[Marilyn]

To minimize this problem, we ask our family members to give us a Christmas list of things they would really like to have. We try to get this by Thanksgiving. Our daughters even copy and paste pictures of the things they want off websites and specify color & size so we know exactly what they would like to have. They list enough items that it is still a surprize when they open their gifts to see what we selected from their list. We usually also buy them something not on the list that we know they would like.

This just simplifies things for everyone, and we've had no complaints this way.