Last week, Matthew said the opening prayer in Family Home Evening. He said "And bless that nobody gets killed during Family Home Evening." Some might say it's just a modern-day wording of "get home safely", but considering the full-contact nature of many of our family home evenings, I think it's more of a sincere prayer.
Happy to report that no deaths occurred either last Monday or this week. In fact, no animals or humans were harmed in the creation of our most recent family home evenings....
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Christmas Summation
Last year, I did a quick round up related to the success of Christmas gifts...and their longevity. Not to brag, but I think we did pretty good!
• Basketball standard for Josh: A
It helps to have clients in high places (we do work for Lifetime based in Clearfield, UT, and I was able to get some help in getting a basketball standard). We had it shipped to a neighbor's house then snuck it in after hours on Christmas Eve. It came in a million pieces, and the best Christmas gift was having that same neighbor call on 12/26 and offer to assemble it. What a relief....it called for 15 different tools; 10 of which I had never heard of!
But we now have an adjustable hoop in our driveway and it's been a real hit with Josh. When the weather is nice, we've had some nice basketball playing time. That will only increase once we get into spring. But it's a perfect thing to keep him active, get off the computer and Wii and is enjoyable. Yea, yea!
• Little Pet Shop toys for Caroline: A
Again, it helps to have friends in high places. A friend from a fellow agency sent me their 'clearance' LPS stuff a couple of days before Christmas. We used them to round out Caroline's bigger gifts, yet she seemed as pleased -- if not more so -- with the Pet Shop stuff. In fact, she said at one point that Santa must read minds as she hadn't even told Santa or her parents she wanted some LPS VIPs, yet she got it. Lucky guess, so to speak!
• GeoTrax for the younger boys: A+
OK, it's made by our rival toy company, but it's awesome. Matthew researched it out and knew exactly what he wanted this year. The Toys R Us catalog came in late November, he saw it and never wavered. He learned about it online, and he told Santa it's what he wanted.
We set it up on Christmas Eve (we had 3 sets combined) and he was thrilled when he saw it. They played it so much on Christmas we went through a set of batteries in one day. He continues to love it and it's got great creativity to it. No Santa regret here.
• Webkins: A-
The older two love their webkins, and Kathryn found the hard-to-find ones they wanted. Plus, they did a gift exchange to each other to get one more. They got what they want, and it makes them happy.
• Littlest Pet Shop Guess Who: A-
Simple easy game that can be played in 5 minutes before bed.
• Big TV for Kathryn: A+++
Santa can keep surprises. I ordered it online and had it sent to the same friend who got the hoop. Kathryn didn't have a clue. In fact, we said no gifts to each other. She really thought I believed that and hadn't gotten her a thing. On Christmas Eve she said "I wrapped a couple of things and put under the tree with a tag from you to me".
I snuck it in with the hoop, then wrapped it after she went to bed. After we saw the Santa stuff, I took her downstairs to see the big wrapped gift. Even then, she had no idea what might be in the box. The surprise when she unwrapped it was worth every penny. And she deserves it! She's hinted and waited for a good TV for 10 years of marriage -- in fact, we were still using the same TV that I brought into our marriage -- and it was 3 years old then! Sometimes husbands get it right (but not often)
• "Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs" for Mark: A
I had asked for one gift, and it was this book. It contains personal memoirs from famous and not famous people of exactly 6 words. Almost like a haiku! They are extremely insightful and funny. Samples: "Afraid of everything; did it anyway." "She said nothing could go wrong". "Made some good choices; got lucky". Here's one I wrote through the prism of a bishop: "Everyone deserves a mulligan or two."
• Funky Winkerbean comic books for Dad: A+
My dad and both love this comic strip but haven't seen it for years. I found some collection of the comics on line and gave it to him as an early birthday present when he came out after Christmas. Major major hit!
• Basketball standard for Josh: A
It helps to have clients in high places (we do work for Lifetime based in Clearfield, UT, and I was able to get some help in getting a basketball standard). We had it shipped to a neighbor's house then snuck it in after hours on Christmas Eve. It came in a million pieces, and the best Christmas gift was having that same neighbor call on 12/26 and offer to assemble it. What a relief....it called for 15 different tools; 10 of which I had never heard of!
But we now have an adjustable hoop in our driveway and it's been a real hit with Josh. When the weather is nice, we've had some nice basketball playing time. That will only increase once we get into spring. But it's a perfect thing to keep him active, get off the computer and Wii and is enjoyable. Yea, yea!
• Little Pet Shop toys for Caroline: A
Again, it helps to have friends in high places. A friend from a fellow agency sent me their 'clearance' LPS stuff a couple of days before Christmas. We used them to round out Caroline's bigger gifts, yet she seemed as pleased -- if not more so -- with the Pet Shop stuff. In fact, she said at one point that Santa must read minds as she hadn't even told Santa or her parents she wanted some LPS VIPs, yet she got it. Lucky guess, so to speak!
• GeoTrax for the younger boys: A+
OK, it's made by our rival toy company, but it's awesome. Matthew researched it out and knew exactly what he wanted this year. The Toys R Us catalog came in late November, he saw it and never wavered. He learned about it online, and he told Santa it's what he wanted.
We set it up on Christmas Eve (we had 3 sets combined) and he was thrilled when he saw it. They played it so much on Christmas we went through a set of batteries in one day. He continues to love it and it's got great creativity to it. No Santa regret here.
• Webkins: A-
The older two love their webkins, and Kathryn found the hard-to-find ones they wanted. Plus, they did a gift exchange to each other to get one more. They got what they want, and it makes them happy.
• Littlest Pet Shop Guess Who: A-
Simple easy game that can be played in 5 minutes before bed.
• Big TV for Kathryn: A+++
Santa can keep surprises. I ordered it online and had it sent to the same friend who got the hoop. Kathryn didn't have a clue. In fact, we said no gifts to each other. She really thought I believed that and hadn't gotten her a thing. On Christmas Eve she said "I wrapped a couple of things and put under the tree with a tag from you to me".
I snuck it in with the hoop, then wrapped it after she went to bed. After we saw the Santa stuff, I took her downstairs to see the big wrapped gift. Even then, she had no idea what might be in the box. The surprise when she unwrapped it was worth every penny. And she deserves it! She's hinted and waited for a good TV for 10 years of marriage -- in fact, we were still using the same TV that I brought into our marriage -- and it was 3 years old then! Sometimes husbands get it right (but not often)
• "Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs" for Mark: A
I had asked for one gift, and it was this book. It contains personal memoirs from famous and not famous people of exactly 6 words. Almost like a haiku! They are extremely insightful and funny. Samples: "Afraid of everything; did it anyway." "She said nothing could go wrong". "Made some good choices; got lucky". Here's one I wrote through the prism of a bishop: "Everyone deserves a mulligan or two."
• Funky Winkerbean comic books for Dad: A+
My dad and both love this comic strip but haven't seen it for years. I found some collection of the comics on line and gave it to him as an early birthday present when he came out after Christmas. Major major hit!
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