This year I've bought my son an xbox which we bought second hand off a family member. I normally get him games that are educational too I don't think you have to buy a 'big' present as long as you get things they want and would like

She doesn't have a favorite subject. She likes reading though.

pile those books high princess, my best book l had at easter along with an egg from my aunt so while l pigged out l read the folk of the far away tree...l still have it....saucepan man and moonface classic

Have you tried to look for something activity based, like paying for a bunch of lessons for something she wants to learn like an instrument or martial arts, or pay for a special camping trip for kids or teens or whatever for next summer, maybe? I mean if she really has that much stuff, maybe it's time for a present that isn't so material.

Does the kid have compassion for others or for animals or anything? There were some churches in Seattle I know of that had wealthy congregations and so they decided to have this fair around the holiday season and you go there and there are all these tables with presentations for a different cause and instead of buying a bunch of stuff that people already had, the idea was that you buy a sheep for poor farmers in a poor land and do it in your loved one's name or something. I think the kids themselves were encouraged to do this stuff too.

Personally, we stopped doing the huge holiday gifts thing. It sets off my bipolar badly to try and do an overblown holiday. To my great surprise, I talked to our son about this a few years ago, and he's totally happy with it! He actually LIKES having a smaller holiday celebration. We get a small tree that sits on a table, make ornaments out of construction paper and paper clips and decorate it with those, and give each other a few small $5 and $10 gifts and that's it. I so hate that need to have the biggest bestest holiday ever. I used to be into it, but it just ends up being disappointing and triggers depression.

Its interesting to see what people get their kids. I am of the opinion that for kids less is more. Nothing they get should be overly expensive.

My friend bought her a drum and she's in the school band.

And she's also in Chorus....that's as far as her activities go.

My friend told me to get her a huge gift card to a store that she hasn't been to before.

For her big gift I might just get her a 50 peebles gift card if they have them and leave it at that.

If she's really into clothes and enjoys shopping in the store she would probably love that. You just have to be prepared with an answer for that all important question, "When can I go spend this? Now? PLEEEEEEEEAAAAASE???" LOL.

a huge birthday party sleep over yes thats the one...

I'm going to be the party pooper, seriously everyone this is crazy. Since when do kids need all that stuff. Think back when you were a kid did your parents buy you that much? Now when I reflect back on what made Christmas special, it wasn't the presents. Most of them I don't even remember. What I do remember is being with family. Focus on building precious memories.

How bout a hug, or going outside together and exploring or building a fort???? The best gifts are free!!!!!