This year we tried an unusual approach to Thanksgiving by avoiding traditional get-togethers. That choice was bound to come with some unhappy consequences, as it means we missed getting together with family that we really enjoy seeing. However, with our calendar looking like blackout-bingo for the past several months, and again in December, it almost had to be done.
We hope everyone had a terrific time and can't wait to see you all for the coming Christmas celebrations.
Which brings me to my point: The Annual Christmas List!
We took the boys to Finnagan's and Toys R Us yesterday, to get a feel for what tickles their fancies in the world of toys. They both appeared content with roughly every second thing they saw.
Jamey is most excited about Moon Shoes; mini trampolines you strap to the feet for extra jumping action. He's hoping he can jump into his bunk-bed with them. And secondly, he craves a Robot with "supplies", which we haven't entirely defined yet, but we get the general idea. It is to be a very capable and useful robot. At Finnagan's he seemed most taken with Marvin's Magic Set for Young Magicians. It has 125 pieces and directions for performing many magic tricks. He is also interested in a Glow-in-the-dark magic wand that comes with 15 tricks of its own.
Arthur has a tendency to mimic Jamey's list & so I'm not as clear on what appeals to him, personally. However, he is still keeping the robotic dinosaur that we discovered shortly after last Christmas high on his list.
Things that Heidi and I think they would like include a buildable framework for routing marbles down ramps and such. Lego Star Wars II for the XBox (aka "the babysitter"). I'd also like to get us all a telescope. Despite my typical reluctance to hang about outside in the cold, it seems a practical necessity to retain a high-powered optical device.
Heidi is into Fabric, Yarn and Knitting Needles.
My ideas for my own list can most easily be summed up as "Gadgetry". Accessories for my camera, like a 1-2GB Ultra Compact Flash card, a new flat-panel monitor, which would allow me two monitors, since my 5 mo. old Dell supports that. I'd like to get some kind of science project kit, like an electronics, or robotic kit that I could work with the kids on. I'd like to get started on a projection-based home-theater, perhaps with a screen. I'd love to be able to project our DVDs and XBox games on a giant silver screen. Then there's the wireless internet radio device for listening to music in any room in the house.
However, when all is said and done, what I'm most excited about this year is getting together and having some excellent conversations and trying to make it super-special for everyone that I can.
2 comments :
Sounds like the boys really had a good day down at the toy stores -- all three of them!
Ramiro has a pair of the Moon Shoes; he has worn them once or twice. They lay, dormant on the living room floor.
Let us know what "Robot Supplies" are when you figure it out.
The boys are still too young to use a telescope, but if you get one, don't fall for the magnification marketing ploy. They sell a 1.5" diameter refractor with an eyepiece that is calculated to provide magnification of 150X or more. The image at high power is completely useless. It typically sells for about $100, but is not worth even $5. You can purchase a 4" reflector for $130 that will be your best bargain and cheapest price. Even a 6" reflector (same size as my telescope) is only $260 with a Dobsonian mount. You'll probably spend this much on accessories if you're serious about using the telescope.
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