Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas wish lists don't exist in our house as I don't want my kids to think  that Christmas is all about toys and then lose sight of what this holiday is really about. We  gift them no more than 4 gifts each and I'm pretty picky about what kind of gifts these are. Usually, they receive a toy they desire, a book or bible related item, a board game and maybe some clothing. Even though we limit their gifts (they still get some gifts from grandparents and other family members/ friends), they truly enjoy the ones they get. These gifts are usually not ones that are one the "top-toy" lists but rather ones that will lasts several years and foster creativity and imagination.  So here is my list of gift ideas for an entire family:

1. Lego Duplo: Since I was a kid, we played with Lego Duplo blocks and now my kids love playing with them. Especially the Lego Duplo Train Set is a big hit in our house. And it is easy to purchase add-on gifts throughout the years to expand this collection.
2. Adult coloring books and good coloring pencils: To relax after a long day, I like to take my coloring book and color away, usually while lounging on the couch and watching some tv. I truly enjoy it and it is a very calming, no thinking activity. Good coloring pencils make a huge difference though, so it is worth investing in these. 
3. Books and Puzzles: We all love to read books and even though I stopped buying a lot of books as we go weekly to our public library, I enjoy giving each child a book for Christmas. Something special just for them that they like to read (For example, my daughter loves her bible story books). They also love to do puzzles and we have several big floor puzzles they play with.
4. Baking pans from USA Pans: if you have a woman/ man in your life who likes to cook or bake, then she/he will love this gift. There is no need to oil the pans before using them (even for brownies) because the baked goodies slide right out of them and you just wipe the pan clean.
5. This one is funky, but if you have one or more little men in your house, this will be an awesome gift: A kiddie urinal . It is perfect for toilet training little boys. No more hit and miss with the toilets and bleaching bathroom floors.
6.  Amazon Prime Membership: We were given this membership as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and I must say it was one of the best gifts ever. We are using it almost daily since Amazon offers some of the best prices on all kind of things (like books, household items, clothing and novelty products) and with this membership you get 2-day free shipping as well as access to a music, video  and Kindle book library. The $99 annual fee is so worth the money as an entire family can enjoy it.
7. Family Board Games: My daughter has reached an age, where she enjoys playing board games with us. And so it is no wonder that we already accumulated a collection of board games and every Christmas I like to add a new game to the collection. As a child, I remember spending lots of afternoons playing board games with my friends and family; memories I truly cherish.   
8. Anything cars or trains for the little man in your life is always a hit. My son spends hours zooming around the house with these and I love that they are wooden and will lasts for a while. You know, boys are quite rough with their toys.
9. Dress-up clothes: I like to buy these after the holidays (think Halloween or Christmas) are over for a steep discount and then gift them the next year. Especially my little girl likes to play dress-up and comes up with new designs or characters every day. I like that the costumes inspire their imagination and both kids can play with them for years to come. 
10. Outdoor Gear/ Tools: My husband enjoys working in the yard and so a new tool might come in handy as a Christmas gift. He also likes to hike and wants to introduce camping (in the backyard for now) to the kids, so he would be happy about a Pop-Up Tent for Christmas. 
11. Peg Dolls: For a while now, I have been making these wooden peg dolls for my kids to play with and they really like them as they use their imagination and creativity to come up with stories. These dolls are for all ages and include fairies, princesses, super heroes and villains as well as animals; they can pretty much be anything, you want them to be. For example, I will be making some elves and a Christmas family soon to add to our collection. These are personal gifts and great as stocking stuffers. (If you are interested in purchasing some peg dolls, I'm happy to custom make them for you. Lots of possible characters are available to suit any need. Contact me if you are interested)

Disclosure: This post includes links to sponsors or affiliates. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase but when you do  (there are no additional charges to you), I receive a small percentage of the sale.  Thank you!