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SeaStar
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| Posted: Nov 17 2009 at 6:39am | IP Logged
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I love to read toy reviews in magazines. With Christmas approaching, I thought: heck, we can do our own toy review right here.
So what toys were the biggest hits at your house this year?
Here we love Swingball. This set is easy to set up and move around, all the parts store in the base, and best of all... if you have one kid who needs to work off some energy, he/she can do this alone. You can really whack that ball, and you don't have to chase it! 
Martian Matter Alien Maker
has been another favorite. My kids go back to this repeatedly. They love to make all kinds of different colored aliens. I'm amazed at how much fun they have with it. Plus I scored some refill kits on clearance at Michael's for it this summer. But we're still on the original alien goo bottles, so they do last.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Christine
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| Posted: Nov 17 2009 at 9:00am | IP Logged
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Playmobil (Nativity, Noah's Ark, Pirates, Romans) sets have been big favorites with my children. They come back to them time and time again. Costco currently has an excellent price on a set with horses.
Legos and Lego Duplos are played with a lot.
Lincoln Logs can be used for all sorts of buildings and usually are in my house.
Geotrax have stood the test of time (6 or 7 years) in our house. The older children enjoy setting up the tracks in various ways, as much as the younger children enjoy driving the trains.
I don't like guns, but my boys really like their Nerf N-Strike (extra suction darts are a must). They want several other Nerf products.
Our Cozy Coupe is used (and fought over) often by my two youngest.
Sculpey, art erasers, colored pencils, watercolor paint sets, etc. make great stocking stuffers.
My daughters' 18" Gotz dolls are well loved and one usually sleeps in an Our Generation doll bed from Target.
Breyer horses have been favorites with some of my daughters for a long time.
One of my daughters really wants this Equestrian Design Kit from Hearthsong. I don't know what the quality is like.
Although I have provided some links to Amazon, I have found the linked products for less elsewhere.
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Christine
Mommy to 4 girls, 5 boys, & 2 in God's care
Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother
Pretty Lilla Rose
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cvbmom
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| Posted: Nov 17 2009 at 11:21am | IP Logged
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We have that...dd really likes it a lot and now wants the room design kit. I think you'll be pleased. We copied the "masters" so that they could remain in good shape.
I second the Legos, Playmobil, and Breyer horses. They are the most played with toys at my house.
God bless,
Christine
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Wife to dh - 18 years!
Mom to dd (16), ds (15), dd, (12), dd (11), ds (9), dd (8), dd (7), ds (5), dd (3), ds (2), and ds (1)
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Nov 17 2009 at 12:00pm | IP Logged
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We have the usual favorites...toy kitchen, Little People, dress-up clothes.
One item I bought two years ago that turned out to be a big hit was the Candy Land Castle game. At the time my daughters were 5 and 2. I bought it for the younger but both really enjoyed it. It was nice to have a family game that even the toddler could play along with.
I can't really think of anything else that has REALLY stood out.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Nov 17 2009 at 4:38pm | IP Logged
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I typed a nice long response earlier and it disappeared.  So, let me try again:
Kapla-huge hit with all ages
Play silks- very versatile, the girls love them
Papo Castle and knights- high quality, ds11 plays with them daily
Plan doll house
Fisher Price doll house- this has been in constant use for years.
Wooden game table from Hearthsong- worth the money! It comes with huge chess and checkers pieces that store in the table. It has a checkerboard painted on one side and a backgammon board on the other. Down side- doesn't come with chairs.
Outside toys- Air burst rockets from Rainbow Resource, Frisbee golf ( I think I got it from Sports Authority), Pogo stick, scooters.
For little guys- these blocks from Oompa toys. Expensive, I have two smaller sets, but really great for older babies up through preschool. Also, my little boy loves Bajo cars also from Oompa. They are really good quality and the perfect size. I keep a couple in the diaper bad for when I need to keep him busy when we are out.
I think that is it for our must-haves. I will have to think about it. Maybe I will come back and do a "dud" list too, to spare others from buying duds that I have fallen for in the past. 
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Christine
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| Posted: Nov 17 2009 at 5:43pm | IP Logged
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teachingmyown wrote:
Fisher Price doll house- this has been in constant use for years.
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I second the Fisher Price doll house. My husband picked one up for $15 at a rummage sale nine years ago. It has seen constant use over the years and didn't even crack when one of my sons stood on it. My older daughters have been suggesting that we get some new Loving Family dolls for my youngest (the more children, relatives, friends, etc. the better  ). The vehicles and horses have also been a big hit.
cvbmom wrote:
| We have that...dd really likes it a lot and now wants the room design kit. I think you'll be pleased. We copied the "masters" so that they could remain in good shape. |
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Thank you, Christine.
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Christine
Mommy to 4 girls, 5 boys, & 2 in God's care
Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother
Pretty Lilla Rose
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Mary K
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I'll third the FP dollhouse and put a plug in for the FP castle. Ours are maybe 15 years old and still get lots of use.
For more ideas, you could go to the Strong National Museum of Play (website) and click on Toy Hall of Fame, then on inducted toys. My favorites: ball, stick, cardboard box. Seems the best toys come without directions!
God bless,
Mary-NY
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Nov 17 2009 at 9:27pm | IP Logged
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We still have the FP castle, pirate ship, and Robin Hood forest that ds18 played with 15 years ago. Time to get them out and scrubbed for my little guy.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Jeanne
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| Posted: Nov 17 2009 at 9:44pm | IP Logged
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All my kids(except the 14 and 16 yr. old) play dress up everyday with their big pieces of silk material.
A favorite game for the 3 to 8 year old range has been Zingo(version of bingo with pictures.) My 2 year old is learning how to match the pictures from watching his older sister. They play this several times a week.
My older children including teens really like to play Solitaire Frenzy. They actually like to start playing this about the age of 5-6, they just aren't as fast as their older siblings.
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Jeanne
mom to 9 (21,19,17,15,12,10,6,4,8 months
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
P hi li ppians 4:13
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SuzanneG
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::Dolls, of course. Baby dolls and 18" dolls
::Doll House with figures & furniture
::Foam Blocks
::Sudoku Jr. Game
::Tea Set
::Plastic Animals
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Maddie
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teachingmyown wrote:
We still have the FP castle, pirate ship, and Robin Hood forest that ds18 played with 15 years ago. Time to get them out and scrubbed for my little guy.
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Now you're making me reconsider purging these! 
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~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
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Paula in MN
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Legos, Lincoln Logs, Tinker-Toys.
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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mary theresa
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Brio trains and tracks 
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Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: 2009 Toy Review
