We also stopped exchanging presents with my husbands side of the family. Last year, instead of stopping gift giving altogether with my sister and BIL, we decided to buy a small gift ($10.00 or under) for eachother, and only buy gifts for the kids. Now my hardest to buy for is my 3 kids. They rarely play with any toys anymore, and that seems to go in phases. They do play video games but there is only a handfull that they like to play. I have a son who's birthday is late September and another in November. They usually end up being able to get what they are wanting then. They love hockey, but only one of the sporting goods stores near us carry anything hockey and that is only a handfull of sticks, and hockey tape and that is it. They really don't need any new gear (I have to buy off the internet or drive 1 1/2 hours), and I'm hesitant to pick out anything because they are growing too fast, and it can be expensive. Plus they are picky about that as well. There are a handful of San Jose sharks items at the mall since that is the closest team, but my kids like the Pittsburgh penguins, Colorado Avalanche, and the Flyers. It is also hard having all 3 of them boys, because most ideas I come accross that I think they would like, I usually have already given to one of the other boys. I don't know what I would do without internet shopping because even when they have money, there often is nothing at the local stores that they want. Ds 15 does like clothes, but is picky also. Ds10 and Ds12 are at the stage where they are picky about clothes, but wouldn't be happy about getting them as gifts either. So my kids are definitely my hardest to buy for.
