I’ve always wanted Soundwave, but every year I never got him. So finally when I was 15 I just bought the damn thing myself.
I only ever asked for something specific once, and it was only because my father had the video camera out, and was interrogating me. I was two. He kept trying to get me to 'fess up and tell them what I wanted for Christmas. Finally, I thought hard, really hard. I told him I knew what I wanted:
A birthday cake.
Thinking he’s finally getting somewhere, he tells me I can have more than one thing for Christmas. There must be something else I wanted? Feeling concerned for my Daddy, who seemed to be at a loss, I added, helpfully:
Two birthday cakes!
I never did get them. Damnit. Why ask, if you’re not going to follow through? 
Other years, admittedly, though I might not have asked for anything specifically, it got easier on my parents to figure out what to get me, because it was always pretty obvious when I was enamoured with something. ie: one year, they would always advertise those Jem dolls with the flashing earrings, and I’d start dancing around the house singing that god-awful Jem theme song (“Je-em, she’s truly outrageous!”) That year I not only got the Jem doll with the flashing earrings, but I got the Rock Backstager, which was her dressing room that was also a radio. One year I was enamoured with card tricks and trying to make things “disappear”, and I ended up getting one of those Houdini magician’s kits. One year I kept stealing my Dad’s Casio and making up little tunes, and I got a nice keyboard. Dad used the same “trick” to buy me music CDs, he’d keep half an eye on what I watched on MTV, when I changed the channel, or when I was anxiously awaiting something - his music picks for me were ALWAYS right on. Way to go, Dad. 
So, though I was a quiet child, and never asked for anything (except that birthday cake or two), I was never disappointed at Christmas. But my favourite part about Christmas is the lights, the shows, the music, and the family time, even as a kid.
But you know, I sure would like that birthday cake, the more I think about it. One of those nice white ones, with the white, creamy frosting. Maybe even one of those confetti cakes! With pretty pastel colours, and a candle or two on top. So I can make a wish. Then I’d have Christmas closure.
When I was young, I always wanted one of those “blow up punching dolls.” It was kinda like a giant weeble. You know what I mean, you would blow it up, there was sand in the bottom and when you hit it, it bounced back up. But we lived in a trailer when I was that age and there wasn’t a lot of space for that sort of thing and Mom said that it would break something.
Now I run a toys-for-tots program every year and often I include several of these.
I feel terrible. Looking back over this thread, I’ve begun to realise that I was thinking to myself: “Oh, that’s okay, it wasn’t that big a deal,” or, “You wouldn’t have really wanted that once you got it, it wasn’t what it seemed.” Why am I thinking those things? Why, because almost everything mentioned in this thread, I got at some point. I didn’t ask for any of them - that might be the key. My parents would go out of their way to find things for me, since around Christmas, when asked, I was like a clam. I mean, yes, they were great at reading the clues, but I never asked for anything specifically. Whatever was cool, they made sure to get me. I suppose it was to cover their asses if they took a shot and missed.
EZ Bake oven, punching bag doll, Lite Brite, Big Ass Barbie Head, Hotwheels racetracks, Rock Tumblers, Chemistry set, and then some. Hell, I even got Mira Sorvino once, but I was feeling charitable and gave her to my brother. Sorry, Bus Guy, if only I’d known. 
We weren’t rich, but my parents both had had rotten childhoods, and Christmas was always such a letdown for them - not because they wanted anything, but one had drinking parents and many siblings, and one had an abusive parent, and Christmas always ended up sad, no matter how much they tried to make it work. So when they got married, they decided to make Christmas all about their kids, and each year, they’d put some money away at the end of every month that was specifically for Christmas and Christmas alone. So they would always have all this leftover Christmas fund money for my half of the deal, since I never asked for anything. So they went all out. Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Ponies, Spirographs, Barbie Dreamhouses, Smurfs, Snorks, any brand names, whatever dolls were popular at the time, whatever video game system was cool at the time, etc. I got a Commodore 64 when I was nine. Technically it was for both my brother and I, but he was only four at the time.
But, ah - the birthday cake. I never did get that. So don’t hate me too much. 
I wanted an NES. Then an SNES. Never got either. Eventually I went out when I was 15 and bought myself a Playstation.
That’s pretty much all that comes to mind.
For the longest time, one of my sisters and I wanted a Mouse Trap game. Don’t really have any idea why. Never got one either, which was probably for the best. I was volunteering at a summer camp when I was 25 and one of their rainy-day games was Mouse Trap. I discovered that it wasn’t much fun except for when the Rube Goldberg machine was in action.
I always wanted an EZ Bake Oven. I must have mentioned it later in life, or else my mom just remembered, because I got one when I was 21. 
I also got the “expansion pack”, with pans and tiers for a tiny wedding cake, a cupcake pan and papers, a teeny cookie sheet, little bowls and spoons, and tons of mixes.
I was in some sort of goofy heaven. I had two friends over, and we baked like mad people. I remember it more fondly than any other gift I’ve ever gotten.
I got pretty much everything, including a chemistry set (first point of order: pick out all the little vials that say “flammable” on them) and a capsela set. I always got science-y type stuff, with a smattering of Barbies and other stuff. Never did get the EZBake oven (my mom just taught me how to cook in the big oven) or the Teddy Ruxpin, 'cause he was too obnoxious. I don’t think I was particularly broke up over the Teddy though. I just wanted one because my spoiled cousin had one.
I wanted the Barbie Dream House.
I remember it was almost two hundred bucks, but I wanted that house so bad. I knew I’d never get it though, not as poor as we were.
Instead, my grandfather built a shelf for me and I used the entire shelf as a dream house, complete with tissue-box beds with washcloth blankets, Christmas lights throughout, and cut out photos as fine art. My house was coveted by all the neighborhood kids.
It wasn’t the same to me though.
There was this tank toy that you could program its movements by entering the directions and number of feet to travel. IIRC it was about $50 back in the late 1970s. While my parents could probably have afforded it I never got it.
I had mentioned this toy in a similar thread some time ago and someone was kind enough to reply with a link, since I don’t remember what it was called. If I had the time and patience to do a search I’d try to dredge up the old thread. Maybe that same person will come along and post the link again.
And the tail fins could seperate into small fighters! I had that, and it was as much fun as it looked. I think I want one again.
Linkage, baby!
The Star Bird Space Intruder!
http://www.bugeyedmonster.com/toys/starbird/
And a load of other toys previously mentioned.
http://tv.cream.org/extras/toys/toptoys2011.htm
Yeah I used to have one of those. Played with it a lot. It was very advanced for the 70’s. I think I finally threw mine away this summer (I’m 35 now), the wheels on one side were broke, IIRC because of a programming error that sent it down some stairs.
Couldn’t remember the name though, and it was really hard to find on Google. But I finally found it, Bigtrak!
My Mom freaked when she discovered I’d been using dryer lint as Barbie blankets.
Wow! really awesome link! I had forgotten that I had the cardboard Command Base as well. I am glowing with nostalgia.
Same to you, Control-Z. I had a Bigtrak and loved it. My parents thought it was pretty cool too. Until the night I set it to go from my room to theirs, straight under their bed and then fire its gun 99 times. I also had the dumping trailer accessory.
Yeah I remember having it chase my little sister. I never had the trailer though.
For you electronics guys out there, here’s one disassembled: http://www.robotroom.com/BigTrak.html
It looks like there was a US and a UK version. The UK version was a lighter color and spelled it “bigtrak”. The US version was darker had a slight space between the capital “BIG” and “TRAK” on the side stickers. They had different graphics altogether really. Contrast this UK version http://www.uknet.com/showcase/Museum/025_Bigtrak.sized.jpg with this US version: http://www.robotroom.com/BigTrak/BigTrak.jpg
Ok enough Big Trak trivia!
I can’t believe how many others there were out there who also wanted the Easy Bake Oven!
Do you know they now make a “gender-neutral” one in blue and grey marketed as a “real meal” oven for making things like mcaroni & cheese and soft pretzels? My friend bought one for her son for Christmas.
Big Trak love on that cream link I posted above. Seriously, check it out. Crossfire! I wanted that!
Chloroform actually has a kind of sweet smell to it. I’ve got a bottle in my cabinet if you’d like to give it a try :D.
I’ve been inspired to buy my best friend an EZ Bake oven for Christmas. Thanks, guys.