i just heard that we only have 5 weekends left until christmas – say what!!!???!!!  it still feels warm and fallish here in KC, and i haven’t really had christmas on the brain…until now.  i’m trying hard to get my ducks in a row early this year so i can really enjoy the season and not get stressed out by the gift-buying and wrapping that i usually leave to the last minute.  i’m sure each of your kids, like ours, knows exactly what they want from the toy department, but here are a few non-toy ideas that are going to be appearing beneath our christmas tree.

1. tee-pee – what kid doesn’t love a cozy little spot to peruse a book or play?
2. lego book – what do you do with all those loose legos!?!  this book gives tons of ideas to build something new
3. special skirt – chloe will lose her head when she opens this, and she will probably wear it basically every day, so the cost per wear will be pennies.
4. yeti in my spaghetti – every time chloe sees an ad for this, she talks about how bad she wants it.  done.
5. boogie board – i think my kids are a little young for this right now, but keeping this idea in my back pocket for the next time we take a long road trip.  would be great for practicing letters, numbers, math problems or just doodling.
6. slippers – um, they’re fuzzy mice for little feet.  i can’t.
7. watercolors – kids.  paint.  wonder.  enough said.
8. bean bags – these are happening this year, and i got them personalized with each of the kids’ names.  i think they’ll like that special touch, and they’ll know who each one belongs to.  maybe no fighting since they will each get one!?!  we can only hope!
9. indoor snowballs – i feel like this could use up a lot of pent-up energy in the basement this winter.  i’m lookin’ at you, beckett – our own personal energizer bunny.
10. apron and utensils – for the little chef!
11. kinetic sand – my kids play with this for hours, and i just added some to their wish list to add to what we already have
12. purse – you can probably tell that chloe is into all things sparkly at the moment.  she is three after all!

now, i’d love to hear what non-toy items are going to be under your tree this christmas!