Wiiiiiii...Booooom!

The kids have really wanted a Wii for quite sometime. With neither one of us being video game type people and the economy not being all that great, buying a Wii was not on the top of our priority list. Then, my in-laws graciously gifted the kids some spending money for vacation this summer. There were no restrictions on it so they could use it for whatever they wanted. Immediately they decided they would put the money together and buy a Wii. I told them they had to wait until vacation was over because there may be things they want to get while on vacation. They didn't know we were surprising them with trip to Disneyland and I just knew they would blow it all at Disneyland and the Wii would long be forgotten. They took the money to Disneyland with them and bought a few trinkets, fun stuff but nothing really over the top. So much for what I know!

Now we're back home and they were just dying to buy the Wii. We had to wait until we went to town for the day to purchase it. So, yesterday was the day. Buckaroo had a dr. appt and we had school supplies to get so off to the big city we went. Of course, the first place we went was to buy the Wii. This was at 10:00am in the morning. They had to endure all the errands, a dr. appt and the drive home. At last they could play their Wii. But wait, mom has to set it up and make dinner. Well, in my house food comes first (a personal pleasure I like to indulge in) so we ate. FINALLY, the Will process begins.

I have to put the system together, no small task with our cumbersome entertainment center. Then we make the little Mii people. It was fun but the kids were chomping at the bit to get the games going. It was Punky Girl's day to go first (a little rule that saves my sanity and alleviates fights-odd days are hers and evens are his). Buckaroo did very well at stepping aside and letting his sister fumble through her first experience with the Wii. See, he has played many times at friends and knew exactly what to do. His patience was spread thin, bu he did fine. After all, we set a time limit of 10 minutes per turn to help speed along taking turns. At last, Buckaroo got his chance. He geared up the baseball game. He had a perm-a-grin on his face as he was getting into his hitting groove and then Boom! NO, not a grand slam on Wii, a power outage from the storm raging outside that I had failed to pay attention to. I couldn't believe it. He got his five minutes of glory and then it was over. The build up, the waiting, and then nothing. I really thought tears would erupt and hysterics would occur. Luckily, the storm was so amazing, the Wii was temporarily forgotten and we had family time on the couch watching the storm. No Wii can beat that!

Splish, Splash, It's a Blast!

As baseball started to wind down, the kids took swimming lessons at the local pool. They have a blast and sometimes learn a thing or two about swimming. The best part for me is that my friends also enroll their kids and we actually get hang out every morning and visit. And, I get some great photos of the kids at the pool.

Do you remember that Christmas Buckaroo lost his front teeth?Well, now they are growing in--at random rates. Makes for interesting smiles.

Do any of you remember the bumbling bee video from the 1990's? The words went, "I'll can say it that my life is pretty strange..." I think Punky Girl could be the new actress for the video. I actually started calling her Amelia Earhart because she wore the goggles all the time, swimming or not, on the top of her head. I think they became her symbol of bravery and independence. Or else, when we saw Night at the Museum she just liked the look.

All smiles for Buckaroo as he comes down the slide.

It's Summertime!

Yes, the Kenny Chesney song is running through my head. We are in the middle of a HOT summer and are spending some time inside to avoid melting, literally. For all of you in who live here, you know exactly what I mean. Gone are the carefree days of "Two bare feet on the dashboard, young love and old Ford..." (all of which I had one summer). Now I livin' the life of, well, I can't quote the words of the song because this site is G-Rated but if you know Rodney Atkins music, you know what one I mean. But, I am keeping on going. Actually, Life is Good-my new motto thanks to the awesome clothes. By the way, if you haven't tried the shirts, they are really soft, really! I digress, moving on...

Summer is here and we are having a blast with the kids. I noticed that the last time I posted was in March so most of you don't know how much fun we have been having but that is because most of our family fun has to do with baseball and since baseball started the first of April and we were at the park five nights a week that is where most of my awake time has been spent. Although, there are times I even dream about baseball (being the president of our local little league does that to some people....namely me) so even some of my non-waking hours are spent on baseball. Kindof obsessive-compulsive, I know.

Before I get in to baseball and our amazing few months we had with it, I thought I would share some of the events going on in our lives. The last time I wrote, I talked about the numbers in our lives and sadly I have one more tally to add to the numbers. Keith's grandma died on Good Friday. Yes, if you have to pick a weekend to die, Resurrection Weekend is definitely on the top of the list. But, for those of us left here, it wasn't so great. That makes a total of five deaths Keith and I experienced through both sides of our families, with both of us losing our grandmas. We have grieved quite extensively over these deaths but found that good does come out of them. We have been able to spend a vast amount of time with family that I don't think any one of us would have taken the time out of our lives to do on a normal basis. Two of of Keith's cousins got married so we have two more women in the male dominated family-yippee! Shouts out to the new Peterson women--trial by fire with all the funerals but you two came out with flying colors, glad you're with us.

I also got to spend some time with one of my sisters and one of my brothers while at my Grandma's funeral. I really had a blast being with them and getting to know them as an adult. Most of my memories are of them when I was younger. Now I have great memories of them that we created together as adults. Hey Sis, stay way from eagle watching--it creates quite a commotion on off the roadways. Sigh, I miss talking with them. I must get better at that considering we all live in the same state!

Okay, now for the grand finale (I think I Have seen a few too many fireworks this year)pictures are coming. I know that is why most of you tune into my zany ramblings.