Ok, so I know it is way to early to be talking about Christmas.
I was in Target the first week of November and I heard them playing Xmas music. It made me want to claw my ears out because CHRISTMAS should not begin BEFORE THANKSGIVING. But then I couldn’t help myself and I went to pick up some Xmas presents out in the toy department.
We generally try not to go overboard with the presents. Since we don’t buy so very many, I try to choose a few that I think the girls will really like. I am only posting the ones that I already purchased in case my blog readers end up being gift-idea stealing vultures who might swoop in and buy up all the stuff I want before I can get it myself.
So far, this is what I have bought/am buying:
M wants a microscope. I thought about getting her this one, because it is cool and I could play with it too. Then I read some reviews that said it is hard for little kids to manipulate, so instead M is getting this one. And I got it on sale for $8 off.
When I was looking at the microscope, I ran across this chemistry set. After Mr. A promised he will do all the experiments with M and I will not be forced to participate OR clean up the messes, we ordered that too. Just thinking about all those chemicals and test tubes got Mr. A’s inner geek all twitchy and excited. Also on sale for $5 off.
M is also getting a chess/checkers/chinese checkers set and a Yo Yo, both of which were on her list.
L is really into working on her gross motor skills right now. She has been really working hard to learn to use M’s scooter, which is kind of hard for her. My mom is getting her one of those 3 wheeled scooters, so that wasn’t a choice that was available to me.
Instead, I am thinking about getting her a balance bike of some sort. I haven’t ordered it yet, because she is rather short and I need to measure her inseam. I am leaning toward this one, but it is kind of pricey. If I can find a cheaper one that will fit her short legs, I will go that direction. There seem to be wide range of options out there.
L is also getting a toy purse, because she really, really loves bags. She will probably get a few books and maybe some art supplies or puzzles. She doesn’t need a lot of the basic 2-3 year old stuff because we still have most of those things from when M was younger.
Mr. A is always difficult. Usually we cop out with cufflinks or a tie, but this year I want to get him something more useful. I am considering an Ipod Shuffle for him. He could use it to listen to his music while riding his dumb bike. I don’t know if he would use it or not because he has never listened to music on his bike (because he has no ipod).
As for the gift that I want, I am leaning toward a pair of boots which have the unfortunate price of $165. It really seems like too much to pay for winter boots, but they are really cute and look exactly like the boots I would wear if I were to wear boots, iykwim. I am waiting to see if they go on sale soon.
Or maybe if I wait long enough, I will get over the boots and ask Mr. A to give me the the cookbooks I was going to buy myself anyway. (Even though those books are really more for HIM than for ME, because they are cookbooks about cooking CHINESE which he likes much more than I do.)
If I keep plugging away at my lists, it is entirely possible I may not have to set foot in the mall once this Christmas. That would be the best Christmas present of all.
hey, they have a balance bike at sprout soup (that new store we were talking about last night). maybe you could take her there and see how it fits her? just a thought.
A friend’s kid has an awesome balance bike that grows with the child – they just added the pedals a few months ago but you start without them. She’ll be able to ride it for a few more years. Am planning to get one for JWo for Christmas. Will let you know when I find out who makes it.
I’ll sell you my used Ipod Shuffle for a pittance.
I got my kids two kinderbikes last year. They were a bit too short for it the first year (when they were just turning 3, but they are fine now for it (at almost 4.) I think it was about $60, but I got mine for $40 because I bought the overstock of the previous year’s models.
Also, I got an ipod shuffle last year and use it all the time…it makes the treadmill bearable.
M is such a little intellectual, isn’t she? Wow, I could get my geek factor on with her, too.
I got my son a Skuut balance bike about a year ago and he has no interest in it. He was a tricycle riding maniac and I thought it would be great, but he prefers a regular 2 wheeler with training wheels at 3 years old. It is a beautiful bike and I would recommend it, but see if she likes riding one first.
We got a Skuut rip-off a few years ago at Target and it served us well. If you lived closer I would give you ours, as my daughter now has a “big-girl bike.”
we liked the balance bike idea too- but I’m too cheap to buy the balance bike and then a regular bike- I bought a small bike and took the pedals off- used it as a balance bike and then replaced them when we were ready to ride! we really like the melissa and doug all in one game box- it has checkers/chess/chinese checkers/dominoes/and a bunch of other games- plus they’ll send you replacemnt pieces if and when some get lost……also if M. likes the microcope my boys (7 and 5) love love love the eyeclops- (me too!) it is a lot of fun……happy shopping!
Meg
Skuuts are really popular here. I don’t think I could get S to do a balance bike though, just because she is used to the 20 different pedal vehicles they have at daycare and thus is a maniac about her tricycle (which papa won’t let her ride because she isn’t tall enough to sit on the seat-mama thinks it’s ok if she falls once in a while).
I had a real microscope as a kid, and a chemistry set, which I loved. Since J was an environmental educator, we order a lot of things through a professional catalogue-I’ll look up the link soon. ~lmc
I vote a huge yes to the ipod. My dad treated himself to a new one so he sent me his old one, and I mostly took it because, well, who says no to that? Really, though, I didn’t think I’d use it a lot– I don’t get out that much– so you can imagine how surprised I was to find it actually makes a huge difference when I exercise. I can’t believe how much more fun it is to get on that blasted elliptical trainer now. I can stay on longer and not even mind the extra time; it’s just lovely to have something to focus on besides the numbers on the little heart monitor.
A will love you if you get him an ipod, trust me. Dont get a shuffle though – if he does end up using it he’ll get into all the podcasts, etc. (YOU might too – lots of cool npr stuff) and you can’t personalize it or upload what you want like you can with a nano or any of the more sophisticated ones. Or at least you didnt used to be able to – maybe they’ve improved it recently…
I’m with you…no malls. I’m really trying to get it all done shopping online and buying from local artisans. I’ll probably cave on a few things, but I’m trying. By the way I love my little ipodshuffle…listen to it at the gym and even in my kitchen when it’s hooked to the cool speaker.