Monday, December 6

Its a Snowy One

In the last 24 hours we've gotten over six inches of snow.  I especially love watching it from my living room window.  We've lived in Michigan for five years and still don't have a snow blower.  We're gluttons for punishment, I guess.

I also love Christmas shopping from my computer while its snowing.  Does anyone else enjoy the blessing of Amazon this time of year?  With free shipping, I can hardly justify putting makeup on and fighting the crowds to pay the same price (or more) for items I can buy with a click, click, click - from my cozy home.  Plus, Money Saving Mom alerts me to all the latest deals, so I feel like I'm saving.  And now I'm starting to sound like a commercial...moving right along.

Which begs the question...What do you buy your toddler for Christmas?  I am loving the Melissa & Doug toys - classic, wooden (not technical, beeping, buzzing...you get the idea) toys that make me reminisce about my childhood and feel like my kids are developing skills versus killing brain cells.  They are a little pricier than I'd like, but I can see my kids playing with them for years.  Have you found a product you couldn't live without for your kids?  

Here's what I've purchased so far:

 Punching Balloons (because what kid doesn't love those?)


 


 Leapfrog Fridge Phonics (yes, electronic, but educational) 








Believe me, the goal for us on Christmas is not quantity, but quality.  I've never been one to lavish presents (though I do love gift giving), because I want my loved ones to feel valued in so many other ways.  But, I also love the memories I have of Christmas mornings...presents piled under the tree.  The excitement on my parents' faces...knowing we were going to love whatever we found under the packaging.  Even getting up at 4:30 am because I couldn't stand it any longer (and I was 17 at the time!). 

So, what are you buying for your kids this year?  What are you excited to give/see them enjoy?

3 comments:

Pam said...

We found the Tag reader last year for Evan and it is the one gift that keeps on giving. It's the "one we couldn't live without", although we could. We just really like it. The books grow with him and it keeps him reading and busy.
We're pretty old school too when it comes to toys. We did punching balloons too and our oldest are 10 and 12. I'm positive they will love them.

Lee and Candace said...

We got our girls a little kitchen and some Melissa and Doug Food. Then got them each something small...a fishing game for Isabel and Animal version of that leap frog refrigerator thing for Ana.

Oh someone got our girls those sort and stack cups last year and they really like them...good choice.

Angie, Jon, Ty, Wyatt & Levi said...

Thanks for the free shipping info on Amazon...there is one gift for wyatt I found on there that I haven't found anywhwere. Not like my boys need anything else, we are that family that has way tooooo much. I wish I could control myself and just buy the 'quality' stuff like you seem to be doing. Wyatt loves those M & D puzzles, he can do the 40 piece wood puzzles in minutes!!!! They're great babysitter, way better than TV!