Christmas Shopping 2008

I had a great time on our annual day after Thanksgiving shopping trip. I managed, with the help of a friend, to get an awesome Thomas toy for Jaden. Normally $105 at Amazon, we paid $15 at Walmart! There were many other deals to be found by myself, Jessie, and Aunt Shel.

Currently I feel overwhelmed with how much more we have to get. We have ideas for some and others we are completely lost. There are still several Amazon and etoys purchases to make. A couple of gift cards to buy. A, not-quite, seven year old to crush on Christmas morning when he doesn't find his number one toy desire. This only bothers me because the other two kids are getting their top of the list picks. His top pick isn't age appropriate and none of us think he will really enjoy it. Not to mention the HARD TO BUY factor. Hopefully the Wii we will be getting will help him forget. :)

Back to shopping day....I will never ever be going to WalMart first thing in the morning EVER AGAIN. It was INSANE! Friday night the Awesome Hubby drug me out grocery shopping and guess what I found. All those great doorbuster deals were still on sale. They were still the doorbuster price, and in the larger super center, they were STOCKED with all the great ad items. Minus, of course, the two items that had me leaving my house at 4:45am. Thank goodness for good friends! That Thomas toy wouldn't be ours if it weren't for them.

My other must-have item was found at Sears. Cost about $8 more but it looks like better quality and better selection. Plus the Sears item had the benefit of being purchased while I snored on the couch. Thank you Awesome Hubby and Sears online!

I am sad to say this is my last year to participate with my family. I am not giving up this annual trip, I am just no longer able to do it with the usual group. My life is pulling me in a different way. Or maybe my conscious is doing it. At any rate, this was my last year. I hope to find with breaking away from one tradition I am able to make my own happy tradition for this special day.