Share your holiday list, please

So I think I am going to go with a dress-up bag as the primary gift for DD3. She literally spends 70% of her day in her closet doing costume changes. Best case scenario: she loves the additions to her trunk and spends 80% of her time in character. Worst case scenario: she doesn't like it and we move out of her closet into the house and I can actually talk to my daughter during the day instead of a character.

Any suggestions on things to add? She has a Belle dress and Sleeping Beauty dress as well as the bracelets, purse, heels thing. I'm looking to broaden it a bit and was thinking of adding some bloomers, an apron, a bonnet. . .anything else? She has such a wild imagination that she only needs one item from a certain character to "be" her.

My almost 3 yo really likes to wear her older sister's old ballet shoes and leotards. We also have a Home Depot apron and some tools and a giraffe costume she likes. Wands with ribbon or fabric bracelets with ribbons are fun too.

[alison]

I LOVED costumes. Especially tutus and leotards! My mom has also told me that I added boobs to every costume. I'd put socks under my shirt.

[Flynn]

Also, call the local dance school....my sister had to buy a million costumes every year for each "number" she was in. My mom saved them for grandchildren (brilliant) but I'm sure some of them just get packed away. I bet some parents would love to sell them at a nominal fee to free up closet space or even give them away.

Alison, weren't you a dancer too? Someone here is....short term memory not warmed up yet with coffee. Sorry.
My sister was on point (and did other stuff) for about 6-8 years...danced for a little longer...I forget but I developed a whole new appreciation for dancers and how much of a "SPORT" it is!!!! The things she could do with her body....dang!

[Flynn]

Our list for the kiddos (just from us):

DD who just turned 4:
princess bathrobe
princess slippers
leap pad
several plastic horse figures
new doodle pad with the magnet shape drawer (Fisher Price)
books
Ariel doll...fin comes off


DS who just turned 2:
Little people pirate island
doodle board with magnet shape drawer (Fisher price)
plastic dragon and a few knights
sea creatures plastic animals (sharks, a ray, octapus)
Buzz Lightyear long sleeve T shirt
books
castle block set
boy polly pocket

From Santa for both of them:
Target "Market"
Target "Kitchen"
a small shpping basket with extra food
(We've always been in less than 200 square feet so we never bought kitchens or anything for the kids, no room. They always went nuts at other people's houses. I'm excited for them. )

Now if I listed what the grandparents bought these kids.... . My mom already said they "went overboard" so if we want to put a few away for a rainy day, be their guest! This is the first Christmas we won't be with my parents and they did a little retail therapy to cope. DD will get my sister's dollhouse my dad made (complete with a new remodel ). Dad called for the paint and carpet brands so one of the rooms in the doll house will look almost exactly like her room in the new house. DS is totally into dressing up with his sister --- but boy costumes are a little hard to find I think. He is getting a "hat" collection from my parents (chef, firefighter, police officer, docter, cowboy and others) PLUS a Peter Pan outfit. He either yells "To Infinity and Beyond" or "Off to Neverland" when he jumps off the couch these days. Pretty funny.

[Rapunzel]

We're moving away from giving toys for presents. My kids just have soooo many! We're also worried that our kids are starting to get spoiled. Add to that our distaste for the hyper-commercialism of what is, in essence, a religious holiday.

So, this year's list of giving:

4 year old and 18 month old girls

- toy kitchen (they already have the toy food and play dishes - so we'll just get the small furniture kitchen set for them to play on)

7 year old twin girls

- journals (they have both been seriously begging for these!)

10 year old boy

- probably Battleship

And, Santa (who does come to our house) will be bringing modeled toy animals (the high-quality rubberized plastic ones that looks super cool). I already have an empty box in the playroom waiting for these....

So, the above are all items I know my kids will use over and over again.

I guess we're going with the "less is more" mentality this year after years of giving them upwards of six presents apiece (not counting the gifts that grandparents and aunts and uncles give).

I've asked our extended family to keep it light and meaningful as well. Classic literature (like Arthur Conan Doyle, etc) as well as outdoor toys are what I have suggested to my sister who asked what to give them.

[Rapunzel]

I got a Wii!! YAYYYYYY!

Jon picked up a couple before Thanksgiving (one for him and one to sell online). My understanding is that if you haven't got one yet - good luck (or pay major $$$ for the one he's about to sell on ebay).

He got these two at a semi-rural Walmart. I have no clue how he figured out when they were getting their shipment in, but they were going to start selling the eight they had at midnight. Jon stood in line beginning around 9 pm with his brother (it was one Wii per adult). And, I think he was like fourth in line or something. He got home around 1 am.

They are FUN! I keep beating Jon at boxing and he's been beating me pretty badly at tennis. My kids had a blast creating their "Me's" (or is that Mii's?). If you get one just remember to WEAR THE WRIST STRAP on the numb-chuck/wand! There are stories of people actually flinging these accidentally through their television screens while playing! And, Jon tried to pick up a couple of extras and they are even harder to find than the Wii's evidently (far-sighted individuals also bought those up rather early in the season it would appear).