Best toy I ever bought

[tink20]

With Christmas right around the corner, I have been trying to figure out what to get my children. I just went through DS's room, getting rid of toys, that are broke, things he has out grown, and things he doesn't play with anymore. Anyway, I noticed the one toy, that has been around since the 1st Xmas, wooden blocks (the ABC ones). He got these his first Xmas (he was 11 months old) and he still plays with these. He uses them with his action figures, lego people, dinosaurs and on and on. Best toy I ever bought, and I think they were like $15.

This year the only ideas I have for him are: a DSXL, a few games for DS, there is one Wii game he wants. He wants a Harry Potter Lego set, but I am not buying anymore Legos (we just have way too many, and he has mixed up the sets ) Other than that I am clueless.

As for DD, clothes, makeup, shoes, purses, and maybe some gift cards. I thought about the Wii Wheel of Fortune game. She watches the show everyday she can (I joke with her about that)

What are your children asking for?

 

[agnes!]

Not much this year. DD is finishing up her last college app. supplement (& that particular college's app will go 'live' this week). We're actually going on a trip at Christmas, don't know when we'll get another chance to travel as a family because next year she'll be at college + .

But best toy we ever bought? Probably the 'Cubby' (Disney Gummi Bear plush) I bought at a yard sale for maybe $1 or $2 when she was about 9 months old. She loved him the moment she saw him and hasn't let go.

agnes!

 

[lynxstch]

maybe you can get some ideas from it?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2592111

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I just got a Nook for my birthday, and DS14 wasn't interested in it at all at first. But just last night, he actually asked me if he could buy a book to read on my Nook, and he spent the rest of the evening reading it. If he continues to show an interest, he may get that for Christmas.

Otherwise, he's also expressed an interest in the Kinect for the X-box 360. We haven't looked too much into that yet though.

 

[hulagirl87]

We bought DD a sing a ma jig the other day but DH and I are enjoying it way more than she is

 

[Kae]

DD 10 wants a DSi XL & some stuff for her American Girl Dolls & a new ski Coat & pants. DS 13 wants a iPod Touch & a shot gun-he hunts. Might look at a new snowboard for him. Both kids like getting new PJ's for Christmas.

Kae

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My kids want things that are too expensive so they are going to have to settle for little stuff.

For my 19yodd, I know she wants the DVDs "Girl With Dragon Tattoo" and "Girl Who Played With Fire".

14yodd wants UGG boots.

That is all I know so far. I need to start shopping.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I actually got this one for joining their play program, but it's a parachute from Gymboree.

My kids always play with it.

They use it to make forts or they lay in the middle and DH and I would swing them around. It's looks great and has head up to a lot of abuse.

 

[marcyinPA]

Now that my DS11 is in on "the secret", I can finally tame down Christmas a bit. (he was holding on last year, and I just couldn't ruin it for him)

My DS15 is getting a camera, a shirt, some Phillies stuff, and a Disney gift card for his trip in February.

My DS11 is getting a cell phone (FINALLY....since he's the ONLY ONE who doesn't have one in his ENTIRE middle school...), a piece of clothing, some Phillies stuff, and a Disney gift card for our trip in February.

We'll probably get a Wii game or two as well...but I'm not going overboard this year!

 

[ChristaDeVil]

My 9 year old is asking for Wii games, books, anything that deals with Phineas & Ferb, a go-kart. He's getting a Wii for his room (so that we don't have to hijack it whenever we want to watch a movie on Netflix) and some DVD's for sure, but not sure what else. His birthday is a week before christmas, so we have to plan for both!

 

[JVL1018]

My 9 year old son just typed up his wish list for me:
MATTHEW’S CHRISTMAS LIST
2 NERF GUNS LONG SHOT & THE STAMPEDE (I NEED THESE)
HP CHECK FOR DIAGON ALLY A Lego set coming out in January-he means a Lego GC for it
THE BURROW Harry Potter Legos
IPOD
GOOSE BUMPS HL FOR WII (BOOKS TOO)
EPIC MICKEYfor the Wii
FORCE UNLEASHED Wii again
CLONE TURBO TANK(SANTA)surprise! Lego again...

The gifts that he has played with the longest and the most have defintely been his Legos, the minifigures especially, he plays with them every single day of his life at least for a little bit. I think he started with them around age 4 or so.

My 11 year old daughter has also typed up her list(so handy to just C&P from Word..)
My Christmas List
I would like:
1. A big pillow pet(preferably a ladybug)
2. A big Nerf gun(like Matt)
3. A chess set
4. A kaleidoscope
5. Earrings(studs or hanging it doesn't matter)
6. clothes
7. A thinner camera like mama
8. My Sims Sky Heroes(Wii)
9.a fire book for daddy
10 a romance novel for mama

That is all for now!! Thanks!
P.S. #7 is optional!!! Love ya bye! Peace!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best gift she ever got was a Fisher Price Tea Set when she was 2. She still uses it from time to time..and so do her friends when they come over! Cracks me up, who would have thought?

 

[KiminChicago]

My DS is in 8th grade. Prior to this year, our middle school only offered chorus to 7th and 8th graders, band and orchestra were offered to all. At the end of the last school year, several changes were made to our music program. Last year there were two music periods -- band/orchestra students got a shorter lunch period -- the other half they were in music. While the chorus students were in music, students who weren't in chorus had a study hall.

This year, chorus was offered for all three grades, 6th, 7th and 8th, which is great. However, the two music periods were combined into one period. Students who take chorus along with band/orchestra alternate (one day band, the next day chorus). Students who are only in band are in band all week, students who only take chorus get 5 days of chorus instruction. According to the pricipal, the result is only a net loss of 15 minutes of music instruction a day, but I think the math is a little skewed. Students who are taking both an instumental class and chorus only get half the instuction time of the students who are only in band/orchestra or only in chorus. To make matters even worse, if there are students struggling in another subject, they are pulled out of the music instruction time for ELT (extra learning time) where they meet with teachers or tutors.

When I expressed my concern that the students who are doing both are getting less real instruction time in each, the principal told me that the students who do both are generally the stronger music students and I should be grateful that the students don't have to choose one or the other. However, while talking to our band director, she told me that of the 8 clarinets in the band, 7 are also in chorus, so on chorus days she only has one clarinet show up for band. How can that be good for anyone?

Oh, and the reason they made this change? They adjusted the bell schedule to add 5 minutes of instruction time to all the core classes. Now I think math, science, social students and language arts are all very important, but will that extra 5 minutes make that much of a difference? I am grateful that my DS didn't have to make a choice, but I still think they're short-changing the music department.