DO you buy Christmas presents for..........

**Mom23boys** · 11-30-2003, 10:08 AM

your parents and inlaws?

I do, but I can't figure out what to get them. I bought my dad a clock that CJ's husband made. I love it and he will too. I bought my step-mom some cowboy Santa's because she collects them.

I bought my step-dad 2 things of coffee and some fisherman ornaments because that is all he drinks and he loves fishing.
I don't know what to get my mom??????????

I bought my MIL an $11 candle and a pedicure set. I bought FIL an Old Spice gift set.
I am going to make them some gifts in a jar soup to add to the gifts.

Is this ok or should I do something else?? I am just trying to get your honest opinions and help with my mom's gift.

Any ideas.....please!

**AmyMCGS** · 11-30-2003, 10:35 AM

Your gifts all sound great!

Here's an idea for you-- I'm doing this for my mom:

Bought her one of the new silicone bundt pans. ($15)

I'm attaching this cake recipe (which I use and it's delicious!) and the cake mix and pie filling needed for the recipe. http://cake.allrecipes.com/az/Micrwvcke.asp

My mom likes to try new recipes, so she'll enjoy this... if your mom likes to cook, maybe something similar would work?

**Mom23boys** · 11-30-2003, 10:38 AM

She does like to cook. That sounds like a great idea. Thanks Amy.

**homesteadmamma** · 11-30-2003, 10:48 AM

Michelle, I think your gifts are fine.

The only one we now purchase for is my mom, although I'm not sure whats happening this year. We don't have anyone else still living.

**MJsLady** · 11-30-2003, 10:57 AM

I buy for my inlaws. Since my dad died I have not sent to my step mom, but she asked me not to, said she couldn't reciprocate, which doesn't bother me but it bothers her and i don't want her to feel bad.
With my inlaws though I cheat. I get their stuff at the after christmas sales.
This year mil and sil are getting tea light candle houses, original cost $9.95, but at the sales i only paid.... .95 each!
so that plus a $1 pakc of tea lights and they are done, fil will get his own gift but bil will share sil's

**PrairieRose** · 11-30-2003, 12:04 PM

We buy for our parents but sometimes we give a gift cert. to their fav. restaraunt or something. Being retired they live on social security (not completely but almost) and don't eat out much. They love to though. I think your gifts are fine Michelle.

**lucy979** · 11-30-2003, 12:11 PM

I do but haven't since we are here in Germany. I think the gifts you have are great!

How about a gift certificate for a pedicure or manicure for your mom?

**Guest1** · 11-30-2003, 12:24 PM

I send money for my mom to take my brother, grandparents, my uncle, and of course her to dinner at a nice steakhouse they all love...

GW's parents are next to impossible to buy for - it's literally the "what do you buy for the folks who have everything" quandry year after year.....Mrs. Bush collects pretty teapots so I'm still looking for a unique one that she doesn't already have & the Admiral loves hot, spicy stuff so each year I try to find some new hot sauce that he has yet to try! Last year I found some "Hotter Than The Hinges of Hell" sauce that literally lit him up - he called me to yell that he thought he was having a heart attack 'cuz that stuff was so hot! Score - Deb 1, Admiral 0!!

You're gifts sound fabulous....would your mom like a personalized calendar with important dates, birthdays, etc already in it & pictures of the family for each month?? I had one made at Kinko's a few years ago for my mom - she said she loved it...who knows with her though!

I'm sure your mom will love whatever you decide on!!

**Mom23boys** · 11-30-2003, 12:33 PM

You have all listed great ideas.

The pedicure sounds enjoyable because she never does anyting for herself and has my 3 nieces living with her. Recently my sister moved in. She does all the housework and cooking and gets no respect for it. So something for just her would be a great idea.

I also like the personalized calendar idea because she is always trying to keep up with everyone's beirthday's, anniversaries, etc.

Now to make a decision..........

**KKCondrey** · 11-30-2003, 12:40 PM

My mom and stepdad tell us to save our money. My dad on the other hand like to read sports books so the last 2 years I have got him a book at the Dollar Store. He loved them. The year before the cover price was like $29.99 and last year the cover price was $24.99...lol This year I fouind an Daytona 500 book that was originally $50.00 that I got for $3.99 at Waldenbooks.

I am such a "frugal" shopper. Now MIL and FIL I have no idea what to get for them. Last year we went in with Angie and got them a DVD player and a movie.

**simplemom** · 11-30-2003, 02:00 PM

For my mom, I bought her a very colorful butterfly puzzle and a small porcelain doll. She loves both of these and collects them.

For my dad, I am buying him a warm comfy pyjama, since he is ill and hardly has the capacity to do anything, so at least he will look good and be comfortable.

For my mil and fil, it's harder...I was also thinking about buying a puzzle, as they LOVE to make puzzles. I was also thinking of some pictures in frames of the children.

**baronmom** · 11-30-2003, 02:01 PM

My inlaws are impossible to buy for. I have no idea what to get my mother-in-law. They live in Florida, and because of her health problems, they can't go out to eat anywhere. She can't have so many things. She doesn't like knick knacks and she doesn't burn candles. I even sent a Longaberger basket one year, and she told me that they were not her decor so I am at a total loss. She only shops at certain stores, and they don't have those here. Clothes are out of the question because she is picky. She always says don't bother getting us anything because you can't afford it, but if we didn't, we would never hear the end of it. She gave us heck one time because we didn't send her a card for her birthday. We sent $60 flowers, and she was complaining about a card. So, I have no idea what to get them.

**guest2** · 11-30-2003, 06:02 PM

I think you have some wonderful gifts for your inlaws! I also love the ideas that others have come up with.

We rotate names of couples on my hubby's side of the family, so we only buy for one couple and everyone buys for the kids. We finally got the family to agree on this because MIL would go into huge amounts of debt each year trying to "be fair" and buy everyone gifts that cost about the same. She averaged $300 a person!!!

We do a card for MIL and FIL, but can't get them a gift, because we don't have their names this year. Next year we have them!

For my parents, we got Dad magazine subscriptions to Salt Water Fishing and also to Field and Stream (all gotten free on the internet). Dad is an avid fisherman and will be retiring and spending part of the year in Hawaii and the other part in Montana. He loves to fish and is going to be taking up hunting. For Mom, we got a chenielle (sp) throw in a beautiful Christmas plaid. We also have a set of stock pots for her kitchen in the new retirement cabin on the lake, but we'll give those to her this summer (she already knows about them).

**gkp1031** · 11-30-2003, 06:16 PM

Everyone's gifts sound great and have given me a bunch of ideas.

We buy for my parent's, sister, BIL, 7 y.o. niece and my fiancee's mom, dad, stepdad, 2 brothers, 1 SIL, 3 nieces (7, 10, 12).

**paelthom** · 12-02-2003, 01:04 PM

I agree that everyone's gift ideas are super.

For my step mom - I will give her a tea cup pin cushion that me and dd made and I will give her a large box of canned or packaged food. She has very little money and huge prescription bills so I think that a gift of food is the most practical. I always get stuff that she can make a meal out of like stew or mac and cheese. It embarrasses her terribly, but I know she needs it and she will not take the money.

For SO's mom and dad - a gift certificate to a restaurant that they like. They are living in a retirement center and really don't have the room for knick knacks and I know they enjoy getting to eat out.