General

My family's "we watch this every year" holiday movie is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Our own Christmas tree search (unintentionally) mimics the Griswolds', we quote the movie all year, and we laugh at the same stupid jokes whenever we re-watch it around Christmas. My dad, in particular, has embraced his inner Clark Griswold to an awesome extent.

About a week ago, I took my son to Dave & Buster's, and they had a silent auction going on for charity. Most of the items up for bid were football-related, but in the bottom corner, there was a Christmas Vacation movie poster signed by Chevy Chase. I thought to myself... this would either be the greatest Christmas gift in family history, or it'll go down as worse than a Jelly of the Month subscription. I conferred with a fellow dad that evening while we took the kids to look at Christmas lights, and he gave his blessing, saying that my family likes to hang stuff up (they do) and my dad has a cave or a nook to himself (he does), they'll love it.

So, I did a "Buy It Now" and had it dropshipped to my family on the other side of the country.

On Christmas day, my mom video called us so I could watch my dad open it in real time, only to have the call cut out when my brother called from overseas. When we reconnected, my dad was holding the framed poster up, somewhat dumbfounded but still pleased. The rest of my family had a similar reaction.

Me: "Did you see that it's signed?"
Dad: "Where?"
Mom: "By who?"
Dad: "Does that say Chevy Chase?!"
Mom: "OH MY GOD"
Sister #1: "WHAT"
Sister #2: "HOW?!!"
Dad: "Is that real?!"
Mom: *bursts out laughing*

My dad sent me a picture later of it hanging in his computer nook, as Fellow Dad predicted. And literally as I'm typing this, my mom texted me to say "We just love this picture on the wall where it is..." followed by a deluge of emojis.

So yeah, feeling pretty good about that one.

I feel like this was the best Christmas for my kids. We spent less, reduced the number of presents, got some of the classics. They were excited with no disappointment. Probably the last "Santa" Christmas with the older 2. It was pretty great!

From work: pumpkin raisin bread baked personally by a coworker. It was delicious. from Corporate, a 4lb box of sampler brownies and a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses (I picked the Kahuna with Hawaii Lava lens).
From family: Christmas money, HD Tactical sunglasses x2 (it was a 2 pack box), and this toy dragon with moveable wings and mouth.
From High Roller Secret Santa: SMB movie (Seth Rogen) and SMB Wonder for the Switch.
From friend: Waffle House gift card and a bag of beef jerky

To family: Gift cards, PS4 controller and Christmas money to my nephew, and Terry's original Chocolate Oranges and buckeyes with the gift cards.

That's the issue with Christmas these days... can't really get someone something anymore so it's gotta be a gift card. I think mostly because the "Christmas List" is becoming ridiculous with expensive items....

I found a like new switch OLED for $200. Just didn't have the box, almost passed up on the deal.
Got my son a switch lite for Christmas.

This has been one of my favorite Christmases as a gift-receiver that I've had in a long time and it was specifically because I didn't ask for anything in particular per se. The older I get, the more family members I'm losing and each year brings an imbalance - I'm thrilled that I'm making memories with my kids and seeing them experience Christmas, but it's also bittersweet because I miss so many people that were a part of my Christmases every single year growing up.

I read a fair bit, so I've just started asking that if people would like to give me a gift, I'd love a copy of their favorite book. I've started a little library of all of my favorite people's favorite books. It's also making me read outside the typical genres that I normally go for and it's just really fun. And I think I'm going to either design up a sticker to slap into my books as part of my ongoing collection or I'll create my own embosser and go that route.

From me

Wife: Kindle, microfiber blanket, Rocky Mountain Soap company bath balms, Star Bucks GC ($15) Bath and Body Works GC ($25) The 4th Wing (Some weird Book)
Daughter: Clothing, Bubble Gun, Tickets to see Bluey, Play Doh, books, stuffed fish (this kid LOVES fish) Bluey Video game (PS4/5)
Mother in-law: Tickets to see Greese the musical at the Jubilee dinner my Wife is taking her.
Father in-Law: Various meats and cheese.

What I got: Lego Optimus Prime (damn things transforms!) FF16, Mario Wonder, Metal Gear Solid collection (PS5), DEWALT shop vac, socks, PSN gift card,

We spent time with my side of the family this year in Cochrane. My Brother was up from Houston and we split our time between my Sister and my Sister in Law. Even though she has been separated from my Brother for 5 years now she is and always will be family. We did however decide not to do gifts with family but focus on our families. But that did not stop them from buying my girl stuff. It was great because she had been out growing a lot of her clothing and is super into Bluey and Mickey Mouse. When she is is changing clothing its best to make sure there is a clean mickey or bluey item ready lol

She also got:
A whole lot of clothing, Little People House, Little People Christmas Vacation set (Funny story behind it), Doll, Fisher Price Mixer, and 365 night time story book, Mini Mouse Plush


** The story behind the Christmas Vacation set was my Sister saw them in Costco and and said "I need this" ... went home and basically said what I am doing, I don't need this at all and my daughter ended up with it. They are kinda neat.