Help Me Play Santa For A Friend...

[rubato]

I have a 4th grade boy, so I will try to help with all the boys. Can't help with the little girl.
4 year old: cars, trains, action figures
2nd grader: Legos, legos, legos
5th grader: I 2nd the Nerf guns. I know they're guns, but my son's friends will play for 12 hours straight with nerf. They have wars all over the place.

For all: board games, video games (I know, too expensive), books, movies, clothes.


I think you are wonderful for doing this. I've done it in the past, but anonymously. Just dropped stuff off at the door , and the reward I got was amazing.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

I have a 4th grade boy, so I will try to help with all the boys. Can't help with the little girl.
4 year old: cars, trains, action figures
2nd grader: Legos, legos, legos
5th grader: I 2nd the Nerf guns. I know they're guns, but my son's friends will play for 12 hours straight with nerf. They have wars all over the place.

For all: board games, video games (I know, too expensive), books, movies, clothes.


I think you are wonderful for doing this. I've done it in the past, but anonymously. Just dropped stuff off at the door , and the reward I got was amazing.

Awesome! Thank you!
This is kind of anonymous...I'm sending to to a friend and it will magically appear under their tree...Like I said...long story...and I am too far away to deliver it myself.
Like I said, long story...but they deserve this.

 

[Darcy03231]

My niece is 6 and is really into the Little Pet Shop toys. For the boys here's another vote for Legos. Both my boys loved them and played with them until they were 12-13.

Another idea is board games. My kids loved playing board games (and still do).

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

My niece is 6 and is really into the Little Pet Shop toys. For the boys here's another vote for Legos. Both my boys loved them and played with them until they were 12-13.

Another idea is board games. My kids loved playing board games (and still do).

I'm with ya for legos and board games too!

I think I'm also gonna hit up old navy...looks like they are having some bargains...I just hope it isn't just online stuff...
I'm gonna do my shopping tomorrow...keep the ideas coming...I'll post what I get when I am done...
Then, I get to gift wrap!!!

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm agreeing with the trend of nerf guns and legos for boys, littlest petshop for girls.

 

[horseshowmom]

:


thank you.
My only concern is that they would have shipping orders in them with my info on them...I'm trying to do this semi-stealth. Is there an option to have receipts sent to me??? and to keep things under wraps?

If you send it to Walmart (free shipping to the store), your friend could pick it up (you'll just have to designate her as a pickup person - she'll have to show ID). She would have the receipt, etc. (you'd probably have to forward the email to her so she would have it at pickup), and they wouldn't see it.

Also, if you use Amazon and ship it to her, she could remove any packaging slips before they got them.

 

[ZPT1022]

:


thank you.
My only concern is that they would have shipping orders in them with my info on them...I'm trying to do this semi-stealth. Is there an option to have receipts sent to me??? and to keep things under wraps?

Send everything to the friend that is helping you out. I assume she'd be willing to make a few pickups or receive a few packages and then she could hold any receipts or anything (in case anything needs to be exchanged). She could wrap everything and it would just show up magically under the tree for Christmas morning.

For the kindergarten aged girl, I happen to have a DD the same age and she loves baby dolls, anything for the baby dolls, coloring and art stuff, stickers, Littlest Pet Shop, anything stuffed animals or just animals in general- this is a great age to shop for because they pretty much love everything. OH, also princesses and if you're doing clothes, anything pink or sparkly or featuring cute animals.

My son is also five, so a bit older than the little boy you're shopping for but Legos are a huge hit, as are other building things like tinker toys, lincoln logs, etc.... He also loves to color and make art projects


For gifts that are appropriate for everyone I'd do things like board games and puzzles, my two little ones love those as does their older sister. For stocking stuffers (if you're thinking of that) we do things like candy, stickers, bubble bath, fun soaps (I found some at Michael's for very cheap that have shapes in them like ducks, race cars, etc....), notepads, crayons, fun pencils to use at school.

My kids also (much to my disgust) adore McDonald's so something really exciting for them is a $5 gift card to McD's (or Friendly's or Dairy Queen even) and we then go out and they are so excited to have their own money and get a treat- they feel VERY grown up.

Good luck with your shopping and this sounds like such a fun thing you're doing! Come back and let us all know how the big surprise goes!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

Does your co-conspirator have a work address she can use to accept deliveries? That way, no one will see all the packages arriving and she can keep them stashed in her trunk. Walmart's site-to-store shipping is kinda slow, I wouldn't count on it to come before Christmas.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

So, yesterday...I got in my car and was off! (I should have warn a Santa hat! LOL)

First stop, a store called Ollie's. Interesting place, but not in love. I did get little stuff for them...So, each child got something small, (Knex for the 10 and 7 y/o) (A Disney Cars book with magnets for the 4 y/o) (puzzle book and Old Maid for the 5 y/o) Each child got a coloring/activity book.

I got this really cool blue wrapping paper that has ladders, North Pole signs on it, just cool building North Pole stuff. Elves paper...

Then, it was off to Old Navy. I hit a jackpot! Love Old Navy. For the woman that my friend is living with I got her a polar fleece shirt, cozy socks and a blanket-Each on $5!!! (She has been a godsend for my friend-I had to get her something too) For my friend, a shirt and slippers-again both $5!!!

After that, it was off to run home quick and pick up DH and head off for more shopping!!!

Next stop, Walmart! DH had a blast! I picked up a box of crayons for each child. For the two older boys, I went with your suggestion and got nerf guns...(not thrilled about the gun thing but DH said they were good boy toys...and then through in the extra "bullets" and batteries-that came with a phillips head screw driver for the "lazers" in the guns...Like I said...he was having soo much fun) for the 4 y/o boy-I CAT truck that makes noise, and does stuff. Finally, for the girl, Littlest Pet Shop set.

For the family, Clue and Yatzee. I'm huge into family games. I think it's a lost past time and that it is something that brings a family together.

I think it's going to cost me more to ship it all!

I was going to do mittens, and blankets and warm cozy stuff....but really...I'm having a hard time finding any serious deals there. I have one more store to hit-the Christmas Tree Shoppe...but that is it. I hit all the major stores (except Target) and only came in over budget by $10...To which DH said "Um yeah ok...what ever..."

So, how'd I do???

 

[rubato]

How fantastic!!!! I'm glad you and hubby are having so much fun with this! You are very smart to include things like batteries and screwdrivers. Oh, and the extra bullets are VERY important. It looks like this family is going to have an amazing Christmas. What a blessing!

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

How fantastic!!!! I'm glad you and hubby are having so much fun with this! You are very smart to include things like batteries and screwdrivers. Oh, and the extra bullets are VERY important. It looks like this family is going to have an amazing Christmas. What a blessing!

Thanks...the extra stuff was DH's idea...he figured the 3 that the toys came with out be gone in minutes...and then the toy wouldn't be that much fun anymore!

 

[RangerPooh]

You are a very generous friend to do this! One last thing to incude might be a small stocking or baggie of stocking stuufer like items. Essentially a few candies or snacks for each kid. Maybe some hair items for the little girl and a hot wheel for each of the boys. This would be more of a filler item if your friend is unable to fill their stockings as much as they would like.

 

[Bren's Mom]

You're so sweet!

My 4 yo boy loves Disney 'Cars', Matchbox, especially the ones on a track. He likes the Bakugan balls. Is TOTALLY into his giant bin of Legos. He's too little for the 'sets' but is very creative with these. Still loves Playdoh. Loves anything that shoots, like the Nerf guns (although not sure if every parent would want 2 boys to have these). We bought him Trio stuff for Christmas, he will love that. OH! And at Kmart this week is the v.smile console for $19.99! We have a handheld one. That would be a hit. (And remember, Walmart will price match!)

Older child might like an inexpensive MP3 player, they can be as little as $29 I think. And some itunes $. Our older son is 14 so it's hard for me to remember what he liked when he was smaller!

For stockings if you want to do any of that stuff we like to put socks, anything that 'poops' (like those little pooping reindeer with jelly beans in them), Pez, plastic cups or squiggly straws.

Bless you for doing this, it's fun isn't it?

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Didn't think of stockings.
I might just go to the dollar store and call it good.
I know candy is out...They got a ton of it for halloween...

 

[HelenePA]

For stockings I usually do toothbrushes, flashlights (always a big hit with all ages!) some girls hair bows

 

[RangerPooh]

We too put new toothbrushes and toothpaste in our stockings. When we were younger we would sometimes get new "fancy" pencils too. Also the Dollar Tree has (or has had in the past) small 2 pack mini puzzles that would be great for stockings.

 

[solfan68]

Ya done good ! Keep this up, and we'll have to promote you to head elf next year. Seriously, fantastic job at honoring the spirit of this holiday season !

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

For stockings I usually do toothbrushes, flashlights (always a big hit with all ages!) some girls hair bows

We too put new toothbrushes and toothpaste in our stockings. When we were younger we would sometimes get new "fancy" pencils too. Also the Dollar Tree has (or has had in the past) small 2 pack mini puzzles that would be great for stockings.

Toothbrushes...fun Definitely on the list!

Ya done good ! Keep this up, and we'll have to promote you to head elf next year. Seriously, fantastic job at honoring the spirit of this holiday season !

Thanks. I just want my friend's children to have a good holiday...

 

[thebeesknees]

I think you did great! 2 of my kids are similar ages and I know the stuff you bought would be a hit with them. Now, go get that stuff wrapped and shipped, and sit back and enjoy your holiday!!!

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

I think you did great! 2 of my kids are similar ages and I know the stuff you bought would be a hit with them. Now, go get that stuff wrapped and shipped, and sit back and enjoy your holiday!!!

Its all wrapped...and will be shipped today!!! Mission Complete!