what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where parents
didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a list of things
to choose from and we all got one family gift, the only one i remember is
the year we choose the pool table... pricey if purchased, but my dad went to
a pool supply house and bought felt, slate cups, and accessories, and built
the actual table, i was little enough i let older brother talk me into it
not having a clue what it was... its now living in the basement at my moms
and is over fourty years old and in great condition because he has replaced
the felt and rubbers a few times. Lee
"Ozgirl" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> No plans. We are postponing Christmas for a few months so we can have
>>> something decent rather than half-arsed. I believe some young friends
>>> and their toddler are coming over Christmas Eve for a BBQ but they are
>>> just bringing a bit of meat and whatevers for themselves and my boys can
>>> get what they want. My ex did say his girlfriend will bring a ham and
>>> some cooked chickens over Christmas Day so probably throw a salad
>>> together if they stay, which they probably will. We had dessert lined up
>>> last year and no one ate any as we were too full and the ex and his GF
>>> moved on to her daughter's house after eating here. I might just get
>>> some fruit and we can cut it up if necessary.
>>
>> My mom seems to have an idea that holidays are causing my dad to have
>> brain bleeds. So we have to minimize what we do. I think it is more a
>> matter of her not wanting to do much. But I could be wrong.
>
> Either way, its the family get together that's more important than the
> type of food or how much time is spent on making it special. Xmas can be
> traumatic for a variety of reasons. We are absolutely stone broke this
> Xmas but I am not depressed about it, as I know that we will get to do
> Xmas, just not on Xmas Day . All family members have stated they are not
> fussed about presents or a big Xmas spread etc. My one exception is to
> fill a Santa bag and stocking for Jasmine.

"Storrmmee" > wrote in message
...
> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a list
> of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the only one i
> remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if purchased, but
> my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt, slate cups, and
> accessories, and built the actual table, i was little enough i let older
> brother talk me into it not having a clue what it was... its now living in
> the basement at my moms and is over fourty years old and in great
> condition because he has replaced the felt and rubbers a few times. Lee

I didn't realize it when I was a kid but most of what Santa gave us were
necessary items. Pajamas, maybe a robe, always socks and underwear. Once
in a while I would get a new dress and my brother would usually get pants
and a shirt. Toothbrushes in our stockings.

When Angela was little she always expected Santa to put things in all of our
stockings. For mine I would either buy things that I knew I would be
needing or I would find extras of things around the house and just put them
in there. She never knew. She just thought Santa did a good job of giving
me what I needed!

"Julie Bove" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
>> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a
>> list of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the
>> only one i remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if
>> purchased, but my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt,
>> slate cups, and accessories, and built the actual table, i was little
>> enough i let older brother talk me into it not having a clue what it
>> was... its now living in the basement at my moms and is over fourty
>> years old and in great condition because he has replaced the felt and
>> rubbers a few times. Lee
>
> I didn't realize it when I was a kid but most of what Santa gave us
> were necessary items. Pajamas, maybe a robe, always socks and
> underwear. Once in a while I would get a new dress and my brother
> would usually get pants and a shirt. Toothbrushes in our stockings.

Same, we got a lot of clothes (none that I liked, lol but clothes just
the same) books (I liked the "annuals" and stuff like Famous Five etc)
and bits and pieces of stationery, cheap games a couple of small toys
all in the Santa bag. There was a stocking that had chips, lollies and
some cheap little thing or two and one "big" present. My favourite was a
3 wheeler bike with a bell and a tray at the back

> When Angela was little she always expected Santa to put things in all
> of our stockings. For mine I would either buy things that I knew I
> would be needing or I would find extras of things around the house and
> just put them in there. She never knew. She just thought Santa did a
> good job of giving me what I needed!

Clever Santa

We got the clothes and stuff we needed too, plus a couple of toys. Our
stockings always had fruit and nuts in them, nothing else's...once and a
while maybe a couple of pieces of candy and a candy cane. We always used one
of our own stockings to hang(I always made sure it was the stockings that
went to the knee..LOL) we never had those red fuzzy stockings we have today.
"Ozgirl" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
>>> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a
>>> list of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the only
>>> one i remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if
>>> purchased, but my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt, slate
>>> cups, and accessories, and built the actual table, i was little enough i
>>> let older brother talk me into it not having a clue what it was... its
>>> now living in the basement at my moms and is over fourty years old and
>>> in great condition because he has replaced the felt and rubbers a few
>>> times. Lee
>>
>> I didn't realize it when I was a kid but most of what Santa gave us were
>> necessary items. Pajamas, maybe a robe, always socks and underwear.
>> Once in a while I would get a new dress and my brother would usually get
>> pants and a shirt. Toothbrushes in our stockings.
>
> Same, we got a lot of clothes (none that I liked, lol but clothes just the
> same) books (I liked the "annuals" and stuff like Famous Five etc) and
> bits and pieces of stationery, cheap games a couple of small toys all in
> the Santa bag. There was a stocking that had chips, lollies and some cheap
> little thing or two and one "big" present. My favourite was a 3 wheeler
> bike with a bell and a tray at the back
>
>> When Angela was little she always expected Santa to put things in all of
>> our stockings. For mine I would either buy things that I knew I would be
>> needing or I would find extras of things around the house and just put
>> them in there. She never knew. She just thought Santa did a good job of
>> giving me what I needed!
>
> Clever Santa
>

my mom said the best part of christmas was the orange when she was a kid,
lol, Lee
"Jacquie" > wrote in message
m...
> We got the clothes and stuff we needed too, plus a couple of toys. Our
> stockings always had fruit and nuts in them, nothing else's...once and a
> while maybe a couple of pieces of candy and a candy cane. We always used
> one of our own stockings to hang(I always made sure it was the stockings
> that went to the knee..LOL) we never had those red fuzzy stockings we have
> today.
> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>
>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
>>>> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a
>>>> list of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the only
>>>> one i remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if
>>>> purchased, but my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt,
>>>> slate cups, and accessories, and built the actual table, i was little
>>>> enough i let older brother talk me into it not having a clue what it
>>>> was... its now living in the basement at my moms and is over fourty
>>>> years old and in great condition because he has replaced the felt and
>>>> rubbers a few times. Lee
>>>
>>> I didn't realize it when I was a kid but most of what Santa gave us were
>>> necessary items. Pajamas, maybe a robe, always socks and underwear.
>>> Once in a while I would get a new dress and my brother would usually get
>>> pants and a shirt. Toothbrushes in our stockings.
>>
>> Same, we got a lot of clothes (none that I liked, lol but clothes just
>> the same) books (I liked the "annuals" and stuff like Famous Five etc)
>> and bits and pieces of stationery, cheap games a couple of small toys all
>> in the Santa bag. There was a stocking that had chips, lollies and some
>> cheap little thing or two and one "big" present. My favourite was a 3
>> wheeler bike with a bell and a tray at the back
>>
>>> When Angela was little she always expected Santa to put things in all of
>>> our stockings. For mine I would either buy things that I knew I would
>>> be needing or I would find extras of things around the house and just
>>> put them in there. She never knew. She just thought Santa did a good
>>> job of giving me what I needed!
>>
>> Clever Santa
>>
>
>

We lived in Montana and the Mts of Washington State when I was a kid and
oranges were a very nice treat

"Storrmmee" > wrote in message
...
> my mom said the best part of christmas was the orange when she was a kid,
> lol, Lee
> "Jacquie" > wrote in message
> m...
>> We got the clothes and stuff we needed too, plus a couple of toys. Our
>> stockings always had fruit and nuts in them, nothing else's...once and a
>> while maybe a couple of pieces of candy and a candy cane. We always used
>> one of our own stockings to hang(I always made sure it was the stockings
>> that went to the knee..LOL) we never had those red fuzzy stockings we
>> have today.
>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>>
>>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
>>>>> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a
>>>>> list of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the only
>>>>> one i remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if
>>>>> purchased, but my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt,
>>>>> slate cups, and accessories, and built the actual table, i was little
>>>>> enough i let older brother talk me into it not having a clue what it
>>>>> was... its now living in the basement at my moms and is over fourty
>>>>> years old and in great condition because he has replaced the felt and
>>>>> rubbers a few times. Lee
>>>>
>>>> I didn't realize it when I was a kid but most of what Santa gave us
>>>> were necessary items. Pajamas, maybe a robe, always socks and
>>>> underwear. Once in a while I would get a new dress and my brother would
>>>> usually get pants and a shirt. Toothbrushes in our stockings.
>>>
>>> Same, we got a lot of clothes (none that I liked, lol but clothes just
>>> the same) books (I liked the "annuals" and stuff like Famous Five etc)
>>> and bits and pieces of stationery, cheap games a couple of small toys
>>> all in the Santa bag. There was a stocking that had chips, lollies and
>>> some cheap little thing or two and one "big" present. My favourite was a
>>> 3 wheeler bike with a bell and a tray at the back
>>>
>>>> When Angela was little she always expected Santa to put things in all
>>>> of our stockings. For mine I would either buy things that I knew I
>>>> would be needing or I would find extras of things around the house and
>>>> just put them in there. She never knew. She just thought Santa did a
>>>> good job of giving me what I needed!
>>>
>>> Clever Santa
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

my mom grew up in the back woods of MO so if they didn't grow it/can it it
didn't get bought often if it were fruit, my grandmother canned apples,
berries of all types and pears that they grew, citrus was a real treat, Lee
"Jacquie" > wrote in message
m...
> We lived in Montana and the Mts of Washington State when I was a kid and
> oranges were a very nice treat
>
> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> my mom said the best part of christmas was the orange when she was a
>> kid, lol, Lee
>> "Jacquie" > wrote in message
>> m...
>>> We got the clothes and stuff we needed too, plus a couple of toys. Our
>>> stockings always had fruit and nuts in them, nothing else's...once and a
>>> while maybe a couple of pieces of candy and a candy cane. We always used
>>> one of our own stockings to hang(I always made sure it was the stockings
>>> that went to the knee..LOL) we never had those red fuzzy stockings we
>>> have today.
>>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>>
>>>>> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
>>>>>> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a
>>>>>> list of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the
>>>>>> only one i remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if
>>>>>> purchased, but my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt,
>>>>>> slate cups, and accessories, and built the actual table, i was little
>>>>>> enough i let older brother talk me into it not having a clue what it
>>>>>> was... its now living in the basement at my moms and is over fourty
>>>>>> years old and in great condition because he has replaced the felt and
>>>>>> rubbers a few times. Lee
>>>>>
>>>>> I didn't realize it when I was a kid but most of what Santa gave us
>>>>> were necessary items. Pajamas, maybe a robe, always socks and
>>>>> underwear. Once in a while I would get a new dress and my brother
>>>>> would usually get pants and a shirt. Toothbrushes in our stockings.
>>>>
>>>> Same, we got a lot of clothes (none that I liked, lol but clothes just
>>>> the same) books (I liked the "annuals" and stuff like Famous Five etc)
>>>> and bits and pieces of stationery, cheap games a couple of small toys
>>>> all in the Santa bag. There was a stocking that had chips, lollies and
>>>> some cheap little thing or two and one "big" present. My favourite was
>>>> a 3 wheeler bike with a bell and a tray at the back
>>>>
>>>>> When Angela was little she always expected Santa to put things in all
>>>>> of our stockings. For mine I would either buy things that I knew I
>>>>> would be needing or I would find extras of things around the house and
>>>>> just put them in there. She never knew. She just thought Santa did a
>>>>> good job of giving me what I needed!
>>>>
>>>> Clever Santa
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

"Storrmmee" > wrote in message
...
> my mom said the best part of christmas was the orange when she was a kid,
> lol, Lee

My mom said that too. But I never liked them.

On 12/20/2011 12:24 PM, Storrmmee wrote:
> my mom said the best part of christmas was the orange when she was a kid,
> lol, Lee

that went in the foot of the sock, then some nuts, bit of ribbon candy,
deck of cards, maybe a 'jacks' game or a pair of dice

HEAVEN!!!

kidlet got those and an advent calendar, stuffed with dental floss,
toothbrushes, toothpaste, those gold coin chocolates (stolen from
Channukah supplies), the odd Hot Wheel car...........it was amazing how
many practical 'gifts' he would appreciate (chap stick, yada, hand
warmer, etc LOL)

kate

"Tiger Lily" > wrote in message
...
> On 12/20/2011 12:24 PM, Storrmmee wrote:
>> my mom said the best part of christmas was the orange when she was a
>> kid,
>> lol, Lee
>
> that went in the foot of the sock, then some nuts, bit of ribbon
> candy, deck of cards, maybe a 'jacks' game or a pair of dice
>
> HEAVEN!!!
>
> kidlet got those and an advent calendar, stuffed with dental floss,
> toothbrushes, toothpaste, those gold coin chocolates (stolen from
> Channukah supplies), the odd Hot Wheel car...........it was amazing
> how many practical 'gifts' he would appreciate (chap stick, yada, hand
> warmer, etc LOL)

laser torches...

"Tiger Lily" > wrote in message
...
> On 12/20/2011 12:24 PM, Storrmmee wrote:
>> my mom said the best part of christmas was the orange when she was a
>> kid,
>> lol, Lee
>
> that went in the foot of the sock, then some nuts, bit of ribbon candy,
> deck of cards, maybe a 'jacks' game or a pair of dice
>
> HEAVEN!!!
>
> kidlet got those and an advent calendar, stuffed with dental floss,
> toothbrushes, toothpaste, those gold coin chocolates (stolen from
> Channukah supplies), the odd Hot Wheel car...........it was amazing how
> many practical 'gifts' he would appreciate (chap stick, yada, hand warmer,
> etc LOL)
>
> kate

Heh! People keep buying Angela Jacks. I think my mom was doing it year
after year just as she did for me. She always forgets from one year to the
next what she has bought. I finally had to tell her to quit putting needles
in my stocking! I don't sew. And I had dozens of packs of those. Angela
got more Jacks this last year from her cousin. She was like... Why do
people keep buying me these? Kids don't use them these days. And even in
my day I didn't see the appeal. My mom loved them. Me? Not so much.

I had to really try hard to come up with new items for the surprise ball
this year. I don't want to keep putting the same things in it year after
year. I did put some nail clippers in but these are the deluxe ones with
the purple cushiony covering. I don't think the others go through clippers
like we do. Clippers are just doomed in our house. They either get lost or
broken.

"Jacquie" > wrote in message
m...
> We got the clothes and stuff we needed too, plus a couple of toys. Our
> stockings always had fruit and nuts in them, nothing else's...once and
> a while maybe a couple of pieces of candy and a candy cane. We always
> used one of our own stockings to hang(I always made sure it was the
> stockings that went to the knee..LOL) we never had those red fuzzy
> stockings we have today.

I got Jasmine a little felt bag this year instead of the stocking, they
are too awkward IMO. the bag is red with a handle and a Santa Motif on
it. About the size of a library bag.

I also bought a throwaway heavy paper "sack".

> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>
>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years
>>>> where parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us
>>>> with a list of things to choose from and we all got one family
>>>> gift, the only one i remember is the year we choose the pool
>>>> table... pricey if purchased, but my dad went to a pool supply
>>>> house and bought felt, slate cups, and accessories, and built the
>>>> actual table, i was little enough i let older brother talk me into
>>>> it not having a clue what it was... its now living in the basement
>>>> at my moms and is over fourty years old and in great condition
>>>> because he has replaced the felt and rubbers a few times. Lee
>>>
>>> I didn't realize it when I was a kid but most of what Santa gave us
>>> were necessary items. Pajamas, maybe a robe, always socks and
>>> underwear. Once in a while I would get a new dress and my brother
>>> would usually get pants and a shirt. Toothbrushes in our stockings.
>>
>> Same, we got a lot of clothes (none that I liked, lol but clothes
>> just the same) books (I liked the "annuals" and stuff like Famous
>> Five etc) and bits and pieces of stationery, cheap games a couple of
>> small toys all in the Santa bag. There was a stocking that had chips,
>> lollies and some cheap little thing or two and one "big" present. My
>> favourite was a 3 wheeler bike with a bell and a tray at the back
>>
>>> When Angela was little she always expected Santa to put things in
>>> all of our stockings. For mine I would either buy things that I
>>> knew I would be needing or I would find extras of things around the
>>> house and just put them in there. She never knew. She just thought
>>> Santa did a good job of giving me what I needed!
>>
>> Clever Santa
>>
>
>

"Ozgirl" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "Jacquie" > wrote in message
> m...
>> We got the clothes and stuff we needed too, plus a couple of toys. Our
>> stockings always had fruit and nuts in them, nothing else's...once and a
>> while maybe a couple of pieces of candy and a candy cane. We always used
>> one of our own stockings to hang(I always made sure it was the stockings
>> that went to the knee..LOL) we never had those red fuzzy stockings we
>> have today.
>
> I got Jasmine a little felt bag this year instead of the stocking, they
> are too awkward IMO. the bag is red with a handle and a Santa Motif on it.
> About the size of a library bag.
>
> I also bought a throwaway heavy paper "sack".
>

I like those felt bags. One year I got one or two for everyone. Some
people needed two because their presents were larger. I wrapped all the
presents that I put inside in tissue paper. That saved me a ton of money on
real wrapping paper and bows, especially since they gave me most of the bags
back to reuse which I did for several years. I still have a few out in the
garage and am going to use one for the scratching post I got for the cats.

When my kids were young the stress was enormous. How can Santa let down
a little kid? I always laybyed stuff earlier in the year. Layby's are
generally only about 6 weeks but for toys they can be 6-8 months which
is a huge help. 5 of my kids are adults and one is about to turn 17, so
that leaves Jasmine who will be intellectually young forever. She is
going on 16 but today I went out and bought her toys The others are
happy enough to wait for a Xmas a few months down the track.

"Storrmmee" > wrote in message
...
> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a
> list of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the only
> one i remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if
> purchased, but my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt,
> slate cups, and accessories, and built the actual table, i was little
> enough i let older brother talk me into it not having a clue what it
> was... its now living in the basement at my moms and is over fourty
> years old and in great condition because he has replaced the felt and
> rubbers a few times. Lee
> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>
>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> No plans. We are postponing Christmas for a few months so we can
>>>> have something decent rather than half-arsed. I believe some young
>>>> friends and their toddler are coming over Christmas Eve for a BBQ
>>>> but they are just bringing a bit of meat and whatevers for
>>>> themselves and my boys can get what they want. My ex did say his
>>>> girlfriend will bring a ham and some cooked chickens over Christmas
>>>> Day so probably throw a salad together if they stay, which they
>>>> probably will. We had dessert lined up last year and no one ate any
>>>> as we were too full and the ex and his GF moved on to her
>>>> daughter's house after eating here. I might just get some fruit and
>>>> we can cut it up if necessary.
>>>
>>> My mom seems to have an idea that holidays are causing my dad to
>>> have brain bleeds. So we have to minimize what we do. I think it
>>> is more a matter of her not wanting to do much. But I could be
>>> wrong.
>>
>> Either way, its the family get together that's more important than
>> the type of food or how much time is spent on making it special. Xmas
>> can be traumatic for a variety of reasons. We are absolutely stone
>> broke this Xmas but I am not depressed about it, as I know that we
>> will get to do Xmas, just not on Xmas Day . All family members have
>> stated they are not fussed about presents or a big Xmas spread etc.
>> My one exception is to fill a Santa bag and stocking for Jasmine.
>
>

"Ozgirl" > wrote in message
...
> When my kids were young the stress was enormous. How can Santa let down a
> little kid? I always laybyed stuff earlier in the year. Layby's are
> generally only about 6 weeks but for toys they can be 6-8 months which is
> a huge help. 5 of my kids are adults and one is about to turn 17, so that
> leaves Jasmine who will be intellectually young forever. She is going on
> 16 but today I went out and bought her toys The others are happy enough
> to wait for a Xmas a few months down the track.

Even though Angela has pretty much outgrown toys, I still feel like I should
get her some. I got a few little things for the stocking. And I got her a
thingie that talks. It's a therapist. Makes comments to you in kind of a
smart assed way. I figured she would like that.

you have obiosly raised your children correctly owing to the fact they are
willing to wait and are supporting you with jasmine... btw i think of you
every time one of the cleaning staff comes to do our room... they are
variying levels of adulthood and comptence, and several will have permanent
job coaches, but they are all almost with some level of mental/intellectual
handicap Lee
"Ozgirl" > wrote in message
...
> When my kids were young the stress was enormous. How can Santa let down a
> little kid? I always laybyed stuff earlier in the year. Layby's are
> generally only about 6 weeks but for toys they can be 6-8 months which is
> a huge help. 5 of my kids are adults and one is about to turn 17, so that
> leaves Jasmine who will be intellectually young forever. She is going on
> 16 but today I went out and bought her toys The others are happy enough
> to wait for a Xmas a few months down the track.
>
> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
>> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a list
>> of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the only one i
>> remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if purchased, but
>> my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt, slate cups, and
>> accessories, and built the actual table, i was little enough i let older
>> brother talk me into it not having a clue what it was... its now living
>> in the basement at my moms and is over fourty years old and in great
>> condition because he has replaced the felt and rubbers a few times. Lee
>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>>
>>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> No plans. We are postponing Christmas for a few months so we can have
>>>>> something decent rather than half-arsed. I believe some young friends
>>>>> and their toddler are coming over Christmas Eve for a BBQ but they are
>>>>> just bringing a bit of meat and whatevers for themselves and my boys
>>>>> can get what they want. My ex did say his girlfriend will bring a ham
>>>>> and some cooked chickens over Christmas Day so probably throw a salad
>>>>> together if they stay, which they probably will. We had dessert lined
>>>>> up last year and no one ate any as we were too full and the ex and his
>>>>> GF moved on to her daughter's house after eating here. I might just
>>>>> get some fruit and we can cut it up if necessary.
>>>>
>>>> My mom seems to have an idea that holidays are causing my dad to have
>>>> brain bleeds. So we have to minimize what we do. I think it is more a
>>>> matter of her not wanting to do much. But I could be wrong.
>>>
>>> Either way, its the family get together that's more important than the
>>> type of food or how much time is spent on making it special. Xmas can be
>>> traumatic for a variety of reasons. We are absolutely stone broke this
>>> Xmas but I am not depressed about it, as I know that we will get to do
>>> Xmas, just not on Xmas Day . All family members have stated they are
>>> not fussed about presents or a big Xmas spread etc. My one exception is
>>> to fill a Santa bag and stocking for Jasmine.
>>
>>

"Storrmmee" > wrote in message
...
> you have obiosly raised your children correctly owing to the fact they
> are willing to wait and are supporting you with jasmine... btw i think
> of you every time one of the cleaning staff comes to do our room...
> they are variying levels of adulthood and comptence, and several will
> have permanent job coaches, but they are all almost with some level of
> mental/intellectual handicap Lee

Correct or not its something they just have to accept, luckily they
accepted graciously. Despite their ages (17, 20 and 22) they still like
their Santa bags with a few toy-like presents inside


> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
> ...
>> When my kids were young the stress was enormous. How can Santa let
>> down a little kid? I always laybyed stuff earlier in the year.
>> Layby's are generally only about 6 weeks but for toys they can be 6-8
>> months which is a huge help. 5 of my kids are adults and one is about
>> to turn 17, so that leaves Jasmine who will be intellectually young
>> forever. She is going on 16 but today I went out and bought her toys
>> The others are happy enough to wait for a Xmas a few months down
>> the track.
>>
>> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
>>> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a
>>> list of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the
>>> only one i remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey
>>> if purchased, but my dad went to a pool supply house and bought
>>> felt, slate cups, and accessories, and built the actual table, i was
>>> little enough i let older brother talk me into it not having a clue
>>> what it was... its now living in the basement at my moms and is over
>>> fourty years old and in great condition because he has replaced the
>>> felt and rubbers a few times. Lee
>>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>>
>>>>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> No plans. We are postponing Christmas for a few months so we can
>>>>>> have something decent rather than half-arsed. I believe some
>>>>>> young friends and their toddler are coming over Christmas Eve for
>>>>>> a BBQ but they are just bringing a bit of meat and whatevers for
>>>>>> themselves and my boys can get what they want. My ex did say his
>>>>>> girlfriend will bring a ham and some cooked chickens over
>>>>>> Christmas Day so probably throw a salad together if they stay,
>>>>>> which they probably will. We had dessert lined up last year and
>>>>>> no one ate any as we were too full and the ex and his GF moved on
>>>>>> to her daughter's house after eating here. I might just get some
>>>>>> fruit and we can cut it up if necessary.
>>>>>
>>>>> My mom seems to have an idea that holidays are causing my dad to
>>>>> have brain bleeds. So we have to minimize what we do. I think it
>>>>> is more a matter of her not wanting to do much. But I could be
>>>>> wrong.
>>>>
>>>> Either way, its the family get together that's more important than
>>>> the type of food or how much time is spent on making it special.
>>>> Xmas can be traumatic for a variety of reasons. We are absolutely
>>>> stone broke this Xmas but I am not depressed about it, as I know
>>>> that we will get to do Xmas, just not on Xmas Day . All family
>>>> members have stated they are not fussed about presents or a big
>>>> Xmas spread etc. My one exception is to fill a Santa bag and
>>>> stocking for Jasmine.
>>>
>>>
>
>

We call them Lay-aways here. My kids would never had gotten toys if I
couldn't do Lay-away.Sure helped a lot


"Ozgirl" > wrote in message
...
> When my kids were young the stress was enormous. How can Santa let down a
> little kid? I always laybyed stuff earlier in the year. Layby's are
> generally only about 6 weeks but for toys they can be 6-8 months which is
> a huge help. 5 of my kids are adults and one is about to turn 17, so that
> leaves Jasmine who will be intellectually young forever. She is going on
> 16 but today I went out and bought her toys The others are happy enough
> to wait for a Xmas a few months down the track.
>
> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
>> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a list
>> of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the only one i
>> remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if purchased, but
>> my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt, slate cups, and
>> accessories, and built the actual table, i was little enough i let older
>> brother talk me into it not having a clue what it was... its now living
>> in the basement at my moms and is over fourty years old and in great
>> condition because he has replaced the felt and rubbers a few times. Lee
>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>>
>>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> No plans. We are postponing Christmas for a few months so we can have
>>>>> something decent rather than half-arsed. I believe some young friends
>>>>> and their toddler are coming over Christmas Eve for a BBQ but they are
>>>>> just bringing a bit of meat and whatevers for themselves and my boys
>>>>> can get what they want. My ex did say his girlfriend will bring a ham
>>>>> and some cooked chickens over Christmas Day so probably throw a salad
>>>>> together if they stay, which they probably will. We had dessert lined
>>>>> up last year and no one ate any as we were too full and the ex and his
>>>>> GF moved on to her daughter's house after eating here. I might just
>>>>> get some fruit and we can cut it up if necessary.
>>>>
>>>> My mom seems to have an idea that holidays are causing my dad to have
>>>> brain bleeds. So we have to minimize what we do. I think it is more a
>>>> matter of her not wanting to do much. But I could be wrong.
>>>
>>> Either way, its the family get together that's more important than the
>>> type of food or how much time is spent on making it special. Xmas can be
>>> traumatic for a variety of reasons. We are absolutely stone broke this
>>> Xmas but I am not depressed about it, as I know that we will get to do
>>> Xmas, just not on Xmas Day . All family members have stated they are
>>> not fussed about presents or a big Xmas spread etc. My one exception is
>>> to fill a Santa bag and stocking for Jasmine.
>>
>>
>

it seems my mom did this but i didn't realise it until i thought about it,
Lee
"Jacquie" > wrote in message
m...
> We call them Lay-aways here. My kids would never had gotten toys if I
> couldn't do Lay-away.Sure helped a lot
>
>
> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
> ...
>> When my kids were young the stress was enormous. How can Santa let down a
>> little kid? I always laybyed stuff earlier in the year. Layby's are
>> generally only about 6 weeks but for toys they can be 6-8 months which is
>> a huge help. 5 of my kids are adults and one is about to turn 17, so that
>> leaves Jasmine who will be intellectually young forever. She is going on
>> 16 but today I went out and bought her toys The others are happy
>> enough to wait for a Xmas a few months down the track.
>>
>> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
>>> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a
>>> list of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the only
>>> one i remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if
>>> purchased, but my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt, slate
>>> cups, and accessories, and built the actual table, i was little enough i
>>> let older brother talk me into it not having a clue what it was... its
>>> now living in the basement at my moms and is over fourty years old and
>>> in great condition because he has replaced the felt and rubbers a few
>>> times. Lee
>>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>>
>>>>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> No plans. We are postponing Christmas for a few months so we can have
>>>>>> something decent rather than half-arsed. I believe some young friends
>>>>>> and their toddler are coming over Christmas Eve for a BBQ but they
>>>>>> are just bringing a bit of meat and whatevers for themselves and my
>>>>>> boys can get what they want. My ex did say his girlfriend will bring
>>>>>> a ham and some cooked chickens over Christmas Day so probably throw a
>>>>>> salad together if they stay, which they probably will. We had dessert
>>>>>> lined up last year and no one ate any as we were too full and the ex
>>>>>> and his GF moved on to her daughter's house after eating here. I
>>>>>> might just get some fruit and we can cut it up if necessary.
>>>>>
>>>>> My mom seems to have an idea that holidays are causing my dad to have
>>>>> brain bleeds. So we have to minimize what we do. I think it is more
>>>>> a matter of her not wanting to do much. But I could be wrong.
>>>>
>>>> Either way, its the family get together that's more important than the
>>>> type of food or how much time is spent on making it special. Xmas can
>>>> be traumatic for a variety of reasons. We are absolutely stone broke
>>>> this Xmas but I am not depressed about it, as I know that we will get
>>>> to do Xmas, just not on Xmas Day . All family members have stated
>>>> they are not fussed about presents or a big Xmas spread etc. My one
>>>> exception is to fill a Santa bag and stocking for Jasmine.
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

"Storrmmee" > wrote in message
...
> it seems my mom did this but i didn't realise it until i thought about
> it, Lee

Mine got things on a store account, cheap dept store. If we wanted
clothes that didn't come from the op shops we had to choose from the
store Mum had an account with.

> "Jacquie" > wrote in message
> m...
>> We call them Lay-aways here. My kids would never had gotten toys if I
>> couldn't do Lay-away.Sure helped a lot

lol, i was twelve before i knew clothes came from a store... i knew
underwear and socks came from sears, at christmas of course, and i knew in
some of the farm stores there were bibs and coats... but until the first
year i went to the school for the blind i had no idea clothes came from
anywhere but
-hand me downs from relatives
-yard sales
-my grandmothers and an aunt sewed them...

Lee
"Ozgirl" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> it seems my mom did this but i didn't realise it until i thought about
>> it, Lee
>
> Mine got things on a store account, cheap dept store. If we wanted clothes
> that didn't come from the op shops we had to choose from the store Mum had
> an account with.
>
>> "Jacquie" > wrote in message
>> m...
>>> We call them Lay-aways here. My kids would never had gotten toys if I
>>> couldn't do Lay-away.Sure helped a lot
>
>

"Storrmmee" > wrote in message
...
> lol, i was twelve before i knew clothes came from a store... i knew
> underwear and socks came from sears, at christmas of course, and i knew in
> some of the farm stores there were bibs and coats... but until the first
> year i went to the school for the blind i had no idea clothes came from
> anywhere but
> -hand me downs from relatives
> -yard sales
> -my grandmothers and an aunt sewed them...

I thought most clothes came from Sears or somebody made them. My mom did a
lot of sewing. We had a department store called Everybody's. I do remember
going in there many times but I don't think we ever bought anything from
them.

I always wished I could get hand me downs but that never worked. I was sooo
tall and thin that nothing fit me. I had older cousins but I was taller
than they were. Then at about age 10 I got a hand me down bra. I was sooo
happy until I realized it wouldn't fit. The girl who gave it to me was thin
but I was still thinner. That's when I discovered the mall and all the
stores contained within. We did have a local mall but it was a dinky little
thing. My mom took me to Northgate (now a dinky mall in comparison to some
others) to the 5/7/9 shop which was recommended to her. Alas I was too
skinny even for size 5. We went from shop to shop only to be told there
were no bras in my size. I haven't a clue what my bust measurement was but
I had an 18" waist. What I wound up getting was a set of panties and bra in
yellow. The bra was just sort of like a cut off undershirt in a stretchy
fabric. I got made fun of for wearing the yellow panties. As I was
changing for gym a girl shouted out, "Hey! Did you pee your panties?" But
then later that week she wore green nail polish. So I asked her if she had
been picking her nose? She stopped making nasty comments to me.

I am very glad kids can't behave that way in school today. Not here anyway.
Sure I suppose good friends might make such comments to one another but in
general it is not allowed. They can expel a kid for making comments like
that to others.

On 12/20/2011 6:25 PM, Storrmmee wrote:
> lol, i was twelve before i knew clothes came from a store... i knew
> underwear and socks came from sears, at christmas of course, and i knew in
> some of the farm stores there were bibs and coats... but until the first
> year i went to the school for the blind i had no idea clothes came from
> anywhere but
> -hand me downs from relatives
> -yard sales
> -my grandmothers and an aunt sewed them...
>
> Lee

think i was about that age....... 14 rings some bells for me

Mom made my clothes until i was 8 yrs old, upon which i made my own
clothes and my brother's winter jackets (ok, 1 or 2 years later) and my
brother's clothes

it was JEANS, BELL BOTTOM JEANS that i wanted from the STORE

i made a nice pair :/

kate (bought her first store bought jeans at the age of 16) LOL

My mother made many of our clothes and preferred to present them
when they were ready instead of saving them for Christmas.

At least one of my sisters did the same for her children.

On 12/20/2011 6:17 PM, Ozgirl wrote:
>
>
> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> it seems my mom did this but i didn't realise it until i thought about
>> it, Lee
>
> Mine got things on a store account, cheap dept store. If we wanted
> clothes that didn't come from the op shops we had to choose from the
> store Mum had an account with.
>
>> "Jacquie" > wrote in message
>> m...
>>> We call them Lay-aways here. My kids would never had gotten toys if I
>>> couldn't do Lay-away.Sure helped a lot

"Robert Miles" > wrote in message
...
> My mother made many of our clothes and preferred to present them
> when they were ready instead of saving them for Christmas.
>
> At least one of my sisters did the same for her children.
>
My grandmas often made us stuff for Christmas. One knitted and crocheted.
The other one tried that and failed miserably. She made us all slippers for
Christmas one year. Oh how I hated those knitted slippers! They were rough
to wear and yet slippery on a wood floor. When they got dirty, my mom
washed them out in the bathtub and hung them to dry. We all watched in
horror as they stretched to monstrous proportions. My dad's were the worst.
His grew to about 2 feet long. They never shrank back.

That grandma did sew though and one year she made me a pretty green velvet
dress with a white bib and a black tie around the waist.

"Ozgirl" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "Storrmmee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> it seems my mom did this but i didn't realise it until i thought about
>> it, Lee
>
> Mine got things on a store account, cheap dept store. If we wanted clothes
> that didn't come from the op shops we had to choose from the store Mum had
> an account with.

My parents were very big on Sears. I don't know why. My school dresses
were ordered from the catalog and I got to choose two each year from the
cheapest ones listed in the catalog. Why two? Because they were always
sold as two for something or other. I want to say 2 for $9.99 or maybe it
was $7.99. Very cheap. I also always had to have a dark skirt or jumper
and a white top or blouse to wear for concerts.

But there were many years when my mom had to make most of my clothes because
I was so tall and thin nothing on the rack fit me.

I do remember a couple of fortuitous occasions though. One was when White
Front went out of business. They were a huge discount department store
complete with a bakery where you could watch them make donuts. Everything
was marked down to next to nothing and I was allowed to have anything I
wanted. I chose a grey pinstriped dress and a brown one with pink and white
flowers that came with a white beaded necklace.

The following year (or maybe it was even the same year) Nordstrom's
changing. They had been just a shoe store but they combined with another
store to form a department store. All of the shoes were being sold for next
to nothing. Again, I could choose all that I wanted. But wearing a size 8
AA there wasn't much available. I chose a red pair of patent leather slip
ons with black grosgrain bows and another pair of black patent leather slip
ons. Better still I was allowed to wear those shoes to school!

My dad had very strong opinions on what constituted a good pair of school
shoes. And mainly it was that they could not bend. He would try to bend
the sole and if it would bend, he would say we could not have them. This
seemed to work pretty well for my brother who has flat feet. My dad also
has flat feet and hammer toes. So perhaps that sort of shoe works well for
a flat footed person. But I have high arches and overly flexible feet.
Those shoes did nothing but hurt my feet. He really loved the saddle shoes
for girls. I hated them because they were what the Catholic girls had to
wear. Few girls who went to public school ever wore the dreaded things and
I got made fun of a lot for them.

But to be allowed to wear clothes that I picked from a whole rack of
clothes, and shoes that I picked from a whole rack of shoes...heaven!

By the time I was 12, at least partway through that year was when I was
allowed to buy all of my clothes and shoes all the time. This after my mom
witnessed other kids laughing at me and calling me names for the outfit she
insisted I wear which involved red wool plaid knickers. The being made fun
of part didn't even bother me really because I have always wanted to be a
unique person. However the fact that I was being forced to wear something I
considered hideous really got to me. Worse still, my mom made the knickers
into shorts. Who wants wool shorts? Especially red plaid ones? Not me.

I have for the most part been very lucky with Angela. She is picky about
her clothes. For years she would only wear slip over knit dresses with no
buttons (unless purely decorative) and a fairly high neckline. Then there
was the 2 year period where she mainly only would wear blue. Then when we
moved here they were not allowed to wear dresses to school.

She switched to knit pants and crew neck T-Shirts, dabbling briefly in jeans
but deciding she didn't like them. These days she likes novelty T-Shirts
that have a dance theme, cats or currently the upcoming holiday and dance
pants. Mainly sweats. So I just look for these things on clearance and I
buy them for her. It is rare for her to give something away because she
doesn't like it. And rare for her to ask for things, although once in a
while she finds a seasonal shirt that she wants.

For Christmas I had ordered her some T-Shirts and sweat pants from Sugar and
Bruno (hip hop) and various dance catalogs. I order online. I don't ever
look at the actual catalogs. Then the catalogs came in the mail. She had
circled all these things that she wanted. I got lucky! Most of what she
had circled was what she wanted and I chose the right color too. She also
wanted some faux Ugg boots that look a little Ed Hardyish and say "Dance" on
them. They were not expensive so I got her those too. She is mostly
getting clothes this year.

On 12/20/2011 3:24 AM, Ozgirl wrote:
> When my kids were young the stress was enormous. How can Santa let down
> a little kid? I always laybyed stuff earlier in the year. Layby's are
> generally only about 6 weeks but for toys they can be 6-8 months which
> is a huge help. 5 of my kids are adults and one is about to turn 17, so
> that leaves Jasmine who will be intellectually young forever. She is
> going on 16 but today I went out and bought her toys The others are
> happy enough to wait for a Xmas a few months down the track.

teenlet has been told he's cut off at 18

(that's from Aunts and uncles, not Mom and Dad and
Grandma............... we aren't telling him that! LOL)

kate

"Tiger Lily" > wrote in message
...
> On 12/20/2011 3:24 AM, Ozgirl wrote:
>> When my kids were young the stress was enormous. How can Santa let
>> down
>> a little kid? I always laybyed stuff earlier in the year. Layby's are
>> generally only about 6 weeks but for toys they can be 6-8 months
>> which
>> is a huge help. 5 of my kids are adults and one is about to turn 17,
>> so
>> that leaves Jasmine who will be intellectually young forever. She is
>> going on 16 but today I went out and bought her toys The others
>> are
>> happy enough to wait for a Xmas a few months down the track.
>
> teenlet has been told he's cut off at 18
>
> (that's from Aunts and uncles, not Mom and Dad and
> Grandma............... we aren't telling him that! LOL)
>
> kate

Mine still want the sack, lol. Even my 33 yr old daughter! But the sack
is for Jasmine and the grandkids.