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I've hesitated sharing this post, just because everyone has their opinions about how much to spend and how much to give at Christmas. I didn't want to feel judged for my decisions. In years past, we've had years where each child in the house only received four to five small gifts. We've had years when all we could afford was $20 per child, and they received small gifts like crayons etc. One year we were sponsored by two organizations because of our great financial need, and that was our Christmas. This year is a year of plenty, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I don't have to worry about money when purchasing gifts for my kiddos. This has been such a HUGE blessing and one that I'll be forever grateful for. I know my kiddos will be extremely happy and quite surprised Christmas morning. In years past they have always been thankful for the gifts they've received, even if it was as little as a box of crayons. This year will be no different.
I am so excited about Christmas and can't wait to see their faces as they see what my husband and I have decided to give them this year. They already know about a few of their gifts, just because they're so specific with their obsessions and I wanted to make sure I was getting the correct item, but there are definitely a few surprises still. Even their stockings turned out fabulous!
Stockings are my most dreaded Christmas responsibility. I made the mistake of buying my kiddos these HUGE Stockings from Company Kids when they were each born. And now... It takes so many small items to fill them. If only I had started out with bathroom items and not small toys. One year I did try baked goods, but they ate nothing else all day, which wasn't a good thing. Oh well. They love the getting new small toys and things in their stockings. Their stockings and one big unwrapped gift hold them over until after breakfast before they open their other gifts.
1. LEGO Legends of Chima: Character Encyclopedia-Dinomite picked this out a while ago.
2. Bed Sheets-Dinomite is in desperate need of new sheets. I thought it would be fun to give him a set he would really enjoy.
3. LEGO The Hobbit Mirkwood Elf Army & Dol Guldur Ambush-I told Dinomite I would spend $50 on LEGO sets for him at Christmas. It was up to him to choose the ones he wanted.
4. Book of Dragons-This was a special find I just couldn't resist.
5. Crayola Color Wonder Cars 2 Gift Set-My kiddos go nuts of Color Wonder Kits. I thought it would be great on a cold and snowy afternoon when we were stuck inside.
6. DVD: Dinosaurs Decoded-Dinomite LOVES dinosaur documentaries. This is one of the few he doesn't have.
7. Squirrel Buster Peanut Plus Wild Bird Feeder-Dinomite is obsessed with birds. We had a bird feeder this summer, but the squirrels destroyed it. He was devastated. I picked out this one because he also wanted to make sure larger birds would come to it. (I have bird seed hiding in the car to fill it on Christmas morning.)
8. LEGO City Great Vehicles Logging Truck-Daddy picked out this item for Dinomite. It's particularly funny to all the boys in the house because Mommy is petrified of logging trucks on the road while driving.
9. Batman Light Up Costume-Dinomite loves dress up. I try to add to his collection regularly, especially as he grows so fast and grows out of other costumes.
10. Sled-This will be a first for Dinomite. He's never gone sledding before.
11. Emsco Snow Warrior Samurai Shield-What could be cooler than using a shield to block snowballs?
12. Nintendo 2DS-I am NOT a video game Mom. Ask anyone and they'll tell you how against them I am. However, when it comes to autism, it's always important to have incentives and reinforcers to help the kiddos work hard. This is being given for exactly that reason. That and I need something to occupy the boys when we take our long trips to specialists etc. It is the gift I'm most excited to give because Dinomite has no clue it's coming. He will be absolutely shocked!
Dinomite's Christmas Ornament: Hallmark's Harry Potty & the Sorting Hat-In remembrance of reading book 1 this year for Halloween.
Dinomite's Stocking:
1. Safari Toob-Deep Sea Creatures-Dinomite noticed this about six months ago and hasn't stopped talking about it.
2. Playmobil Set of Knights (13 pieces)-To go along with his new favorite collection of toys.
3. Football Cards-This year he's taken over Daddy's sports card collections and loves them.
4. 3 Matchbox Cars-Dinomite picked them out.
5. 2 LEGO Minifigure Mystery Bags-Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without these.
6. Disney Cars Boo Boo Buddy Reusable Cold Pack-There have been a lot of collisions lately. A frozen bag of peas just isn't doing it.
7. LEGO Batman game for Nintendo 2DS-Dinomite loves playing superhero games on the iPad so I'm guessing this will be a big hit.
8. LEGO The Lord of the Rings game for Nintendo 2DS-Dinomite has really developed a love for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. He's always looking for new LEGO movies and game to play on the iPad.
9. Tic Tacs-Dinomite has developed a special love for orange Tic Tacs.
10. Gum-Dinomite always chews gum during learning time. We must never run out!
1. LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia-Bulldozer picked this out.
2. Deluxe Muscle Chest Superman Costume-Bulldozer loves dress up like his brother, especially when he gets to be a superhero.
3. LEGO Star Wars Droid Gunship-Bulldozer asked for this specifically.
4. Melissa & Doug Architectural Unit Block Set-Bulldozer LOVES to build with blocks. His cities are amazing. I thought these would be the perfect blocks to add to his collection.
5. LEGO City Police Prisoner Transporter-Daddy picked this out to give Bulldozer.
6. Crayola Color Wonder Spiderman Gift Set-Perfect for a cold & snowy day.
7. Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway-Figure 8 Expansion Pack-Bulldozer loves to play with his collection, but is in desperate need of some new connector tracks.
8. Bed Sheets-Just like Dinomite, Bulldozer really needed some new sheets. Star Wars is always a win with him.
9. Operation Game Star Wars Edition-Bulldoze saw this and requested it. He's not one for board games, so I was super excited to oblige.
10. Sled-This will be a first for Bulldozer. I'm hoping he enjoys it.
11. Emsco Snow Warrior Samurai Shield-If his brother has a shield, then he needs one too!
12. Nintendo 2DS-I can get Bulldozer to do ANYTHING with the incentive of a video game or computer time. Now he'll have his own device. Hooray! This will be a complete surprise for him, one that I know he'll love!
Bulldozer's Christmas Ornament: Hallmarks' CP3O Figure
Bulldozer's Stocking:
1. LEGO Star Wars A New Hope Beginning to Read Book-Bulldozer collects Star Wars books. I'm hoping he'll be able to read this one on his own by the end of the year.
2. Bowling Dice Game-Bulldozer is obsessed with bowling. I'm hoping he'll enjoy the visual component of the game because of the dice.
3. LEGO Superheroes Ultimate Spiderman Set (45 pieces)-Bulldozer can't have enough LEGO sets, especially when they come in a small bag that will fit perfectly in his stocking.
4. Bag of Marbles-Bulldozer collects marbles. Every time he sees some he doesn't have, he just has to have them.
5. Hotwheels Batman Monster Truck-Bulldozer collects Hotwheels Monster Trucks. This is a new one he doesn't have.
6. 2 LEGO Mini figure Mystery Bags-These are tradition!
7. 3 Hotwheels Cars-Bulldozer kept asking for more cars for Christmas, despite the hundreds he already has.
8. 4 Hotwheels Star Wars Cars-I just happened to see these while shopping and knew they would be a hit.
9. Disney Cars Boo Boo Buddy Reusable Cold Pack-Everyone needs their own cold pack for boo boos.
10. LEGO Star Wars Game for Nintendo 2DS-Bulldozer is obsessed with LEGO Star Wars games on iPad. This is sure to be a hit!
11. Super Mario Game for Nintendo 2DS-I decided if we're going to introduce Nintendo, we have to introduce Mario too!
1. Princess Bedtime Stories Special Edition Book-Princess has checked this out at the library countless times, it was time for her to have her own copy.
2. Melissa & Doug Princess Role Play Set-Princess has always wanted a pink princess dress up outfit.
3. Bed Sheets-Princess, just like her brothers, needed new sheets. Now they'll be covered in unicorns!
4. Melissa & Doug Fold and Go Mini Stable-Princess has asked for a stable for her My Little Pony figures for quite some time. This is the perfect size.
5. Crayola Frozen Color Wonder Activity Gift Set-Color Wonder are perfect play for Princess' bedroom. (She tends to color on her walls, etc.)
6. My Little Pony Exclusive Friendship is Magic Pony Friends Forever Collection, 10 Pack-Princess helped pick this out. It was filled with several ponies she doesn't have yet.
7. World of Disney Eye Found It Board Game-Princess LOVES board games. This had amazing reviews. I just couldn't resist.
8. Disney Pirate Fairy Exclusive 7 Piece PVC Figure Play Set-Princess loves collecting Disney Figures. She plays with them like other girls play with Barbies or dolls. Lately she's been really into fairies.
9. Play Doh Disney Prettiest Princess Castle-I've wanted to give Princess this Play-Doh set for a while. I was so excited when I found it on sale!
10. Sled-Princess is sure to love her first sled. She craves this type of activity.
11. Emsco Snow Warrior Samurai Shield-This is protection for when her brothers try to get her.
12. Melissa & Doug Folding Princess Castle-Princess has asked for a castle for her mini figures for a LONG time. I can't wait to see her face when she sees it on Christmas morning.
Princess' Christmas Ornament: Disney Princess Sleeping Beauty Figure
Princess' Stocking:
1. Disney Frozen's Olaf stuffed toy (the size of a beanie baby)-Princess fell in love with this when she saw it.
2. Disney Frozen's Sven stuffed animal (the size of a beanie baby)-Princess fell in love with this when she saw it.
3. Disney Frozen's Anna stuffed doll (the size of a beanie baby)--After having purchased the other three figures, I was thrilled to find one of Anna too.
4. Disney Frozen's Elsa stuffed doll (the size of a beanie baby)-Princess fell in love with this when she saw it.
6. Disney Princess Diary-Princess LOVES to write, so I thought this would be a great intro to journaling.
7. My Little Pony 3 Pack-Yet more figures she doesn't already have in her collection.
8. 3 Barbie Mini figures-Princess loves Barbie movies, but does not like actual Barbies. I think they remind her too much of dolls. Princess also doesn't like toys with hair. Hence the mini figure ponies. I never knew they made Barbie mini figures. When I saw them, I knew they would be perfect for her!
9. 2 Playmobil Figures? in Pink-Princess was introduced to Playmobil this month and LOVES it. She'll love new figures to add to her collection.
10. Disney's Ariel Boo Boo Buddy-For all of those boo boos!
1. Hello Kitty My Town Slide and Find Book-Sunshine loves Hello Kitty and loves books. She'll certainly love this!
2. Melissa & Doug Super Heroine Role Play Set-Sunshine is constantly going around the house pretending to be a superhero, now she'll have her own dress up costume!
3. Bed Sheets-Sunshine actually shredded the last set of sheets I purchased for her. I'm hoping this set will hold up, as it's better quality.
4. Hello Sunshine Game-I fell in LOVE with this game, not only because of my own Sunshine, but because of what great fun we'll have as we develop her speech skills!
5. Mr. Potato Head Star Wars Darth Vader Tater 3 Character Set-Sunshine LOVES Star Wars just like her brother. I'm hoping she'll enjoy this set, as an addition to her existing Mr. Potato collection.
6. Disney Store Frozen Elsa & Anna Toddler Plush Dolls-When Sunshine and I had our Christmas Shopping Date, she told me she wanted an Anna doll. (I had no clue.) Thankfully, I found these adorable plush dolls!
7. Melissa & Doug Shape Sequence Sorting Set-This will be a great learning time activity for Sunshine that will help her with colors, shapes, and fine motor skills.
8. Melissa & Doug Magnetic Hide & Seek Board-This is so cute. I know Sunshine will love it. Anything that involves hiding and looking for things, at the same time opening and closing things, was meant for Sunshine.
9. Crayola Frozen Color Wonder Activity Gift Set-If Princess has one, Sunshine has to have one too!
10. Sled-Just like her siblings, Sunshine will receive her first sled.
11. Melissa & Doug Easel Accessory Set-This goes along with Sunshine's big gift.
12. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Easel-Sunshine LOVES art, so after much debate, we decided to get her an easel. This will be a first in our house. I still have no clue where I'm going to put it, but I know she'll love it.
Sunshine's Christmas Ornament: Disney's Lilo & Stitch Figures
Sunshine's Stocking:
1. Hallmark itty bitty Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz-In honor of our Wizard of Oz unit this year.
2. Hallmark itty bitty Lion from The Wizard of Oz-Sunshine loves carrying around little stuffed animals everywhere she goes.
3. Hallmark itty bitty Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz-I couldn't just choose two out of the four.
4. Hallmark itty bitty Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz-Now she'll have the whole collection!
5. Crayola Dry Erase Markers-To go with her easel.
6. Crayola Dry Erase Crayons-To go with her easel.
7. Sunglasses-Sunshine lost her sunglasses while on vacation last summer. Every time anyone uses their sunglasses, she's constantly asking for her's.
8. Penguin Stuffed Animal-A new stuffed animal for Sunshine has become tradition at holidays and events.
9. Bathtub Mermaid Baby Doll-A new toy for the bathtub.
10. Spot It Alphabet Disney Frozen Game-Though she may not be able to play the game like one's supposed to, hopefully it will encourage her to start identifying and matching numbers.
11. Safari Ltd. Unicorn Baby Figure-Sunshine carried this around one of the stores we went to while shopping, and couldn't part with it until she knew it was coming home with us.
I don't know if my kiddos will ever get this much for Christmas any other year, but this year we're celebrating our many blessings. Chances are I wouldn't have purchased so many things for them, but I just couldn't stop buying for Princess. She is so easy. Finding gifts she will love is one of my favorite things to do at Christmas.
A Merry Christmas to you all!