I think books are a nice gift, Ivy. Also if you can find one that fits with an interest, that is a compliment, because it shows you listen.
Dd33 helped me get my lights on the tree. That's as far as we got. The boys were helping and it's just about all we could stand! I told her it's kinda a shame, though, since it is the ornaments that are so meaningful to the 2 of us and we'd have had so many fun conversations over them.
Here's a thought for next year - if we again have a December in which dd33 will be coming twice, try to actually time the ornaments to her first visit.
The large party was successful. I believe that in general our gifts were well received. The great-nephew I have such a hard time pleasing carried my gift around for the rest of the party because his Daddy would not let him open it yet (many parts). Next year I hope I am able to take more food, even though it is a distance and chancy for us to transport. I just feel like others work very hard in preparation. Ds is on my personal naughty list because, though I believe he could have managed it somehow, his family did not attend, making my green-eyed boy (2 year old) the only great-grandchild who did not attend, and the only child of the family who was not included in the photo taken of the other 9. I know my dfirstmil really missed having him.
Tonight I won an ebay auction for a years-ago toy little britches (3 year old) came to me asking me to buy him last evening. He was forced by his Mommy to give it up because it was part of the old toys that are for all children who visit there. The location for this is only one state over, so should arrive in time with no hassle. The fact that this one is a used, out-of-date toy, not in an original box, won't matter to a 3-year-old!