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Bought the last one..now you're rubbing it in. Unbelievable.

Glad to hear that....he's going to go nuts when he sees it....last few years his "top" present was one of the last to be opened and each time he'd open the next one he'd go...."Oh, this...still not the Scoobie Doo Sweeper" (2004)...(2003) it was a "Talking Grill"...Santa may have to put this on the bottom of the pile...I'll send him an email

golf-a-holic, I have some ideas to suggest, but I need to ask a few questions or the suggestions may not apply.

Does your wife work outside of the home?
When is your wife doing the shopping (days, evenings, weekends)?
Do you stay home with the kids or are you with her during the shopping?
What other Christmas related activities is she involved with (school plays, church programs, etc.)?

Does your wife work outside of the home?
Yes, she's had a part-time job since September 15-25 hrs/week.

When is your wife doing the shopping (days, evenings, weekends)?
Sometimes during a week night and at times weekends where possible.

Do you stay home with the kids or are you with her during the shopping?
She's been buying them while I'm with the kids, have no real means of going out together, no one to watch the kids. I've said I'll get some of the items to give her a break.

What other Christmas related activities is she involved with (school plays, church programs, etc.)? None.

Appreciate any suggestions.

golf-a-holic, the softening tone of your posts tells me that you obviously want your children's Christmas to be as perfect as your wife does. The fact that your wife started a part-time job a couple months before the Christmas season could be adding to her anxiety. Please be patient, listen, and give lots of hugs. There just aren't enough hours in a day for any Mom with small kids, especially one who works outside of the home. Add Christmas to the mix and Moms can go a little crazy. Trying to do the shopping in the evening and weekends can cause insanity. I found that shopping when the stores open in the morning after a weekend to be less crowded and hectic. However, if your wife works this may not help. Call stores ahead of time to see if they have that special item in stock. That can save a lot of time. If she has to shop in the evenings, you could take your kids for McDonald's, then drive around town to enjoy the Christmas lights and displays. She will worry less about the kids and home if she knows the kids are out having fun with Dad. (Also plan an evening to go as a family so she can share in the kids' oohs and aahs.) Offer to watch a neighbor or friend's kids for a couple hours so they can shop on the condition they do the same for you. That way you can go with your wife. Both parties benefit and it's free. Just try and help your wife get the shopping and wrapping done early so she can relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday. I learned that a couple weeks of fast food in December won't kill kids, makes dinner time easy, and the kids will be so sick of it that they won't ask for it for months.

Music soothes the weary soul! Buy your wife a Christmas CD that plays beautiful, soft instrumental music. I suggest something by Danny Wright like "Just Wright for Christmas" or "Christmas by Candlelight". I also love George Winston's "December" music. She can listen to this in the car while driving around to do shopping or you can put it on while you help her wrap presents after the kids go to bed. It calms the nerves in a special way. I play soft music in the classroom all day, everyday (I work in a class for kids with behavior problems). The kids last year (who usually only listen to rap with filthy language) came to love "my music" and it has become a peaceful background for our class. The kids that returned to our class this year started asking me a week before Thanksgiving when I was going to bring my Christmas CDs (the ones I mentioned above). If it can help tame the hearts of those "savage beasts", just think of the effect on your wonderful wife!

Once the shopping and wrapping is done, enjoy old family traditions or plan new ones. Those are the gifts that will truly last a life time. "Slice and Bake" sugar cookies are great for the kids to decorate one evening. Buy cheap ornaments and let the kids decorate with glitter and sequins (some of my most precious ornaments). Yes, they will make a mess! But when they're older, they won't remember the crumbs or glitter on the floor. They will remember the fun time making them. Plan to enjoy a couple church Christmas concerts to be reminded of "the reason for the season". I always found that helped me to get back into the real spirit of Christmas. (Our church has a nursery for little ones that can't sit still for a whole program.)

I don't know if any of this helps you out, but it does give you an older Mom's perspective.

Thanks PingsRbest, what fantastic suggestions!!! This week we'll be able to get ones bought unpackaged (helps Daddy out Christmas morning, so I can enjoy them with the kids) on Tuesday evening and then Thursday she'll be able to wrap them. So we'll feel some degree of progress.

Yesterday we had a family day, lunch, shop a little bit and then went out and picked/cut down the Christmas tree, she's giong to be able to decorate it Monday and today while she works I'll get it ready, needs some trim work and put the lights on for us.

I'm going to review all of your suggestions in more detail and see what is feasible. You are very correct in that I want it to be as good as possible for the kids! and some for us! The two older ones are the most anxious as you'd imagine and some of the things they say are letting us know that our efforts are working to the best of our ability. Mom's the one here that if I can get her to "chill" with the help of your suggestions, we can all have a better time of things.

Thank you!