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cheesehead mom
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| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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I am not sure if this is the best spot for this but I am curious if there are any great ideas out there for Christmas gifts. The reatives are already asking for ideas! TWe have 5 boys and a daughter and plan on moving this year so I am hoping to limit the amount of new toys coming in...and I cannot imagine many more sets of legos coming in! We do not live in a big city or near one so museum memberships are out. Any great Catholic kid magazines/educational toys on anyone's list this year?
Laura
ds-12,7,5,3,1 dd 9
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Mary G
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| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 7:02pm | IP Logged
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Last year, we got subscriptions to Ranger Rick, My Big Backyard and National Geographic Kids from relatives (and it's easy to change the address when you do move -- DON'T ask how I know that!  )
I also really like any of the Cricket magazines -- particularly Cobblestone (which focuses on American History as that's what we're focussing on this year anyway).
Another thing you might suggest would be gift certificates to restaurants, breakfast places, ice cream places that the kids really enjoy ... they feel so big "paying" for the family and it's an outing/experience they'll remember for a long time, especially if you make a big deal about it (both before and after).
Also, craft supplies are fun -- and can be used during the packing/moving to keep the kiddoes busy.
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Booksnbabes
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Our kids received a gift subscription to MagnifiKid (by the publishers of Magnificat) and they have loved it! It's geared toward kids a little older than mine (6, 4, 2), but they still enjoy it and my eldest enjoys using it to follow along at Mass. It does talk a lot about ways to live your faith at school (practice generosity with someone you don't necessarily get a long with, etc.), but it's all applicable to family life too.
We also enjoy Big Backyard, Ranger Rick, and Kids Discover. Magazines are nice because they recycle and because you can always cut the pictures out for projects.
I second the gift certificate idea. It is nice to be able to go out without thinking about the cost!
We've asked for craft materials for three years now and have yet to receive any, but you might fare better than we! 
I might ask for iTunes gift certificates this year too as we now have an ipod. There are some audio books I have my eye (or is it ear?) one. That won't really work if you don't have an ipod though.
Oh, science projects! Like the solar system model from the in-laws we received last year. Neat science kits that you might not otherwise purchase are always fun.
And we ask for "boring" things that we need for the kids, like new sheet sets, socks, pajamas, setting guidelines that they not contain characters. Though this is not always followed. 
Another gift for which we did not ask, but have been grateful is kid's yard tools (rakes, hoes, shovels). They have soooo much fun using their own tools to help out around the yard and garden.
Thanks for this post, it has gotten my gift idea juices flowing for our own lists!
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Tina
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| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 8:12pm | IP Logged
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I'm planning a little boys dressup box for my 2 year old ds. We have all the girlie dressup stuff, but with this being our first boy, we have nothing for him. So while all the Halloween stuff is out now, I'm going to run to the dollar store to get him a variety of hats. I saw them there last week. I plan to get him the firefighter, police officer, construction worker, and army-type helmets and a pirate hat. Then, to go with these, I'm going to either purchase or dye my own playsilks in boy colors. The dollar store also had swords, belts and other boy accessories. I know the dollar store stuff is "cheapie" and plastic, but for some things I don't know how to avoid it. Plus, money is a bit tight these days so I'm happy to find these.
I'm also hoping to make some felt food for my girls and my niece. I've seen a tutorial somewhere, but can't remember where. Anyone know?
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 8:44pm | IP Logged
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Tina wrote:
I'm also hoping to make some felt food for my girls and my niece. I've seen a tutorial somewhere, but can't remember where. Anyone know? |
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I'm hoping to work on this too, Tina. Not sure if this is the link you were looking for, but it is one I've had bookmarked for a long time for inspiration...felt foods
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JodieLyn
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My ILs this year are going to get them a girls' tent and a boys' tent. some of the small 4 person dome tents.. just big enough to the older 3 of each to have their own sleeping space when we camp. Our one big tent is majorly crowded.. and that's an understatement
There are some campgrounds we'd still ahve to squish into the big tent but many of the forest service campgrounds would let us have multiple tents in a site. It'll be real nice.
We often ask for dvd's because then my folks that have a real limited income can get 1 or 2 or 3 and the kids can all share them.
You might also reconsider on the museum passes or such.
We got one to a museum that's 2.5 hrs away. But it's the closest "big city". And while we don't get to run over there often or spend every week.. or even every month at the museum. When we went over for end of hte year testing for the kids (required) we could spend the last couple hours the museum was open there.. where we would NOT have paid to get in for just 1.5-2 hrs. And when my dh went over for a KofC thing.. the rest of us tagged along and did some shopping together and then I was able to take the kids there while dh did his thing and then we had dinner and came home. Again, something we would not have done if we'd have to pay to get in.
And we're hoping to do one more "special" trip before the membership runs out. But we've really enjoyed it even if we couldn't use it "fully".
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guitarnan
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My dd loves Zoobooks - excellent for life science!
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Tina
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| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 9:46pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Jennifer! I don't think that's the one I saw, but I think it's even better! I can only sew by hand (and not that well ) but I think that even I could manage some of the simple foods on that post .
And Laura, what about gift certificates for places like Claytime Cafe (or something like it, that is local to you)? Or a GC for classes or lessons at a local Center for the Arts? Our town has a CFTA and they offer all kinds of classes. And Borders and B&N gift cards are a favorite to my book lovers. Even a gift card for a craft or sewing store would work well for my girls (and me  ). Or what about a "kid friendly", inexpensive digital camera....for nature study, of course. Or a microscope? Or a butterfly habitat?
I'll have to remember this thread for when my own family starts asking.
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Booksnbabes
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Maybe a state park pass? Nice for nature hikes, camping, family picnics. Of course, that's if they are required in your state. I'm not certain how that works from state to state, but they are required here.
You could ask for the Priest Game!
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cheesehead mom
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| Posted: Oct 15 2008 at 3:35pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the great ideas. I am leaning toward the Cricket ideas as they really seem to have something for everyone. Also like the pass ideas and forgot about the Priest Game. I am sure others will enjoy this too as the season sneaks up on us. Keep the ideas coming!
Laura in WI
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organiclilac
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Tina wrote:
| I'm also hoping to make some felt food for my girls and my niece. I've seen a tutorial somewhere, but can't remember where. Anyone know? |
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Not food, but I recently saw this felt jungle at The Crafty Crow and thought it was sooooo cute.
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Waverley
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This year we are pooling all the money from relatives to buy one large item for the kids. The relatives are actually very happy to participate when I tell them what we are doing and why.
I simply explain to them that we don't really need any more little things but would love to buy some larger heirloom quality pieces that can be used and passed along to the next generation.
This year we are investing in a wood marketplace with wood and felt food to go with it. We will write on the back of the marketplace the date and all the relatives that made it possible. Some of my sisters wanted to shop for the food for the market themselves so they are going to coordinate between themselves so they don't duplicate.
Good luck.
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Tina P.
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| Posted: Oct 23 2008 at 8:13am | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
| My ILs this year are going to get them a girls' tent and a boys' tent. some of the small 4 person dome tents.. just big enough to the older 3 of each to have their own sleeping space when we camp. Our one big tent is majorly crowded.. and that's an understatement |
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Now *here's* something I hadn't thought of! We, too, have one tent and 8 kids. Our oldest is 14. My parents just give money. But this could be money well spent.
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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Topic: Christmas gift ideas
