Comments on: Tossed-Salad Tuesday

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:10:00 +0000

I don’t have any kids, so my opinion may mean nothing–I do have about 10 nieces and nephews though.
I think since you don’t normally go out and buy little things for them all the time that the amount of presents you have gotten for your kids is good.
As an aunt that is a little more financially strapped than my siblings, it is sad when you really like to find something special for kids that maybe you’ve made yourself or hoped to get something really unique and it ends up thrown aside and barely noticed because they have 20 presents around the tree.

By: katrynka

katrynka — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:12:00 +0000

Firstly, I am sorry that your toe was bad again, but glad that you found someone who was able to give you care without so much pain.

In regards to the Christmas, I would probably give more… just cause that is how I was brought up! We had 5 kids, and sometimes foster kids, so we there was not a lot of money. We would get one gift on our birthday. My mom would save all year for Christmas, and it was pretty big! We would get toys, and books and art supplies and clothing and a noisemaker for new years eve!And lots of stocking stuffers! But I think that you have thought carefully about how you want things to be for your family, and that is what works for you. Even growing up, I quickly realized that other people did not always get as much as I did for Christmas, but that they quite often got more for birthdays and more random things throughout the year. And I was quite happy with how things worked at my house.

By: knitbysue

knitbysue — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:53:00 +0000

If you are not familiar with Chinaberry catalog and/or website you should check it out. Lots of books, categorized by reading level and thoughtful, interesting gifts.
http://www.chinaberry.com/index.cfm?tid=803081201

By: beth

beth — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:16:00 +0000

I know I’ve told you this before, but that cat (I think you said her name was Daisy?) looks like my cat Hobbes’ twin. Even the expression is the same! Hope your toe feels better:)

By: Penny

Penny — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:26:00 +0000

This comment has nothing to do with your post, however, I just finished listening to the “Sticks and String” podcast. David Reidy talks about seeing the blankie in Yarn magazine! He compared it to Kaffe Fassett. High praise indeed.

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:10:00 +0000

I think the amount is perfect. When they are older and comparing what they got to what their friend got you can consider increasing number or value if you feel the need, or not. Especially at this age, number is not important. Since they don’t get every toy they want during the year, this is going to feel like a bonanza to them.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:45:00 +0000

I think your gift list for the girls was very very thoughtful. In our home, we try to stick with that old Victorian poem “Something they want, something they need, something to play with something to read” which works out very well for us because we get a lot of C.R.A.P. from certain in-laws who shall remain nameless.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:40:00 +0000

I usually get my two girls (10 and 5) each a book to read, art stuff, like a ream of paper is huge to my 5 year old. I really look over the Crayola aisle, I can find fun creative things there. I get them beads, foamy things to play with. Lots of glue sticks and tape. Between the paper and all the embellishments they play for a long time with those….and I always get them a new pair of pj’s.

By: Cath

Cath — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:16:00 +0000

If you don’t expect many other gifts, your list seems good to me. My son was born in December, so he gets a ton of stuff from family–that I need to sneak away and distribute throughout the year. Santa usually brings one special gift, and we give him some smaller items (books, art supplies). Santa’s gift has historically been a musical instrument. He has a reasonably priced ukelele, and an inexpensive keyboard. I got him a drum set over the summer (because one of his little friends broke his original cheapy set). This year I know he has received an accordian and a set of chimes/xylophone from my sisters. The other thing he loves is dressup/costumes. I agree that life is better without too many battery operated toys.

Enjoy Thanksgiving and happy Christmas shopping!

By: Katy

Katy — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:22:00 +0000

Yarn and patterns would probably be just fine if I find the reels this weekend. I can see them in my minds eye in a few different places, so we’ll see if my mom moved them. I totally forgot to ask today.

I think that Christmas presents are totally about quality and not quantity. I say this as a child who was literally buried in gift wrap and presents when I was 2, so perhaps I’m a bit biased. You have well thought out gifts for the girls, and it looks like stuff that they’ll play with. Even with lots of ridiculous gifts from one side of the family as a child, my favorite memories are of the art sets in the black cases and drawing with my dad on a big pad of paper on the floor.