Actually, a museum/aquarium/something membership is awesome, especially if it is one that partners with other venues in the area. My parents always get my brother a membership to a local museum because it has a reciprocal arrangement with a ton of places in the US, including a great exploratorium in B'ham. They get in free, so J can take the kids whenever. Also, it meant admission to the space center in Huntsville was also free.

I took Casper (and her fambly) to the NEAQ whens he was three, and she liked it a lot. Her mother did not like it so much, as it was extremely crowded and loud; but a three year old is old enough to appreciate a great deal of the material there.

(She especially liked the jellyfish, of which a special exhibit. She was less enthusiastic about sticking her hand in the live-animals petting zoo and touching a starfish.)

Okey dokey! I just got him his very own membership in his name. It comes with a plush shark, a fossil shark tooth, and four guest passes, so my parents, bro, and SIL can take him whenever they want to go for a full year.

But Auntie is totally taking him to see the penguins when she gets home.

That is such a great gift, Allyson. I'm totally doing that!!

My dad sent out an e-mail on Monday saying that he has everything he could possibly want, and can afford to buy anything else that he'll ever want, so he wanted everyone to donate his gift money to charity this year. I'm sending Heifer International some cash since Dad was raised on a small farm--it's a nice tribute to Grandpa, too.

Looks like her claw grew into her paw!

My catsitter trimmed Amarna's claws for her while I was gone last week, and I didn't even ask them to do so (I was thinking about adding it to the note I left them, but forgot). So, now I don't have to take her into the vets for a trim. Yay, sitter!!

That is such a great gift, Allyson.

Especially b/c of the plush shark!

Aquarium tix are a great idea! I love the thought of tix as a family gift. I may have to steal that one from you.

I wish I had somebody here for whom that would be a suitable gift! (It would be PERFECT for my friends with the toddler twins but i'm almost positive they have a membership already.)

My dad sent out an e-mail on Monday saying that he has everything he could possibly want, and can afford to buy anything else that he'll ever want, so he wanted everyone to donate his gift money to charity this year.

I tried to get my mom on board with that last year. I told her to spend what she would on me on toys and drop them off for Toys for Tots. I would love this, but she thinks I must have physical gifts.

Speaking of aquarium-themed toys, I remember giving my then-9-y.o. nephew this manta ray puppet. He loved it! I had gotten it at a huge discount at the book convention that year--the niece got a porcupine from the same vendor.

A couple years ago my sister and I unknowingly "got" each other charity goats. We're definitely on the same page.