A Wii Little Christmas Post

The kids were thrilled with our Wii Little Christmas this year. The first present the all opened was the Wii Wheel. Nate said "what's this?" And Kaylee said "What does it look like?" Nate said "It looks like a wheel for the Wii." And then got a strange look on his face. I handed them another round of presents and they all opened different colored skins for the wii remotes. Nate started jumping up and down and said "I think we're getting a Wii! I think we're getting a Wii!" That got Max all excited even though he really didn't understand. But he was happy when he opened a Wii Cars game. He's slowly catching on to the Wii games, but is just as happy playing with the cars that were in his stocking. Nate & Kaylee are both really enjoying the Wii fit games. Derek & I really enjoyed watching their reactions. It was a fun Christmas. (Oh and Nate hasn't made any mention of the Air Hogs SwitchBlade that he announced he wanted 2 days before Christmas but I am watching it at Target to see if its clearanced out really cheap so I can pick one up for his birthday next November.)


Nate opening Nerf Game for Wii from Kaylee & Max


Max opening Cars Game for Wii


Kaylee opening Disney Pop Star Sing it for Wii

Happy Birthday Derek

This post is to wish a happy birthday to the man of the house. As most of you know, we don't have "traditional gender roles" in our home. I am the "breadwinner" while Derek is the "home maker." Well let me tell you, in my opinion, it takes a real man to be a home maker. He homeschools the kids (and if you've met my boys you know that's no easy task), does virtually all of the cooking & cleaning, takes care of the finances, repairs the cars, cuts the grass, serves on the board of directors of the swim team, is an elder in the church and does it all with a great attitude. I couldn't hope to accomplish half of what he does most days. He's a great example to our children that real men follow God's calling for their lives even if it isn't typical and isn't glamorous.

Happy Birthday, Babe! I hope you have a great day. You deserve it.

Nate's Christmas List

Nate has been pretty silent about what he wants for Christmas this year. And I haven't asked because, well, I already bought all his presents. Tonight on the way home from shopping for his brother and sister he sprung it on me. Mom, you know what I really, really want? An Air Hogs SwitchBlade. Its so cool. And he launched into the product description:

Air Hogs RC Switchblade Transforming Stunt Flier Switchblade performs a magical in-air transformation using the latest in flight technology. Hover like a UFO, Fly like a Plane! The incredible flier takes off like a UFO and transforms in-air to a high powered aircraft. It's like having 2 amazing flyers in 1. The Switchblade comes with an RF controller, plug-in charger, extra propellers and a built in Lipo battery for extreme power and performance. Nothing like Switchblade in the Market! Hover like a UFO, Fly like a Plane Features: Vertical takeoff Transforms in mid-air Flies like a jet.



If you get it for me, you'd be the best Mom ever and I'll get you a really cool present too.

Well, I hope he's not going to be too disappointed, but telling me about his heart's desire 3 days before Christmas is not going to cut it. I know he's going to be really excited about what we got. (He'd better be because I waited all night at Meijer on Black Friday to get it!) Hopefully we don't have any sadness about not getting the Air Hogs Switchblade to deal with on Christmas day.

We always read the Christmas story first thing on Christmas morning. And that helps put us in the right frame of mind before present. This year I might need that divine intervention.

Max's Christmas Shopping

This morning we were discussing the last minute Christmas shopping we need to do. Mostly its food items but we have a couple more gifts to get for extended family. I told Nate he could come along to help pick out presents for his cousins. Max immediately piped in and said:

"I want to come present shopping too. I will buy myself a Buzz Lightyear present."
I responded by saying: "You don't get to buy presents for yourself!"

Then he said: "Then you go without me, and get me a Buzz Lightyear!"

Not exactly the Christmas spirit we are looking for, but from a a 3 year old I guess it makes sense.

Ballerina Update

The Ballerina noticed that I post a lot more about her brothers than I do about her. The lawyer in me wants to point out that that's not necessarily a bad thing when you think about some of the things I post about her brothers. But any way, this post is just to show her that her activities are just as important to me as theirs.

Last night when I picked her up from dance, Kaylee was very excited to show me this picture that one of her friends had taken during their pointe & partnering class:


I can understand why she's excited, its an awesome picture! I love watching her dance. Sometimes I can barely remember the three year old that started dance lessons when I watch her leaping and turning on pointe. Just as a reminder, here is a picture of the three year old ballerina:

12/5/2009 Swim Meet Results

Another great swim meet for Nate today. This meet was a "Double Dual Meet" which means that just 3 teams participated and the coaches picked the events. (In an invitational we get to pick our own events).

Nate & Ian were both chosen to be in the two relays. In the Medley Relay, Ian swam Butterfly & Nate swam Freestyle. Their relay team came in 3rd with a time of 1:52:80 which was an improvement over last seasons best time. In the 100 Freestyle Relay, they came in 2nd with a time of 1:35.91- slightly slower than last season's best but the two other boys are first time swimmers so it was still a great time.

Nate's also swam the 25 Free where he came in 2nd with a PERSONAL BEST time of 20.83. I think he's on track to break that 20 second barrier. Nate also had a 29.75 in the 25 Backstroke, for 4th Place.

Ian looked great with a 2nd place PERSONAL BEST in the 100IM (25 of each stroke) and a 1st place finish in the 25 Butterfly.

Way to go MARLINS!!!

Spanish 101 for Girls

Kaylee was excited to tell me about the two things she learned in her spanish lesson today.

Necesito chocolate.

Necesito dinero.

Like she said, its everything a teenage girl needs to know how to say.*


(translation: I need chocolate. I need money.)