I decided to share this list as I created one two years ago and it remains a highly searched post. Apparently people don’t know what to get boys. I always have the opposite problem and google “what to get x-year-old girl” when I’m shopping for the Munchkin or the boys’ female friends. As such, feel free to add your ideas in the comments of this post.

1. LeapFrog Leapster Explorer. Much to my dismay, I did not win one of these on the 86 billion blog contests I entered this summer when the new Leapster-like hand-held was released. I was hoping to win, knowing that I would save it for his birthday. I eventually bought it and I’m hopeful it will be a big hit. I know he’ll love the Toy Story game, and figure he’ll also enjoy the Star Wars one as well. He has absolutely loved his Leapster, and as this is supposed to be a bit more advanced, I’m hoping it takes him to the next level of fun-based learning.

2. Iron Man Action Figure. This is the only thing the kid asked for this year. Thank you, preschool! No, he hasn’t seen the movie. Nor will he. Anytime soon. But action figures are action figures. I figure Iron Man will be hanging out with Buzz, Woody, and a group of dinosaurs in the backseat of a big dump truck in the very near future. I hope the batteries on this particular action figure die quickly. I wonder how many times I’ll hear “I am Iron Man!” before I start to twitch.

3. Where’s Waldo?: The Complete Collection. Oh yeah. You may have caught his Waldo Halloween costume. He’s big into Waldo, both from the books we constantly borrow from the library and the computer game. I know that owning all of the books will be a big hit. I’m actually way excited about this present myself.

4. Jumpstart 3D Preschool & Kindergarten for PC. He’s big, big, big into the computer right now. I’ve been trying to find fun, educational games for him to play on a regular basis. We’ll give this one a whirl. He already plays Jumpstart online, so he’ll be familiar with the “characters.”

5. Toy Story Yahtzee Jr. We have a “Disney” Yahtzee Jr., but — and I’ll be honest — my kids don’t really know who Mickey Mouse is. I know. I’m a bad mom. Plus, it was a used version and we’re missing some of the stickers on the dice. So, I thought we’d update with something they like to make playing a bit more fun. As an aside, I had never played Yahtzee, Junior or otherwise, until this year.

6. Bolt. Okay, maybe he also asked for this movie… last year. But it wasn’t until after his birthday and Christmas. And I kind of forgot. And remembered when I was trying to pick a movie for this year. He loves Bolt. I am 100% sure this movie will annoy the heck out of me as both he and his brother will then pretend to be dogs for weeks on end. But it’s okay. I think. Anyway, we go with the three-disc combo pack when we buy any movies nowadays.

7. Melissa & Doug Space Voyage 48-piece Puzzle – The kid loves puzzles. I love Melissa & Doug puzzles because they’re sturdy, the pieces fit together well and they’re colorful. He loves space, so this was an obvious winner.

We also got him a pair of Buzz Lightyear jammies in a size that makes my mommy heart weep. And a Steelers hat in youth size as he hasn’t been able to wear “toddler/preschool” sized hats since he was two.

We outsourced some other ideas to querying grandparents. How to Train Your Dragon, Toy Story Duplo Train Set and the Trouble Board Game (which, by the way, I just saw that they have a Star Wars Trouble game — GASP!).

Oh, and we obviously got both of the boys Toy Story 3, but they don’t get it until their party on Saturday. Because we’re mean, mean parents. (But mainly it is a gift for both of them, not just BigBrother or LittleBrother. So party gift it is.)

I can’t guarantee that all of these gifts will be a hit with BigBrother. I can guarantee that LittleBrother will attempt to paw all over these gifts before BigBrother has a chance to and there will be minor drama. I will give an update early in December as to how these gifts went over, if there were any evident losers and tell you what we’re doing for Christmas presents this year.

Hits with BigBrother

Other than his bed, BigBrother is digging his Dinoco Helicopter from the movie Cars. It was the only thing that he asked for this year: a blue helicopter. He was enthralled with it on Christmas morning. It had to travel with us on Christmas Day. It went with him to visit Papau and Yia Yia this weekend and rode with him, in his seat, on his way back home. It is rather noisy, I admit, but it also makes me smile. (Recommended for ages 4-8 due to small pieces.)

Second in the love line is the Fisher-Price Little People Fire Truck Ball Pit (that I mentioned in one of our fire fighter themed gift guides). In fact, this is greatly loved by both boys. I will admit that the 25 balls that come with the ball pit are not enough to cover your foot and, as such, you need to get more balls. We have 100 more in there now and it seems to be enough (though I could probably fit another 100 in there just fine). BigBrother loves this fire truck. He likes driving and pretending that Fire Pup is sitting next to him (as he is painted on one window). LittleBrother loves climbing in and out. This was a dual hit.

Hits with LittleBrother

As you can see in this picture, LittleBrother loves his Vtech Sit to Stand Alphabet Train. I’m really liking it as well even if it doesn’t have volume control. (I really like when toys offer two options for volume. It’s my sanity switch.) All the same, he likes putting the letter blocks into the engine and watching them shoot into the caboose. I think that in itself is doing wonders for his manual dexterity because he also, probably the day after Christmas, was able to put money into his piggy bank. Yay for toys that aid in development! BigBrother also likes this toy and has been telling LittleBrother all about the letters. A bit above him, yes, but right now sitting, riding, pushing and playing with blocks are acceptable as well. (Recommended for ages 12 months – 3 years.)

He also likes his Playskool Wheel Pals Triple Track Tower (that’s a mouthful). This was a gift from someone and, I must say, a good one. LittleBrother will play with it without sound, just simply enjoying sending the cars flying with a press of a button. BigBrother insists on sound. I’ve had to help LittleBrother learn how to place the cars but he even enjoys when they tumble down sideways. He’s rather easy to please. (Recommended for 12 months – 3 years.)

Hits with FireDad

I’m sure that his answer will eventually be his laptop. But it’s being sent off for return and repair due to a backlighting issue (or lack thereof). So, right now? Call of Duty: World at War for Wii (with the shot gun thing) is his favorite. (A small note: no, he doesn’t play it when children are awake in the house.) I would like to brag a second about this gift. Three days before Christmas, he was talking about it. He hadn’t mentioned it before but he was suddenly raving over it and how someone at work said it was awesome. As he is telling me all of this, I logged into Amazon, put it in my cart (along with the gun thing), used a gift certificate, used my free Prime shipping and smiled and nodded at him the whole time. I’m rather sneaky.

Hits with FireMom

I’ll be honest. I’m pretty easy when it comes to gifts. But my favorite gift this year? (And I got some really nice things, folks.) It’s a laundry basket. With reinforced handles. No, I’m serious. Not only do I now have enough baskets for my laundering needs but this one is now my haul-up-and-down-the-steps-to-the-laundry-room basket. You know, since it has reinforced handles and isn’t all broken and, therefore, doesn’t fold in half when I try to pick it up and hold it against my hip. The lack of folding in half, of course, allows the clothes to stay in all the way up the steps. It’s a miracle!

There were many, many other toys and books and articles of clothing and games and so on. In fact, we’re going to have to make a new rule about presents and birthday/Christmas season for next year. But more on that tomorrow.

I actually grabbed this Little People Fire Truck Ball Pit the night before Thanksgiving in another site’s sale. I sat there with it in my cart for awhile before deciding that, yes, I was just going to buy it. What’s not to love? It’s a fire truck! And a ball pit! It’s a double win! I can’t wait to see TheBrothers’ faces when they see it on Christmas morning. And, yes, I’ll be honest. I just want to sit in it. It’s true.

This fire house play tent is a good way to create a fire house atmosphere in any room. Also? I always wanted a play tent but I never had one. All the same, imagine your kids riding their fire truck ride-on(s) in and out of this tent on a cold winter’s day. It gives them the ability to think they’re outside playing (see the fake bushes?) and fosters imagination. That’s good!

And if you have more money than me, well, you can go the route of a Five Alarm Firehouse Playhouse. No, the Fire Family does not own this piece and, looking at the price, we will likely never own something on this level. (Though I’m pretty sure I can talk my Dad into making something eventually.) But really? Go look at that thing. It’s got a loft. And a pole to slide down. And the big barn doors! And! And! Okay, I’ll be honest. I want it just for myself. Not the kids. I want to go sit out there and read a book. And slide down the pole. Kind of. My guess is, again, looking at the cost is that many a firefighter’s kid won’t be playing in that particular house. All the same, maybe you have some rich relatives who are asking what Tommy and Janey want for Christmas. Start big. Go with this one. (Or? The even more expensive Olde Firehouse. Eep.)

I’ve really enjoyed bringing you a wide range of firefighter related gift ideas all week. I hope that you have found some ideas for your firefighter or fire truck lover. Happy Holidays from the Fire family!

For the youngest set, there are some great board books available with a firefighing theme. Fire Truck by Peter Sis is a great little book. The little boy imagines that he is the fire truck which made me smile as he shares a first name with my brother who wanted to be a fire truck when he grew up. Touch and Feel: Fire Engine is like any of the other Touch & Feel books. It’s simple, leaves room for other conversation and provides texture for the child to explore. While we own the previous two books, we do not own My Big Rescue Book though we do own another in the My Big Board Book series. If it’s like the other books, it will provide lots of new words for your little one to learn, lots of real-life pictures and hours of exploration.

For those children who can handle paper pages, the following books that we own are big favorites with BigBrother. Big Frank’s Fire Truck by Leslie McGuire has been a long time favorite, actually. The book tells the story of Big Frank from when he shows up for his shift at the fire department and takes readers through his busy day. In includes checking trucks, meals, naps (ahem, FireDad), an accident to which they respond and, of course, a big fire. At the end of the book, Big Frank goes home to his kids the next morning. BigBrother just loved that part. Flashing Fire Engines by Tony Mitton is a recent addition to our fire truck library. (We’re probably going to get the rest of his books as well.) It’s a quick read which makes it perfect for the ten thousand readings we’ve been through in the past month.

Perfect for Christmas (but one that we don’t own yet because I forget about it every year until after I’ve chosen our Christmas Eve book) is Firefighter’s Night Before Christmas by Kimbra Cutlip. Part of the Night Before Christmas series, it apparently chronicles Santa’s arrival at the fire house and a fire at a furniture store. I really need to remember to buy this for next Christmas Eve!

As for movies for the younger set: Elmo Visits the Firehouse might drive you insane if you can’t stand Elmo’s voice but the kids seem to love it. (Yes, we own it. Of course we do.) And Fire Monsters, while it may sound scary, is a great addition to your fire truck video library. It shows kids the training process to be a firefighter. Lots of sirens and a gruff sounding chief but BigBrother loves when I borrow it from the library (I should really buy it, no?).

And now, books and movies for the adult crowd.

If the firefighter for whom you are purchasing a gift is like the one living under this roof, chances are they might be a history dork buff. While Fires And Fire-Fighters; A History Of Modern Fire-Fighting With A Review Of Its Development From Earliest Times sounds a little bit dry to me, my guess is that a history-buff-slash-firefighter would find it very interesting. The description says that the book actually includes early books which are no longer in print and, as such hard to find, in one, modern book. Very cool, if you ask me. (But I’m also a dork.) Firefighters: Their Lives in Their Own Words by Dennis Smith sounds like a positive but realistic book about fire life from the mouths of those living that life. (In fact, now I want this book.)

For those of you who are purchasing a gift for a Christian firefighter, grab up a copy of The Firefighter’s Bible. I got this for FireDad two Christmases ago. It’s a beautiful, leather-bound edition with the Maltese Cross stamped in gold on the front. It’s very nice.

As far as movies go, there are, of course, the classics. Backdraft is one that is watched in our house about once a season. (Though we don’t own the 2-disc anniversary edition!) (Also? Just writing this makes me want to go watch it.) If you haven’t yet seen Ladder 49, you also need to add it to your fire movie library. Though, once again, have your tissues ready. I swear. Someone needs to make a happy firefighter movie. Seriously.

Also? If your firefighter is a fan of Backdraft, consider grabbing the audio CD so they can play the music and feel like a hero even when walking around the house. Right? Win. (And, yes, we own it. I swear. What? It’s good music!)

All this week Stop, Drop & Blog will be bringing you gift ideas for the firefighters or fire truck loving children in your lives! And while I said today would be our last day, I have an extra special surprise for tomorrow. Be sure to tune in!

If the firefighter in your life is like mine, it is likely that they get an early start on their shift day. If you live in a climate like ours, that means it could be pretty chilly outside at that time. Get a hat to keep that head warm! Always losing the keys or can’t see to unlock the door when coming home late at night after a long fire? Get a keychain that lights up! And a tie would be a nice way to keep a male firefighter feeling macho when you throw him in a suit.

If your firefighter doesn’t have any collectibles, I would suggest starting a tradition this year. We have quite a few in the Fire House but, I’ll be honest, they’re put away right now. (You have seen pictures of TheBrothers, right?) We have quite a few of the Vanmark Red Hats of Courage line. Some of my newest favorites are Unseen Guardian and Hero X (which isn’t available until January 09 but, wow, it’s nice). And? I just saw for the first time ever while writing this post the Vanmark Firefighter Chess Set. Wow. That’s amazing, no? I’d like two. Or something.

Something else that I came across for the first time while researching for this post was the Firefighters Express Electric Train Collection. My jaw kind of hit the floor. While you may think BigBrother is the biggest train lover in our house, FireDad has a secret love of all things train. And this train? Is gorgeous! Seriously. I’m drooling. Do you own this? Is it as nice as the picture makes it look? Because wow.

You also can’t go wrong with tshirts. There are some nice, safe ones that simply say firefighter. Then there’s a new site that I just found that has unique shirts for men and women.

There are also some books and movies that the firefighter set might like but I’ll be discussing those tomorrow! And don’t forget to grab an ornament to mark the year!

All this week Stop, Drop & Blog will be bringing you gift ideas for the firefighters or fire truck loving children in your lives! Tomorrow is our last day and I’ll be highlighting books and movies for all ages of fire fighting enthusiasts.

I’ll start off first with two little playsets for your youngest wannabe firefighters. They’re both made by Gund (and we have one of them). The first is “My Heroes” Fireman set that comes with a fire house carrying case, fireman, dalmatian and a water bucket. The little carrying case even has a little road in it. It’s adorable. The other is almost the same but is a Fire Truck playset. The top of the fire truck unzips to reveal a fireman, dalmatian (which barks) and fire hydrant (which squeaks). LittleBrother enjoys putting things (anything!) into and taking things out of the fire truck. They are soft, durable and, win, washable!

If you’re very into wooden toys for your children, the options are endless for you right now when it comes to fire houses and playsets. There’s the KidKraft Fire Station which is brightly colored. I must say that I enjoy the black and white checkered floor on the upper level of this fire house! It was also an award winner in 2005. To boot, this one is set on a swiveling base so it turns 360 degrees. No getting up to walk around the table just to get to the other side! This one from FAO Schwartz is big! It stands 14 inches tall and is 26 inches wide! WOW! I love the little bunk beds in the sleeping quarters of the fire house. It is, of course, rather pricey but pretty darn nice. Surprisingly less pricey and less detailed but just as fun (because it is a fire house) is the one offered by Pottery Barn. As I said, because I saw it in person, it does have less detailing and, unlike the other two, the fire trucks and firefighters are sold separately. (The two previous ones included fire trucks, firefighters and other accessories.) But if you have to go Pottery Barn, it’s an option. This one from Small World toys isn’t too shabby either, featuring more bright coloring (not all red). It, unlike the Pottery Barn, also includes many accessories. Because they’re smart.

For kids a bit older and still in love with fire fighting, this playset is too awesome. I’m infatuated with it. It starts out as a fire truck and then unfolds into a whole playset. It’s a like a transformer but cooler! I can’t tell if it “holds” regular Hot Wheels sized trucks and cars or if they would be Matchbox car size. (Anyone know?) Too fun! Just fold it up and go!

I could really go on for hours. Mainly because I sit and look at these for hours. When they arrive in catalogs, I sit and drool and imagine and play with them in my head. We’re waiting one more year to buy one of these sets (meaning, the non-baby ones) as I worry that LittleBrother will swallow a chair or something. But you can bet that one of these will be on our Christmas list next year.

All this week Stop, Drop & Blog will be bringing you gift ideas for the firefighters or fire truck loving children in your lives! Tomorrow I’ll be highlighting some gifts for the adult firefighters on your shopping list since I’ve just spent two days focused on toys!

This Fisher-Price Little People Fire Truck Ride-On is probably a good one to start with as the ages fall in that 1-3 year old range. No sharp edges, pedals or gas pedals to worry about, this is a great way to get your future firefighter off and riding. The handle in the back can serve a few purposes: you can push your child around the room, your child’s siblings can push him far too fast for your liking or your little one can stand up and push it into your dining room table leg, over and over. Warning: apparently there are buttons and lights and, as such, sound. I have not played with this particular ride-on but if it is anything like our first fire truck ride-on, be prepared to hear sirens over and over. And over! For my anti-plastic, no-noise-toys readers, go with this wooden ride-on for your future firefighter’s introduction to fire trucks! How cute is that thing?!

Next we have the Little Tikes Ride & Rescue Cozy Coupe. It’s been a real winner in our house since BigBrother turned one. LittleBrother started playing with it around ten months of age and hasn’t stopped. He’s always climbing in and out, pressing the siren button (it’s not too loud) and peeling off the stickers. Yes, I can say that about this one first-hand. The stickers do peel off, they will eventually wear out and Little Tikes doesn’t make replacement stickers. Bummer.

If you want to go with a more classic ride-on (and classic seems to mean metal), the options are endless. I like this Metal Speedster Fire Truck Ride-On because of the bell, the little ladders attached to the back and the words “Hook and Ladder” on the front. It’s similar, but smaller than, one that we own. This American Retro Pedal Fire Truck obviously has pedals and is for your next age group up but, oh, it’s so very handsome, no? I love the chrome look, the white detailing, those ladders and the fact that you could totally throw another kid on the back of this truck.

For the go-on-your-own crowd there are a few options as well. The Power Wheels Toddler Fire Truck is smaller than some, meant to be your child’s introduction to Power Wheels with easy, push-button stop and start. It really seems like a great go-on-your-own ride-on to start with considering both the price and size of the next step up… and the fact that it has been recalled. (Therefore Stop, Drop & Blog does not suggest purchasing the item. And a reminder: always check recall lists for any toy you are giving your child!)

There are plenty of other fire truck ride-ons on the market right now. I can honestly think of three more right off the top of my head simply because I’ve had to stop and play with them in the store because I also, like TheBrothers and FireDad, have this attraction to bright red and shiny fire trucks. What can I say? I was meant for this life!

All this week Stop, Drop & Blog will be bringing you gift ideas for the firefighters or fire truck loving children in your lives! Tomorrow I’ll be bringing you firefighter related toys that are safe for the youngest set of future firefighters. Tune in!

First and foremost, we always buy the annual ornament from Robert’s Fire Catalog. We have 2004 onwards. (Of note, you can buy some of the older ones on their site if you missed a year or two!) In fact, if you’re not familiar with Robert’s Fire Catalog, you should be. It’s a great one-stop-shop for all of your firefighter gifting needs and will be featured a few times throughout this week! (Another note: I am not showing you the picture of the 2008 Ornament so that FireDad doesn’t see it before Christmas morning!)

This ornament can be found on quite a few sites this year. The blown glass fire truck ornament is absolutely gorgeous. And, being glass, breakable. Keep that in mind when purchasing. We do have a few glass ornaments on our tree (such as a few of these blown ornaments and the above annual ornaments) but they are safely wire wrapped to the tree. Or so we hope! (All pictures can be found below.)

For the kid in you or living in your home go with a fire truck ride-on ornament. We have a ride-on in our house that is quite smilar to this ornament! This one is actually made by Hallmark and, as such, I should stop and say a few things about Hallmark. They have a fire truck ornament every year. We only have one as they are always sold out by the time I get to our local Hallmark to make my purchase. As Hallmark doesn’t have a main site that lets you order their offerings, I’m frequently just out of luck. They are, however, gorgeous ornaments. Get thee to a Hallmark, yesterday, and see if you can grab this year’s ornament. (It’s awesome looking!) (Of note: You can also google to find past Hallmark fire truck ornaments, like this ride-on from individual Hallmark stores. And always check ebay!) (One more note! They’re not glass! WOO!)

There are a billion and one firefighter snowmen ornaments on the market. We have three on our tree. This is a cute on that I just found. They can be found in all kinds of dress as well. As an example, one of ours is dressed in a yellow coat, one is dressed in a black coat and one is dressed in all red. You can, no doubt, find a snowman firefighter ornament that matches your firefighter’s turnout gear!

And, of course, there are an outrageous number of ornaments featuring Santa as a firefighter. I would like to point out, however, that Santa Claus, with his big belly, wouldn’t likely pass the physical agility test. Just saying. All the same, we have a blown glass Santa on our tree that looks similar to either of these except that he is dressed in red. You can find him with a hose, with a dog or climbing a ladder. In the non-glass variety, there are even more options like the Santa in this collection. All the same, these are actually some of my favorite firefighter ornaments. Something about the magic of Santa and the magic of firefighting really pulls it together for me!

Whether you’re purchasing a firefighter ornament for an adult firefighter or a child who just loves the noise and bright-shininess of a fire truck, there are many more options available to you this year. I suggest you browse the internet or actually get out and look at the stores around you. Don’t skip over those kiosks in the mall as I’ve found quite a few great firefighter related ornaments there and, to boot, they often have the option for personalization!

All this week Stop, Drop & Blog will be bringing you gift ideas for the firefighters or fire truck loving children in your lives! Tomorrow I’ll be hitting on fire truck ride-ons for your wanna-be firefighters! Be sure to tune in!