Tom's First Christmas (2000)
Welcome to the first posting for Team Conneen...the hottest family blog online!
What better way to start than to document our ongoing conversation about how to best celebrate Christmas as a family...particularly the role that gift giving should play in this celebration.
Feel free to add your comments below .
17 comments:
What ever happened to the website that Molly gave us as christmas presents last year? I know that I had Andy and Katie last year, as I got Wrigley the bone, and got them the family history of Abner. I don't think that I've had Andy and Kelly yet.
In terms of this year's giving, Kelly and I would certainly welcome that whomever has us on this year's list buy us a book (we'll share one copy) that you want us to read then make a small cash donation to Molly's Energy Bill fund.
In terms of future years, I would certainly favor a new gift giving system that minimizes the emphasis on "stuff" and accentuates "thought."
Perhaps..starting next year... we could rotate the giving so that one sibling/couple is the pivot each year (5 year rotation.) That person/couple buys or makes a similar gift ($25) for every other sibling/couple. While everyone else gifts ($25) the pivot person/couple.
For instance, let's say Molly is the pivot person next year. She could buy a book for each family member/couple while everyone else gifts Molly for that year. The next year could be Patty.
(Molly if you do this, you could give the same book to everybody and we could have a book discussion on the Blog "One Book, One Family.")
What do you think?
Andy
Where did this blogging thing come from? Its very weird, but a good way of hiding the fact that we aren't doing any work! Andy - I was feeling generous last year and gave small presents to everyone, which is why you received something. But if you want that to count for this year...
I feel like this blogging is going to turn into a book club!
Who says Blogging is not work!?!
What do you think of my pivot person idea?
P.S.: TeamConneenBookClub.com was already taken, but you can see my other blog at citizenu.org
That's true, blogging is work; but I can't figure out how to work it!
The pivot idea is interesting, but I hate to sound greedy, but I like my xmas presents and I know that my friends here like to see how the American's do Christmas, and they are fascinated by the wrapping and bows and all. You'd think that they lived in a third world country!
Where did you get this blogging thing from?
I've got a solution. We'll do the pivot idea AND move you back to the U.S. Problem solved!
Andy
Could you please post a picture of Teddy's first Christmas, too?
I'm confused with all these gift giving suggestions. So Dad and I will continue the tradition of gifting each of you!
Just make sure whatever you send to Patty you wrap with extra glitz. Maybe have it professionally wrapped at Nieman Marcus! Also, the last date(s) for mailing out of country is Dec. 8 - 10. It's always been one date in the past, but the P O was probably overwhelmed with everyone thinking that was the only day parcels could be mailed out of country!
Well stated, Katie. I like the surprise of seeing everyone's gifts, too, and I think PapaRabbit would concur with me...he better!Good joke, Molly, about the gift wrapped boxes to Patty in Ireland.
Where is Michael? Bet he's exhausted...he had to rush back to Flagstaff yesterday to anchor the 10:00 p.m. news and then had to be back there at 4:00 a.m. for the morning show!
MamaHare,
The pivot person idea would still ensure adequate surprise. Let me add an additional possibility.
The pivot person could announce a theme to the gifts that she will be given (i.e. Molly could say the theme is Chicago.) She could then choose to give each of us a collection of framed photos that she has taken of the skyline and we would each give her a Chicago themed gift.
This twist would add a dimension of creativity, THOUGHT, and plenty of surprises.
By the way, I'm still wondering how the youngest members are getting the short end of the stick with an adjustment to the gift exchange. I think I received some cologne samples from Marshall Fields from younger sibilings when I was 23. Who was sticking up for me back in 1994?
Sonovahare1
MamaHare,
The pivot person idea would still ensure adequate surprise. Let me add an additional possibility.
The pivot person could announce a theme to the gifts that she will be given (i.e. Molly could say the theme is Chicago.) She could then choose to give each of us a collection of framed photos that she has taken of the skyline and we would each give her a Chicago themed gift.
This twist would add a dimension of creativity, THOUGHT, and plenty of surprises.
By the way, I'm still wondering how the youngest members are getting the short end of the stick with an adjustment to the gift exchange. I think I received some cologne samples from Marshall Fields from younger sibilings when I was 23. Who was sticking up for me back in 1994?
Luv,
Sonovahare1
Morning! We still doing this blogging thing. I'm a bit confused over how this works. Are the pictures on here, cause I don't see any? And were there comments posted by Molly and Katie, cause again I don't see any. Poor PapaHare isn't able to join in the banter, but I'm sure MamaHare is keeping him updated.
About the present exchange. I presume that as a younger sibling I won't really have any choice in this, seeing as though CitizenU and Molly usually have the most to say about all these matters. I'm sure you'll do what is best for Mike and I. Just make sure we still get something!
I'll put this on the blog now too.
So the consensus is to make your wishes known to your gifter, and they will get you what you want. Mike has it easy- all he has to do is wrap up a box real nice, so Patty can show it off to her friends. Big savings on postage!!
Andy and Kelly to Molly
Molly to Katie and Andy
Katie and Andy to Mike
Patty to Andy and Kelly
Mike to Patty
I look forward to having a respectful discussion about this during the time we spend together, so that future Christmases can be even more festive.
I'm am attracted to Andy's "pivot" idea. I'm definately more in favor of a thoughtful gift exchange than the shopping list variety we've been practicing.
I think if we were to do the pivot idea, then the siblings and the pivoter so the theme, but mom and dad could always use a list. and if those people don't want to stick to the theme, then they can go to the list to help them out!
My think for the Pivot Person Program is the following:
1. It would allow use to continue giving and receiving surprises.
2. It would add much creativity to our gift exchange by moving it away from the grocery list choices.
3. It would make gifting a 12 month process rather than a 2 week process. When we select the pivot person on Christmas and they select a theme, we can start thinking of ideas 12 months in advance.
4. If have copywritten Pivot Person Present Program and the family stands to make tons of cash when we publish the "how to' book on family gift exchanges.
Sonovahare1
ANONYMOUS? I think you were exposed at the end of your explanation of the Pivot gift eexchange concept!
MamaHare is having problems posting to this blogsite. I don't want my own site, I just want to add my 2 cents worth!
Mamahare, don't worry you aren't the only one having problems with this blogging. And I'm sure that you will get to put in your 2 cents, but I don't know if it will be worth it since hotamolly and citizenu tend to make alot of the family decisions these days. That's the joy of getting older mama!
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