It's October... Christmas Anyone?

[beenandgone]

I jest, mostly.

No, in all honesty, I'm looking for gift ideas for the kids, as my initial plan is unlikely to happen for financial reasons (aka, never-ending car problems this year, new I need a radiator and new exhaust....).

Originally I wanted to replace the toy kitchen, but at $150+ for a decent wooden one that they can actually play with, I'm not sure I can come up with the money.

[brachysira]

I want to replace our toy kitchen too, but my kids will probably be like, but we have one! Ours is so tiny and junky that they can't actually use it for anything and it isn't played with much. I think at this age, my children will be happy with small gifts and don't understand what things cost and so don't sweat it if you can't buy something major. Craigslist has play kitchens once in a while for a decent price--$50-$100 for a KidKraft one--probably a better chance if you search Grand Rapids too, if you have a way to get there. The bonus is that it is put together which in itself is worth $50 unless you are into putting together those things for hours, as I have read on Amazon that they take forever. Option 2 is to go to IKEA and get some things that can be made into a play kitchen--not much work if your kids are imaginative although if you want to do more, it might get pricey plus, you probably don't have time for a project. Option 3 is to add on to your current play kitchen with some kind of box--they sell all kinds of cardboard kitchen type items or you could make something out of a box, which is harder than it looks. Or add on with a store--we got a sort of cheap but pretty study veggie stand from Toys R Us on holiday special for $20 last year. If you're looking for used, see if there are mom to mom sales, facebook sale sites or freecycle sites. Our town is a snotty suburb, but a KidKraft play kitchen was freecycled on facebook yesterday there--of course, gone in a blink of an eye. Sometimes there are play kitchens at goodwill/free and cheap store/etc.

[kleigh926]

DD will be getting a beautiful wooden baby doll cradle that my dad made for me when I was little, so that's free. I'm also getting her some packs of baby wipes, which I know sounds ridiculous, but she loves using them on her baby dolls pretending to change their diapers and I don't typically let her use many of the ones I get for DS. So she will be thrilled, and that's also very cheap.

Other ideas I have for her: hair accessories, another Melissa and Doug frame puzzle, Finding Dory movie, possibly some art supplies.

DS: Mostly I have no idea. I'm going to get him a Color Wonder book- one of those with the markers that only show up on that coloring book's special paper. He likes Batman so maybe a Batman-related item. I just remembered DH's grandparents got him a remote-control car for either his birthday or Christmas last year that was obviously too advanced for him and we saved it to regift when he was older- maybe we'll do it this Christmas!

[crimsonandclover]

They both want stuff for the big Playmobile house DD3 got for her baptism (of course she can't play with it yet, but she's generous in that she shares with her big sisters ). I'm so sick of all the toys. I need to think of non-toy things for them. What I might ask for is that everyone gets them something small and then donates toward a new swingset for next summer. With a 3rd kid ours isn't quite big enough - they end up fighting over the swings all the time.

[photomama1990]

I think E is going to get a bunch if transformers. And he saw a Ty-Rux at toys r us that he's dying for.

My May 15 baby is getting some go go smart wheels. We never had them for E and I think they would both like them.

[beenandgone]

brachysira, I hadn't thought about looking on Craigslist! I love CL. I'll have to keep looking there.

We're kind of stuck this year. Our 2 older kids both have winter birthdays right after Christmas (Feb both), so a lot of "big" ticket gifts like bikes or powerwheels (both of which we would like or need) we can't do for birthday or Christmas. Where's the fun getting a gift you can't play with for months? Same with a Basketball hoop that DD1 would like.

The 2s both have end of summer birthdays (Aug/Sept), but I feel bad always giving them the "cool" big ticket gifts while the others get legos, and doll clothes, etc.

Has anyone thought in advance how to handle the Christmas/Feb Birthday combo in regards to the bigger items? I mean like bikes, bigger sporting goods, powerwheel cars, etc. Those expensive gifts that you would traditionally reserve for a special occasion rather than a just because I wanted it moment.

[beenandgone]

Tagging creepyeyeball because with a larger family and a single income, I'm interested in your perspective.

[brachysira]

beenandgone, I've played basketball outside in the winter. If the ground isn't frozen, or you're getting a stand alone one or tacking one to your house, I'd do it for a winter gift. Or if it's a smaller one, maybe you can put it inside for a short while. We can DD a big wheel trike thing for one Christmas. She wasn't really up to riding fast and it had a seat to put stuff in, so she played with it inside. If it's not snowy, you could even do big kid bikes outside. For us, we just bought DD a bike in the summer for no reason, and I try to get a lot of big things on craigslist so she sees it immediately many times and it's not really a big surprise.

[seadragon2013]

I think DS's big present will be a Brüder truck. He has two and LOVES them. Otherwise, books, pjs, and maybe a few movies. I'm sure the GPs will spoil him rotten, though, and we will still end up with tons of unnecessary toys.

[brachysira]

We have so many toys...not really sure about big gifts. Maybe some kind of hotwheels garage for DS and maybe some kind of dollhouse for DD. I'm surely not getting a new one tho--I can't stand to pay a ton for a bunch of accessories that usually come with pre-used dollhouses. DD's into fairies, but fairies seem more like a spring toy. I would love to get one of those big inflatable water slides, but I feel like that is a terrible investment--it could pop that day. Plus, they won't be able to use it in winter, as per beenandgone. They are into little people but we have a ton of 80's hand-me-downs so can't really see us needing any more.

[beenandgone]

brachysira We are in Michigan, so usually ground frozen and snow all winter. Plus, our garage (where I'd put up a bb hoop) isn't paved. It's something that DD1 desperately wants, but I'd really rather wait until we move into a house better suited. Hopefully that happens sometime in the next five years....


As far as the bigger gifts here, we can't do anything ride on, skates, swings, etc because our house is just too small with this many people in it. We are planning on a new f swingset for spring. The one we have we got used, and it's really falling apart. Plus, like crimsonandclover, we need more swung slots.

[colinsfebmommy]

Ikea has a really cute kitchen that is actual very reasonable, my sister has it and the stuff to go in it pots and pans/utensils are cheap and really cute.

My Feb13 boy is getting Squigz, he is obsessed and they are so damn cool. And they have giant ones for babies so my Nov15 baby will get a baby set. He is also getting a razor scooter, I got an awesome deal on it at Kohls online. He is also into find and seek books and workbooks, so he will be getting some of those, he loves anything even as a baby from Roger Priddy. I highly recommend if your kid ins into find and seek the book Treasure Hunt for Boys (i am sure there is a girl one too). He also would like a over the door adjustable basketball net so that is on the list and also High Five Magazine.

[colinsfebmommy]

Oct 5, 2016 8:14:49 GMT -5 beenandgone said:

brachysira , I hadn't thought about looking on Craigslist! I love CL. I'll have to keep looking there.

beenandgone,No sure where you live but there is a site called bookoo.com that is more specific to neighborhoods and i love it in addition to Craigslist

[auntiemaimee]

Oct 5, 2016 8:14:49 GMT -5 beenandgone said:

brachysira, I hadn't thought about looking on Craigslist! I love CL. I'll have to keep looking there.

We're kind of stuck this year. Our 2 older kids both have winter birthdays right after Christmas (Feb both), so a lot of "big" ticket gifts like bikes or powerwheels (both of which we would like or need) we can't do for birthday or Christmas. Where's the fun getting a gift you can't play with for months? Same with a Basketball hoop that DD1 would like.

The 2s both have end of summer birthdays (Aug/Sept), but I feel bad always giving them the "cool" big ticket gifts while the others get legos, and doll clothes, etc.

Has anyone thought in advance how to handle the Christmas/Feb Birthday combo in regards to the bigger items? I mean like bikes, bigger sporting goods, powerwheel cars, etc. Those expensive gifts that you would traditionally reserve for a special occasion rather than a just because I wanted it moment.

Do you have a basement? If you have a basement that is unfinished but relatively empty you could get the winter kids bikes and let them ride in the basement until nicer weather.

[beenandgone]

Oct 5, 2016 11:06:06 GMT -5 auntiemaimee said:

Oct 5, 2016 8:14:49 GMT -5 beenandgone said:

brachysira, I hadn't thought about looking on Craigslist! I love CL. I'll have to keep looking there.

We're kind of stuck this year. Our 2 older kids both have winter birthdays right after Christmas (Feb both), so a lot of "big" ticket gifts like bikes or powerwheels (both of which we would like or need) we can't do for birthday or Christmas. Where's the fun getting a gift you can't play with for months? Same with a Basketball hoop that DD1 would like.

The 2s both have end of summer birthdays (Aug/Sept), but I feel bad always giving them the "cool" big ticket gifts while the others get legos, and doll clothes, etc.

Has anyone thought in advance how to handle the Christmas/Feb Birthday combo in regards to the bigger items? I mean like bikes, bigger sporting goods, powerwheel cars, etc. Those expensive gifts that you would traditionally reserve for a special occasion rather than a just because I wanted it moment.

Do you have a basement? If you have a basement that is unfinished but relatively empty you could get the winter kids bikes and let them ride in the basement until nicer weather.

Unfortunately, no. A basement would literally double the sq footage of our house ahs make it actually livable, but no. We have a nasty, mud base crawl space. It's only about 18-24 in high.

I would sell my soul for a basement, though! It's on our must have list in a new house. I grew up roller skating and biking in our basement all winter.

[sagen]

Man I have no idea, Christmas seems like an eternity away. My older kids all want a DS hand held game thing, but I don't want to go there. I might just plan a cool vacation or something, and do small present simply because I am at a total loss!

[mishka29]

My family will actually be celebrating Christmas in October this year! My parents are snow birds so this year they want to do it early.

For feb13 kiddo I git her Spuzzle (board game), fort making kit, age appropriate craft (since she doesn't get a lot of age appropriate stuff bc little sister takes everything and eats it).

Jan15 kiddo is getting some bath toys, game and shopping cart.

[dc2london]

I got their magic pajamas and am ordering books from this month's scholastic order.
I grabbed a couple of Lego sets yesterday with a 20% off Cartwheel deal.
That's all I have so far

[dc2london]

beenandgone what about a family trip to the Lego play center and aquarium at Great Lakes Crossing?

[wineandcake]

I want to get rid of basically everything in our house so I want to minimize the amount of stuff. I'm thinking pj's, a little lego set, board game (probably hungry hungry hippos since he'll love that), and he needs to move out of his toddler bed so maybe he'll get a bed as a gift. Hunter is probably getting a toy cleaning set since he loves the brooms, a puzzle, jammies, and a book.

[pinkie]

We had Sears/Kmart points that were expiring so I bought some Christmas gifts:

Minions play doh set
Kitchen/food based play doh set
A toddler focused light bright (intended for 4 year olds)
A crayola music/drawing pad thing indended for a 2 year old

I'll see what else he talks about when he visits Santa but we won't go crazy. We just got a little tykes bounce house and "gave" it to our 2 year old for his birthday (I wanted it for when the weather gets colder but didn't want Z to think it just appeared for no reason) so they already got a big gift.