(Ended) Countdown Contest: 39 Days Until Christmas [Archive]

spring

11-15-2008, 09:30 AM

This might sound trivial, but one of my DD's lives out of state. She has a darling little girl, age 5, that I don't get to spend as much time with as my other granddaughters. This summer, my DD allowed me to take her on vacation with us for an entire week. That time with her was precious and the best gift I could think about.:sunshine:

linanglab

11-15-2008, 09:43 AM

2 years ago my Poppop (my grandpa) died. Last year for Christmas, each of the grandchildren got a card from him and Mamma (who died 10 years prior) with a check in it. The card just said they loved us and to do something fun with the money....the money was not alot, but to see their names on that card was beautiful. VERY sad, but beautiful.

bartleby1

11-15-2008, 09:54 AM

A couple of years ago for mother's day, my DH bought a frame for a picture that I had bought at disneyworld the year before. I am somewhat of a procrastinator and would never have gotten around to doing it. I just thought that was so thoughtful and such a great gift to me.

I still don't think my DH realizes how much I loved that gift. Every time I look at it hanging on my wall it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.:love:

mindyd2006

11-15-2008, 10:05 AM

The Most Special Gift I have gotten is a Mothers Ring from my Daughters my Favorite Gifts are the one that they pick out their selves at Santa Land at School.

bajam

11-15-2008, 10:16 AM

My favorite gifts were from my boys on Mother's Day a couple of years ago. The school had a list of things about mom's and they had to fill in the blanks to describe me. To see myself through they eyes of my children was really special.

faithhope

11-15-2008, 10:22 AM

We went on a family vacation to the grand canyon, and my father bought us all a ride in the helicopter. This was my first ride in a helicopter, and I got to ride in front and have a wonderful memory of seeing the grand canyon from above.

mmm611

11-15-2008, 10:23 AM

Mine is really silly. When I was about 13, my brother and I had just gotten CD players and so were just getting started with our CD collections. We both wanted a particular one that year and I knew that my aunt and uncle were giving it to Bill. I figured for sure I wasn't getting it because they'd think we'd have to share, so I was rather bummed. When we did Christmas that year, Bill gave me that CD. It was definitely the most surprising one I've ever received and while it might sound a little silly, it's one of the most appreciated because I had convinced myself I wasn't getting it.

arob414

11-15-2008, 10:43 AM

A dinner ring from my daddy. Dinner rings were a big deal when I was in high school. They were not expensive and alot of my friends had one. I really wanted one but we were going thru some hard times and Daddy told me we couldn't afford one. Christmas morning, we are unwrapping gifts and one of mine was a fair size box that turned out to have more boxes in it and ultimately my ring box. I was super excited. Daddy died a few yrs later and I still have my ring. I haven't worn it in yrs, it is too little. It will probably go to Anna because she has long thin fingers and Grace doesn't.

sammielynn

11-15-2008, 10:54 AM

When I was about 13 my Grandmother gave me a set of pillow cases that she had embroderied. Being the little grouch I was I didn't think that was a very good gift. Now 40 something years later I still have thoses pillow cases and they mean the world to me. Yes, they are ragged but I would never part with them.

ladyjane98

11-15-2008, 11:07 AM

My special gift is a ring that my Husband gave me on our first Christmas as Husband and wife. I wasn't expecting it at all and was so exited that I could hardly open the present. It's still so special to me.:love:

lkturner

11-15-2008, 11:25 AM

Two years before my Grandma died, she wrapped up her wedding ring in a box and gave it to me. She had worn that ring for most of her 93 years. It was the most special gift I have ever received. I wear it every day along with my own wedding ring. :)

dparra

11-15-2008, 11:30 AM

the first one that comes to mind is a quilt my aunt made for our wedding gift.. it's beautiful and she somehow put a picture of our invitation on it, which makes it amazing.. i love it....

ligrumpygirl

11-15-2008, 11:30 AM

When Emily was two, Charlie had a painting done out of one of her birthday pictures. It was beautiful! When we moved, I never got the chance to put it up - and then I found out I was pregnant so lots of things didn't get done.

Last year on my birthday, Charlie found another artist to do a painting of BOTH of the kids from a photo at SSR. That was put up on the wall that day and I love it. I have both my babies AND my favorite place all in one place!!

I cried so much opening both of those paintings...THAT doesn't happen much!

piglet-for-me

11-15-2008, 11:37 AM

My Great-Aunt made me a bell ornament for Christmas out of tiny little beads. I was a young teen at the time and didn't think much about it. However, here, 30+ years later, it's the ornament that always is hung at the top of my Christmas tree. I've looked at it so many times wondering just how she made it in the shape that it is. Had I known that would have been her last Christmas, maybe I would have had the forethought to ask.

Now it's hard to pick so I'll add another one. When I was 16, my Great-Uncle (who was married to the great-aunt above) sent me a Lane Hope Chest for my birthday. I had no idea at the time it was coming and was thrilled when it arrived. I still have it today filled with memorabilia that I can't bring myself to look at very often.

I guess in a sense, this Aunt & Uncle were the closest I had to grandparents. They never had children of their own, I never had grandparents. I spent a lot of time with them in my early teen years.

sarah4770

11-15-2008, 11:48 AM

Both of my kids when they were very small did this.....
They would wrap up one of their favorite toys and give it to me for christmas....so sweet.

missymouse

11-15-2008, 11:53 AM

I think the most special christmas gift I received was a blown glass reindeer from my older brother. He was in med school at the time and couldn't afford to buy much but I really appreciated the thought he put into such an inexpensive gift. That reindeer got broken when I was in college. I was a Resident Advisor and one of the girls in my dorm got caught after hours with a guy in her room and I had to write her up. She got mad at me and threw a shoe at my shelf where the reindeer was. My brother went and found another one but it was never the same.

gpp2001

11-15-2008, 12:00 PM

It's hard to pick just one - so I'll pick two - First , a couple of years ago, DD was 3 or 4, DH took her shopping to pick something our for me - she picked a pair of slippers - I don't think I realy needed slippers, but she thought I did - I'm getting ready to ask for another pair of slippers, these are starting to get holes in them.

Second, is a silver locket that DD picked out two years ago. It's cheap - it's from Target. But they didn't have time to go someplace nicer to pick out a nicer locket. DD drew pictures of herself to put in the locket. Love it - don't need a nicer locket!!

jendon1997

11-15-2008, 12:13 PM

I love the homemade photo gifts my DD8 makes at school. I remember making these when I was younger and my mom being thrilled. I save them and put them out each holiday season to see how she has grown.

disney_girl

11-15-2008, 12:17 PM

My older brother is a great gift buyer- he really thinks and comes up with things you would really like- even if you don't know it. But the gift that stands out the most was for my 16th birthday (a few days before Christmas). He gave me a pair of diamond earrings that I still wear almost daily. I know it was probably a stretch of his money, but he wanted me to have them- he is really good to me! They aren't huge diamonds, but it doesn't matter to me!

mjjmbnmm

11-15-2008, 12:20 PM

My dad died when I was 2 and halfs months and I've only seen a few pictures of him and it alsways bothered me that I didn't have more. I would ask but everyone always they didn't have any or there was stuff in the actic somewhere., but anyways one year my aunt handed me a box and inside were pictures, yearbooks, report cards, his learning permit and other little odds and ends, I couldn't stop crying, I'm even crying writing this. Anyways that is and always will be my most cherished gift.

Arky

11-15-2008, 12:32 PM

My favorite gifts are the ones the kids pick out themselves. My kids went to an event a few years agoo that had gifts that they could pick out. My middle son had picked out a small skillet. They had it wrapped and it was so obvious what it was. He was so pleased with himself and was sure it would be a big surprise for Mommy. I laughed so hard every time we looked at the present. It was so sweet though!

fanofree

11-15-2008, 12:34 PM

Last year I took my parents to WDW for the first time. We went in December, right before Christmas. Before we left, they gave me a digital camera as my early Christmas gift.

I will always have wonderful pictures of that - for them -once in a life time magical experinece. They are in their 70s and my mother has mobility and pain issues. So, it is doubtful they will ever go again, or that we will have another family vacation which involves travelling any great distance.

I love loking at those pictures. My Dad is so goofy - we have this wonderful picture of him from DHS with San Fransico in the background. He has his cap on backwards and this smirk on his face because my mom was yelling at him to fix his hat. (Not to mention the Beverly shot - I am such an evil daughter!)

pbhall13

11-15-2008, 12:49 PM

This past Mothers Day my girls got to 'pick' out the gift that they wanted to give me........well they told their dad that they had to go to CVS (since I am always in there for something) so they got me a CVS giftcard, 1 secret deoderant, 1 carmex chapstick, 1 tube of toothepast (the kind I like) and a 1 fruit & nut cadbury choc bar.....................sounds odd I know, but they each picked out things that they know I use and I actually cried opening the box because it was just so darn odd and sweet and wonderful all at the same time!

kxmeeh

11-15-2008, 01:05 PM

last christmas, we went to wdw for the first time. it was fantastic...10 days away from it all. i couldn't ask for anything better than being with my family, without a computer or cell phone ringing. no work. it was great!!!

Belle

11-15-2008, 02:37 PM

a poem written by my DH before we got married

PSL1013

11-15-2008, 03:00 PM

I was just given my mothers diamond necklace last month for my birthday that she wore everyday. She just passed away last May and I had asked my sister if I could have a little something of my mothers (we had been estranged for many years) and she gave me the necklace and told be that when we go to Aruba next April to take it with me and wear it because my mother always wanted to go to Aruba but never had the opportunity, I will be wearing that necklace in Aruba for sure! :heart:

zoodoyle

11-15-2008, 03:22 PM

One year my sister took the time to put together a dvd of all my dance performances when I was younger - I'm sure it took a very long time to compile and edit it all together - I loved it!! :love:

julie007

11-15-2008, 03:52 PM

When my husband and I were planning our wedding 5 years ago he bought a diamond that he was going to use for his wedding ring. He decided that he wanted me to have it but that it would be too big for my finger. So he took the diamond and had it custom crafted into a tear drop necklace. Then at the rehersal he had the ring bearer bring the box down the isle to me instead of a pillow! I lost it and will always cherrish that moment. :love:

tarheelpat

11-15-2008, 04:19 PM

My mother-in-law died in June and left written instructions that I was to receive her diamond rings. I loved her so much and will treasure them always, but I really want to ask her why I got both of them when there are two other daughters-in-law.

memanana

11-15-2008, 04:35 PM

My daughters gave me a mother's ring for christmas a few years ago and I will always treasure it and I wear it everyday

Magical JenK

11-15-2008, 05:45 PM

A few years ago, DH went shopping by himself w/no list & bought me a hodgepodge of items....photo album, slippers, clock radio, a book, & a cookie sheet. These were the best gifts because he had to have gone up & down each row of the store & he took his time to find things I would love...and I did...

mseg16222

11-15-2008, 05:45 PM

Three years ago my husband got me an ornament for the tree with a picture of mother, who had died that year. Is is loving memory and a picture of her. It is the ornament I put on my tree first every year.

zummi525

11-15-2008, 05:59 PM

this year for my anniversary my husband got me a vase with a picture of myself and my girls from our vacation at dw at chef mickeys and how everyday with me is like being in disney world i almost choked up when i got that its so beautiful! :love:

Sahmy

11-15-2008, 06:38 PM

My husband got me a Disney Embroidery sewing machine last Christmas. I've had the money for it several times but never bought it for myself - I always ended up spending the money on the kids or the family. It is even more special since I check all of our accounts online weekly and he knew that I would see such a big purchase so he stashed away cash every week to pay for it. :love:

MdCaterer

11-15-2008, 08:27 PM

Mine would have to be an angel that my son made in Kindergarten. She was made of tissue paper and fragile. All on his own, he wrapped it up with a new santa hat and left it for under the Christmas Tree on Christmas eve with a note for Santa. It made my heart sing to know that he wanted to give something back to Santa.

jenvance

11-15-2008, 08:39 PM

My favorite is our painting of our kids, but we have to get a new one because we have three kids now. LOL!

askomsky

11-15-2008, 08:56 PM

Every christmas DH takes the kids out shopping to let them find me the "perfect gift". I love each one every year bc it just shows what they think mommy will love and the thought they put into each one.

askomsky

11-15-2008, 09:03 PM

3dog2kidmom

11-15-2008, 09:07 PM

On our first married Christmas, my DH gave me a basset hound puppy :love:

fourfoxesinpa

11-15-2008, 09:12 PM

My birthday is on 12/21, right before Christmas. And, typically, I end up spending my birthday going shopping or wrapping or cleaning or cooking, etc.

My favorite gift was given to me on my birthday by DH the year before we were married. It was a weekday and I talked to him on the phone that day and we decided we'd skip Christmas prep and go out to a nice dinner after we both got home from work. Little did I know, he had taken the day off as a vacation day. He stayed home, cleaned the house, wrapped every last gift and made my favorite meal for dinner (pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes). I don't even remember what tangible thing he gave me that year for my birthday but I'll never forget how I felt when I walked in the door that afternoon and his thoughtfulness is something I'll never forget.

Sunni

11-15-2008, 09:29 PM

About 1 1/2 years ago I lost my wedding ring and diamond ring (just very simple and I had them for 21 years) when I took them off for an art class. I still don't know how it happened. I hope and hope that I would find them again. I didn't want anything new. We looked and looked but it just wasn't right.

Last Christmas and for our anniversary (Dec. 29th) my husband gave me a new wedding ring. I was so surprised. I had no idea. He was so excited. He took his original wedding ring to a jeweler and had it designed into two rings. He had it stretched out, and put inbetween gold. Now I have a a gold ring with white gold in the middle. I was so touched that he thought of that. He wanted to make sure that I still had a part of that day. It still brings tears to my eyes.

mia214jia

11-15-2008, 09:52 PM

My grandmothers recipe box. My mom gave it to me the Christmas after she past away. It's a small, green index card file. Its crammed pack with all her recipes and are either hand written or newspaper clippings taped to the card.

luvmickey

11-15-2008, 10:26 PM

I will never forget waking up christmas morning when I was a little girl and finding a barbie dream house sitting in front of the christmas tree. It came with a pink barbie convertiable and a swimming pool. I was happy that I did not won't to open any more presents after that.

jo93

11-15-2008, 10:45 PM

Last year on Christmas morning, my two daughters did a Christmas play for us about Jesus being born. They had written the play and performed it for my husband and I in costume before they opened any presents. The fact that they were more excited about doing the play before opening presents was the best present.

bbangel

11-15-2008, 11:03 PM

This was a tough one but probably the afghan that my great-grandmother crocheted for me when I was 7 or 8. I still have it on my couch.

Iteach

11-15-2008, 11:05 PM

I was given the best and most treasured gift for Christmas in 1980. Although the gift was a few days before Christmas, it was the birth of my son!:heart: I have cherished him every second since he was born, as he truly is a gift!

shmily1

11-15-2008, 11:09 PM

My favorite gift was from my DS18 when he was about 6. He took some red construction paper and cut and folded it so that it was standing up with little legs. Then he pasted on a school picture of himself and wrote I love you on the construction paper frame.

I still have that frame. It doesn't stand up like it did, but his little engenious mind was wanting to give me something he knew I would love and he was too right!!! Not only did I love it then, but I love it now!!!

amarazas

11-15-2008, 11:16 PM

Let me first say how many tears I have had reading over these "greatest gifts"

About 5 years ago, DH gave me two ornaments for Christmas... 1 was of a reindeer looking thing and an angel. They weren't anything big, nothing fancy. I smiled, and said, "Thanks Hon..." ya know, one of those forced smiles, thinking.. boy I got better presents before we married. What happened?!?

Then he said, "I'm glad you like them.. I got you the thing that you can't tell if it is a reindeer, a bear, or a donkey... Just like what Dwight (he was 4 at the time) was for the Christmas Pageant (He was supposed to be a donkey, but it didn't look like a donkey at all.)... And I got you the Angel because Samme was an angel. (she was 3 at the time) "

Well guess how I felt!:blush:

Every time I put those on the tree, I remember that sweet Christmas Pageant, and the thought my hubby put into it. :love:

autumnsmommy

11-15-2008, 11:50 PM

Last Christmas my sister gave us a basket labelled "A Vintage Mickey Christmas". In it were Mickey items she found at Goodwill and other thrift stores, and a few Dollar tree items. It was the best present with lots of thought put into it. There were Mickey coloring books and candy canes from Dollar Tree, and a Mickey blowmold lighted lawn ornament, Mickey hair barrete, boxed Mickey head soaps from WDW, a few of the JC penney globes that I always miss because I work retail, a new vintage autograph book, and lots of other Mickey goodies.
Not much $ went into the gift, but the time that she spent gathering all the goodies and thought put into it were priceless.

leelee9878

11-16-2008, 12:41 AM

My 3yr old nephew gave me a drawing that he drew in class and told me to hang it on my fridge and show all my friends. It has been about a year and it is still on my fridge and I have showed all my friends. :sunshine:

disneyforever

11-16-2008, 01:21 AM

My favorite gift was from my dad for Valentine's Day way, way back when I was 10 yrs old (1979). Our school was having a Valentine's banquet and all the girls in my class were getting new, pretty dresses for the event. Of course I went home all excited about the banquet and going shopping for a new dress. After telling my parents about the banquet, my mom gently told me that I couldn't have a new dress. You see, my dad had been laid off his job (for several months at that point) and my mom was barely working at all. There was no money to be had for anything. We were just scraping by.

Well I was crushed and cried for days. It didn't help that all my friends had new dresses and were telling me all about them. I decided not to go to the banquet. Well on February 13th evening, my dad called me out into the living room. He had 2 packages wrapped up for me. In the packages were two beautiful dresses (he said he couldn't decide which one to buy). Of course I hugged him and thanked him over and over. I never asked how he got them with not having any money.

A few years later I found out my dad had sold his watch - it had been a gift to him from his grandfather - when he turned 16. When I asked him why, he just said he would do anything for his baby girl. I still cry when I think about it. He loved that watch so much, but he loved me even more.