I like getting a book plus a related toy for nephew so I will keep an eye out.  Thanks!

CHristmas just seems so far away. I think in October I may spend some time with Etsy and Amazon, though

Black Friday sales on Amazon REALLY were good sales last year. . . Like, the wooden pogo stick my sis wanted?  20% off and free shipping. . .  And other good deals.  Because I have free Amazon Prime (woohoo student promo!) and because I am absolutely HORRID at mailing things, this year I'm planning on doing almost all online ordering for extended family.      

I "accidently" have Amazon Prime now. 
I should do this. I think I can handle virtual Black Friday.

CHristmas just seems so far away. I think in October I may spend some time with Etsy and Amazon, though

Black Friday sales on Amazon REALLY were good sales last year. . . Like, the wooden pogo stick my sis wanted?  20% off and free shipping. . .  And other good deals.  Because I have free Amazon Prime (woohoo student promo!) and because I am absolutely HORRID at mailing things, this year I'm planning on doing almost all online ordering for extended family.      

Christmas!? blink, blink. Oh yea. That!

For the past two years, I've tried to do handmade holidays.  I ended up having a really lousy holiday season last year. Seriously hated Christmas. I've already decided not to do handmade holidays this year. It's actually going to be hard to have the willpower not to plan for handmade gifts. Because I can think of tons to do. These cloth sandwich bags, for instance. I simply don't have the time or energy for execution. I might make tutus for my nieces, though.

CHristmas just seems so far away. I think in October I may spend some time with Etsy and Amazon, though

THANK YOU!!!  I am doing book + small toy for Christmas gifts for nieces and nephews this year and trying to get it done NOW!  This totally helped me out.  Lots of book that we love and awesome prices. 

Please keep posting if you find more good ones!

Some great ideas and I need to get going on sewing some gifts soon before I'm  up all hours on Dec. 23!

We've found that they aren't played with if there is just *one* doll. So, if a friend brings hers over, they play. Or, when both my girls had them, they would play with them together. There wasn't much play when there was just one doll.

This has been our experience as well.

 I took DD to the American Girl store in Chicago, that is the only reason why I bought her a real AG doll.  They won't let you bring 'fake' dolls in.    Otherwise I totally would have bough a look alike from Target!

How long will you be stateside, Christy?  And I --totally-- understand the drastic paring down before moving back to the States!  (We only brought suitcases to Ukraine, but actually did ship about 400 lbs when we returned to the US.)

We are moving back for good (at least for some years).  We had a 3-year commitment / support to be here, and that time is coming to an end.  We will be back in the Chicago area, and then on to unknown grad school town before the 2011-2012 school year.  The fact that we are going from a small missionary income to basically no income (living off savings) over the next 6 months will also influence Christmas gifts this year.

Oh and I really have no idea about Christmas gifts.  We are trying to pair down this year (I usually go a little overboard).

DH - I am making some Christmas ornaments - I made some as a trade that he liked and I have yarn for it so
      - something else too???
Miles -??
Abigail -??

all of the below except niece - I gave Kleen Kanteens two years ago in stockings - I am thinking about making cozies for them

my mom - I may crochet some storage containers like this
MIL- I may try to make a little purse for her - SIL has one she likes that is not much bigger than a wallet
FIL - ??
SIL - ??
BIL -??
nephew (3.5) -?? I like to get a book and then a toy that goes with it, but I don't have ideas right now (previous gifts - Planting a rainbow with little pots with seeds), How to make an apple pie and see the world with a Melissa and doug apple pie set
niece (will be 5 months) - I will crochet a doll or animal for her and something else

We also have the kids make something for everyone above.  Haven't thought of any ideas yet. Previously they made:
my mom - bookmark and weaved pot holder (2008 ornament on a letter block with photo)
MIL and FIL - bookmarks and weaved pot holder (2008 ornament on a letter block with photo and something else for FIL?)
SIL - no sew fleece scarf (2008 BIL and SIL - wine glass charms)
BIL - they sanded and painted his old hand truck (and DH put new tires on it)
nephew - hum, for his birthday they made a jacob's ladder toy for Chrismas  (2008 or 2009 birthday not sure - a laminated placemat with shapes to go with an art shape book and homemade playdough) oh yes last christmas they made a memory game with pictures of family members
DH - pinecone firestarters
me - a boot cleaner earlier a wind chime
each other - ds made dd a hair bow thing (2008 he made a tutu for one of her dolls)
dd made a ramp for his remote control jeep (with DH's help) (2008 she made a cape for his favorite bear)

oh can I admit that I do think I would love to do Chicago for a weekend with just the girls...no boys allowed...and buy them dolls and stay in a hotel and make a big fun filled memory out of it and see Alex and her dd