Y’all are SO impressive with how early you start planning for Christmas!! I have to admit that I am early with getting my decor up (mid-November) but really don’t start shopping or planning anything else until after Thanksgiving.
I have been meaning to share three of our very favorite toys and thought that since so many of y’all are already on the hunt for the perfect gifts that it wouldn’t be too early.
First is Nerf Lazer Tag. This is a set of two laser tag guns that register hits with lights, sounds and vibrations. They have a great range (we have used at 200 ft), a good battery life, and have held up perfectly over the nine months that we’ve had them. It seems pricey at $63 for the set, but those of you that have shopped Nerf guns will know that it is no more expensive than the deluxe dart shooting Nerf guns. We started out with a set of 2 and then Honey quickly spent some of his Fantasy Football earnings on a second set so that all four of us could play – it’s that much fun! You can easily adjust the settings to play individually or on two teams and there is a setting that selects how many times you can be hit before you are out of the game to make it fair for all skill levels.
Why we love it? There are no bullets to lose all over your house and yard, and no bullets are whizzing around your house and past your head. They are fun for the whole family!
The second is Anki Overdrive. This modern day slot car type kit uses a mobile device to drive real robotic cars! The starter kit ($150) lets you easily build up to 8 courses and includes two cars and a charger. The littles pooled Christmas money, birthday money AND report card money last January to purchase the kit and a few accessories. Seven months later, and with hours worth of play time logged, the game is still in perfect condition.
Why we love it? It’s SO easy to set up and is super portable. It’s been moved from the pool table to the den floor to the boys’ bedroom countless times. It’s a classic toy (I spent many hours playing with bestie B’s slot cars as a kid) with a modern update!
The last is Ticket to Ride. At around $37 it’s expensive for a board game but 18 months later it is still a regular for game nights and rainy afternoons. This is one I don’t ever see us outgrowing.
Why we love it? Let me count the ways. We love it so much, in fact, that I shared a whole blog post professing this adoration back in 2014.
Without further ado, the winner of my antler gift tag giveaway is Tashaa Annas!! Send me an email to claim your prize :-)
Before I go, I’d love to know YOUR favorite toys, games and gifts (especially for boys ages 8 and up!). We have birthdays AND Christmas all in the span of a month.
xoxo
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I’d love to hear about CeeCee’s and Bird’s favorite toys as well! My niece will be 4 at Christmas and my son will be almost 3. You always have the best ideas! :)
We love playing phase 10 as a family. It’s a card game from the makers of uno. You can buy a deck from target for $6
Amanda, thanks for the reminder about ticket to ride. I am going to get this for my grands this Christmas. I also like the Nerf guns for my grandsons…Of course, Legos are still a big favorite of my grand boys who are about your boys ages. For the Girls, American Girl Dolls have been a draw but my ten year old granddaughter is now into archery since she is all about Rae in Star wars. Would you share your little poem with us again…one thing you want…etc. I meant to write this down and forgot. I will be getting busy with Christmas soon.
Yes!! Something you want, something you need, something to do, and something to read. Hope you’re doing well!
We also have birthdays and Christmas within the span of a month, starting 5 days after Christmas. I love your suggestions – the laser tag sounds so fun! And Ticket to Ride is on our list of faves. I wish I had some suggestions – you’d think I would – but our gifts aren’t usually considered mainstream. ?
Rummikub Large Number Edition. Great for the whole family.
A favorite for our whole family from my parents down to my youngest who is five is the card game Play Nine. It’s a golf based card game that is easy to learn and a lot of fun!!
Amanda, first time commenter but longtime blog reader. Wanted to tell you we got my oldest son Ticket to Ride and the expansion pack 18 months ago when you first blogged about it. We love it. Fun thing we’ve done– we vacation twice a year with extended family and we’ve created an amulet that the winner gets to wear. Took cheapy strand of pearls and every vacation we add something to it– free Lilly bracelet, Christmas ornament, tacky beach souvenir, etc. Fun tradition ALL ages love!!!
Bucket Ball and Spikeball. Both can be bought on Amazon.
We LOVE Ticket to Ride and I will second the vote on that. I’ve given it as a gift more than once!
Thanks so much for your Christmas gift suggestions! I will check them out for my 9 year old
son. He has a November birthday and with Christmas we are always looking for new ideas!
Just wondering what website you used to design the picture with Santa in it.
Thanks and Happy New Year!
An app called catch Santa Claus!