Colleague Laura Kelly chimes in on what her kids' fave gift was:

"My children received a group gift for them and two other cousins from their grandparents and an aunt and uncle -- advance tickets to Discovery Cove in Orlando.

At some point this year, my 7-year-old sea-loving, animal-hugging, budding eco-scientist daughter will be able to swim with dolphins . This was an expensive gift, and one that my schoolteacher-husband and I might have been hardpressed to provide. But we are thrilled (and we do have to pay our own way into the resort).

Likely, the entire extended clan, about 12 of us, will take the trip to Orlando as a family, and we will watch Hayley and her cousins interact with sea creatures in a setting that's more interactive than Sea World. And we all will treasure the memories.

Definitely beats a Toys 'R' Us gift card any day!!

> Discuss this entry