How much to spend on Kid gifts?

We’ve got a whole bunch of birthday parties to go to in the next month.  Two just this weekend!  What is a good gift to get for a 6yr old? I hate getting gifts that don't have gift receipts.  They either really just awful gifts or items we already have.  By the way most times when you get gifts without receipts they are recycled.  Don't tell anyone but sometimes I recycle items that I don't like.  I feel terrible when I do because I hate it when I get them.  Most time I buy giftcards because it saves me on trying to think of something smart to get and run into the chance of getting something the birthday kid already have, along with something really small so they can open something.  Speaking of which, while I was shopping yesterday, I found these delightful coloring books, not your ordinary coloring book.  It encouranges your little one to think outside the box and can keep them busy for hours.  You can find them on Amazon.com or any local bookstore, from $8-$20.  Perfect for my little small gift.  How much do you spend on gifts? 

We are in May but believe it or not, I have mommy friends that are already planning for their kids bday for Nov!  We didn't throw a bday party for my daughter last year since it was around when i had my son.  Still debating whether I should throw one for the both of them.  Think it would be tacky to throw one for both in between their two birthdays - Sept 17 and Oct 29?

Boy left behind

A friend from work picked up her daughters from the daycare as usual yesterday.  As she drove into the lot she saw a little boy alone at the playground situated next to the daycare center.  She rushed in to pick her daughter as she did she forgot about the little boy.  As she walked out of the building with her girls heading towards the car she saw a boy still playing in the playground alone.  Just as she spotted the boy, she saw the director along with one of the teachers talking heading towards their car and she then shouted to them that there is still a kid in the playground!  Both the director and teacher scramble back to the building to get to the little boy.  As she was telling me this I was appalled.  He was left behind!  It gave me goose bumps as she told me this.   How can they forget the kid.  Why wasn’t there anyone watching?  Where was everyone?  Were they short staff?  That is no reason to forget a child!  I was flooded with question.  She then told me that it was impossible to miss the kid in the playground as you walk out of the building.  She then asked me if she should mind her own business or tell the mom and file a complain.   I told her that she should speak up.   I know if it was my little one, I would want someone to tell me about if they saw my child out there by himself.  Imagine if something happened or if someone snatched him?  What the informed parent do with the information would be up to them.   What would you do, if you were in her shoes?  I'm still a bit shocked hearing the story from my friend.

Happy Belated Mother’s Day

Happy Belated mother’s day to all the mommies out there.  Hope everyone had a beautiful weekend last week.  On the other hand, had one  Besides entertaining mom and grandma for the weekend, going in and out of doctor’s office and staying late at work, I'm finally catching my breath.  Is the worst when kids are sick.  They don’t sleep well, I don’t sleep well. 

Daughter came home yesterday from school with a big bite mark on her forearms.  This is her 3^rd time she got bitten at this school.  Whenever there is an incident at school, she is sent home with a letter with a report explaining what happened.  However, I felt kind uneasy still so I called to inquire if this is the same kid that bit my daughter.  They explained the situation that my daughter snatched a toy and the other kid bit her because she wasn’t sharing and no is not the same kid.  I know this is probably something that happens quite often among this age group.  Not sure which is worse, being bitten or bully?