Wow, It's Been a While...

How time gets away from a person over the holidays... First off, Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. With the kids home from school until the 7th, I find that not much gets done around here. Monopoly is a favorite holiday pastime. We play it often while everyone's home. We recently discovered a Mega Monopoly edition which is a total blast. I won two games and Wayne won two, keeping our parent track record alive.

Of course we also spent time playing with Christmas presents. We played the new Game of Life Twists and Turns edition until we nearly wore out the electronic LifePod. It was so much fun. Turns out I was lucky to get that and Monopoly Electronic Edition for $20 each. Apparently there was a shortage and people were getting close to $100 for them on eBay! Monopoly just isn't the same without handling the money, so that one was a let-down. We'll have to give it another try though.

But perhaps the funnest--and scariest--game was Samantha's Karaoke Revolution Presents American Idol for Playstation 2. Oh my God, I haven't had that much fun in a good while! It analyzes your voice pitch and rhythm to 40 different songs in American Idol fashion, and after each performance Simon, Randy, and Laura (I guess Paula was on the sauce or something when they made the game, laughs) rate you. I was discouraged after my first song when Simon said my performance was worse than three days in bed with the flu and Randy said I was hurting everyone with my voice, but I pushed on, eventually getting compliments from all judges and helping Sam unlock more songs and player clothes, hairstyles, etc. CJ belted out Elvis's "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You" and sounded just like my grandma Anna Banana (a.k.a. "Justagramma"). Sam got into Pussycat Dolls and Nickelback, while I sang the oldies from Elton John, Whitney Houston and, heaven help me, the Captain and Tenille. Sooo much fun!!!! I've already been eBaying more games to add to our collection, and American Idol Encore Edition comes out February 8. Yea!!!!!!!!

Anyway, the photo above shows the kids and I with some gift cards we got from a close friend back east, Julie Smith, who also played piano at our wedding. And yes, Sam's wearing antlers. They light up, too!