Birthdays, Parties, Christmas and Gifts

As my children are getting older and making more friends (and as my adult friends are having more children of their own) we find ourselves invited to more and more birthday parties and trying to come up with fun yet unique gifts to give.  Some parents say, NO GIFTS while others register for gifts at various shopping establishments around town.  I am great with either extreme and everything in between because I know that every family has their own reasons for why they do what they do. 

I am happy to announce that I have come across a new shop that fulfills my ideals when both purchasing and receiving gifts is required.  No, this is not a new shop, and yes I have heard of it before, but I passed through their doors for the first time last week and both my children and I fell in love with this place.  It is called The Learning Express.  I love that it has educational and free play toys for all ages, various price ranges, and fun curriculum and science/math kits for those home school families out there.  It also has wishlist and gift registries if you are into that kind of thing. 

For our family, every year we tell people that gifts are not needed for both birthdays and Christmas, but every year we are asked what the kids want any way.  I think this next year we will register at The Learning Express and say 'Gifts not required to join in on the fun but if you insist and want some ideas check us out HERE'.  Now I just need to see if Mardel Christian Book Store has a registry; I love that place - lol.

What do you do for your kids and gifts?  Is a registry to presumptuous or rude?  What are your stories?

Friends Having Babies

Right now I have a lot of friends (and family) having babies. It truly is a joy, and did I mention that I have the baby bug? I am ready to expand our family by starting on baby #2, but I have to wait until this staph is completely cleared up and the meds are out of my body.

In order of due date, here is a first name list of the Mom's having babies, and the baby's gender being born:

Suzanne - boy
Kiersten - surprise at birth
Laci - girl
Melinda - twin girls
Cierra - surprise at birth
Amber - girl
Jill - surprise at birth
Amanda - boy
Laura - gender unknown
Hannah - gender unknown
Jill - gender unknown

Plus the two ladies that recently had their girls and boy and the one friend that just had a miscarriage. At one time, that put the total count at 14 ladies and 16 babies. In utero we are now standing at 11 ladies and 12 babies; no wait, just got a call that the top lady on my list is a new mom, so 10 ladies and 11 babies. Congratulations Suzanne!!!

Here is the thing. I LOVE making part of my baby gift, and have great and fun ideas for baby girls, but I am almost completely blank for a baby boy. Does anyone out there have some really neat home-made baby gift ideas for a new baby boy? If so, please comment and let me know.