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Oh you shouldnt have! No really you shouldn have!! - Page 2

post #21 of 84
12/26/07 at 11:47pm
A marble run roller coaster thing similar to http://www.amazon.com/Skyrail-Marble...8722857&sr=8-1. It is really, really cool-looking. What's the problem, you say? My son is 2.5. I did mention to my father that he would like a marble run, but I didn't really mean one that required assembly of a small elevator with a motor and gears. The age says 8+. However, I am over the age of 8, and I intend to enjoy it myself.

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post #22 of 84
12/26/07 at 11:47pm
The Gift: Came with the disclaimer that if I did not like it, Marshal (nephew) had picked it out. It was ... earrings ... with porcupine quills attached. Nephew said it was to remind me of how my dog got into a brutal battle with a porcupine earlier this year. :Puke

The reaction: "wow ... thanks ... luckily the pointiest part of the tip has been filed down ... otherwise I could really hurt someone if I hugged them"

It will go in ... I haven't figured this out yet.



He's 12, I guess I shouldn't expect much else.
post #23 of 84
12/27/07 at 12:06am
The gift: Rooster mugs and tea pot
The reaction: Trying to hold a smile "Oh, look dh. Rooster mugs."
My thought: Didn't they give us this last year???
I think it was their mom and dad who gave us a similar set last year. We really like them, but how many do you need? I just don't want people to feel like they have to get us a gift just to get us a gift! kwim?
I would be happy if we didn't get any items, but just gift cards or money instead. Or nothing at all would be just fine too!! We have sooo much stuff.
post #24 of 84
12/27/07 at 12:45am
Not THAT horrible, but I recieved a big box of chocolates. I am diabetic.
post #25 of 84
12/27/07 at 12:46am
The Gift: The video game system for preschoolers, along with 6 games, the dancing playmat, and the video book that connects to it along with the reads-you-a-book system for infants.

The Giver: my mom's new husband

Reaction: DD opend about half the gifts before curling into my lap and saying "this is all a little much for me."

It will go in: sigh.... My mom babysits for us 2 days a week. She warned me that this was coming. Her husband, who is very nice, but very mainstream, bought this all because it was so educational and spent hundreds of dollars. My kids are "his" first grandkids, and they have only been married 6 mons. My mom didn't have the heart to tell him I didn't want this crap. I finally got my step mom and dad and IL's to buy nice wooden toys, etc. for the kids and now this! Anyway, it will be set up, for now anyway, in the living room. DD doesn't really care for playing with it and DS just wants to eat the pages of his baby book system. But my mom would be devestated if it wasn't there anymore.
post #26 of 84
12/27/07 at 1:04am
My Dad and his partner got me a giant decorative...jug. With tea roses painted all over it. I am so not a decorative jug kinda person. It is too large for a water pitcher, and too large to just stow away. It might just get broken... oops!

(I however spent many an hour on handmade hiking socks for my dad's very large feet and a cute needlepoint I made myself all framed for his wife. I wish I had kept the socks!)

My Dad usually calls a few days before Christmas and asks for a detailed list so he can spend as little time shopping as usual. This year, I was all proactive and send him a list with lots of suggestions. My kids got fugly clothes with no tags or receipts, I got the aforementioned decorative jug, and my partner got the only cool thing and the only thing off the suggested list: an iTunes card. Dp is going to share. I just wish my Dad had been more thoughtful. An almost 10 yr old boy does not appreciate clothes for Christmas, and my dd got this hot pink puffy vest. I guess I should be more thankful, but I just feel that there was no thought for the recipients in their gifts.

(For my son's last birthday we got him a whole bunch of kid friendly tools, and stuff to make little sculptures from - nuts and bolts and stuff. Well didn't my Dad, on hearing what we got, go and get him the same thing. Whaaaaa?)
post #27 of 84
12/27/07 at 1:17am
My GMIL gave my DS clothes without tags as well. What's up with that? They were clearly new, but I don't understand why she removed all the tags. Maybe it's too much trouble to search for prices to hide so they all just get ripped out?
post #28 of 84
12/27/07 at 2:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mamavegan View Post
My GMIL gave my DS clothes without tags as well. What's up with that? They were clearly new, but I don't understand why she removed all the tags. Maybe it's too much trouble to search for prices to hide so they all just get ripped out?

My MIL does this and takes it one step further...she takes the toys out of the boxes and cuts all the wires and whatever on them, then puts them back in the boxes and sends them. She sure makes sure they're non-returnable....
post #29 of 84
12/27/07 at 2:25am
The gift: A big giant pop up tent with two connecting tunnels for DS from ILs

Reaction: Where am I going to put this? It's as big as my living room and I live in a 1 bedroom apartment.

It will go.. in it's storage case, probably to be taken out very rarely or never until we move to someplace to accommodate an item of such size. I can't tell you how many times we have stressed our lack of space to the ILs.
post #30 of 84
12/27/07 at 4:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RolliePollie View Post
The gift: A big giant pop up tent with two connecting tunnels for DS from ILs

Reaction: Where am I going to put this? It's as big as my living room and I live in a 1 bedroom apartment.

It will go.. in it's storage case, probably to be taken out very rarely or never until we move to someplace to accommodate an item of such size. I can't tell you how many times we have stressed our lack of space to the ILs.
I had a very similar reaction when my DD opened her birthday gift from my (childles, 21yo) brother. It was three tents connected with three tunnels. It takes up the entire bedroom that my DD will maybe someday sleep in. One more perk to cosleeping- if Raina slept in there we'd have no place for the tunnel system
post #31 of 84
12/27/07 at 11:28am
I'll trade you your tunnels for a decorative jug?!?
post #32 of 84
12/27/07 at 12:08pm
My husband got me a necklace. He really has no clue about jewelry and after 12 years you would think he wold have figured it out. He is always trying to find different and unique and I want very classic. There is a type of necklace seen on tv a lot lately that I think is ugly. I have told him so repeatedly. He gives me a very similar one. "its a little different then the one on tv so I thought you would like it" Huh??? And after 12 years I no longer lie. I feel very ungrateful but I already have a collection of weird unique pieces of jewelry in a drawer I will never wear. Money is tight and I really would have preferred a unique pair of slippers. He said we can try and exchange it but it was on sale so he is not sure. I figure worst case I will have the little stones re-set at some point.
post #33 of 84
12/27/07 at 12:13pm
OMG i'm cracking up over here!!!

we still have not seen my IL's yet but we will this weekend, so can't do a full recount... didn't too badly this christmas... my mum gave each dd $50 to spend on toys that WE choose for them - thank you mum!!! she bought me and dh chocolates and bought over fresh summer berries and fruits, seafood... beautiful!! now that's a present i can definitely live with!
uncle bought over some stuffed animals and some plastic toys (barbie, mobile phones, princess bags etc).. one plastic toy was kept and the rest were put in the charity box without being played with. he does not have much money to begin with and so we really appreciate the fact that he bought over anything at all.

the IL's gifts are always a crack up though and very useless.... can't wait for this weekend.
post #34 of 84
12/27/07 at 12:21pm
The gift: bright orange mumu dress

The reaction: is this a joke?

(sadly it wasn't, poor DH he thought I could wear it at the beach)

It will go great in: my pajama drawer and I will wear it to bed faithfully for the next few months until is slowly starts to be used less and less and hopefully disappear by next Christmas.

ETA: if it's not a turn-on, it's his fault
post #35 of 84
12/27/07 at 12:24pm
The gift: Some weird tractor nutcracker and nuts with thr $4.88 (WM) tag still attached.

dh was the recipient, and his response was something like : (it was from my parents).

It will go great in the:
-trunk to be returned when I finally get around to it in late Jan.
post #36 of 84
12/27/07 at 6:24pm
Lighthouses; bought in Ontario, MIC. We live in Nova Scotia.

Lighthouse sculptures, keychains, votive tea-light holders, sweatshirts, calendars...that's all I can think of so far. But there are more. I'm actually starting to enjoy my collection.
post #37 of 84
12/27/07 at 6:26pm
the gifts:
set of 12 christmas pop up cards
one rather LARGE cardboard box that you open which is full of cardboard books , stupid books, about christmas. A really dumb set of gifts.
Our reaction? Since it was in the mail- we made no attempt to smother our true feelings.

Gone to Goodwill.
post #38 of 84
12/27/07 at 6:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RolliePollie View Post
The gift: A big giant pop up tent with two connecting tunnels for DS from ILs

Reaction: Where am I going to put this? It's as big as my living room and I live in a 1 bedroom apartment.

It will go.. in it's storage case, probably to be taken out very rarely or never until we move to someplace to accommodate an item of such size. I can't tell you how many times we have stressed our lack of space to the ILs.
I'll trade you for paypal!

I finally have room for something like this.
post #39 of 84
12/27/07 at 7:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaJamie View Post
My MIL does this and takes it one step further...she takes the toys out of the boxes and cuts all the wires and whatever on them, then puts them back in the boxes and sends them. She sure makes sure they're non-returnable....
I actually heard it's a good idea to do this so the poor kids don't have to be sitting there on Christmas while mom & dad spend hours trying to get the darn toy out of all the packaging & can just play with it right away. Maybe she heard this too and is just trying to help??? Not actually trying to force you to keep it.
post #40 of 84
12/27/07 at 8:05pm
My husband gave me, I am not kidding, a political bumper sticker that he got for free.
It's a candidate that my hubby loves. I'm not sure if I'm voting for that candidate or not, but I'm still not putting it on my car. He also gave me candy - about a dollar's worth. That was it.

I really only received a couple of gifts that I appreicate. I know that sounds ungrateful. The past few years I've really tried to tell my family to skip gifts all together, that I don't need anything, I'd prefer just a nice card or something. Instead, they just keep giving me junky gifts that I'm too nice to give away (what if they ask me to see it later or something?).

My M-I-L sent me an item of clothing that she once said would look horrible on any woman, no matter how skinny the woman was. So of course, she sends one to chubby me. While MIL graciously sends gift receipts for clothing she buys the kids, the item for me was missing it's gift receipt. So I guess I'm stuck with it.
My S-I-L, who has always openly hated me & dh, sent me the ugliest, useless gift known to man. It's so aweful I don't even know what to do with it. Maybe I'll donate it, somewhere. It's breakable and I have let the children play with it today. I'm praying they'll "accidentally" break it.

DH & I both received used gifts, but it's from a relative who is pushing 100 yrs old, so it's perfectly fine. Actually, both our used gifts were nicer than what MIL & SIL gave me.

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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Decluttering, Organizing, & Simplifying › Oh you shouldnt have! No really you shouldn have!!