Makin' a List...

Every year when I was a kid on the day after Thanksgiving, my mom would hand us kids the ginormous JC Penney's catalog and tell us to circle all the things in it that we would like for Christmas. Of course we didn't get everything that we circled, but it gave my parents something to go off of. Once we got old enough to write our own lists, we didn't have to circle things in the Penney's catalog anymore. We could write anything we wanted on our lists, even things that we knew there was no way we would get. It was fun.

My kids aren't quite old enough to make lists yet, and I've already done most to their shopping (thank you amazon.com) but I know there are a few relatives who might need ideas, so I'm going to put together a list for the kiddos. Also, I know that even though I've been hinting to Aaron all year about things that I would like, he's still going to need a concrete list, so I'm making one for me. And because my husband is the world's hardest person to buy for (except for maybe his dad), I made him give me a list, which I will post here for anyone interested. I'll start with the kids, because they are the most fun.

Lincoln

-Lincoln's favorite toy in the whole world right now are his Trio building blocks. He got a large set for his birthday, and I think he's played with them every day since. I think it would be fun for him to get more pieces. Sets range in price from $5-$40 depending on the size.

-Anything Toy Story related...this kid loves Toy Story.

-Do-A-Dots, I have thought of so many fun activities to do with these little babies.

-Books are always a good present. You can check with me if you want ideas for good books, or to see if we already have something.

-Matchbox airplanes. My mom has a few of these at her house and my boys LOVE them. Lincoln is really into the helicopter variety, but would be thrilled with either.

Ivan

Ivan and Lincoln have really similar likes, so anything above (except the Trios because they are a little too old for him) would work for Ivan, but I'll try to give some new ideas here as well.

-A shape sorter of some sort. One of Ivan's favorite ways to entertain himself is to put things into containers.

-Balls

-Blocks, Ivan is my builder, it turns out. He would love any kind probably, but I saw a really cool wooden set at WalMart

-Upbeat kids music. Ivan is really into dancing and singing, especially songs that have actions to go with.

-A small flash light. Both of my boys are obsessed with flashlights.

Adelia

-Shaking toys that make noise. Adelia has recently discovered toys. Soft ones that she could chew on and shake that make noise are her favorite so far, but the other day I did catch her with Buzz Lightyear's fist in her mouth. :)

-Warm clothes. She's in the 6-9 month size these days. I really like this vest set in either green or azure. And this tunic. I'm a big fan of the longer shirts with leggings underneath, so cute. Adelia's best colors are purple, brown, green, and anything bright. Softer colors tend to wash her out and make her look sick.

-Bumbo Chair Play Tray. Aaron and I are getting Adelia the Bumbo chair for Christmas, but it would be cool to have the play tray to go with it.

-Some little black church shoes, you know the kind that are so adorably cute, but that I never buy for a baby this young because 1-they aren't walking and 2-they grow out of them so fast. They aren't practical, that's why they'd make an excellent Christmas present (Aaron!).

-Bows. Yup, I'm obsessed. But they are so cute and I never got to put them on my boys. Anything off of this site is adorable, and would be interchangeable with the headbands she already has.

Krystal

This list is mostly for Aaron's benefit. But anyone else in search of ideas is willing to look. My birthday is coming up in February too! :)

-zip-up hoodies, like my navy blue one, like this (does not have to be this brand)

-slip on tennis shoes without laces like this or this or this

-a kitchen timer that I can turn the dial and the kids can watch how much time they have left

-an under cupboard radio/cd player something like this. It doesn't need to be a super expensive one.

-books (or a gift certificate to buy books with)

       *What Your Preschooler Needs To Know, all three books in the series

       *Anything on my "Planning on reading list" which you can find under the Krystal's recommended reads tab.

       *That kid Science book Suzy checked out at the library a couple weeks ago, you'll have to get the title from her though.

      *The Hunger Games series, I'll read it again some day

      *The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, everyone should own that book and read it often

      *Any other good homeschooling books that Lisa recommends for the preschool/kindergarten years, not so much on philosophy, a little of that is ok, but on ideas for activities and things to teach, that's what I'm really looking for at the moment.

       *A canning cook book with step by step directions and pictures.

-softball socks, white with a stripe up the middle. The stripe can be any color.

-food dehydrator

-Texas Road House

-An apartment with a master bathroom and a back yard :) (Hey as long as we're dreaming)

-A nap

-A subscription to Family Fun Magazine, I have a coupon for two subscriptions for $10 if anyone is interested.

Aaron

As mentioned above, Aaron is the world's hardest person to shop for, because mostly he's rather I didn't spend the money. his birthday and Christmas are pretty close together so it makes coming up with ideas of I what I am going to get him difficult, let alone when other family members ask me what he wants. So this year right before his birthday I had him make me a list that was supposed to have 25 things on it that his little heart desired. Well, the list I got back only had 14 but I'll take it. Here it is

-Laser printer

-New bike helmet

-Snow gloves

-Photo shop

-Effecrtive C++ (Book)

-External hard drive. We have one, but a backup would be nice.

-Calendar with family pictures

-Metal filing cabinet with file folders

-Digital video camera

-Sled

-The Fugitive (movie)

-Start Wars (movie)