Lighting and Lenses

[Zipline]

So my parents have asked me to give them a list of things I'd like to get for Christmas this year. I'm no longer at the age where I feel that Christmas is for ME, buuuuuuuuuuuuuut since they asked I think I should give them some ideas! :)

I'd like to get some more photography supplies to set up a little home studio. Mainly lenses (which may be out of their price range) or some lighting or backdrops. I'm not at all for photographing people, although I do have young nieces so I may want to use these supplies on them. The main purpose will be my pets, my dogs to be more precise. I have 2 male boxers one is fairly light in color (fawn = tan) and the other is darker (brindle = striped). Both have black masks. You can see some shots I took recently in this thread...

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=593114

I don't really need suggestions for backdrops, but would love to get some input on good lens choices as well lighting ideas. I've done a little bit of reading on umbrellas and softboxes, but not sure which one would benefit me the most or even which models would fit what I'm trying to do. Any thoughts?