Around the Corner

Black Friday is just around the corner and Christmas is fast approaching. We already have Jets present and we know what Cash and b are getting, just waiting to see if it goes on sale. Well, we think we know what we are getting b. This is the first year that she has made her own list, it is long and it is expensive. Once you get past the "I want everything" her list gets a little more specific. She wants a, dsi, ipod, digital camera, guitar and everything else girly at the toy store.

I really believe that technology is going to be key to our childrens futures and the sooner they are exposed to technology the easier it will be for them. There are also a number of studies that show computer games help develop young minds. We have no issues getting gaming systems for our kids, other then maybe the cost.


We figure that since she was asking for an ipod and a ds that maybe the itouch would be the way to go.

The ipod nano, does have a video camera, plays music, but no games or at least limited games.

The dsi looks really cool and would be fun, but the games are pretty spendy. The dsi does do a lot of cool things as well, it connects to the internet has instant messaging, plays music but a not as conveniently as the ipod/itouch. It also hooks up to the wii, not really sure what it does with that but the potential for really cool is there.

The itouch plays music, games, movies and videos. The apps and games for the itouch are inexpensive compared to the dsi. Found this website explaining the pros and cons of buying an itouch for a young child The itouch connects to the internet allowing for ease of purchasing games and music, it has parental control to prevent the kids from easily raking up the credit cards.

We are leaning towards the itouch but still kinda in the air. Her cousin has a ds and might be getting an itouch for Christmas so either one would work as far as that goes. Some of her other cousins received mp3 players last year for Christmas and b has wanted one since.

Cash wants a dsi as well, but I think that he's too young and destructive. He will be upset on Christmas morning as b is playing with her tech toy but I think this will help him take better care of whatever we get him in the future. "If you take really good care of it, you can get one for next Christmas" Maybe he'll appreciate it more then he does his other toys.

What do you all think? The dsi? The itouch? Are we going overboard for a 5 year old?

Thankful Thanksgiving

Cronicles of Narnia

Cash is in and has been in a weird sleeping stage. He has always been our early bird and he doesn't need much sleep, but when he does sleep he's out. He doesn't really need a nap but he wakes up so early that he can't quit make it the whole day. When he does take a nap it's a late nap and he usually wakes up anytime between 6-8. Then what do you do? When he wakes up later we can usually get him to go back to sleep, hurry and feed him and get him back to bed before he wakes up fully. When he wakes up earlier, then he's grumpy for a while until he's fully awake then he's up half the night. Usually we make him stay on his bed but we allow him have toys and books and he'll just play until he's finally tired enough to sleep. Sometimes he'll try and sneak into the family room, just nonchalantly walking in as though it's the middle of the day and just starts playing.

He did this the other night, had a great nap, woke up around 6 and was in a good mood by bedtime. T and I were doing something in the family room, watching TV or whatever. Cash came out for a drink and I had to get something out of the bedroom so I had him follow me. I told him that he could stay up and watch TV in our room if he stayed on the bed and didn't get off. If he got off the bed he would have to go to his own bed. He thought this was a good idea, of course why not. I flipped through the channels and without thinking through it I turned it to The Chronicles of Narnia and left.

I went back in a bit later and started watching Narnia with him and it was the part with the wolves chasing the kids and the beavers. He was pretty excited "dad, come watch this part!!" I asked him if the movie was scary and if I should change it, he told me he liked scary movies. We watched the movie for a minute when he looked at me and said "Dad, our house is brick?" I said yes it is. He said, "Then the wolves can't blow it down....and our doors our locked?" I told him that yes we lock our doors and that no wolves were getting in.

He stayed up 'till past midnight watching the movie. He liked it and fell asleep right after the movie was over.

I love Technology

Im not that great at technology - it pretty much has to work for me to use it, I can't create it or manipulate it but I sure can use it! This commercial is just another example of why it's all so great!

Happy Monday

Not sure how this guy knows whats going on in my house but he nailed it.

Wednesday's Tunes Yanks v. Phills

I'm not much of a baseball fan, first game I watched this year was a Dodgers-Yankees game 3. I can't tell you who plays for who or even know who you are talking about if you mention a players name. I have no idea why people either love or hate A-Rod - I just know that he's the man. I really wanted to see a LA World Series, I'm sure that's why neither team won. I have no idea who I want to win but I'm sure it will be a good serious - least I hope.

I think that the busier I get the more I watch sports. I don't remember the last time I've watched this much baseball - or even this much college football. Probably sometime before I was married. Not saying that I haven't been busy, but now that I'm busier then I have ever been - I find myself avoiding things (like now I should be doing homework) and watching sports.

Anyway - I really like the Jay-Z/Keys song Empire State of Mind. The song makes me want to live in New York. I've been to Philli, I enjoyed it, spent about a week there and was able to see most of the city. I have yet to visit NYC but it's on the top of my list of places to visit. So I can't compair the cities. I am waiting for a Salt State of Mind song -

Both teams are using the song to get them pumped up for games and during practice. Both teams have a different take on the song and some rapper in Philli changed the song a bit. Jay-Z & Alica Keys are performing the song for game 1 and it's rumored that Philli might be playing the other song at game 3. So here are both versions -

Jay-Z Alica Keys "Empire State of Mind"

Jay-Z - New Music - More Music Videos

NeeKo ft. Deana Marie - "ILL STATE OF MIND"

Wednesday Tunes

I've been s l o w l y watching the PBS Ken Burns documentary THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA and I have finally made it to the 3rd episode! I didn't know that this song was the Grand Canyon Suite and was written for the Grand Canyon. Enjoy

Are we Thinking Straight?

As Christmas approaches we are trying to find out what the kids would like. I really don't like that I have to think about Christmas before December, but I guess this is the responsible thing to do. A friend on facebook announced that she had finished all of her Christmas shopping like a month ago! How crazy is that? Then what do you do the week before Christmas? I'm not a shopper, don't really care to go look around stores unless it's REI or Kirkhams but I LOVE shopping the week before Christmas. I don't really know why? It has everything I HATE - crowds, driving, parking in crowded parking lots, stores, malls, lots of people in stores & malls and shopping. But for some reason, this is my favorite time to shop & about the only time I shop anymore.

We asked Cash what he wanted, his first response was "What did b ask for?" What kind of response is that? Then T told him that he had plenty of toys and didn't need anything for Christmas, he agreed. "I don't need anything" Yea, if it were only that easy, then come Christmas morning he would be one upset boy. Turns out he really doesn't know what he wants and just repeats what his sister and cousins say they want.

I brought up the idea of drums to T, she thought that this was a great idea. My reasoning is that he has a lot of energy that he needs to put towards a positive use. He likes to pound things with his hammer, anything and everything, the tv, floor, table, fridge, little brother, dad and anything else that is within reach. I didn't really think anything of it but it seems like everyone I tell their first response is "Your brave" or "Are you crazy?"

Maybe I really don't know how loud drums really are?

Does it Ever End!

For those of you who don't know, T started back to school this semester. I think all the homework that I do made her jealous. She has an Accounting degree from the U and is now going back to the U for a Math degree. After the Math she is going to get a Master of Education (think thats what it is?), so she can be a math teacher. Not really sure about people who want to be math teachers. She should be finished sometime in the next millennium or maybe sooner. I on the other hand only have two semesters and should graduate in the Spring! Can't get excited until I receive the degree and then I really cant get too excited until I get a sweet job.

Here are our classes this semester:
T
Calculus 1

Me
Public Budgeting & Finance
Metropolitan Policy

Wednesday Tunes

Florence and the Machine - Kiss with a Fist

Up Up and Away

Columbus day morning, I took the morning off to hang out with the family. State employees no longer get Columbus day and one other holiday off, can't remember which one, so that we can work the 4-10's. This way we can be paid for 10 hours on the other holidays, if we didn't sacrifice the two holidays we could only be paid 8 hours for all of our holidays and would have to make up the other 2 hours some where else.

Anyway, so T and I were sleeping in while the kids were awake playing in the family room. When I walked into the room, Cash, B, Peapod & G money had Jet surrounded on the couch, Jet was whimpering and holding a helium filled balloon as were all the kids. I asked what they were doing to him. B replied "we are trying to make Jet fly, but he doesn't want to"

I went back to bed.

Wednesday Tunes

This is GREAT!! Love it

LOVE STORY (Taylor Swift) meets VIVA LA VIDA (Coldplay) - Piano Cello - by Jon Schmidt



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