Rachel Roland is a mom on a mission - exploring beautiful Arizona (and beyond!) with her two little companions, Jeremiah and Sarah, in search of the best restaurants, attractions, and products for you and your children. See what she has in store for your family today!
It's about to start - the craziness of the holidays! Why not relax and let me help you find awesome kids for your friends, family, and of course, your kids? I've already given you ideas for teens and tweens, for those hard to buy for men, and of course, for all the lovely ladies in your life. Now we come to the littles, the sweeties, those children that make Christmas morning so magical and fun!
First, pictured above, is the Original Christmas Classics on Blu-Ray. I have so many fond memories of these movies - Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, as well as Frosty Returns and Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. These all hold such precious memories of my own childhood that I yearn to pass on to my own children. Why not buy these as a special 'pre-Christmas' gift not only for them but for the whole family? Begin a new tradition on Christmas Eve with one of these original Christmas Classics, hot chocolate, and the lights of the tree glowing. Sounds perfect to me! ($29.17, Amazon, also available on DVD)
What would the holiday be without some Lego sets under the tree? This fantastic set (over 250 pieces) will be sure to keep your kiddos busy for some time. Plus, when they're done, there's a really fun truck to play with! This Mining Truck set comes with rocks that you 'blast' open to discover gold and jewels! (Recommended for ages 5+, $39.99, Toys R Us)
For something a few less pieces, check out the Lego "Friends" line, like this adorable Lego Friends Oliva's Speedboat. This was a fun project for Sarah and I to do together (this is recommended for ages 5-12, but since I was supervising I let Sarah have it). It didn't take very long - maybe a half hour - but the boat is so much fun to play with! ($11.99, Toys R Us)
Recommended for ages 5-8, this VTech Brilliant Creations Advanced Notebook is a great way to help your children learn through play. Technology is an undeniable part of our culture, now, and this will help your kids learn to not only navigate via a mouse, but use a keyboard as well - both are so important! This VTech Notebook has games for spelling, reading, math, and more - there are 120 learning games! ($39.99, Amazon)
Maybe you have a kid who's a little more into...target practice? Then this Nerf Vortex Pyragon Blaster is sure to make their day! With a 40 disk drum magazine, refilling is fast and easy and - thankfully - not a constant thing. Plus, the disks (in my opinion) seem easier to keep together (and not lose) as well as hold up to multiple uses better than the typical darts used in guns like this. This is some serious firepower! ($34.97, Amazon)
I have a feeling these might just become the 'must have' toys of this season. Dizzy Dancers are fun spinning toys that light up and play music when spun. Both Jeremiah and Sarah love these - in Jeremiah's words: "They're like a Beyblade that's a cute animal!!" These work by inserting a 'dizzy cord' and pulling it to make the Dancers spin on any surface. Sarah's actually asked for more for Christmas! ($12.89, Amazon)
Have a beautiful Thanksgiving - and Happy Shopping!!!
Photo courtesy Red Phoenix Photography
I'm Rachel - a mom, wife, and 'green' blogger at Small Steps On Our Journey. If you want me to come visit your place of business, have any questions on this article or suggestions for a future article, you can email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , tweet me at @rachelroland, or connect with me on Facebook.
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