It's too often in this modern day society, that people don't have the decency to thank people for handmade gifts or even store bought gifts. Your gifts are beautiful, but I don't know if I would have made anything for the niece and nephew, since you had made Christmas ornaments for the mother and she didn't bother to send a thank you or a phone call for them, so obviously she didn't bother to teach the children to send thank you's for gifts. Personally, I wouldn't bother buying them gifts either, but do whatever is comfortable for you.