I am married to a 31 year Army career officer---the first Xmas when we were stationed in France just about all the 4 kids gifts were coming over from Sears, Penney's and Montgomery Ward'.
Xmas eve arrived but No Packages from anywhere, except family.
I got out the catalogs and we started cutting out pictures of all the items ordered. Then started looking for boxes---JellO, cereal etc. We wrapped all of them and they were the greatest hit ever with all the kids. Every time a package arrived they found the right box and threw that IOU out.
This was a very long time ago and they still talk about it.
Good luck with whatever you do, Kutnso