A word about the list

I hope the list is helpful to you. I feel a bit uncomfortable because it addresses the commercial "gimme gimme" aspect of Christmas, which is not what I'd like to emphasize. But the truth is, there are certain things the kids return to in the toy store time and again, so if you'd like ideas for gifts, we've definitely got ideas to share. Also, I thought I would use this to figure out how do do stuff like links and web images.

I wanted to have a printable version for you to click on, but I have not figured out how to do that on this site. You could highlight the text you want on this page, copy, and paste into a Word document.


Basically, the kids' interests include (besides clothes, games and puzzles):

Katie: American Girl outfits and movies, educational/interactive things (esp. math), princesses, pets, fairies, chapter books
Julianna: Puppies, horses, princesses, fairies, ballerinas, dolls, Strawberry Shortcake, "learn to read" electronics
Nick: Sports, vehicles, wooden railroad, GeoTrax, Disney Cars, Toy Story (includes Mr. Potato Head), Elmo, Little Einsteins

Christmas wishlists

Katie:

Size: 7
(pants need to be adjustable waist or very snug leggings; jeans and trousers at Gymboree need to be "slim")
Shoe size: 13.5 or 1
Clothes-related ideas: Robe, sweater (cardigan), towels (bath or beach)
Examples at Land's End for both girls: Ruffle front cardigan, embellished boot cut curduroy pants (purple has a dog in the back pocket, khaki has a horse on the back)
Jewelry / hair

American Girl catalog/AmericanGirl.com:
Elizabeth's Holiday Dress
the Felicity movie DVD
the Molly movie DVD
the Samantha movie DVD
Various outfits not for a specific doll

Other ideas:
Educational toys (i.e. MathWhiz, globe, electronic game, etc)
Stuffed animals
Play sets (Polly Pocket, Littlest Pet Shop, Calico Critters, baby Disney princess, Playmobil, Lego....)
Littlest Pet Shop digital pet (not the dalmatian)
Pretty dolls (Barbie is ok)

Disney Fairies books: (she already has "The Trouble with Tink," "Fira and the Full Moon," and "Rani in the Mermaid Lagoon.")

Julianna:

Size: 5
Shoe size: 11 or 11.5 (loves shoes!)
Clothes-related ideas: Robe, sweater (cardigan), towels (bath or beach)
Dress, tights, shirt & skirt/leggings/tights
Jewelry / hair

Stuffed animals (particularly puppies)
Baby doll accessories
Princesses, fairies, ballerinas, horses
Sleeping Beauty fold-out Storybook Castle
Disney Princess "Magic Wand" Laptop
Play sets: Strawberry Shortcake, Polly Pocket, Littlest Pet Shop, baby Disney princess, Playmobil, horse sets, fairy sets, room sets, animal sets....
Fur Real pets - pig
Pretty dolls (Barbie is ok)

American Girl catalog/AmericanGirl.com:
Coconut or Licorice and accessories

Wonder Pets or Strawberry Shortcake DVD

Nick:

Size: 2 or 3 (Gymboree: 2T)
Shoes: 8.5 or 9 (wide if possible, not essential)
Robe, Towels (bath or beach)

Anything with wheels
Anything with balls/sports

Cars movie stuff:
Racetrack set
Flo's Cafe set / other "scene" playsets
Mack truck
Mega Blocks McQueen & Mater - COOL!
Anything is great -- just don't get him a little metal die-cast Cars car (he pretty much has every one) and don't go for the playset that is two spiral ramps (it uses smaller cars than everything else, which would be frustrating).

Tickle-Me-Elmo TMX (or Ernie) or stuffed Elmo doll
Mr. Potato Head (we already have Mrs. Potato Head); Spud Buds; other "Parts & Pieces" for Mr. and Mrs.
Little Einsteins DVDs and/or toys (We have "Team up for adventure" and "Our huge adventure")
Play tools
He is getting the Fisher-Price GeoTrax "Grand Central Station", so things that add on to that set would be GREAT!!
Structures to add to his wooden train set (bridges, station houses, mountains, tunnels, etc)

Hot Wheels
TONKA
bike accessories (i.e. horn/bell, flag, basket, etc.)
3-wheel scooter

Elmo/Sesame Street DVD (we have "Elmo in Grouchland")
Little People DVD (we have "Fun to Learn Collection")
Blue's Clues DVD (we have "Bluestock")

some pictures of stuff on the wish list

From Katie's list:

MathWhiz

(these caught Katie's eye... she wanted to give you some choices!)

Ruby Ballet outfit and book

Ballet Recital outfit and book

Embroidered Party Dress

Flower Garden Dress and book

Gala Party Outfit

Island Luau outfit and book

Mermaid costume and book

Sweetheart Skirt Set and book

Sweet Sequins Party outfit and book

From Julianna's list:

Sleeping Beauty Fold-out Storybook Castle

Disney Princess "Magic Wand" Laptop

Coconut's doghouse

Coconut's carrier

From the Toys To Grow On catalog:

Puppy Pals Playset

Enchanted Fairy Village

From Nick's list:

Tickle-Me-Elmo TMX

Mr. Potato Head (they also make "Parts & Pieces" sets like firefighter, construction worker, princess, mermaid, etc. and oh my gosh look at this)
SF Giants Spud!

Mr. Potato Head "Spud Buds"

Little Einsteins Symphony Composer


Don't forget about Disney Cars

GeoTrax

and Thomas Wooden Railway (this site also carries Brio and Thomas)

Here are some other ideas (especially if you are trying to avoid Mattel/Fisher-Price):

These vehicles from PlanToys are so cute!
I adore the bike with trailer!
PlanToys is a cool company. In Thailand, when the rubber trees are no longer making rubber, the farmers have to cut them down and plant new trees. They had been burning the old trees. PlanToys now uses the old rubberwood trees to make wood toys!
This is also a really cool toy company!

From the HearthSong catalog:

Radio Control Bumper Cars