I just have to vent for a moment. I have a son who LOVES the Octonauts. Last Christmas, I ended up ordering from the UK (via Amazon) 2 items so he would have something because they launched the show and FP didn't bring any merchandise over to the US until spring of this year. So now we have some merchandise but the US is still way behind the UK in terms of merchandise. I want to get a certain puzzle (65 pieces -- he's great at puzzles so needs a challenge) -- yeah, UK again. Card game? UK. Gup X? UK. ARGH! I am AMAZED that the merchandising in the US is just not keeping up. The stuff seems to disappear from the store shelves fast enough.
Anyway, on other non-venting fronts, debating something and I'd like your opinion. DD just got into dance and loves it. She also is keen to play music but we are waiting so she's not (and we're not) overwhelmed with activities (she is also in swimming -- safety thing). She is particularly interested in the flute. I thought a nice compromise might be getting her a recorder (a whopping $5!!!) and a little book to self-teach if she is interested. MIL thinks that might be too much for DD and says to just let the main gift be a tablet and that's it, to save the recorder for Easter or her summer bday. I'm not so sure as she is interested in music and I'd like to foster that. Plus the price is right to be an easy sub-gift but look big. Her main gift will be a DS or tablet and right now we just have a couple books, PJs, ball popper and small box of kinetic sand. Thoughts?
We are a family that loves music so I never need a special occasion to do something for that. I say go ahead and give her the recorder for Christmas, I don't think that is something that needs to wait.