The rule is that after you're given a gift, you have to get up, and pick out another gift. Another reason for the code was that Jeff and I figured out we could just keep giving gifts to each other, and there was no way to stop us. Once the code was figured out, the same proved true, but we also learned that if you're out of presents, it's a bit boring to sit around watching other people continue to get gifts. It also was fun picking out gifts, and trying to figure out who they were for, or why they were for that person based on the code... But whenever Kristin got up to give a gift this year, someone would tell her that Dad or Mom really ought to get one (their gifts had no code), and so she wouldn't get to pick from under the tree. it was funny.