So it’s that time of year again when Hubby and I plague each other with whether or not to exchange gifts early. You know what? It’s not the time of year, it’s us. As my mother would say, “Just can’t have nothing new.” And she would be right. Be it a birthday, anniversary, or Christmas present, we can’t get that item opened fast enough. What amazes me most is the great lengths we go to in order to make sure the other has no idea what they are getting. My husband would let me get the mail for a week because there was something in the mail that would tip me off. And I am now doing the same to him with an additional gift I vow not to give him until Christmas.

So we have already swapped Christmas gifts. It’s December 15th and the only gift I’ll be opening on Christmas will be from my mother. That’s not a bad thing but her gift are more thoughtful than exciting.

Anyway… I do want to say that I absolutely love my now not-so-new gift. What is it? Drumroll….

A PS3!!! And I love it. Hubby and I were discussing the PS3 and how it really is an all-in-one home entertainment system. It plays DVD and Blu-ray, streams from Netflix, downloads games (some have demos), and has the new PlayStation Network. So far I’ve downloaded a few demos: Fairytale Fights is disturbingly bloody while Little Big Planet is fun and cute. We’ve alos bulked up out Netflix Instant Play Queue  and have streamed everything from Dora and Thomas the Tank Engine to Jim Gaffigan and SNL’s The Best of Chris Farley.

We haven’t played any Blu-ray discs but have noticed the difference in picture quality. I’m thinking of ordering Star Trek for us and Up for KidWonder. I can’t wait to see what all the fuss is about. Now all I need to do is get Hubby a receiver to go with the surround sound speakers I got him last year.

So this year has been filled with so much that I don’t know where to begin. I guess I should start at the beginning.

Well I started out pregnant with Beany while Dad prepared for his arrival.

Then it was off to Italy for our Babymoon. Traveling between cities by train, we visited Rome, Venice, Florence, and Sienna. And Dad tried some of the local cuisine.

Then Beany was born. We loved having him home that we never wanted to put him down. Nor did his grandparents.

Soon, Beany had his own friends and was having a barrel of laughs.

In September we had a party where Beany got to meet some of his cousins. They wanted to play with him at any cost.

After the party, Mom and Dad got to go to the U.S. Open.

We got a new house and moved in.

Things slowed down a bit while Beany learned to sit unassisted.

But after he learned there was nothing he couldn’t conquer, there was no stopping him.

Beany had his first trip (he was an angel on the plane both ways), where he met some Mom’s family for the first time and saw Dad’s sister for the first time since his party.

Then we hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas. David saw a lot of family and got a lot of presents.

All in all, it was a great year.