What we are buying for Christmas! Our Family Gift Guide 2018

Holy smokes, we are in December! That not only means the year has officially flown by in record time, but also means we are officially in gift guide season! You Freebs have asked for a 2018 gift guide, and who can say no to your cute little faces! Thus, I'm back to share what we are buying for Christmas this year, and how we are giving amazing gifts that are still easy on our budget. (I'm also throwing in some additional gift ideas for you while I'm at it!)

*Note: When you click the links in this post, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

As explained last year, we buy pretty much all of our family gifts at Walmart. Lucky for us all, they asked if I would share our finds with you and partnered with me on this post! (Um, hi. Yes. Yes please 100x. I mean, I talk about you all the time anyway…) I'm REALLY excited about our gift guide this year, because we are taking a different approach with our kids' gifts. Ready to see what we did?

Now introducing…

Page Family Gift Guide 2018

Here's what we did:

TOYPOCOLYPSE:

This summer our basement went through the Toypocolypse, if you remember from Instagram. One day, after coming into our basement play room to the biggest disastrous mess you've ever seen in your life (yet again) I declared that I had had ENOUGH. Toys were disregarded, broken, and strewn EVERYWHERE! As a result, we bagged up and donated about 2/3 of our toys and haven't bought any more since. As a result, our kids have played outside more, used their imaginations more, and it has given us room for a few special toys that our kids really adore.

For Christmas this year we decided to be more mindful about our toys. In years' past, we stick to a really strict budget, and try to get as many toys as we can for that amount. This year we decided to up our budget, and choose just one big “main” gift for each child, and for that gift to be something that would keep them active/moving, learning, or something that they could do with the family. Then, Santa brings them one medium to small gift. I can already imagine the great memories that will be made with these gifts this year, and feel confident that none of them are going to end up in a giveaway pile in a few months!

Here's what we bought:

Daivy (4):

Recently, Daviy has been telling us that she's ready to ride her very own bike (cue the waterworks! I seriously can't believe how fast she is growing up!).  Currently, she is riding her big sister's yard sale hand-me-down. Since cute little Daivy is all about princesses these days, we decided to get her the Disney Frozen 12″ Girls' EZ Build Bike with Sleigh Doll Carrier, by Huffy.  Aside from having one of her favorite princesses on it, the bike is also easy to assemble, includes a doll carrier for Daivy's dolls, and has removable training wheels.  We can't wait to see her face when she sees it on Christmas morning. I mean, the tassels and doll seat??? I'm dead. So darn cute.

On her Christmas list for Grandmas, Grandpas, cousins, and Santa of course, we also added this portable Disney Bluetooth MP3 Karaoke player.  This girl loves to sing anywhere, and would absolutely go bonkers over it!

ADDITIONALLY…

Daivy's birthday was the day after Thanksgiving. For years we have given Calico Critter sets to Priya for years. So when we saw this adorable Calico Critter Luxury Townhome Gift Set at Walmart for such a good price, we just HAD to get it for Daivy for her birthday so she can play with her sister!

I'm obsessed with Calico Critters. Bubba's mom STILL has the set they played with as kids, so I know these will be generational toys for Daivy's own kids someday. We keep these toys in a separate closet away from the black hole of the basement, thank goodness. It's safe to say she was surprised and pleased by her gift!

HUTCH (8):

For over a year now (including last Christmas), Hutch has BEGGED us for a Hover Board. We kept telling him no, since it's a higher-priced item. We got him several smaller gifts last year instead, but since the Toypocolypse and focusing on one larger gift that will keep them active and moving, we decided to make his wishes come true. This year he is getting the Hover 1 Superstar Electric Self Balancing Hover Board.  There are lots of places that sell this coveted gift item, but Walmart's price (and ratings!) were great!  Plus, this hover board is completely tricked out with LED lights, Bluetooth speakers, and app connectivity. We also got the Buggy attachment so the younger kids who aren’t old enough to safely balance can ride and enjoy right along with him!

Hutch is seriously going to F-L-I-P O-U-T when he sees this, I can't wait!

Hutch is also really into legos right now, so on his Christmas list for Santa and other family members we put this LEGO City Jungle Explorers Jungle Halftrack Mission set.  It includes 2 mini figures, and 378 pieces.  It's a great price for a lego set with that many pieces, and I love that it would keep his creative juices flowing.

BECK (5):

Sweet little Beck is our helper. Always has been. Whenever Bubba is in his workshop, Beck is right there by his side wanting to help, and be a “worker” like Daddy. A few years ago we got him a toy tool set from a yard sale, that he still plays with to this day. This year, however, we are getting our little handyman his very own Hyper Tough 102-Piece All Purpose Tool Set that comes with its very own fold out case! REAL tools! He is going to pass out from excitement. The case is great, so he can easily see and keep track of everything. Now…let's just hope he doesn't put a hole in my wooden floors or something…

Also on his list, we listed several of Walmart's great selection of board games.  Something Beck really enjoys doing with the family. The prices are great, so might as well pick up a few! Beck is one of the ones who actually plays with the toys we kept, so we also listed this awesome Air Hogs Supernova hovercraft, the Zoom Tubes Car Trax , and these cute little Fingerling dinosaurs. I was really impressed with how many great toy options there were for little boys (the hardest ones to shop for, in my opinion!).

PRIYA (7):

For Priya's big gift this year, we decided to get her a bike as well. She is riding Hutch's hand-me-down boy bike (which was a hand-me-down from a neighbor to begin with!). She's an athletic little chica so we are super excited for her to have the Mongoose 20″ Girl's Byte Bike.

It's sturdy (Bubba test-drove it in the store, ha!), and super cute which is always a plus. I will say though…go bike shopping at Walmart with a buddy. There were so many to choose from, I needed all of Bubba's brain power to help me decide!

On her list we also put what she begs for for every Christmas and birthday…an  “American Girl Doll”. Little does she know that Walmart's doll line called My Life As is not only very similar to the American Girl line, but is SO MUCH MORE affordable! She has two of their dolls already, and my mom is getting her a third for Christmas. Their doll line has so many outfits, accessories, animals, cars, you name it. If your girls are anything like mine, consider the Ice Skater Doll and Loft Bed Set, and Remote Control Jeep, SO STINKING CUTE!

MORY (2.5):

This girl of ours loves to talk and sing just like Daivy does!  So we thought she would love this fun Fancy Nancy microphone that Walmart has.  With it, Mory can sing along to built-in music and use it's AUX jack to plug in to any audio device so she can really jam out.

Aside from that, we still haven't decided what her BIG gift will be this year. Any ideas for us??

ME:

As many of you already know, two of my absolute favorite things are Instant Pot (I use mine almost daily) and The Pioneer Woman (she is my best friend but just doesn't know it yet)…so how could I resist THE MOST ADORABLE Instant Pot in existence?!  Found only at Walmart, it has 12 smart built-in programs, built with the latest 3rd generation microprocessor technology, and has a 3-ply inner pot stainless steel bottom. It also comes in breezy blossom or vintage blossom patterns.

So, yes, I decided to get that for myself this year (thanks Santa!). Couldn't resist! And…let's just say we broke all the rules and busted it out early because I wanted to use it for Thanksgiving. Let's just say it gave my sweet potatoes the special little love they needed ;).

I also got myself a sweatshirt from Ellen Degeneres' new apparel line called EV1.  It's made specifically for Walmart and just launched this week!  We all know I LOVE ME SOME Ellen so I couldn't resist.

I got this cute long-sleeve t-shirt (only $12!),

these high-waist jeans, and these relaxed-fit vintage jeans (only $24!)

And this hoodie that I've basically been LIVING in:

Those prices?? Ellen, my girl, you're totally speaking my language.

BUBBA:

Let's be honest, fun is this man's middle name. Which is why we decided dad needed a cool gift too! He decided an arcade game for our basement would be the perfect Christmas gift for not only him, but for the entire family.  We just about DIED when we saw the Arcade1Up Rampage Machine.  Not only is it ULTRA RETRO which he loves (Hello childhood flashbacks), but because the price is INSANE!! He's also super picky about quality so he loved it's classic upright cabinet design, 4 games in 1 capability, original artwork, and coinless operation system.  So yes, this is Bubba's gift…but lucky for all of us, it'll be the gift that keeps on giving.

Aside from personal gifts, Bubba and I also love doing a family gift that we can all enjoy together.  This year, we decided to get the new Microsoft Xbox One S 1TB Forza Horizon 4 Bundle to replace our other one that we have had for over eight years!  Though we don't typically love using screens a lot at home, our opinion changes fully when it's a game that promotes physical activities like running, dancing and even cheerleading for Priya.  Which is perfect for this time of year when the kids are more cooped up inside.

We decided to gift it to our kids a little early because A) they saved up so much allowance this year, we wanted to reward them, and B) then they can enjoy it the entire holiday season! Their faces were priceless…

So there you go! That's our gift guide this year!

We decided to focus on one main gift per child (plus a smaller/medium Santa gift), and a modest stocking this year. I can't wait to see our kids playing, using their creative, and getting active with these gifts.

Have you started forming your own gift guide or buying Christmas gifts yet?  If so, I would love to know what you got!  But if you haven't started shopping, or still have a few more gifts to get, make sure to check out Walmart for all your gift giving needs.  Aside from having amazing gift options for incredible prices, they also offer FREE 2 day shipping* on any order that is over $35 and offer same day pickup for all eligible items**.  You really can't go wrong with choosing Walmart to help with all your gift guide and giving needs this year!

Happy shopping Freebs!

*Free 2 Day Shipping is for eligible items only. A minimum $35 order is required. Available items ship within 2 business days on orders placed before 2pm, excluding weekends and holidays. Order by 12/20 at 2pm local time to receive by Christmas.

** Order online by 4 pm for free same day Pickup in store on eligible items. Order by 2pm local time on 12/23 for Pickup on Christmas Eve