What will you buy your kids this Christmas?

That's good. I kinda disagree with you on the choice to buy your little girl Bratz dolls. I think they are making our little girls grow up way too fast with all that makeup and risque fashions they wear, but oh well.

I have to jump in here about the Bratz dolls. I was really skeptical about them last year when my daughter turned 6. However, she really wanted some so we gave in for her birthday. I have to say, if you search long enough you can find some that are really cute. They have appropriate clothing on and not too much makeup. I know, it took forever to actually find them, but they are out there. My daughter really doesn't look at them any different than Barbie, and there is so much to say about Barbie, too. I really think that depending on the attitude of the child and parent there is not a problem with the Bratz. For us it was nice because we were able to start some talks with our daughter about proper clothing choices, how hair and makeup is done, and body image. Then we had the discussion about attitude! Anyway, I just thought I'd chime in on the discussion about Bratz because I thought there was NO way I would ever get my daughter one of those dolls, and I wound up getting her a couple!

I still think that Bratz dolls are teaching little girls things way too early. I mean, what does a seven or eight year old really need to know about makeup? I feel it takes away from their childhood to start teaching them these things early.

Oh God, I am both anticipating and dreading that moment in my kids' lives. There will be a lot of lessons learned then, first being that Mommy is not made of money!!!

Hopefully this year will not be as bad as last year. We had to upgrade the dirtbike last year. Usually we can get about 3 years out of it. So it will be more of all the equipment update, since he has grown so much. I always thought girls were more expensive, since I have three older girls, but NO...Boy toys are definately more expensive.

Isn't that all babies though? The noisier the better. Unfortunately that also means the more it gets on Mommy's nerves lol.

I understand. I mean, I don't like to discriminate against world trade, but if my child's health is at stake, then you know I'm going to do what's best!

Thanks for the info! I know a lot of parents will find your blog useful!!!

I have no idea how to return them if they were ordered online or over the phone. I purchased mine at a toy store,

You should be able to take the AquaDots back to any store that sells them, and they will be able to help you no matter where you bought them if you can't find your recipt. Usually with recalls the companies are all pretty cool about that. I know Wal-Mart is very helpful that way as long as they sell the product, of course.

Clothes and money, the safe way to go lol. Doesn't leave much for creativity though.

That has to be lovely. Here is a gift card worth blah-blah-blah, get what you want! We have been doing that with my baby sister (17) for the past few years, mostly because she's picky lol. Clothes seem to be a lot safer than toys, but they do come more in handy than toys anyway.

My six year old is doing this as well, maybe he/she has some back teeth coming in. Look to see if the child is also salivating a lot. Looks like it also may be the time for your kids to learn about giving. You could have them look through all their toys and put the ones that they don't play with anymore in a box to go to the Salvation Army/Goodwill. This will teach them a valuable lesson in helping others less fortunate than themselves, and also it will be less that you have to clean up!!!

We do lots of giving, too. The reason the kids have more toys than they know what to do with is that they hold on to things for so darn long. Unlike other kids I know that get bored of something in a short time my girls seem to be pack rats like their dad. But, they still play with everything or share it with cousin's that come over. Unfortunately what I describe as too many toys than they know what to do with, their friends say they don't have any toys. It's all in perspective, I guess!

I would look at each toy very carefully from the Salvation army. I did this a couple of years ago, and although its a good program, I noticed that the people that did donate toys cheaped out. So be careful