Christmas re-cap! - Page 2

[2+twins]

Originally Posted by blumom2boyz

Oh, I so wanted to get this for my boys. They even had it on sale online ($50 off!). My dh was afraid they would break it though.

We've had that same pirate ship for a few years now, although I've had it in storage for the last year or so and will bring it back out probably when my twins turn 3. It's not specific to PBK, fyi. It's made by Maxim and is called the Venture ship. We also have the dock which is really cool. *However* - these toys join together like a puzzle (the ship in 3 pieces with wooden rods that pin each section together). They're easily pulled apart by kids who like to do that sort of thing (exactly why I put ours away - the twins just tore it apart all the time). The quality is good though and I think it's a worthwhile piece if your kids are into pirates. When I do bring it out again, I'll be gluing it together first.

[PabloHoneySF]

Originally Posted by 2+twins

We've had that same pirate ship for a few years now, although I've had it in storage for the last year or so and will bring it back out probably when my twins turn 3. It's not specific to PBK, fyi. It's made by Maxim and is called the Venture ship. We also have the dock which is really cool. *However* - these toys join together like a puzzle (the ship in 3 pieces with wooden rods that pin each section together). They're easily pulled apart by kids who like to do that sort of thing (exactly why I put ours away - the twins just tore it apart all the time). The quality is good though and I think it's a worthwhile piece if your kids are into pirates. When I do bring it out again, I'll be gluing it together first.

I'm laughing as I read this because we have the pirate ship too and yesterday I took it out of rotation because I got sick of trying to find the million of little pieces that belong to it as my kids kept playing shipwreck with it and parts were spread out all over 3 rooms in the house. Glueing it is brilliant! Keeping that in mind when I decide to bring it back...

[mamaUK]

Christmas day ended up just how we wanted it...very quiet spent with close family. My toddler had a small stocking and a beautiful Bamboletta doll and willow dolls cradle from us and close relatives used a wish list that i had written so she had a lovely collection of Osthiemer figures and 'waldorfy' books. From distant relatives we don't know very well there were some cuddly toys and some rubbishy pencil crayons (that barely colour) and a plastic flashing phone that will all go straight to Charity. This year I took the carrier bags full of pressies for my LO's from distant relatives and opened them all before I gave anything to my LO's so I could 'check it' first. Sounds terrible doesn't it? But there is no way I'm going to give stuff to my LO's and then take it away again. My older girl gets too attatched to stuff and starts worrying about where its gone so this is why I do this now. No upset and only good quality, open ended natural toys stay in the house that way. The distant relatives never visit our house anyhow! Alot of it was biscuits and chocolates anyway so i don't feel too bad...........................................that s what i tell myself anyway!

In the afternoon we made bird feeders for the garden from pine cones, fat and seed and strung monkey nuts for them too and after we had hung them in the tree we went for a wintery walk to the park.......... and then my DH had to take our toddler to hospital quickly as she needed steroids b/c she developed croup............................exactly what happened last Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!! can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pinkpeone]

"In the afternoon we made bird feeders for the garden from pine cones, fat and seed and strung monkey nuts for them too and after we had hung them in the tree we went for a wintery walk to the park.......... and then my DH had to take our toddler to hospital quickly as she needed steroids b/c she developed croup............................exactly what happened last Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!! can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Oh no, do you know how she developed it? Is she allergic to something that she's eaten? Possibly a gravy? I hope she's alright

[mamaUK]

Originally Posted by pinkpeone

"
Oh no, do you know how she developed it? Is she allergic to something that she's eaten? Possibly a gravy? I hope she's alright

thanks for your concern

I'm pretty sure that croup is caused by a virus more than anything else (anybody feel free to correct me if im wrong) its just unlucky its happened twice during the Christmas period. Last year she had to go to hospital in an ambulance b/c her breathing difficulties were bad, i was so scared. This Christmas we heard the barking cough and she also had raised temperature for several days so we knew she needed steroids to open up her airways more. Also, she also had this about four weeks ago so were straight on it and now its Ok thank goodness.

So i guess what i meant in my earlier post was everything was just how we wanted it this christmas from a present and activities point of view LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for your concern XXX

[pinkpeone]

Originally Posted by mamaUK

thanks for your concern

I'm pretty sure that croup is caused by a virus more than anything else (anybody feel free to correct me if im wrong) its just unlucky its happened twice during the Christmas period. Last year she had to go to hospital in an ambulance b/c her breathing difficulties were bad, i was so scared. This Christmas we heard the barking cough and she also had raised temperature for several days so we knew she needed steroids to open up her airways more. Also, she also had this about four weeks ago so were straight on it and now its Ok thank goodness.

So i guess what i meant in my earlier post was everything was just how we wanted it this christmas from a present and activities point of view LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for your concern XXX

Glad she's okay.

[PabloHoneySF]

I'm so glad to hear that most everyone had a nice Christmas .

Ours was busy with family visits. With the new baby we had the excuse not to travel, but that meant everyone came to see us (which I always try to remind myself that it means we have a lot of people who love us when I'm going nuts trying to straighten up for company ).

In regards to gifts, the boys loved the trains that we got for them from John Michael Linck

Here's the boys playing with them:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/...82a17882_b.jpg

and my mother in law surprised us with this wonderful wooden log set from Lehmans . She also had these RV's made for each of the boys:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/...844eeb96_b.jpg

The boys mostly received clothes and pajamas from everyone else, though my brother got them a plastic battery operated Thomas train set. It was a little wierd to see them go from these active little boys making up adventures as they pushed their new wooden trains around in the morning to these glassy-eyed zombies watching this obnoxious, loud train doing nothing but go around in a circle.

Overall it was a nice Christmas, I'm really glad that we made the effort to do more handmade items .

[counterGOPI]

marina i had the same thing happen with my girls at my MIL's house. battery operated plastic toys come out and the girls both changed completwly. gave me the willies!!

[notwonamesalike]

I was pleasantly surprised by our family for the holidays.

Our son received summer clothes from some extended family - they do have pictures of animals, etc on them - but nothing "commercial" our heavily advertised.

He received many books - including a set of classic fairy tales.

Much of my family heard he was getting a wooden play kitchen and fridge for Christmas so they purchased accordingly.

Plan Toys metal and wooden pots and pans.
Plan Toys wooden plates, silverware, bowls.
Plan Toys wooden grocery food.

Homemade aprons.

He also received a natural finish race car, log truck, natural finish ABC blocks, and a natural finish shape sorter. They do come from Toys R Us - which we avoid. However we found a gift card buried among some old paperwork that we received when our son was born. Since we were going to be in that general direction anyhow, we thought we would pick up some art supplies. We were surprised to find they had a line of natural toys.) I wish they had come from a small, mom and pop company - but in lieu of plastic, I'll take it.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=2985596