LOL - I was talking to DH last night and telling him, other than a swingset which he is FINALLY allowing me to get, there's really nothing that I want to get the little ones! Robby is going to be 4 at the end of the month and is SO into pretending (his favorite toy is a hanger which is his 'motorcycle') and Joanna, who's going to be 2 on New Year's Eve isn't into very much other than me - LOL!! So what are you giving your kids that might inspire me?? We don't have a ton of money but have a Christmas Club that will be cashing in in a few weeks so I'll have money to work with then (that's what we're using for the swingset).

Thanks!

Ann

from last yr but may get a few new pieces but his big thing will be a fish tank I think. DS just adroes fish and has been doing a good job of taking care of his betta. Kinda a whole family gift!

Rebecca really wants an autohard or lap harp, so I think we will get her that..

Aaron already has a snow board I got on closeout last year, and we will probably get him something to go with his stargazing telelscope

Joshua...I really want to get him hooked up with an indoor swing or rope to climb, something so he will stop climbing all the things he isn't supposed to (like going up the baniser railing hanging upside down, or climbing up the front of the fridge holding onto the handles and walking his feet up the front,,

We've started a new tradition a few years back. Since the girls have grandparents that loooove to spoil them, we no longer buy gifts. Instead, we all go on a trip for 2 or so days. This year I think we're going to Islands of Adventure in Orlando. (Still need to get with hubby to figure this out.)

The kids are getting a new computer to share, some pajamas and each will receive a new blanket.

I've asked grandparents and aunts to buy them magazine subscriptions.

For my 13 year old dd -- a processor for her computer that will make it go faster so she can play Sims 2. I'm going to make her two skirts and a hoodie, maybe jammies. Oh and I just got her the DVD of Jeckle and Hyde -- she's obsessed with musical theater

For my 2 year old (she'll be almost 3)-- I'm making a family of waldorf dolls that look like our family, jammies that match Emily's, and a busy book (mama made)

For my baby -- I think she's pretty happy playing with the boxes LOL maybe a bunch of mini playsilks :D Matching jammies

For everyone else I'm making matching hoodies with nicknames on them. (my mom and dad, my sister and dh)

i have a large stash of gifts that i buy throughout the year, and save in the basement. then i go "shopping" on bdays and xmas. this year, my 8 YO is getting books, clothes and not sure what, almost 4 YO is getting my little pony stuff from santa-and i am not sure what from us, and almost 3 YO is getting a thomas set and some hot wheels sets. not sure what is for bday and what is for xmas.
heather

I also buy things throughout the year and stash them in my closet. I buy on clearance so things aren't nearly as expensive. Kalyn is getting pajamas, leapstar gaming system, carrying case, and game. Saige is getting Rainbow Brite doll, wooden food, and some games. Alex will probably get a wooden toy.

We do a Solstice Treasure Hunt, with clues leading the girls throughout the house looking for little gifts. Half the fun for the girls, is reading the clues and trying to ind the next hiding spot.

Kaya will be getting:

~A puzzle
~a set of tree blocks
~books
~a magical wand made by me
~Some bendie dolls made by me
~some miniatures

Nico will be getting:

~A puzzle
~A set of Lincoln Logs
~books
~A wand made by me
~some bendy fairies made by me
~some miniatures


As shared gifts, J will be making them a fairy tree house and a wooden puppet theatre that doubles as a small store and counter. Hopefully, I will also be able to work out a deal with Val and they will get something batiked. Oh, and if I can trade with Katie, I'd love some more woll fodd for them, too.

My boys (5 and 2) are both REALLY into pretend cooking and have been for awhile. They have a ton of play food and are always "cooking" something up for me, so they are getting a Full size kitchen from www.brianswoodshop.com I am doing a layaway and they are SO awesome and their prices are great. Can't say enough good things about them!

As for other things I want to get I was thinking:
~Stuff for the car! They are so bored when we go anywhere and my friend moved 4 hours awaqy and I'd love to go visit her but they would get SO bored on that ride! LOL
~I think I'm going to get the 5yo a scooter for when it gets warm again next year
~Other outdoor toys for next year! (get em all on clerence this time of year! LOL)
~Coloring books and "learning" workbook type things
~Story books and interactive books
~Melissa and Doug boards (like latches and everday basics and the magnetic door ones ect)
~Melissa and Doug magnetic books and the fishing game!
~And probally a remote control car since these two are always fighting over the same one! LOL

My son is getting a wood kitchen filled with wood food. A correct boy doll, and one or two other wood toy items.

The cousins are getting playsilks and wood bead play jewelry.

I hope the grandparents spring for a swing set and get the backyard landscaped. I like to dream.

Well we really try to do three gifts. We have birthdays in Oct, Nov and Jan 1 so Winter is toy time around here.

For G who is 5 we are thinking about getting him a castle and set of knights. I just haven't decided which one we want to get yet. He will also get a new book (probably an audubon first field guide). And I am crocheting him a blanket. We will probably also get him another game for his leapster.

For E who will be 3 on Jan 1, we are getting him a book and I am making him a fleece blanket with an orca on it. I don't know what his big gift is going to be. For his birthday we are getting him a pixter and have 2 games for it.

For J who will be 1 in Nov, I have no idea what I am going to do for him. I know he will get a book like the other boys. I may make him a blanket too but I am not sure. I am thinking we may get him the FP castle set but I don't know.

Oh I am trading for knight outfits for the older boys and I may end up making them felt swords to go with the outfits.

We are giving the kids a joint gift of a puppet theater.

We are keeping it very simple this year. I'm sure we'll add a few small things (Katie wants a Yoga Kids video very badly), but for now:

Katie: a prairie/pioneer dress, petticoat, apron, bloomers, bonnet, & boots a la Little House - all will be made by me (except the boots, LOL)

Jake: a teepee, made by me

Both will get pj's made by me.

lol

We try to minimize the holiday greed by only filling stockings for them. Usually, pj's, undies, craft items and small toys. I started my list of craft items that need refreshing yesterday.

Mikey-
A topographical globe
New Pajamas (organic cotton)
Books
Monet “Water-lily-Pond” print
A wooden dragon (we will make)

Sean-
A sun cater/wind chime he saw that we likes. IT is stars and moons made of metal and glass
New Pajamas (same as Mikey’s)
Books
Play silks in “teddy bear” colors OR a play silk canopy for over his bed
A puppet theatre (we will make)

Then we will send them on a treasure hunt game...the prizes will be a variety of art supplies (brushes, water color paper, paints, etc)


That is about it. We will do this for Yule…then we are heading out of town for a week. I do not know where we are going!

Austin (8) no clue. He says he doesn't have any toys he likes to play with in his room, but he is a bit rough on pretty much everything and doesn't like samll building toys... so I am stuck with him. I am afraid either he or one of his siblings will destroy something that is 'better' that he would like (like a telescope or race track, etc)

Nathan will be 7. He wants Daddy to build him a castle, and he wants to help. So, that is what they are going to do before Christmas. Then on Christmas morning he will get it to keep - along with a bunch of bendy dolls. Getting the doll armatures fomr www.achildsdream.com and then dressing them myself. They will be knights, royal family, maybe a Robin Hood, some wool horses, etc. He'll also get some books that he can read - and some more puzzle type books small toys.

Adam (4) He was looking through the Magic Cabin catalog and saw the stuffed dogs.... with a wooden doghouse. He wants THOSE. lol I got 'fur' yesterday in the same colors and also a pattern. DH is making a doghouse for him, too.

Lauren will be 3 We were thinking dollhouse, but we don't have the room in this house. She did see a stuffed kitty that she wants, so I am making her a black kitty.

Adam and Lauren share a room and htey have all the Waldrofy toys in there. All the dressups, playstands, food, babies, etc. Dh is going to make them a hanging rod ystem for their dressups... and I am making them a bunch more dressups. Royal cloaks, red ridinghood, princess, prince, crowns, tutus, fairy wings, flower skirts, boas, magic wands, tiaras, etc... complete dressup set. :)

As of right now... those are our plans.

For my 10, 7, and 1 year old Im getting a teepee :) my SIL has one and they love it so much!

Laurel will get her first doll that can wear her diapers she came home in and her clothes. She wont know whats going on though LOL

I still dont know what to get my teens.

Im getting them all a heavy duty wagon to play with outside, they go through wagons quickly but this one will be a much better made one.

I saw a cute kiddie vacuum that really works at Sears, so I would like to get that for ds who is 4. He loves to "help" with the vacuuming but he takes forever and I feel impatient sometimes. I was also thinking about another lego set, maybe one of the Star Wars ones. For his stocking, Power Rangers undies and socks. Ugh, the thought of having to start shopping for everyone else makes me feel ill since I never know what what they'd like most.

Originally posted by Mamax4
But but it's not even Halloween!

i cannot go there yet.

:D

LOL - I'm not going there yet either but I need ideas so when I DO go shopping, I can get it done quickly. I am waiting for the Christmas club to come through then I may begin to get a few things but usually it's December before I go full force into getting things. Now, the swingset will come before Christmas, obviously, so I guess I WILL be dealing with it early! LOL!

Ann

I'm usually done shopping by now, I am so behind.....LOL!

Ellie: From Santa a desk for her room (she's been begging for a while), From us, PJs, robe, personalized mermaid painting from Melony

Isabelle: From Santa a large dollhouse. From us, PJs, robe and Waldorf unicorn

Alex: From Santa a train table. From us, PJs robe and I need to find one other thing.......

Stockings: I have been buying things on clearance all year....fancy pens, a whole slew of art supplies from Target's after school starts clearance, Hello Kitty pencil cases, a bit of candy and I will include some character band-aids this year.

I still need DH's gift, but the girls will need to go shopping with me for that. My family does not exchange gifts except for kids. We just do a big dinner. MIL bought the girls American Girl dolls when she visited NYC, so thats all taken care of.

Actually I'm closer than I think....make the PJs and robes, get one more thing for Alex and a desk for Ellie and a gift for DH and I am done, done, done :thumbsup:

they are getting the Playmobil zoo to share. We do stockings, so they'll get little trinket-y stuff in them...I have a little stash of wahm things going and a couple things I still want to get. I usually make them new jammies to open up on Christmas Eve... And, that will probably be it from us.

Justin, my 8 1/2 yo is getting a skeeball machine that he's been asking for to put in the play room in the basement. I think he's also getting a light up globe for his room. He REALLY wants a red lava lamp, but I don't know about that.

Alex, my 7 1/2 yo is getting a basketball game to put in the basement. Shes also getting a small cd player boombox and 2 cds that shes been wanting.

Caleb, my 4 1/2 yo REALLY wants a scooter, but we'll see. Hes getting a set of blocks from brianswoodshop

Maggie, is 2 and shes getting a play washing machine from brians woodshop and a set of blocks from the same.

They're all getting some Usborne books too. Theres a couple in my home show kit that they all want their own copy of and there are a couple more I know they'll love.... I might have to get Alex a learning palette b/c she won't put down the sample since I got it in the mail.

Other than that, I have no clue!!!

Ds is getting a wooden castle and figures to go with it. Then I'll be making him some dress-up items to go with some that we got in a swap, and will put them all in a big wooden treasure box. His stocking will have a new toothbrush and some other little goodies, hopefully I'll be able to find him some HABA tin games.

i think my Mom is sending him a blanket, and I'm hoping that he only gets books from everyone else. :)

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY!!!!!

I'll share:

Emily 9, 2 games, Pictionary Jr., some charades game, and the mini van to go w/ the polly pocket carnival.

Easton 5, Elefun game, a wooden floor puzzle of the US, its huge, and a paintball gun game that hooks to the TV.

Gavin 3 is very into Dora, my mom is getting him the house, we are getting him furniture for the bedroom and kitchen and the Grandma & Diego, also kid sized Dora furniture, 2 chairs and a ottoman.

All three are getting a fleece blanket made by me, the really easy cut the edges and tie ones. We are really not going overboard this year.

They get tons of stuff from both of our divorced families. On Christmas we have to visit all seperately, my mom, my dad, my grandparents, dh's mom, & dh's dad. It is really too much, I almost want to run away this Christmas, we don't get to enjoy it al all, we spend our ENTIRE day running, starting just after the kiddos open their gifts from us & Santa.

Originally posted by eastonbennett
They get tons of stuff from both of our divorced families. On Christmas we have to visit all seperately, my mom, my dad, my grandparents, dh's mom, & dh's dad. It is really too much, I almost want to run away this Christmas, we don't get to enjoy it al all, we spend our ENTIRE day running, starting just after the kiddos open their gifts from us & Santa.

I SO know what you're saying. We get up Christmas morning and open gifts at our house, then rush to my Grandmas to open gifts before lunch, then to my Great-Grandmas for lunch/gifts, then to hubby's Mom's for lunch/gifts again, then we get to come home so I can complain about how everyone ignored me about giving the $$ to my dad for their college fund instead of getting big, plastic, noise making toys. We also have to make time in the mess to see my step-son.

Now as for the gifts for my kids...

8 y/o DD - chapter books, magazines subscription, stuffed horses
6 y/o DS - new cowboy boots, arrows for his bow, stuffed horses
5 y/o DD - doll clothes, play food, doorway puppet theater
1 y/o DS - new doll

The rest I don't know. Everyone is getting an outfit, bubbles, crayons, paper, glue, workbooks, etc. and probably some sort of organizational station for it all to go in.

Does anyone have any advice as to what to do about my step-son. He'll be 18 months at Christmas and his mother doesn't appreciate anything, so whatever we send there will just get trashed (probably litterally). We haven't even seen him in 4 months, so I don't want to get him a bunch of stuff for here. I don't have a clue what to get him :(

Originally posted by eastonbennett


They get tons of stuff from both of our divorced families. On Christmas we have to visit all seperately, my mom, my dad, my grandparents, dh's mom, & dh's dad. It is really too much, I almost want to run away this Christmas, we don't get to enjoy it al all, we spend our ENTIRE day running, starting just after the kiddos open their gifts from us & Santa.

That's why it works really well for us to celebrate on Yule, or Winter Solstice. We get to have our fun before the Christmas burnout. We let Nico's bio-mom have her on Christmas, and J, Kaya and I get to stay home and relax! :)

In tears past, I have waited and waited to do any sort of planning or prep for the holidays. which leads to me getting stressed and depressed by December 1st. This year, I promised I would have the gifts planned, purchased or made by Thanksgiving so I can *chill*! ;)

Originally posted by Christy
Does anyone have any advice as to what to do about my step-son. He'll be 18 months at Christmas and his mother doesn't appreciate anything, so whatever we send there will just get trashed (probably litterally). We haven't even seen him in 4 months, so I don't want to get him a bunch of stuff for here. I don't have a clue what to get him :(

I'd get him a savings bond! For $25 you can get a $50 bond which makes an impressive gift. I don't think anything else would be worth getting him from what you say.

Ann

Mamas who are buying wooden castles and figures -where are you getting them? Links, please?