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Mary Chris
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My dh gave me some very comfy lounge pants! He also gave me some nice Brighton baubles.
DS8 loves the Snap Circuits, he is just building galore!
DS5 is enjoying all the Magz and Gears Moving Monkeys.
DD10 really loved her tea set and cute skirt. She also loves her magic scarf.
We all like the games Blokus and Map Tangle.
BTW, fellow NoVaer's Noodles and Noggins is a great toy shop in Clifton! I like to support independent toy shops and bookstores when I can. Noodles and Noggins also just happens to be right around the corner of All That Glitters, my favorite spot for buying Brighton jewlry and Vera Bradley bags   .
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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Courtney
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My dd(8) loves her Trading Spaces Design and Redesign Doll House. It comes with paint, clay, stencils, stamps, stickers and rooms full of furniture. You can even switch out the flooring!
Ds (5) loves his Melissa and Doug Folding Castle Playset.
I love my new roller blades! Of course, I was reminded that I'm no longer 21 when I was trying to skate backwards on a bumpy street and really bruised my tailbone (and my ego).
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Courtney in Texas
Wife to Mike since 3/94 
Mom to Candace 10/97 ,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
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MaryM
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We are enjoying our Blokus, too! Wanted to get it last year but it was sold out everywhere. It's a good strategy/perception game but the best thing is that all can play - from the 5 year old up without help but it is still challenging enough for all ages.
And the 5 year old loves his Narnia/Peter sword and shield. (found an inexpensive wooden one like this - painted over it in silver and painted the red lion on it.)
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Mary G
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I wanted to thank all who suggested family games -- we got the Cranium Family Funand it really spans generations and skill levels. It's a great equalizer and all from the 6 yos to the 60-something 2nd Cousin had a blast playing it.
3 yos loved his wooden train set from Santa
5 yod loved her doll and Maria von Trapp outfit
6 yos LOVED his Millenium Falcon from Lego
14 yod loved her Learning Irish
16 yos loved his high school letter jacket (even tho he's back to homeschool, he loves the jacket....)
Mom loved her new digital camera
and dh loved his knitted vest (I had to add an inch to the length to cover his belly from Christmas treats ) and his REALLY hard to find theology book that he'd been asking for....
All in all, a successful Christmas (and we get to do stockings on Epiphany )
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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amyable
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Probably the favorite gift was the digital piano. Even the 2yo loves it and doesn't always just bang on it. 
Another hit was, strangely enough,this shredder.
This sliceable pretend food were for my toddler but everyone else loves them too!
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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MacBeth
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We had a very science Christmas, and all the kids loved great science kits and gadgets from SK.
Libby got a complete chemistry glassware set--very fine!
Trip got a rock! Actually, he got a bag of rocks with fluorescent properties, and a UV light to show them off.
Paul got a radiometer.
Annika got a "spa chemistry" kit and is documenting her own recipes for bath salts and more.
My favorite gift was from my dh--a copper and glass bird-feeder, shaped like a lantern, that has a solar panel and light for the night time. It acts like a lantern hanging in my tree at night, right outside my office window. All day, the birds feast.
All the kids love their family gift:
Speedminton. They tried to play it in the house, but the shuttle kept getting caught in the tree (it is not an indoor game), but outside!!...it is so much fun! They can't wait to try it on the beach. The kit comes with its own court, too, and night time shuttle with glowything. When I got the box, I discovered it was an "As Seen on TV!" item and I groaned (I don't really watch TV, so I had never heard of it...the price was right, and it looked like fun). But it turns out that it has a real, "Wait! There's more!" quality that makes the set very complete as is. 
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
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Cay Gibson
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MacBeth wrote:
My favorite gift was from my dh--a copper and glass bird-feeder, shaped like a lantern, that has a solar panel and light for the night time. It acts like a lantern hanging in my tree at night, right outside my office window. All day, the birds feast.
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Ohhhh...I want one. 
Do you have a picture for show-and-tell?
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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MacBeth
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Cay Gibson wrote:
MacBeth wrote:
My favorite gift was from my dh--a copper and glass bird-feeder, shaped like a lantern, that has a solar panel and light for the night time. It acts like a lantern hanging in my tree at night, right outside my office window. All day, the birds feast.
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Ohhhh...I want one.
Do you have a picture for show-and-tell?
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It looks a bit like this:
Solar Bird Feeder only in copper, and mine has etched glass. It is way cool  !
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God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
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JennGM
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Amy! That shredder looks wonderful! I have a hard time keeping ds away from dh's more dangerous version. Wish I had seen it before!
Ds got the pretend food for his birthday and just loves them. And yes, the other kids, all ages (adult ) love the realistic feel and sound. It was after we got that that I had him in the kitchen helping me with a Hamburger/Vegetable stew. What an impression that made!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1  '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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amyable
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MacBeth wrote:
It looks a bit like this:
Solar Bird Feeder only in copper, and mine has etched glass. It is way cool ! |
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Ooooo...I bet that is beautiful.
Thou shalt not covet...thou shalt not covet...thou shalt not...
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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JennGM
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marychris wrote:
| BTW, fellow NoVaer's Noodles and Noggins is a great toy shop in Clifton! I like to support independent toy shops and bookstores when I can. Noodles and Noggins also just happens to be right around the corner of All That Glitters, my favorite spot for buying Brighton jewlry and Vera Bradley bags . |
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I have not heard of it, but you have me intrigued. I'll have to make a little trip there. I'm sentimental about Clifton, as The Hermitage is where we went the night dh and I got engaged. Thanks for the tip!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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Ds (and dh and I) were introduced to the Island of Sodor and Thomas the Tank Engine and all his friends with his Sodor Work and Wash Set. I am just so pleased at the hours he is spending on it.
A treadmill for dh and me.
Moira Farrell's 3-5 Album
All Clad 7 Quart Slow Cooker
Body Rite The Posture Pleaser to help me with my calligraphy and computer work.
Dh got some DVD copies of some old PSU football games. He's in heaven!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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marychris wrote:
| BTW, fellow NoVaer's Noodles and Noggins is a great toy shop in Clifton! I like to support independent toy shops and bookstores when I can. Noodles and Noggins also just happens to be right around the corner of All That Glitters, my favorite spot for buying Brighton jewlry and Vera Bradley bags . |
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I just found their website. Thanks!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Cheryl
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I love the Willow Tree Nativity Set that my father bought me.
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Cheryl
Wife to Bob ('97)
Mom to Matthew 13, Joseph 11, Sarah 10, Rachel 6, Hannah almost 4 and Mary 1
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guitarnan
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Amy,
Can you please look at the shredder and see where it's made? (We try to boycott as many Chinese-made products as possible...kids' shoes and toys are a real sore point at our house!) I'd appreciate the info.
Good Christmas Stuff...
Dh gave me Oneida flatware (we're upgrading after 20 years with only 7 dinner forks...don't ask...), so now I have 8 place settings of the new pattern. He also gave me the newest version of Oregon Catholic Press's guitar music for their annual Music Issue. If you could see the disaster of my 10-year-old music set and messed-up annual updates, you would know why this music person is so, so happy!!! (A gift only a church music person could love, I know!)
Dd likes her new guitar...she says she wants to play it at Mass like Mommy!!! She also loved Gamewright's card game, The Scrambled States of America. Mancala and Pass the Pigs are right behind (we like games).
Ds is totally in love with his Lego stuff. Today we did the final present pickup and went to the Lego store, where he could fill a cardboard gift box with assorted Lego pieces. (Of course it took forever because Dad told him to put the pieces together to minimize the amount of space they took up in the box, sigh...)
Dh was very happy with...a new coffee grinder for his office...extra large dress socks from my doting parents (he wears a 15D shoe)...books...and Age of Empires III from our son (first expensive gift ds has ever given!).
Of course, La Befana has yet to visit our house, he he he... (Italian Epiphany, Jan. 6)
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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amyable
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guitarnan wrote:
Amy,
Can you please look at the shredder and see where it's made? (We try to boycott as many Chinese-made products as possible...kids' shoes and toys are a real sore point at our house!) I'd appreciate the info.
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Considering the big sticker on the bottom that says "made in China" my guess is that you don't want this one. I know there are other hand crank shredders out there (a search for "manual shredder" should bring up a few). Sorry this one wouldn't work for you! 
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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JennGM
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amyable wrote:
guitarnan wrote:
Can you please look at the shredder and see where it's made? (We try to boycott as many Chinese-made products as possible...kids' shoes and toys are a real sore point at our house!) I'd appreciate the info.
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Considering the big sticker on the bottom that says "made in China" my guess is that you don't want this one. I know there are other hand crank shredders out there (a search for "manual shredder" should bring up a few). Sorry this one wouldn't work for you! |
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So true of most of lot of toys. My ds and I were talking about how all of Melissa and Doug are now made in China. And of course, it's not just toys, it's almost everything. You should how the furniture business has changed, and piano industry. And their are loopholes so that you can have parts made in China, but brought here and assembled and smaller areas added to avoid the China sticker. Did you know Lane cedar chests are now made in China! 
Off my rant!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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I forgot to mention two things that I'm just so happy about:
Pampered Chef Digital Thermometer..which worked with my slow cooker. If you need a consultant, I have a great one (my sister).
My first piece of Polish pottery! My MIL gives me Christmas pottery, Pfaltzgraff Winterberry. She added to my collection so I now have serving for 16, but a small Polish pottery Christmas plate!
And along the lines of Christmas patterns, I got my dh a Spode whistling tea kettle which he is using every day and just loves.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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teachingmom
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Virginia Bluebells
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My favorite gift was something I had mentioned to dh months ago in passing, so I was very surprised to find it under the tree on Christmas morning. It is a large print of the face of Christ called Crown of Thorns.
I am thinking of placing it over our fireplace during the season of Lent and having a place on another wall in the house for the rest of the year. (I haven't decided yet between our bedroom or a hallway.) This might lead to an entire collection of rotating artwork that will take us through the liturgical year.
Favorite gifts for the girls include:
The Magic Cabin Doll I made for my almost 3yo
A toy guitar for my 5yo
The Trudy Traveler doll for my 7yo
A first pair of small hoop earrings for my 9yo
New stylish sweaters for my 11yo (she LOVES clothes)
Two new dresses for each of the four older girls' American Girl dolls (from Doll Clothes Superstore and my new email friend Linda's website)
Fuzzy socks
Knitting book (Klutz) and kits -- we have really taken off on this
A large book of easy piano favorites -- we have never had lessons here, but almost everyone was picking out songs all last week
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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amyable
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teachingmom wrote:
I am thinking of placing it over our fireplace during the season of Lent and having a place on another wall in the house for the rest of the year. (I haven't decided yet between our bedroom or a hallway.) This might lead to an entire collection of rotating artwork that will take us through the liturgical year. |
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What a great idea! If only we had the wall space or the storage space for the other pieces...hmmmm...(need a "thinking cap" icon, lol)
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Topic: What were the Great gifts this Christmas?
