It seems the majority of you are into wrapping with just paper, with 50% taking this approach.  19% go all Martha Stewart-y on us, and 7% do the gift bag thing.  2% go eco-friendly and 2% don’t really wrap at all. And 19% say it depends on who they are giving the gift to.  I am a complete convert to the gift bag for adult gifts.  Every year Costco (yes, I am not ashamed to admit I love Costco) has a box with a couple dozen or so gift bags that go well beyond the simple.  They usually have clever designs (i.e. designed to look like a purse) beaded handles, marabou trim, and always some sort of 3-D element.  I adore them.  But for kids, it’s gotta be wrapping paper.  Although this year my one year old had more fun tossing the tissue paper out of the bags than she did ripping the paper.  That will change next year.

Today, I want to know how you are doing.

And even if you don’t believe in Santa, I wish you a peaceful, joyful time with your loved ones this holiday.

Oh, the majority of you break my heart when 44% say that Santa photos are NEVER cute. NEVER?! Have you ever seen the ones with my kids? Adorable, I tell you! 29% think that kids should be done with Santa by middle school, and 23% of you are suckers for a pic at any age.  I think by middle school kids should really have nothing to do with Santa pictures.  Anything after that is a little bit creepy.

But today I want to talk gifts.  Well, actually about how you wrap them.

I’m only telling you this because we are such good friends.   And also because if you think Child Services should be called, you don’t know where I live.

I was on the phone with my mother when I noticed the Munchkinette sidling up to the front of the Christmas tree.  Now this puts her between the tree and the middle front window, so between being on the phone and a dicey sightline, I don’t see what happens next.  Until, of course, it’s too late.

And what happens next is that I see her proudly holding a glass Christmas ornament in her little hand.

I give out yell because I’m thinking she’s going to drop it. I begin running toward her.  Er, well, probably lurching is a better term for it.

She does me one better.

In one of those slo-mo effects in the movies, I watch as she crushes the ornament in her hand.

At this point, I let out a full blown scream because I’m envisioning myself in the ER with her thrashing around as they stitch up the million cuts in her hand.  Also, I’m a little pissed because it’s one of the intricate ones handed down to me from the 1950’s and I’m wondering why she couldn’t have chosen a regular old ball.

So I’m continuing the lurch and watching what seems like hundreds of little glass pieces scatter around her, which I finally crunch through and grab her.

I frantically seize her tiny hand, fully expecting shards to be stuck in it and blood dripping down her arm.

Nothing.  Not a scratch.

No aftermath of any kind except for me losing a very cool ornament and having to thoroughly vacuum. 

We’re thinking of having her pick out our lottery numbers.

16% of you say that taking children to Hooters Restaurant is not a big deal.  Apparently boobs are just boobs.  However, technically the majority is against, with 21% stating and unequivocal “no” and 45% stating a wishy-washy “no, but I can’t stop anybody else.”  Be judgemental people, it’s the American way!  As for me, I will never take a step with either my son or daughter into Hooters, which is a place that will teach them in no uncertain terms to objectify women, which is a lesson neither one of them should be learning.

Today I’m all about the holiday season and that annual favorite, the Santa photo.  And yes, I’ve already featured a Santa photo on another post, but one can never quite get enough Santa photos, in my opinion.

– The tree has no decorations on the lower branches.

– Nativity scene is nowhere to be found under the tree.

– Stockings are hung by the chimney with great care that little hands cannot pull them off.

– Presents under the tree? Fuhgeddabout it.

– Ribbon may or may not have been taken out and been dragged around the house.

– Ditto wrapping paper.

– Advent calendar positioned in an unnaturally high place.

– Santa picture with upset child on his lap? Check.

You know, sometimes it isn’t about the latest and the greatest.  Some toys have stood the test of time and are great choices for any year or special occasion.

Classic Choral Top Push it, and it lights up and makes music.  The harder you push, the faster the sounds and lights go.  Much more fun than you would think!

Lincoln Logs Bicentennial Edition I am of the opinion that you can never go wrong with Lincoln Logs.

Foam Building Blocks Oversized blocks=tons of fun.  Hmmm, my daugher just might enjoy these!

Arcade Crane Game A friend of ours has this, and it is a big hit with everyone, young and old alike.

Carrom Game Board Who didn’t play with one of these as a kid?  Indoors or out, you can’t lose with 100+ games, besides being able to make up your own!

Pull-Along Alphabet Blocks Combines alphabet and number blocks along with a pull-toy.  First introduced in 1858.

Savannah Dollhouse  For a little girl, I’m not sure it gets much better than this.

Electronic Snap Circuits 100  This introductory set will definitely get your child thinking.  In a good way.

Special Edition Erector Set  They’ve been around for a long time for good reason.

Gyroscopes Still gravity-defying, still fascinating.

Here are some of the newst, hottest toys for your Christmas/Hannukkah/Kwaanzaa/post-Festivus Feats of Strength shopping pleasure.

LEGO Harry Potter Sets– This is one I’ve personally invested in, and I have to say that the Hogwart’s Castle is absolutely one of the best LEGO playsets ever released.  And this is coming from a woman whose home contains probably a million LEGO pieces.  The smaller ones are wonderful, too.  Get ’em before they’re gone, because this is most likely the last time they’ll be produced.

XBOX 360 Kinect– Taking the Wii motion-sensing gameplay to the next level.  No equipment required, just step in front of the sensor and start playing!

Fisher Price Sing-a-ma-jigs This little plush toy sings it’s own song, and then when put next to other Sing-a-ma-jigs, they create great songs together.

Zhu-Zhu pets and accessories– These little guys are still going strong from last year, and if you’ve already got some, then it’s all about the playhouses, fun balls, and salons.  Yes, salons.

Fisher Price Dance Star Mickey– What would the holiday season be without some sort of dancing, animatronic figure?  This year Mickey is your go-to guy.

Paper Jamz musical instruments– Circuits embedded in paper create musical instruments with no strings needed.

LeapFrog Leapster Explorer– Before he got his DSi, my son absolutely loved his Leapster.  This is the next generation, and sure to be better than the original.

Nerf and Strike Stampede ECS– If your child takes his neighborhood Nerf gun wars as seriously as mine does, this one is for you.

Pillow Pets– Cute, soft, snuggly.  What’s not to like?

Squinkies– Haven’t heard of these teensy-sized toys and their fun dispensers?  I assure you your daughter has.