And of course, there's plenty of making still to finish up. More on that another time.
Today, just for fun, I thought I'd share FIVE FAVORITES from our home with the thought that someone might find them handy gift ideas! These are completely random and in no particular order. :) I am not a Gift Guide kind of gal, but if my trial-and-error can help you find something that would work well for your kids, great!
We love these simple and colorful bibs for mealtimes. Machine washable, fairly waterproof, big enough for a toddler but soft enough for an infant. I much prefer these to the plastic bibs with the little pocket. I would rather be able to throw things in the wash rather than handling it myself. ;) I bought a pack a few years ago and the snaps ripped out within a couple months. They redesigned their pattern to reinforce the snaps last year and these are wonderful. No issues so far! We have ten and they get daily use. I tucked a few more into my littles' St. Nick bags this year.
Magformers are a perennial favorite here; everyone from the toddler to the pre-teens use these, and for all kinds of things. They seem to be indestructible! We have a bunch of sets now and just keep adding more; we started with a basic set but have now branched out to the vehicles and house kits, and the extra shapes have increased the kids' creativity.
A couple years ago, I gave each of my school-aged children a compact nature kit for Christmas. They are still going strong! If you'd like to see the pouch and what it holds, I have all of the details here. We have ours color-coded with masking tape since we have seven of these sets in our bag each week. :)
I have been wearing these Chooka rain boots for the past couple years and now I just bought a pair for my oldest daughter because I lilke them so much. I love that they are low and light, which makes them so easy to walk in. They have held up well to lots of exploring and are very afforable! They're billed as "packable" boots but I just use them for everyday wear.
I bought a few of these messenger bags for my girls this past year -- they are durable and adorable. They would be perfect to hold a nature journal kit, or just for everyday use out and about! (My little girls use them indoors when they're pretending to be "moms." LOL) I like that they aren't too big for my 5yo but also aren't too small for my 12yo...or me. ;)
(Affiliate links above...if you choose to purchase through my link, I'll get a cut from Amazon. Thanks!)
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And a round-up of past gift ideas:
What We're Reading...and Crafting and Playing :: Christmas Edition
My Top Ten Christmas Books for Littles
Our Favorite Keeping Supplies
CM-Friendly Easter Basket Ideas (...that would be great for Christmas gifts too!)
I'm still looking for something simple for my little guys, ages 4, 2, and 1. We don't need any more toys for those ages, and I've requested clothes from family to fill out their winter wardrobes. Any great ideas? Of course they will be getting books, and each will get a Schleich animal to add to our collection, as usual. But I probably need one more thing...
