I’ve been meaning to share one of my favorite Christmas gifts that we gave to Mary this year. I was starting to think that you’d all be bored with a holiday recap, but this one could really be given at any time of the year. And it was such a success, I had to share. (And if you haven’t read Courtney’s post about her holiday giving this year, it is worth the look.)
Before Christmas, I began asking my children what kinds of things they were hoping to receive under the tree. Time and time again, Mary said things like, "A new refrigerator for you. A drill for Daddy. A broom for the kitchen floor." No matter how much I probed, or shoved catalogs in her face, I couldn’t get her to give me anything to work with, (though I did appreciate her simple, generous spirit). Finally, one day she settled on "a box of marbles". And that was the present idea that she stuck with for the rest of the holiday pre-season.
So I decided to take the idea and expand on it a bit. Of course, I couldn’t think of anything worse or more dangerous to have rolling around the floors of my house. With a newborn scooting all over the place trying out anything from mud to dryer lint in her little mouth, it sounded like potential disaster. I figured I better review my choking baby techniques!
I decided to improvise and make a few additions to her request. Dan built her a large wood box with a lid that slides off easily. The handle is fashioned from one of the mushrooms I ordered and one of these days I’ll add some detail to it. He made the box deep enough that nothing is in danger of spilling out and she can really rifle through it without risking anything flying out of the box. 
I knew I wanted to fill the box with marbles and treasures–things to sort and count, arrange and examine. I opted for the flat-sided glass marbles in the florist section of the craft store because I knew they wouldn’t roll away and get lost as easily as round marbles. I also knew how much she loved shells and since we sadly, don’t have a local source for collecting, I settled on a $2 bag of them at the craft store.
I also knew I wanted little wooden objects, too, so I filled it with all kinds of things from this online source. And of course, Amanda’s post about her acorns added some inspiration to include those as well. I added wooden items like robin’s eggs, buttons, tree shapes, mushrooms, bowls, ladybugs and egg carriers. I also got a small flat tray with compartments for her to sort some of her "treasures".
It turned out to be a really nice collection of things and one of the most inexpensive gifts under the Christmas tree. It is such a good feeling, seeing that it still gets attention every day. Mary and Emma sit over it and sort and share and ‘shop’ with the various treasures inside.
And a little girl who wanted to do something special for everyone else this Christmas, received something very special for herself.
Very sweet. My 3 year old would love this. I’ll have to bookmark it for next year.
Such a great idea. xxx
great gift, molly. i love that the simple ideas often turn into the best gifts.
what a spectacular gift you created!
Genius improvisation, what a special collection of treasures!When you decide you are ready to welcome that box of marbles into the house, check out the Haba set (http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/HA1124/Haba-Marbles-for-Ball-Track-Construction-Set.html?oompaItem=Haba_Marbles%20for%20Ball%20Track%20Construction%20Set) We bought them this year, what a great assortment with glass, cork, wood and steel, very interesting to do weight and speed comparisons.I went nuts buying up those acorns and several other wooden things after reading Amanda’s post too, Hurray for wooden anything!!
yes yesthis is very good for themI always had boxes like these in my classroomsI love the small wooden objects- i recall them form soulemama- good resource that online siteyr a good mama
I bet this is one of those gifts she’ll remember fondly as an adult.
What a fantastic and loving gift. And what a fantastic and loving child!
Brilliant! Did you find the compartment tray and egg holder at your local craft store?
Thank you so much for sharing this!
beautiful :^)
this makes me think of a nature or science table .. the collection aspect. i am totally stealing this idea!
xo
What a great idea! I could play for hours with treasures like that. I think I will steal your idea too.
P.S. I’m walking over to the post office right now. Keep an eye on your mail box.
I simply love that box of treasures. I can only imagine how much your daughter loved it. SO much potential…..the perfect gift. I like to gift boxed filled with homemade stickers, art supplies and wooden trinkets also. Great Post!
love it. love everything about it. Been thinking about doing this anyway, but this post did it: I’m adding you right now to my blog roll.
My daughter would love this… and my boys would, too! Great idea.
Others have said it before, Molly, but your ideas are so inspirational! I love your blog and I’m so glad you shared it with me. I put down this idea in my Christmas black book (another idea from you!) for 2008. Let me know how MD is treating you when you get a chance!
Molly, that is the best treasure box!! all those little things to sort through and organize… That would be adored in our home also. You rock!
I love that! I think it’s high time we get our kids together. I’ll find your email address and we can plan something fun!
What a wonderful, wonderful gift!! I’m sure they love it!
What a wonderful idea and embellishment. And it’s always those simple things they like the best which is nice. 🙂
Such a wonderful gift idea, my girls would love it. thanks for all the inspiration, I have left a little something for you on my blog. Happy New Year.
Just found your blog. Such a wonderful idea! Your Emma (having read down a little farther) seems so much like my Eve (we even said the Little Girl With the Little Curl poem about her too). Eve gets her heart broken – almost every day too, it seems.
Just thought I’d say hello and that I’ll be back! 🙂