Shopping??

Who has begun their shopping? Who is done with their shopping? The biggest question, who will be out and at the stores on Friday when they open? One of our outlet malls opens at midnight. Last year it took people hours to get there because of the traffic jams. I will be nice and warm in my jammies at midnight (unfortunately I will be alone in bed as Dan will be at work).

I am almost done with my shopping. I shopped mostly by catalog so I can avoid stores. Needless to say I will not be shopping the day after thanksgiving!! Too crazy!! I will be alone in my jammies too, want company?

Good Morning, Nancy... I am a Black Friday FREAK!!!! I start my shopping every year the day after Thanksgiving. I go out EVERY single year....I have donr it for over 10 years. I go out about 4am, and usually don't come home til night time (except this year, can't do that). I heard that many of the stores will extend their in-store sales to on-line. That seems so much easier, but I just can't do it. I have that day down to a science....and I do it sooo well. LOL I saw that Kohl's is opening at 4am on Friday....means I might have to get up even earlier. LOL

I wish we lived near one another...I LOVE going out on Black Friday. I usually go alone. I love scoping out the deals on Thursday and planning my attack. In the past I was checking out deals to get Dakota...one year I got him a motorized scooter for 99.00...another year Target was giving prizes away. It was at the height of the Pokemon craze and Dakota was majorly into it. They were giving away bright yellow Nintendo backpacks with embroidered Pikkachu's on them. I was able to snag one for D. I love remembering those times!

I wish we did too.... This year for the very first time, I am going out with my 2 oldest daughters. I am used to doing the shopping FOR them, not WITH them. LOL Our routine includes: Looking at all the ads on Thursday.....writing a list of things we are interested in, including the store and the opening times. It used to be Kmart opened at 5am, Walmart at 6am, and Target/BestBuy/Sears/all other stores opened at 7am. So, we would hit up Kmart first, then Walmart....and my dad was the designated Electronics person.... He would run straight to electrionics and get everything on my list...my sisters list and my step-moms list.... and if we EVER needed anything at Best Buy....he was the designated Best Buy'er....cause they are sooooo unorganized and crazy. I have ALWAYS had a good time on that day!!! I think it is funny how crazy people are. Yea, one year, I got the scooters for $19.99....I got Game Boys for $39.99.... Being a single parent for so many years with 5 kids, I would 'work' my bills all year long, so I could have an extra check around June (back to school shopping) and an extra check in November (Christmas shopping).... Kevin doesn't get it, and he won't participate, but thats OK.... I have enough shopping in me for the both of us... LOL

Jay doesn't get it either. the shopping or Christmas. I think the shopping is because he's male but the Christmas thing because he's Jewish. He can't understand why we have to spend so much money on gifts for other people. For me, as a single mom, it was the one time of year I could justify giving Dakota expensive gifts. Plus D's Dad doesn't give him much of a Christmas so I wanted to give him the Christmas mornings like I had when I was a kid. I'll never forget the first Christmas after my divorce. My ex had D for Christmas morning. When I called Dakota to wish him Merry Christmas and ask what Santa brought him. He began to cry. He was 3 1/2. He told me "Santa brought me all grown up things". My ex had not bought him any toys. Clothes, pjs and tools. A dollar and some candy in his stocking. My heart was broken. I vowed then that I would always make sure that he had a good Santa Christmas.

Awwww.... I have tears.....Poor Baby D! I never allowed my ex to have my kids on Christmas morning because of that reason, and thank God a court never gave him any kind of real visitation, so I was able to control that. (He was given 3 hours every other Saturday 4pm - 7pm). He was a no show for the visitations, so they just went away. I am telling my son this year that there is no Santa..... I am sooo worried about it. But he is ALMOST 10 years old. He will be the last one to tell, then I won't have to do Santa anymore...YAY!!!... I have been doing Santa for 18 years. I am kinda over buying 2 sets of big gifts..... Santa always brought the really big gifts like Bikes and stuff, and I always got the second best gift for them..... I was sad cause I told my kids that this year the Holidays were NOT going to be about how much we spend (cause of the rental situation) and that we were going to put a limit on the spending, but we would do lots of special things like go looking at lights, and go to fairs, and stuff.....and my son said "Well, mom, How much money does Santa have?" I said "Why?" He said "Cause I REALLY want this car set, and maybe Santa can get it for me instead." (It's $150.00) So, I told him we will talk later. I guess thats why I dread telling him. It will crush him.

I was a horrible mom...I to was single so I told the boys Christmas is about Jesus and he only got 3 gifts and so are you.. LOL Odds are your son knows there's no Santa.. I found out the boys already knew but didnt tell me because they didnt want to ruin my fun.. LOL freaking kids!!! Debby

I think that makes you a GREAT mom I never set limits for my kids.....so I broke myself every year. HOWEVER...what you said about him already knowing.... OMG...I just said that to Kevin last night. But he is soooo sincere when he talks about Santa. I don't know. My son is sooo sweet, and he wears his emotions on the outside. There is pretty much...no doubt....when it comes to him. LOL

hey jen, wanted to show you this recipe. I made them last year. people loved them. *iron chef kellee* http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_24927,00.html