Gift Guide 2014 — Small Fry and Rugrats #1

Christmas is for the kids. We spend the lion share of the Christmas expenditures on my kids and their cousins. And Christmas morning is for me, as they joyfully open the gifts and then engulf themselves in the silent bliss of new activities.

In the spirit of spending money on experiences rather than things, we’re getting tickets to see Matilda.

I want this giant coloring poster of NYC.

There’s a huge bookcase in Ian’s room. About half the books are too simple for him, but I can’t get rid of them, because they’re too beautiful or they hold dear memories of reading to my little boys. Some favorites — Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble

Some new books include Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, The Simpsons Family History, Percy Jackson. I just ordered Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids for Ian, because he loves puns.

There is way too much cuteness in these hats.

It’s Lego AND Minecraft. Together. Totally awesome. LEGO Minecraft 21115 The First Night. Hurry, these sets are getting sold out. Jonah’s grandmother bought him LEGO Mindstorms years ago. Ian pulled it out and played with it for two weeks straight this summer. There are apparently tons of fan generated projects on the Internet.

I think my neice needs a Spirograph Deluxe Design Set.

And the video games. There’s a bunch of new games for the Wii U – Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart 8 – Nintendo Wii U, Skylanders Trap Team Starter Pack – Wii.  I thought Ian was done with the 3DS, but he wants Tomodachi Life.

More to come…