What Makes a Family Present Great?

One of the best family presents we’ve gotten recently has been a trampoline.  Truth be told, when we decided to move forward and get a trampoline – I really looked at it as a gift for the children.  Something they would love combined with a great physical activity. Win. Win.

What I didn’t anticipate was how much fun it would be for the whole family!  Our family consists of a 4, 6 & 14 year old and all 3 loved the new addition to our back yard!   And while the lil’s all enjoy trampoline time… I’ve found that mama loves it too.  Sometimes I’ll just sneak out without the lil’s catching me and I’ll jump until I’m breathless.

I also didn’t anticipate how much the lil’s would want to jump together as a family, and how much fun it would be to jump with them – talk about heart prints.

 

I asked friends to Share their Favorite Family Present EVER !

Fitness & Fun

I  discovered – I’m not alone in LOVING the trampoline!

Kadi Cobb Prescott mom of 7 (yes 7!!!)  said they bought a giant trampoline. “Our kids got it from Santa five years ago and still use it all the time!”

Gena Martinez Morris from the Morris Bunch said “My dad got our family a trampoline a couple years ago. It was the best gift ever and the reason my 3 year old daughter hops everywhere she goes!”

Amy Benton Bradley from Freaky Perfect even  bought a mini tramp  for my son’s Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). It helps calm him down when he gets worked up. But we ALL love it!

Memberships

Kate Canterbury from The Guavalicious Life got her family a membership to the zoo for her daughters’ first Christmas. “We used it almost every week. Not only did it help create some wonderful family memories, it also motivated me to get out of the house since we could just duck in for an hour or so whenever we wanted. Plus it wasn’t another toy that cluttered up the house when the girls got tired of it”.

Travel

Katja Presnal of Skimbaco Lifestyle took her immediate and extended family on Ski trip to Park City Mountain Resort for Christmas with extended family was the best family gift we ever got!

Three years ago  Maricris Guadagna from Zensible Mama bought her family a Plane ticket to visit family in the Philippines.  “It was the first time for my daughter and hubby to meet the rest of my family. It was one of the most expensive purchase but totally worth it.”

Resourceful Mommy, Amy Lupold Bair surprised her family with a getaway to Disney World! “I didn’t even tell my husband when I booked it!”  Lisa Douglas from Crazy Adventures in Parenting also took a surprise Disney trip last Christmas. Andrea Peskind Katz of Great Thoughts  also planned a surprise family trip to Disneyworld.  They gave kids wrapped Minnie Mouse shirts with a poem telling them we were going. “Screaming ensued! Awesome!”  It sounds like Disney and surprises go hand in hand!

Quality time together and memories that will last a lifetime.

Handcrafts & Creativity

Kelly Kinkaid from Kellyology said “My Grandmother-in-law makes hand crafted quilts for every baby born and for every new family member added by marriage. It’s a fantastic tradition, and each quilt some how represents perfectly each person it is made for.

Lolli Franklin from Better In Bulk has embraced her craftiness, “One year I made fleece blankets for each of my kids. I purchased the fabric (personalized for each… child) and cut and tied the blankets all in secret. I would wait til the kids were in bed before pulling everything out each night. I was an awesome surprise and I loved that I not only made them something personal, but that their big gift from me was not a toy. That was 5 years ago, and all 5 of my kids still use their blankets.

Rajean Campbell Blomquist was creative in announcing baby news and making a treasured gift, “Right after I was married we found christmas ornament frames and I put the ultrasound to our baby girl inside for my parents, his mother, our two oldest daughters. We hadn’t announced yet that they’d be grandparents again and big sisters. It was really sweet & surprising.”

All in all it seems the best family present is one that encourages family time together and naturally the lasting memories follow.

Love Letter to the FTC – I was sent a trampoline to review by Jumpsport – writing this post was not a part of the agreed upon review – although having the trampoline was the inspiration behind it.

So… Travel, Something homemade or will your family bounce into the new year on a Trampoline?  As you get ready for this season of giving are you considering a family present…?