Anonymous
11/25/2015 12:49
Subject: Christmas gift exchange ideas for scads of nieces & nephews
Anonymous wrote:We are currently at 11 cousins and counting. Likely we will cap out at around a dozen.
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We have been doing ornament exchanges with names drawn for the past couple of years. There was big time push back from one of the aunts, but now that we are into it she loves the ornament exchange.
What led her to go along is that one of the siblings had a husband who lost his job. She finally just said that even with cheap gifts, she was spending more on cousin gifts than they were able to spend on their daughter's gifts, including Santa. They had saved around $150 for Christmas, and after all the cousin gifts were bought that left only wround $50.00 for under their tree Christmas morning.
The indulgent aunt finally grudgingly agreed when the rest of us put together a united front.
Anonymous
11/25/2015 12:49
Subject: Christmas gift exchange ideas for scads of nieces & nephews
We buy books at the fall book fair each year
Anonymous
11/25/2015 12:48
Subject: Christmas gift exchange ideas for scads of nieces & nephews
Can you do a gift per family? A family membership to the zoo, or a gift certificate for a night of bowling, or something like that?
Anonymous
11/25/2015 12:46
Subject: Christmas gift exchange ideas for scads of nieces & nephews
We are currently at 11 cousins and counting. Likely we will cap out at around a dozen.
.
We have been doing ornament exchanges with names drawn for the past couple of years. There was big time push back from one of the aunts, but now that we are into it she loves the ornament exchange.
.
We have been doing ornament exchanges with names drawn for the past couple of years. There was big time push back from one of the aunts, but now that we are into it she loves the ornament exchange.
Anonymous
11/25/2015 12:38
Subject: Christmas gift exchange ideas for scads of nieces & nephews
I'm in a similar situation on my husbands side except his family all lives close in the Midwest, and we're the only ones who live away.
My SIL suggested a drawing about a week ago. I have no problem doing that in 2016 but I won't agree to this year. I made all the gift purchases in Aug when we visited the Midwest (my MIL stores and wraps to help me avoid shipping costs).
My suggestion is that if you want sibling participation for a nice/nephew drawing or lottery, ask early in the year.
My SIL suggested a drawing about a week ago. I have no problem doing that in 2016 but I won't agree to this year. I made all the gift purchases in Aug when we visited the Midwest (my MIL stores and wraps to help me avoid shipping costs).
My suggestion is that if you want sibling participation for a nice/nephew drawing or lottery, ask early in the year.
Anonymous
11/24/2015 11:12
Subject: Christmas gift exchange ideas for scads of nieces & nephews
We always did this kind of gift exchange, and it was never a downer. It was fun to play Secret Santa, and with only one gift to buy, people made more effort to get something the recipient really liked.
Anonymous
11/23/2015 19:48
Subject: Re:Christmas gift exchange ideas for scads of nieces & nephews
Gift cards
Anonymous
11/23/2015 19:10
Subject: Re:Christmas gift exchange ideas for scads of nieces & nephews
We did a book theme last year and that was fun. Ornaments are also a nice idea.