Thanks all our friends (Steph!) and family (grandma!) who are super excited about spoiling our girls for the holidays. You guys are too much!!
I was hesitant to post a Christmas list for them at first. I didn't want the girls to be glutton with things.
I had read a lot of traditions people have about gift giving in trying to form our own traditions. I really liked the idea that Santa would buy each child one big gift, and the parents would buy each child two small gifts. This helped me manage, in my mind my dreaded chore of shopping, and made gift giving less about how many presents are under the tree and more about making sure the gifts I do purchase are thoughtful.
However I realized that gifts from friends and family would always come too and since it brings those people an equal amount of joy to give something as it does to girls to open something, I feel excited that the girls will be lucky enough to have such wonderful family and friends!! What a wonderful Thanksgiving revelation!
Charles and I haven't practiced gift giving much in our 18+ years together: adults can buy what they want for themselves, and truthfully, buying gifts is not a talent either of us possess. So buying for kids was a new challenge for us.
This research and thinking was spurred further by last year's experience when I was rushing through Target a few days before Christmas and sweating bullets, stressing about what to buy. I vowed I would NEVER do that again!!
This year I saved up money! I have a list! I am so thankful I could do these things. Hopefully, this Christmas will be more relaxing for me, and equally as fun for the girls. So why not share this experience with others!!!
Without further ado, here's the list I've collected over the last few months. It's not exclusive... This is just what I've been observing. Have fun!
Wooden puzzles (Animals, shapes, colors)
Push/pull toys (baby vacuums, brooms, popcorn thingy, etc.)
Hammer board (remember these?)
Books (anything with repetition, great pictures and/or a simple story)
Shape sorters
Art accessories to go with a paint/chalk/paper easel (sized for two year olds)
Bath toys
Rubber boots (1 pair, size 5)
Long sleeve shirts (not onsie style) size 18-24 months
Athletic shoes (non canvas, size 4)
Plain white socks (size 18-24 mo)
Jackets: rain or cold weather type (18-24 mo)
I really love this website because you can search by age level (age 2) and the toys are mostly educational, wooden, well made and/or not electronic (who wants to keep buying batteries for toys?) :-) www.growingtreetoys.com
Some of their favorite things are: Sesame Street characters, Thomas the Train and any other train items, balls, moons, stars and any kind of animal.
They have tons of stuffed animals and baby dolls already. And they have a full kitchen with a lot of fake food and cooking utensils. And we are going to get them a tricycle/bicycle type stuff on their birthday when we can use them outdoors.
P.S. If you do buy something, can you let me know so Santa doesn't end up buying the same thing? Love you all!
2 comments:
If I wasn't clear on my list, Santa Claus is getting them an easel for Christmas. And Stephanie has said she is getting art supplies to go with the easel. Thanks Steph!
Excellent job Amy. It's so nice to be able to buy what you really need. Just so you know. GMa and Pa have purchased jacket and rubber boots. (2 pair) do you want me to return one? So funny that we are on the same page with so many of the items. Hee, hee.
Pa love to buy clothes so you know there will be more of that.
Happy Holidays everyone!
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