****This is really outdated! I’m hoping to maybe update for this year, but maybe not!****

Oh, I’ve been meaning to get this done for ages now….I’m so very tired of saying to myself “I ought to remember this as a gift idea”…or…”When we get around to buying homeschool stuff again, we should think about this”…and you know what? I never remember. So it is high time I get organized and start writing this stuff down. I explained most things in case the grandparents use this as a wish list, or in case I really forget things that quickly. :) (As always, please be cautious about buying books or videos that are not on this list–you know how persnickety we are about that kind of stuff). I hope to continue to update it (we’ll see how disciplined I am!)

  • *Items from Love to Learn I am unable to link directly to the items, but you can search by item number on the site. She has a flat shipping rate (same shipping price no matter how much you order) of $5.95, so maybe let me know if you order as there might be something I’d like to do at the same time. If there’s one child in particular that I had in mind when I saw it (due to age or interests), I noted that (as of summer ‘06 anyway! I may not get this updated every b-day/xmas). As a forewarning, I am going solely on her descriptions for my ideas. I know no better than you do if she is exaggerating something’s value!
    • Dot to Dot Lacing (03791C5–Numbers; 0186C5–Alphabet) 8.95
    • Cutting Food (01865C5) 16.95 Abram
    • Lauri Perception Puzzles 7.50 each, 26.95 for the set (01202C5–Fish; 01204C5–Butterflies; 01203C5–Cars n Trucks; 01201C5–Kids) Abram
    • Geoboard (09133C5) 3.95 and optional instruction booklet: Geoboard for Little Kids (09321C5) 12.95
    • Sum Swamp (08759C5) 12.95 Will
    • Clock-o-Dial (01738C5) 16.95 Will
    • Set–The Game of Visual Perception (06814C5) 11.95 Liam or Will
    • U.S.A. Wodden Puzzle (06031C5) 14.95 Will
    • Great States, Jr. (02801C5) Liam or Will
    • Some Body 19.50 (01114C5) Will
    • Magnetic Magic (01234C5) 12.95 Liam or Will
    • Old Fashioned Wooden Toys (01506C5–set of 2 “Ball in Cup”; 01507C5–set of 2 “Cork Guns”) 4.95
    • Parachute Sky Diver (02625C5) 4.95
    • Butterfly Garden (10036B5) Will or Liam
    • Handcuffs (06816B5)
    • Sea Monkeys Ocean Zoo (09270B5) Will or Liam
    • Hopping Ball (09285B5)
    • Glockenspiel (01605B5) or Xylophone (09566B5) Josiah/Abram
    • Preschooler’s Color Game (10185B5) Abram
  • G.A. Henty Books
    This is a link to an Amazon search for books by G.A. Henty. Many of the homeschooling resources that we trust can’t say enough about his books and their mix of history and adventure. I read a lot of “chapter books” aloud to the boys, and I have no idea if they would be ready for the Henty books or not, but we would like to start collecting them regardless. There are MANY of them, and we don’t have any particular ones in mind yet.
  • Grand Canyon: A Different View
    We are always on the lookout for good creation-science books. Some of the info may be over the boys’ heads, but Mark and I would enjoy the information while the boys enjoy the pictures. :)
  • Creatures that Defy Evolution DVDs
    Three DVDS in the set, designed as a way to introduce creation science to children.
  • Exploring Creation with Astronomy
    Mark likes to take the boys outside with star maps he finds online, but of course it is difficult to find info that isn’t steeped in evolution. This is hopefully a more creation-oriented book.
  • Backyard Scientist Books
  • Moody Science Classics DVDs
  • Puzzles
    We have quite a few wooden peg puzzles (the ones with cut-out shapes designed for toddlers), and probably don’t need many more! But after that level, the boys will always enjoy more puzzles. Will is capable of 100 piece puzzles on his own (though beware…it is difficult to find 100 piece puzzles that aren’t girlish looking!) We’ve also worked on a 500 piece puzzle together, though 250 might be a better number for him to work on with an adult.
  • Magnetix
    You can find these in Wal-mart. I’m sure there are other brands, but I’m not for sure how compatible they are with each other, and we currently have some of the Rose Art Magnetix.
  • Legos
    We love legos! Will has a set that comes with instructions to build robots, and he really enjoys that. He would enjoy other sets too (but please stay away from from the Lego “Bionicle” sets), but I think it also might be nice to have just a bucket of legos that we would be more free to let Liam and maybe Abram play with too (as opposed to a set designed to build something in particular since we have to be more careful about losing those pieces). He also has enjoyed the K’Nex sets.
  • Farm or Construction Equipment
    I’m not sure if I really want my living room to look even more like an implement than it does now, but the boys are all for it. ;) Some of our tractors are showing their wear and losing tires and so forth (especially the larger ones–1/16 maybe?). The four-wheeler is now a three-wheeler! And of course there are constant squabbles.
  • Drum Set
    I think ours has officially bit the dust. :)
  • Swords, shields, bows, arrows, guns, and other typical boyhood toys :) (Just keep in mind we don’t want them actually hurting each other!)
  • Lincoln Logs
  • Clothing for the boys
    Kate CDS:

Somewhere, in the dark recesses of my mind, there are other more practical things that I need/want besides CDs. But, it’s escaped me for now.

Also, basic wood kitchen chairs or Samsonite folding chairs (neither of which need to match with what we have now)

Mark has a couple of wishlists on Amazon:
* Top 10
* Music
* General