Ok, I've gone through her gifts and pared back, I think.
Big gift from Santa: cedar playhouse (like a gift to myself, she will play in my nieces for HOURS) $350
Other gifts: Little people city skyway $30 Little people preschool $30? Mr potato head with extra disney parts $25 Doctor kit $10 7 books (some are usborne and the rest were free with a h&m credit)
Not giving: Plasma car A bunch or random smaller items Some books
I haven't decided yet. He's for sure getting a train set from Santa. I also wrapped up a Thomas puzzle from Santa and will probably do a Thomas book from Santa as well.
From us he's getting Christmas PJs/book (opening Christmas eve), a floor puzzle and a couple books. I may throw in a set of construction vehicles.
His birthday is tomorrow and I have 4 gifts for him to open from us.
My mom sent us a box and I know there's a Leap Pad in it, I'm afraid to know what else.
The big gift from Santa is a dress-up trunk with clothes. If you counted each piece individually (hats, wands, dresses, etc) it would be a ton. Like 20. I'll count that as 1 Small stocking stuffers excluded, she'll be getting like 6-7 things. 3 books, some new play food, magnatiles, a memory game, and the Cherry Hi-Ho game.
I tried to scale back, but it doesn't seem that it worked
From us/Santa (I don't differentiate, she's 1): Anywhere Chair Usborne books Tegu Blocks Peekaboo Elmo Clothes, which she needs and I would have bought anyway. I didn't even bother wrapping them, just washed them and put them in her closet.
My parents got her the LP Skyway, a play kitchen, and I don't know what else. My brothers got her something huge and obnoxious, I'm sure. We asked FIL for a membership to the aquarium or children's museum. SIL got her some Crayola Color Wonder stuff, and idk what else. Did Christmas with my mom's family yesterday, and she got some clothes, books, Happy Feet, an aquadoodle, and I think that's all.
Wow, when I write it all down, it seems like a ton of stuff.
Each kid has about 20 gifts which vary from cheap to expensive.
I always feel like I didn't buy enough until I wrap it all then I realize I am insane person who spoils her kids at Christmas. We pretty much never buy them toys other than Christmas and Birthday so I am okay with it.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
DH's family goes completely overboard with Christmas gifts (quantity, not quality, usually) so we try to keep it very simple at our house. Usually one big Santa gift for each kid and then 2-3 small things. We will have ungodly amounts of new stuff from 3 sets of grandparents and I don't like clutter and excess.
This year for DD1 (she's 5.5): bike and helmet from Santa. A pair of shoes. A sweater from target. Two sets of Disney figurines. A set of AG doll clothes. A dvd and candy in her stocking.
This year for DD2 (she's 2): strider bike and helmet from Santa. A pair of shoes. A set of Disney toys.
Typing this out I think I'm going to add some clothes for DD2 to open.
Hmm I think I wrapped 5 things for DD and DH bought her at least 2 others. I stuck a few little things in her stocking. I have no clue how many or what items other family bought her.
I also bought some "first Christmas" type of stuff (ornament, advent calendar, nativity set, pj's) but that came out the beginning of December vs being wrapped.
We went a lot bigger than usual this year, mostly because I am SO excited about how much dd1 is going to love Christmas morning. I feel like she really gets it and it's going to be awesome. She's also recently aged out of a lot of her toys, so I was glad to get a few new things.
So, dd1 is getting: A new loft bed magnatiles a bunch of new clothes (operation get rid of the old, worn out favorites) pjs tangled doll elsa dress tiara bitty baby diapers (homemade with scraps)
dd2 is getting: a mini trampoline anna dress pjs tiara sled bitty baby diapers (homemade with scraps) duvet cover that matches dd1s (homemade for eventual move in with dd1) from the grandparents dd1 is getting an amazing doll house, dd2 is getting a bitty baby and they're jointly getting a car dvd player.
the bed was something that we have planned to make for a long time, but the timing was good for Christmas. Excluding it, the gifts total $165 for dd1 and $80 for dd2. Last year we didn't spend half as much.