No kidding, my birthday’s saturday, too. How old is he going to be?
Play-doh!
If you can find them, Weebles or Fisher Price people.
If his parents would be okay with it, fingerpainting or sponge painting set. Kids that age love to be messy.
Duplo (although this is getting crappy, they do disney stype stuff now and it sucks).
Brio train set. This has the added bonus of you get to add to it for years.
CDRoms. There’s some great stuff out there for 3 yo. My 3 yo loves the Mercer Mayer Little Critter ones.
A farm set.
Books,
A bubble machine type thingy.
Cash register, fake food and kitchen utensils. This age loves to play pretend.
The big size.
Looks like he wants these Lego soccer things…I have no idea what it is but if mom and dad are okay with it then so be it.
Thanks again everyone for your suggestions, mucho appreciated.

She wants to remain on the parents’ GOOD side, not risk being torn limb from limb.
I would say something Harry Potter-ish, but I don’t know the parents’ stance on him/it.