4Real Forums: Let's Talk about Boys' Gifts

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Topic: Let's Talk about Boys' Gifts

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Becky Parker
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Joined: May 23 2005
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Posted: Dec 05 2005 at 5:06am \| IP Logged

Train table idea: When my dh was a child he and his brother loved to play with army guys. His dad used a large piece of plywood, put molding around it and put some sand on it. The boys played army guys on that and when they were done, the board was the perfect size to slide under thier bed. Clean up was a breeze, but they were old enough to be careful with the sand. My friend took this idea a step farther and actually used paper mache. She and her son created mountains and other "landscape" sort of things and then painted it. We're thinking this would work for ds's train set. That way, if he had a configuration he was working on, and didn't want to put it all away yet, he could just slide it under his bed.
Becky

Mary G
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Posted: Dec 05 2005 at 5:56am \| IP Logged

Becky -- this reminded me of what Dad did.

We had a small basement/garage in our house growing up. Dad built a 6ft x 10ft table -- 2x4 sides and supports, grey fibre board top. He had this rigged to a pulley system -- sounds like physics class -- and would raise or lower when the kids wanted to use it. I think my little brother was about 6 when Dad built this and we all used it for years -- and it just pulled out of the way when we were done playing with it.

This would be great for an electric train as well as a constantly changing wooden train/car set.....or just a play table in limited space!

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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!

Mary G
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Posted: Dec 05 2005 at 5:59am \| IP Logged

Jenn --

I just thought of something else -- whether you want to do TTT or avoid characters. Julie's Stuff has the Plan City sets. These work with the wooden train sets (like Brio or TTT) and you can do a car/train track. It's pretty cool. My now almost 7 yos got a set of these from Santa last year, and my now-3 yos added his trains and we've got a whole transportation thing going.....

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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!

JennGM
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Location: Virginia
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Posted: Dec 28 2005 at 3:43pm \| IP Logged

We entered the Island of Sodor this Christmas. Ds is just loving his Thomas the Train set. I can't believe how much time he just plays with it. He's already trying to build the tracks himself, too. The book isn't here, but on it's way.

I'm pleased, too. The way the trains roll on the tracks is quite enjoyable...so smooth and easy. It's all very sensorially pleasing.

I'm also having fun building up different tracks.

So I just wanted to give a big "Thanks!" to all you who gave me helpful advice. And please keep it coming. I need to know good sources for additional pieces...for less money, of course!

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Jennifer G. Miller
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Marybeth
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Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 11:34am \| IP Logged

Jenn,

Enjoy the island!! We lived there for almost 2.5 years!!! I am a bit sad about leaving but know it is time for other adventures and characters to enter our lives. We still love trains here and visiting the train museum every summer.

Does the Thomas train come to VA in the summer? We can ride Thomas at the IL Railroad Museum every August.

God bless,

Marybeth

JennGM
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Location: Virginia
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Posted: Jan 04 2006 at 3:43pm \| IP Logged

Marybeth wrote:

Enjoy the island!! We lived there for almost 2.5 years!!! I am a bit sad about leaving but know it is time for other adventures and characters to enter our lives. We still love trains here and visiting the train museum every summer.

I can see so many "rabbit trails" from this interest. And I am enjoying it also.

Marybeth wrote:

Does the Thomas train come to VA in the summer? We can ride Thomas at the IL Railroad Museum every August.

I'm not sure, but I'll be looking now. And for the model railroad displays. We saw one up in Altoona, PA at Christmas and my ds was just captivated.

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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to

& ds1

'03 & ds2

'07
Family in Feast and Feria

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