Dear Santa ** updated **

*** UPDATED on DEC 16 ***

Well, it's that time of year again.  When people start asking us what we want ... we really try not to think beyond needs most of the time - so this isn't a really easy question.

I would much rather spend my time thinking about what I want to give to others.  Not an easy task with no budget ... really .... though I'm hoping Tim will get to ref enough games to allow me to get a few items that we need for our planned projects.  We chose to give our "found windfall" to pay for the AC repairs from this summer ... 3 visits ran us well over $500.  And with the super high temps, I'm not sure we saw much savings until this past month.

BUT ... People do ask.

And second hand - or home made are just as well loved - we don't have to get the brand new in a box all the time (of course - diapers - those pretty much should be new.)


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I'll start with LaRue ... just turned 2.   http://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3849OQHGX54M0/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_o

She's wearing a 2T, but several clothes are 3T and they fit fine.  She wears a size 6/7 shoe.  And girlfriend has more clothes than she can wear.  That is after we gave nearly 1/3 of them away.  Of course, she needs more this time of the year because our weather is so .... weird.  So she has clothes for warm days, cool days, wet days, creepy cold days, bitter cold days ...  BUT ... she DOES NOT need clothes.  .... Ok, but only if it is REALLY cute ... and girly loves shoes.  Especially with glitter and bows.  I've lost count of the number of shoes she has.  Really.

She seems to like pinks ... bright glitzy glittery pinks, purple range pinks, dots, stripes, bows, ... and monkeys.  And tiny things that 2 year olds are not suppose to have.  Like paper clips, and a doll bottle the size of my pinky nail.  But our girl thinks she is much older than 2 - except at bedtime.


With all of the big sisters and big cousins ... she doesn't need anything ... not even an audience.


But some things she would love ... and why ....  in no particular order ... there are several more ideas on her Amazon Wish List above.

A Tin Tea Set ...   because she loves to play tea - and this is the prettiest set I could find.  She loves bright colors.  And we already have 3 partial plastic sets ... why not something a little different.


A stainless steel water bottle ... 12 oz ... bright and happy design  .... New and good quality.

because she is always snitching everyone else's water bottles. ...  She has 10 of her own sippy cups though ... and they all work fine.  3 are pretty  much brand new.


Tiny Monkeys ....    ...  She loves to sing about monkeys... jumping on beds, teasing a crocodile, making a cake ....



A step stool .... 2 steps ... and while storage would be great .. and monkeys would be fun ...
  it really doesn't have to look like this one or be this expensive.  It just needs to be sturdy and belong to her.



Dolly Buggy ... She LOVES dolls.
   and owns over a dozen dolls.   The little plastic ones break so fast, so I would love for her to have a wooden one.  BUT   just something, a wagon even, to lay all the little dollies inside and push them around would be so cool.  The monkeys and counting animals could ride around too.


Leg Warmers ....    and any colors or styles.  But I've got this set, and several other similar types (lady bugs dots, bee stripes, solid bright colors.   These are great for extra warmth on legs or arms in early mornings or evenings, without having to layer the chest/ torso as well.   I've really gotten to like the one pair that we have.



*****  as far as I know ... nothing from her wish list has been purchased.  ---  But she could use more size 5 diapers  -  also, she just put on another INCH in the last 10 days.  *****
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JOEL .... six.

Joel is a big boy, and he just added another 1 1/2 inches.  And he's happy and serious, and silly.   He wears a size 7/8 mostly, and a size 2 shoe.  And his closet is FULL FULL FULL.  And I'm lucky if he's got shoes on most of the time.  So the 4 pair he has are plenty).  Really.


His favorite TV show is Wild Kratts - so he's big into wild animals and what they can do.
His favorite colors are yellow (and other fire colors) and camouflage.

He's asking for big items....

GPS  ... so he doesn't get lost while he's riding in the car and for when he gets his race car.

His own computer ... so he can watch more Youtube videos.  (Like Wild Kratts, and Veggie Tales, and Bible Songs, and Disney short movies, and Schoolhouse Rock, and all kinds of neat things.

A Racecar ... so he can drive.  Or for his bed.   Or at least a blanket.  or a pillow.

A smart phone ... to play Angry Birds

(I'm not making this up ... this kid talks like this!)


But for more serious ideas....

I had the new Crayola Dry Erase Crayons on his list ... BUT
the reviews are not great, and most commented that instead, to use 
Large Crayola WASHABLE crayons instead.    And since Joel can't seem to keep lids on markers anymore - I'm willing to give this a try.


A GOOD QUALITY stainless steel water bottle ... in a favorite color like yellow.  We use these daily, and the two he's been using for the last 2 years are really beat up, but still usable.  BPA free.  he likes the straw type tops the best.        This one does come in yellow. And the 18 oz size should be a good size for him.  These are easily findable at stores (maybe not this brand).



A good set of head phones.  His toddler set that came with his FP3 player is getting too small, and the ear buds keep disappearing.  So maybe we can keep up with something bigger ...   ...  a friend has a pair of these and she really likes them.




Angry Bird Figures ...    He LOVES to set up blocks and pretend that he's playing Angry Birds with his sling shot, but I think this would make it a whole lot more fun.  They might be available in a party store as well.




A big BIG BIG  Box of Crayons ....     ....  He LOVES drawing.





And speaking of drawing ... there are nearly a dozen drawing books on his AMAZON WISH LIST ...       ....   all approved by him.      Stick with the ones on the list - as he has several, and there were quite a few he didn't want.




K'Nex .... He loves to build and create ... and learn Math   
There are also quite a few science sets (Physics) on his list.




Speaking of Science .... there are also about a dozen Science Experiment equipment and kits on his list.  He LOVES  Math, Science, and Reading.  (Writing - not so much.)



There are quite a few other ideas on his AMAZON wish list

Like a Microfiber Bath Mat (he is such a drippy kid getting out of the tub!  LOL

http://www.leapsandbounds.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=535848&parentCategoryId=85180&categoryId=85201


Sir Cumference Books (Vannan has quite a few already ... I just moved them from her list to his).


http://amzn.com/w/59JSW0D5VG41     .....    Joel's Long Wish List.






*****  Joel has gotten several things on his wish list - they have been taken off of the Amazon wish list - also from above - the drawing book was purchased  *****
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Now Vannan and Kendra wrote up their own Santa wish lists and posted them to their own blogs.....




VANNAN


http://makingmeaservant.blogspot.com/2011/11/dear-santa.html


******  I know several items have been gotten from V's short list on her blog - they have been removed from her Amazon Wish List.    




But so far, nobody has told me anything for Kendra (except colored pencils - the small crayola boxes from School Supplies - and she wants boxes of 24 - 48 or more colors --- and she already knows that she is getting them)   *******

KENDRA

http://knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com/2011/11/dear-santa.html



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TIM


I asked Tim what he wanted ...


A job

Windshield fixed on the van

At least one new tire - and an alignment for the van.

Fix the broken/torn front right bumper on the van.

The AC bill paid off.

.....  and stuff like that.


I would really like to see him have his own good quality stainless steel water bottle - insulated would be best - that he can take into the car with him ... because bottled water can get expensive!  ...  His favorite color is RED.


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And me ... RACHEL 


There is nothing really Important that I need ... or want now that I have my Kindle.


But there are some household items on my wish list that would be mostly for the whole family to enjoy and use ...

http://amzn.com/w/1YRA9MLNZZ5RT






One thing we really would LOVE is one of those terabyte storage things for our computers.  Several Terabyte ... as it would back up 4 or 5 computers right now.  ....  




Now don't get too excited about all those computers.  Tim has his that we bought in 2000 and he's rebuilt and fixed as parts have broken.  He also has the laptop he had to buy for the insurance job, and it is giving a lot of trouble, maybe it is just the battery dying?.  ... Then we have mine that we bought in 2004 ... updated as parts broke.  Kendra has her laptop that she bought with her own money.  Vannan has a hand me down unit that is from 2005 ish.  And the one Joel uses is an old one that again dates back 10 years or more ... and use to be my parents.  It's only really good for kids games.










Well, now that is over ... and we won't do it again until next year.




So ... what do you want us to make you for Christmas???


Because our hearts and love will be in everything we make - and Christmas should be about giving love and family and celebration of life ... and most of all, a celebration of the life GOD gave to us through his son Jesus Christ.