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Playing in the ball pit never gets old

^{Posted by: WhitneyMWS}

Thanksgiving Week is traditionally a time to give thanks and appreciate the good things in our lives.  Like many families, we have a tradition of going around the table and sharing with everyone what we're thankful for in our lives.   I always get a little teary-eyed (Mommy hormones!) when I talk about how thankful I am for things like my husband, my kids, good friends, our health and happiness.

So along those lines, and being that I run a shopping blog, I thought I'd take a more superficial route with today's blog here on Family.com and talk about the products in my life that I'm thankful for -- basically, some items that make my life easier and some that make my kids happy.

This Mama still loves her iPhone
The first thing that comes to mind is my iPhone.  I sometimes wonder how I went without a phone with email and web access before.  My love for this product hasn't waned since my review of it here on Family.com back in August.  What's so great about it?  I've found it invaluable to be able to do quick email checks when I'm out and about.  If I can answer an email or two in car pick-up line, that's one or two less emails I have to deal with later.  And I use the web access much more than I ever thought I would -- from checking Yahoo's Yellow Pages when I'm out and about for a phone listing, to making reservations on OpenTable.com, having my iPhone tucked away in my diaper bag and always ready to help makes my life easier.  

Who me, vacuum?
The Roomba still simplifies my life - less time for vacuuming and more time to spend with my kids, what could be better?   I've had a Roomba in my house for over a year now and although I still need to vaccum the house manually about once a week (even the Roomba can't get the nooks and crannies in each room that cat hair/crumbs/my hair seems to find), it helps for the in between days.  Lately this is proving to be a saving grace too as I now have a moving toddler who seems to trail crumbs wherever he goes.  We run it at least once a day.

Incidentally, the Roomba is an awesome gift for any Mom out there.  (Hint, hint Dads!)

I spy a very cute 4-year-old
My almost 4-year-old couldn't be more obsessed with the whole hidden pictures thing.  Be it a "Look and Find" book or an "I Spy," these books captivate his interest.  I'm thankful for them because they are teaching him patience, and observation skills, and just providing him with some good-old-fashioned fun.  Plus, I kind of like doing them too!  It's a heck of a lot more fun than Where's Waldo ever was growing up.  Here's an I Spy Christmas book, I already have it on order and it'll be under the tree from Santa.

Thankful for the all ages toy
What is it about ball pits?  And balls in general, it's probably the simplest yet the most-played-with toy for all ages.  This year, we've logged more hours in our Diego Ball Pit than Dr. Phil reruns on tv.  What I love more than anything about this toy is that it's the toy my boys play the most together with.  They love to climb in together and play catch, toss the balls around and just generally laugh together.  Something that again, it's so sweet to watch as my boys get older - it's enough to make a Mommy cry with pride.  But I digress.  The ball pit is a great toy for all ages.    You can find it on Amazon; we bought it at Walmart in-store.  And check out the Dora Ball Pit - great for girls - it has a fun tube that goes down the middle that they can drop the balls down.

Because this sure beats taking it rectally, especially with a squirming toddler
I can't believe I didn't have this for my first son.  I was out at Target one day with a baby who felt like he had a fever.  I had tossed our old thermometer recently so I bought this Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer.  I'm so thankful for this one because it's so easy and my kids don't mind it at all -- a quick scan over the forehead and you have a reading of your child's temp. 

And that's it for a list of what comes to mind when I give thanks to the smart folks who manufactured these products.  And, Happy Thanksgiving!

More Holiday Gift Ideas in the Yule Blog:
Young and school-age kids:
Baby Gifts: T-shirts, Onesies, Bows & Other Clothing for the Top Half
Baby Gifts: Socks, Pants & Other Clothing for the Bottom Half
Dear Santa -- Love, 1-Year-Old Baby Boy
Dear Santa -- Love, 4-Year-Old Boy
Lead-Free Toys for Toddlers
Mama's Predictions for the Hot Toys for Christmas 2007
DVD Stocking Stuffers
Tweens and teens:
TV Shows All the Time: The Zune
Gifts for Too-Cool Tweens and Teenagers
More Christmas 2007 Gift Ideas for Teens and Tweens
Adults:
Budget Fashionista's Best Gifts for Women Under $30
Last-Minute Gifts for Everyone (Aunts, Cousins, Mail Carriers)
This Mom's Favorite Buys of the Year
Dear Santa -- Love, Mommy
Dear Santa -- Love, Daddy
Mom and Dad's Gift to Each Other: Redecorating the Bedroom
Mom's Culinary Wish List
Specialty gifts:
Gifts for Foodies Under $25
Where to Buy Handmade Gifts
Homemade Holiday Gifts
Where to Find Unique, Innovative Gifts
Hanukkah Gift Ideas for All Ages