My family decided several years ago to forgo1 shop-bought gifts in favour of2 home-grown(本地的，土生土长的)tokens3. Here" s how we did:
Think of dislikes, not just likes. Knowing my parents don"t like to cook, my sister filled their freezer(冰箱) with a week of home-made meals.
Give a piece of history. To help us un- derstand our family roots,my mother gave each of her four children a translation of let- ters her immigrant(移民的，侨民的) mother wrote home to Germany in the 1920s.
Remember what you have in common. Once we siblings (兄弟或姊妹) all became par- ents, my brother burned (录制) us a CD of songs about children.
Use your talents. My sister wrote a story for her nephew in which he stars as a hockey (冰上曲棍球) player who scores the winning goal.
Involve the kids. Even my one-year-old pressed hand prints into home-baked biscuits.
几年前我家就决定不再从商店买礼物赠送亲人，而是代之以有家庭特色的礼物。做法如下：
不仅思考家人喜欢什么，还思考他们不喜欢什么。我姐姐知道父母不喜欢做饭，就为他们做好够吃一个星期的饭菜装入他们的冰箱。
提供一份有关家族历史的信息。为了帮助子孙了解家族的根，妈妈将外祖母在 20世纪20年代移民后往德国老家写的信翻译了，给4个儿女一家一份。
记住同胞手足的共同爱好。当我们兄弟姐妹4人都为人父母之后，哥哥为我们各家录制了儿歌光盘。
运用你的聪明才智。我姐姐为她的一个外甥写了一篇故事，作为主人公他是一名冰上曲棍球队队员，并攻进了制胜一球。
让孩子们参与。家里自制饼干时，让我那刚满周岁的孩子，在饼干上面按下手印。
注释：
1． forgo vt． 抛弃，放弃
2． in favour of 赞同，支持，出于偏爱
3． token n． 纪念品