore golden retriever figurine which I have been trying to find for about 3 years. I also got some cool candles that look just like beach rocks.

I always give myself a Christmas gift so I bought a Canon Power Shot SX10 IS (I've been a good girl this year!).

I'm sparlkling pretty nicely too ... hubby surprised me with 1 carat diamond earrings! I had no idea! I was hoping for ... and did get ... a new Dremel tool with lots of fun attachments.

He got a log splitter and has been having a ball with it.

DH got me a coolpix Nikon camera, my DS framed one of his paintings, it's so beautiful, I love it! Along with towels, necklace and a giftbasket full of goodies. Kids got me alot of beaded necklaces... you know when you ask for something and you get it from everyone! I love them all! Also rec'd new sheets, tablecloth, and a few clothes. Some might not be cool but I'm pretty happy with them!

An iPod Touch that I cannot put down. ;o)

We gave the "kids" collectively a Wii (and by "kids" I mean DH, too). They are having a blast! I even have a blast just watching them. Last night they tried boxing. DD age 9 said "I wanna box!" What a hoot! I think we have her in the wrong sport! She was all over the room punching, ducking, "moving like a butterfly." When her character was knocked out she was SCREAMING at the screen, "GET UP! GET UP!", waving her arms. Eventually she KO'd her dad (she did have an advantage, he couldn't stop laughing at her to play), and all the rest of the family stood their with open mouths, seeing the competitive streak we knew she had, but in giant size. This tiny little blonde, blue-eyed, deceptively sweet girl... turned into Mohammed Ali! She makes sure everyone knows she is not "girly," but still, I did not know she had such aggressiveness in her!

DD found the coolest thing--I didn't even know it was out there. She didn't either, but she was walking through Target one day, glanced at the CD section, and one particular CD caught her eye (just how did that happen, with all the hundreds they have on display?) She was so excited, she bought me one, herself one, and several for gifts for her friends.

Apparently Mitch Hedberg's wife has released a CD of the material he was working on when he died. Some of it isn't perfected, but what an unbelievable treat--to hear new material from him--when we all suspected the ride was over. As is all his comedy--it's amazing, even if some of the 'bits' aren't completely polished.

I got clothes - my first cashmere sweaters ever! Also a pair of black & a pair of brown full length boots. Also got some pretty candle holders & a calendar. Mostly we got cash. I guess none of this is really "cool" but I'm happy.

I received T-fal frying pans from Dirty Finger Nails. I love to cook for the family...

Radio Guy With No Pants

The coolest thing...A NEW BEDROOM! In the same place, but new sheetrock, paint, windows, floor, and as many outlets as I can use. Last paint went on Christmas day. I am thrilled!

Dokkk bot me several pieces of beautiful jewelry, a box of chocolates (yummm, I pigged out last night!), a santa mug that is so round and so cute, and a filler for my day planner, and... etc. I've been at work and catching up so not a lot of time to do much posting. Thanks dear, and PULL UP YOUR PANTS!!!

Our first Christmas away from our kids and grandkids,our youngest son who is single bought and filled two beautiful stockings with all sorts of things he knew mom and dad loved and included two handwritten cards with loving words straight from his heart that brought tears to our eyes.We had many lovely gifts from the kids that we really appreciated,but this one had a special meaning attached to it!

Seasons 1 and 2 of ER from my boys. Lush soap and bath bomb, digital picture frame and chocolates from my daughter and her boyfriend, slippers, 3 cokin filters for my camera and a hot paraffin wax spa from my husband. I LOVE the hot wax spa on my hand. I use a similar one in physio and asked for one for Christmas. :o)

Alex bought me a ceramic elephant from Pier One. It reminded me of my mom, who used to collect them.

I got a new camera. It has 10 mega pixels and, best of all, zoom. My old camera didn't have zoom and I missed out on some good shots.

We haven't had our Christmas yet...on the 4th when all the kids can be here together. BUT...Dean bought me a KitchenAid Pro mixer!! AND 2 large cookie sheets! I haven't had a stand mixer for years as the only time I really do much baking anymore is at the holidays. But it is sure nice to have the equipment to use when you want to! =)

From our children I received 7 jigsaw puzzles, one is a puzzle with my little dog on it. Some slippers, lotion, jewelry, crockpot ( I now own 7 crockpots), a nice book on horses,a Roomba, a reverse osmosis system, a foam topper for my bed, lots of other things.
Now my husband gave me just what every almost 74 year old wife wants, another riding mower! I am not pleased with that as a Christmas present, but did not say anything to him about it. It is not like we didn't have riding mowers already and I didn't even mow last year. There is a lot to mow, about 3 acres that does get mowed. I once liked to mow, but now it is rather hard on me. Looks like I will have to mow whether I want to or not! Some years I don't get anything from him. How thoughtful. He seldom mows.

My boys gave me the new Corning Ware Simply Lite casserole dishes that I wanted. Boy...are they lightweight!! And a wax tart melting pot.

My Beeg Seester gave me Pyrex storage, mixing and baking dishes that I wanted. This was hard for her, since she doesn't like to give gifts that mean "work" for the recipient.

DH gave me a Lucky Brand purse that I had picked out. Oh my heck is it nice!! I normally don't like purses when I get them. They are usually just OK. This one is different. In fact, I loved it so much, that I ordered another one last night. I also got a nice Diamondart ring and a Dyson vacuum. Both very nice gifts. That vaccum rocks and the ring...well...I will get compliments, that's for sure. LOL

We had a simple Christmas this year but I got my Celtic Woman DVD and art supplies. But the best gift I got was that my DH and I drove to my old bosses house for the annual department party from my old work place. My boss and I had been planning this for months. It was a HUGE surprise when DH and I walked into the party because no one knew we were coming. It was so wonderful to see everyone. When I left Lewis the faculty were on summer break so I didn't get to say goodbye to a lot of them. I took lots of photos that I am waiting to have developed. Just the memories alone were the best gift ever.

SamKaren
your resident DJ

Softball, I see some good ideas for next year in your list.

The kids gave us a digital picture frame for all our pictures from when we got married to now, 40 some years later. Can't remember what it is called. It plays them or freezes. Older DS loaded it so we could use it as soon as we opened it. I had forgotten some of those pictures. Gads, I looked thinner and better in my younger years!

I wanted and received a screech owl house from younger DS. We live close to a preserve, and this area is over run with mice and rats. I wish I could have gone for a barn owl house for the rats, but they make too much nocturnal noise for us and the neighbors. This will help and be interesting to watch.

DH gave me a new closet to be installed later. New shelves, rods, etc. by California Closets. We are not do it yourselfers and the builder's lousy rods and shelves are kaput.

My daughter came over today, and had taken stock of every Ann Rule book I was missing, and bought me four of them, including her latest that just came out this month. One of the older books I had never read, I can't wait for it to get dusk so I can curl up with my new book.

You couldn't knock the smile off of my face with a hammer.

I am one lucky mom.

Trin

-a macro ring flash for my camera
-a wrought iron stand with a set of 12 dessert plates
-an "impossible puzzle"
-a beautiful wrought iron candle holder
-2 gift certificates to upscale restaurants downtown
-3 novels I had on my list
-pretty dishes I had on my list
-a couple of new ornaments
-a few Christmas books (I collect Christmas books)