Wii Tennis

If you are “blessed” to have a Wii, you understand the fact that most of my time is spent hearing the Lego Star Wars theme over and over and over again. We’ve had to place a time limit on Wii usage in my home, because we feel it’s important not to let the kids sit in front of a television screen for hours on end wasting productive time. (Really it’s because Mommy needs a Valium after the first 20 minutes of loud boy noise when Darth Vader is purchased or when someone makes it to the next level.) Regardless, one aspect that I don’t mind about the toy is Wii Fit!

Now, let me just tell you that even though it is marketed as a “fitness game”, few of the options actually raise my heart rate—except Wii Tennis. Ask anyone who’s been my challenger (my neighbor Mark, friend Chris Martino, my son) this is something I take very seriously. I am the Wii Tennis champion in our home. It’s pretty bad. Lloyd doesn’t want to play me. Embarrassing.

Apparently, even just one week after Christmas there were 6000+ Wii Fit injuries reportedly presenting to emergency departments across the nation. I can see how it can happen too. I’ve slammed a chair practicing my serve, ran across the room to get to a volley, and stepped on a cat or two. You’re missing out if you haven’t taken part in this action! You’re welcome to come on over and try mine out anytime! But beware. I've got a pretty good backhand.

A Tennessee Christmas

I just love Christmas. I love every thing about it. I love the music, I love the colors, I love the reason for it, and I LOVE celebrating it. I usually start decorating the day after Thanksgiving, so that I’m sick and ready to take down all that I have worked so hard to put up just before the first of January. (Why go to all of that trouble if you can’t enjoy it for 4 or 5 weeks, right?) I love hearing from everyone, and of the 100 or so Christmas cards we receive, (for those of you who don’t think so), I read every word. You didn’t get to read every word from us this year, because we didn’t write anything! Our kids would say, “No fair!!!” So, because of that, I’ll let you in on how we spent our holiday.



The words to the Amy Grant /Gary Chapman tune reflect exactly how I feel --“a tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me”. No snow, but, a warm house filled with people we love. To my recollection, this was one of the best Christmases yet. No stress, low key, and lots of time at home with family. Lloyd was off for the entire 2 weeks and we didn’t rush off to our usual getaways or have 1000 errands to run. Instead, we had a vacation at home. Who knew how wonderful sitting still could be?

Helga was able to share the week with us, which made the kids so excited. Grayson played the German board game “Mensch Ärgere Dich Nicht” until her poor Omi had to request a nap! No rest for the weary. She definitely has inherited the competition gene. My parents were also here plus Andy and Mandy were able to join us all for Christmas Eve dinner before leaving for Mandy’s parents house early Christmas morning. And Christmas day was spent gathered around our table and playing music with friends (the Campbells) and family. A blessed community we have been given, no doubt about it.

The Piano Man

For those of you who know my husband, you know what a fantastic piano player he is. For those of you who have never heard Lloyd play, you really can't imagine how fun he is to listen to. He's my very own Billy Joel, and we enjoy many of our winter nights at our own little piano bar (right in the middle of our living room) playing music together as a family.

The point of this story is to emphasize that some talents truly are passed on from generation to generation. Think of this as an apprenticeship. From his Dad to his Uncle Andy, Harrison certainly has BIG shoes to fill of his two talented mentors. (I have no doubt that he will soon surpass the remnants of my 8 years of piano lessons.) I can only hope that he will inherit half the ability that Lloyd and Andy have. But, part of the talent is the love and desire to play. So, this fall, when he requested to be placed in piano lessons, we jumped at the opportunity.

Harrison's very first recital was earlier this week at PDS, where we listened to 40 different boys play their instruments (violin, piano, guitar) while fighting nerves tooth and nail. Harrison was the youngest to play, and his piece was age and ability appropriate. You can imagine his piano teacher's surprise when he added his final touch to the end of the song. Take a listen. We hope you enjoy as much as Lloyd and I did.

We are thankful

Our family alternates spending Thanksgiving holidays every 3 years between different relatives homes. Truly, this tradition started because of my Dad's lack of enthusiasm for the holidays (Aunt Ruth would say it was the lack of the Willhite family's enthusiasm- her story is similar with my Dad's twin Jim). The year after my Mom and Dad got married, Dad spent the entire Thanksgiving Day putting in kitchen cabnets at my neighbor's house (in Martin) and left my poor mother to celebrate the holiday alone--poor girl, as they had only been married only 6 weeks at that time! Can you imagine? The next year, my Mom invited every member of his entire family (around 20 people- give or take a few) to spend Thanksgiving in Martin! (I think I may have inherited some of my Mom's spunk- and party throwing). What started as our parents tradition is now being continued through us, the children, as we alternate between our house, my cousin Adelia's house, and her brother Edwin's house (children of Dad's twin Jim).

Yesterday, the Willhites spent Thanksgiving with us in Memphis and we had such a wonderful time. From the 20 pound bird to desserts galore, we had a feast! But, more than that we are thankful for such a wonderful family. When some families struggle for conversation or have stress during the holidays, I thrive on this time together. We could not have had a more perfect day. We are so blessed!

Halloween

Here are our spooky little ones- Harrison as a Clone Troper and Grayson as a mermaid princess. I have to throw away all the candy now since Lloyd and I can't keep from eating a piece every time we walk past the kitchen!

Fall is here!

Fall is my favorite season. In Memphis, it's still 80 plus degrees, but, there is something different about the gentle wind and the leaves that gives us hope that cooler weather is just around the corner. Lloyd and I spent the weekend at the lake, and as the kids and I returned home today we stopped off at the pumpkin patch just outside of Milan, TN. Harrison had saved $9 and he practiced his math skills as he decided based on price which to pick from the cream of the crop. Grayson couldn't quite grasp why her $2 wouldn't buy the biggest pumpkin in the yard, but, we were able to leave without too many tears.



Tomorrow is the first official day of fall. Enjoy my favorite season. Happy fall to all of you, and watch out, Grayson... don't fall!

Black Sand Beaches, White Sand Beaches, and Everything in Between

Our final class was today, and it was almost saddening to realize our time here has to come to an end. We’ve really become good friends with the other VPs and their families. Our hope is to have a reunion with this group (believe me, we’ve made it clear that we are willing to “sacrifice” and come down again next year for this course!) That is not up to us, however, and regardless, we’d say this was a terrific experience and yet another trip of a lifetime.

After class, we lounged by the pool and tried to reflect on what our favorite adventures have been. We’ve experienced so much in these short 10 days it’s incredibly hard to decide. From black sand beaches to white sand beaches, and everything in between-- it’s all been pretty spectacular. I’ve decided to post our favorite pictures of "us" from the trip and hope that they capture our expressions of the beauty of this place and give you a glimpse into our favorite memories (albeit vicariously).















As the sun sets tomorrow over the Caribbean, we will hopefully be back in the United States. This adventure will be over yet others will be beginning. We’ve loved keeping in touch with you as we were away. Thanks for your emails and blog comments! This will be treasured.