Wishlists

I've been having lots of fun making Wishlists for our family. See the sidebar on the left for each family member's list.

It is so easy to want. Especially for me to want things for the kids. I want them to have everything that their little hearts desire. And especially the things that will really get their minds or bodies going. As I pick out a present I can just see the joy on each little face as they open the present. As they figure something new out. Those little cogs and wheels start spinning and you can practically see them getting smarter. What Mom doesn't want that for her child? Then I think about the toys of yester-decade. Wooden horses that their Dads spent hours whittling. Dolls sewn together with scraps of fabric and used spools. A cup. And those things really get those cogs and wheels spinning too - just not in such a flashy, instant gratification kind of way.

Last year for Christmas Richard and I decided to focus on homemade gifts. But our plan totally failed. Each of us had great plans for homemade gifts for the other - but neither of us had time to make them! And buying "the stuff" to make these thoughtful gifts was actually pretty stinking expensive. So we ended up with store bought presents for each other bought at the last minute with much less thought involved. It was really a little sad. Richard actually returned the thing I got him. This year I'd like to try again. I think with a little more planning this could really be a great thing.

Do you have any ideas of how to give your kids/spouse presents that make their minds light up without filling the house with lame plastic garbage that requires batteries? Enlighten me.