This is just a wish list — things I’d enjoy having, realistic or unrealistic. If you do feel like getting something (thanks!), consider checking ebay and craigslist and thrift stores before buying new. Homemade is lovely, too!
For Amy:
Child’s real working rolling pin, like this one. I got one at Jo-Ann’s, but it doesn’t roll well — I think it was intended to be used as a decoration.
Extra pieces for her potato head — go to Ebay.
More play food — she’s good on fruits, could use more veggies, meats, breads, pizza, desserts (birthday cake set?) etc. She still likes to put things in her mouth, so the hollow plastic ones that squish easily are not a good choice. Sturdy easy to use containers are helpful and will be much loved.
Thicker knit tights (not the thin ones that get runs easily) in pink, red, black, white, cream, lavender.
Bike trailer seat thing
Stories Jesus Told (complete, not individual ones) by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen — out of print, but some available on ebay even as “buy it now” items.
Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling
Little House book set
Madeleine L’Engle books
Children’s stories in French — like Le Petit Prince.
Montessori-based activities, like transferring, pouring, grinding, or a zither / plucked psaltery / lap harp. One could assemble something like the pouring and transferring sets with stuff from around the house or a thrift store, I bet. We’ve already played with two custard cups, dried beans, and a spoon.
Bath crayons
Layer puzzles like this or this
Games like Chutes and Ladders or this or this or this or Go Fish. (Please, oh please, NOT Candyland).
Grandparent dolls for the dollhouse
Sandbox toys like this excavator or this loader.
Magnetic lowercase letters
Counting or sorting activities, like this or this.
A dress-up toy like this
Hand puppets with arms and a working mouth — um, wait — I guess you have to choose either hands OR a working mouth.
Simple stencils — large, completely open (not just tracing lines), simple designs, like this or this.
A mechanical music box to wind up or crank, like this or this.
Art books like this coloring book, or this lift-the-flap book, or this Art book.
A camera
Mark adds: Legos (not Duplos), or Cootie.
For me:
Queen-size mattress pad
Sunrise alarm clock
1/2″ and 1/4″ bias tape makers
Stainless steel water bottles for the whole family, like these.
Any one or more of these various and sundry books.
Pizza / bread peel
Pasta machine
Grain mill
Original Buddha Board
Indelible Grace and/or Boundless Free CD(s)
An mp3 player that can make playlists and do random / shuffle; if I could plug it into a stereo or TV system for speakers, so much the better. I’m not a headphones type.
Desiring God by John Piper
(Also his The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God)
Books by Charles Williams
Pattern drafting and altering book(s)
One of those folding frames to raise an airbed (twin)
Paint bathrooms
Replace carpets (once potty training is completely over)
Mark’s wish list:
Gift certificate for Great Fermentations of Indianapolis
Black simple loafer style dress shoes size 11
Black dress shirt size (um, let me get back to you on that.)
Light blue dress shirt — the kind that looks like blue threads woven with white threads, like this.
Black dress socks
Dress belts — one brown, one black; waist size 34
Jeans belt
Black wool fedora, suitable for work — try thrift stores or ebay
Corded drill, preferably with a clutch drive, nothing fancy
Cuckoo clock that shuts off at night
Netflix
Light bulb grabber (for changing a bulb in a stairway)
Chilton’s or Haynes manual for a 2007 Corolla
