Pittsburgh Nesties
egpitt22
member
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
why are toys so expensive??
First of all, it's mid-September and the grandmas are already beginning their harassment for Christmas lists, but that's a whole separate issue. I decided to be nice while I have a slow morning at work and try to at least give them a few suggestions. I was looking at lists of the hottest toys for this Christmas, and this Disney sing-a-long choo choo kept popping up on a few lists:
Ok, cute, a train they can push & it plays music....$39.99!! seriously? for what? you don't even get to ride ON the train!
I just find that I'm always amazed at the price of certain toys. Vent over, carry on!
Re: why are toys so expensive??
Does it even include the puppy pictured? Because I just bought that same (I think) puppy for a friend's baby and the puppy alone is $9.99!
My favorite thing is trying to explain to your 5yo why "Santa" can't afford to buy her the umpteen $50+ toys on her list without stealing the magic of childhood from her.
Sorry for the duplicate posts...
DH bought ths for Spencer because she's been "choo-choo" obsessed for the last couple of months. Walmart has it for $29.99. It's really cute..Simba sings, and it makes different sounds, etc.
I believe the train comes with the 3 animals. I can't say for sure though, because I will not be adding it onto Liam's list for that price, even if it's not me buying it.
actually, I don't know why I'm putting anything on his list, I should just write "buy him something that Jake would want to play with" because he has zero interest in his own toys anyway!
Jake - 1.15.08
Liam - 5.17.11
It comes with Symba, Dumbo, and a 101 Dalmation Pup. You can take them out of the train cars and play with them individually.
I know, same here. I know my MIL asked if we would want a membership to the chldren's museum, and my mom normally gets us one for the zoo, so I'm going to encourage stuff like that. Jake also needs a new bike helmet and could use another app/game or two for his Leap Pad, so I have that on his list. The only thing he's talked about wanting Santa to bring him (consistently for months now) is a dream light. so Santa will bring that. I was also thinking a sleeping bag, does Eleni have one? I don't really know that he would get any practical use out of it in terms of actually needing to have one, but I think he'd like it, even if he camps out in our living room, or maybe in our backyard next summer.
Jake - 1.15.08
Liam - 5.17.11
$30 doesn't seem quite as painful as $40! the $40 price tag I saw was amazon.
Jake - 1.15.08
Liam - 5.17.11
She doesn't have a sleeping bag, but may enjoy having one. But if she camps out in the yard it would be with me... not kev. Hahaha. Leap pad games were going to be on my list too. perhaps a bag for it too. And she mentioned getting her ears pierced last week. So if that sticks I may do that for her birthday.
Also, did you know that Furby is making a big comeback this year?? That was another toy on the hot list. It could be yours for $50!
Jake - 1.15.08
Liam - 5.17.11
We have this case for the Leap Pad, I like that you can tuck the games into it:
Jake - 1.15.08
Liam - 5.17.11
No, I don't think it can.
That particular toy is Disney, so add extra just for that.
I was looking at a Jake costume through PartyCity, and one through Disney. I was also comparing the other costumes. The PC and Disney ones seemed to be similar quality for the same characters, but all the PC ones were 19.99 to 29.99 (plus they had a 30% off coupon) while the Disney ones were all 49.99. No real discernible difference in the costumes.
I love Disney, but their prices can be insane.
That is terrifying.
I just was on the computer last night with my mom buying DD's Christmas gift. She's getting tickets to the two Fiddlesticks Shows In Feb and Apr (we are busy their Oct show) by the PIttsburgh Symphony. She will be going with my mom and dad and they are taking her to lunch after the show. So instead of more crap, she gets memorable experiences. She still talks about going to the Pops concert last year. She's getting Nutcracker tickets for her birthday from them too. Between circus, museum memberships, Disney on Ice, etc, there's never a reason for people to buy toys
Edit: Fiddlesticks tickets are either $12 or $22 depending on location. Tix for all 3 shows (oct, feb, apr) are $58 or $28
When I was in kindergarten, my grandma took me to the Nutcracker for Christmas. We rode the bus into town and after went for hot chocolate. I still remember this 30+ years later.
I wish my nephew lived closer, I would love to do stuff like this for his birthday/Christmas.
At least you don't have a birthday to go through first!
Speaking of shows - we loved the children's theater shows when Caileigh was 4-5. Depending on what the shows are they are alot of fun. One hour either at local high schools or byham downtown (we did downtown for the experience). If you Buy a Mouse a Cookie is the first one
http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/pct_home/subscriptions/20122013-citizens-bank-family-series
Also - the circus comes every year first weekend of November - fun times for the kids.
Lastly - speaking of animal trains I was going to suggest the one Caileigh got that all the kids loved (Eamon now too) but when I looked up the amazon listing it sells for $120! WTF?!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000EULXA2/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all
How time flies! Caileigh (9), Keira (6) & Eamon (3)
Well, they charge it b/c Grandmas/Grandpas will buy them!
Emmy - we have the same carry case for LeapPad - Gavin loves it!
I think Gavin is going to get LeapPad games, something relating to drawing, and maybe a science kit will be under the tree for him this year. Conall - no clue.
I would like to do the tickets/show thing from the Grandparents - I love taking the boys to shows, but it is getting more pricey with two kids now. I'm going to keep my ears open for some Jan/Feb shows, I think.
I just can't justify memberships to museums right now because of working f/t and being so busy on weekends as it is!
My three sons!
It doesn't get easier as they get older...I don't know what Noah will put on his list this year. He has a Kindle Fire, so I'm going to suggest Amazon giftcards to others, but I have no idea what Santa will bring for him. Of course every tv thing he sees he wants like those stupid cuddleupits! The good thing for us is that Noah and Brody are so different so there is always something new for Brody because we didn't have many cars/trucks because Noah was more in to animals and books.
Noah also gets Highlights magazine, which is something he enjoys and looks forward to getting in the mail each month. The pre-school version is High Five.
That's a great idea to share! Gavin gets ZooBooks and really loves it.
My three sons!
Oooh, that is a good one. I remember getting Ranger Rick as a gift subscription from my grandma and I loved it. When I got older (and obviously much cooler) she switched me to a Readers Digest subscription at my request.
Oh yeah, Jake has been getting a subscription to "my big backyard" for 2 years, he really likes it. He's just now starting to not be as into it, so I snatched up a groupon a few weeks ago for the Disney Jr. magazine, so that will be part of his Christmas.
And Sheila--I feel your birthday woes, too....Jake's is 1/15, so we don't have too much breathing room between gift giving events. The list I send the grandparents is for both his bday & Christmas.
Jake - 1.15.08
Liam - 5.17.11
And EJ is December 1.