New Car!!!

I know...some of you family members are thinking "they just bought a new car like 2 years ago!" You're right, we did...but it was a piece of @$%^! For those of you out there that are possibly considering buying a Chrysler Pacifica, continue reading...

We bought the Pacifica in 2006 just before we PCS'd from Fort Riley. Got a great deal on it b/c it was a 2005 that was still on the lot when the 2006's began arriving. We should have seen things to come when we had it for 1 day and the DVD/CD changer gobbled-up 3 of our DVD's and wouldn't spit them back out. This happened twice in the first month. We finally got the DVD system fixed and largely had success with the car until about a year later when Kristin noticed a small "ticking" sound coming from the front end. Up examination at the dealer, they said the entire All Wheel Drive system had to be replaced (basically the entire transmission). the mechanic at the dealer told me that it would have been a $10,000 job had it not been covered under the warranty. Fast forward to a couple months ago when we had to have the rear axle-seal replaced, brake drums replaced and the gas pedel started sticking all of which was not covered under the powertrain warranty. So, with only 39,000 miles on it I had had enough.

So I started research on the internet and the field quickly narrowed to either the Honda Accord, or Toyota Camry, both of which are great cars. We test-drove both and felt the Accord to be a better car. So yesterday, we brought our new Honda Accord home! This is my first Honda and I must say that I am very, very impressed! The engineering is superb, the interior is awesome, the power and engine are great...I could go on for quite a while. Plus, the CD player is still working so we are already ahead of where we were with the Pacifica at this point.

So if you want to know more about both cars if you are in the market for a new car I have quite a bit of info. to share. Just email me if you want more info. Until then, I have attached a couple pics for your enjoyment...

Karate!

I have been meaning to post for a while but it has bee a really busy month at work with travel...

A couple of weeks back Drew finally started Karate, which he has been really wanting to do for some time now. He is very excited each and every lesson we got to and his attention could not be diverted by anything short of a nuclear explosion. So we are happy he has found something he really enjoys...let's see how long it lasts!

Here's a few pics of some of his "moves"


Drew in his "strike position"


This is his "ready position"

Drewese Answers

I know you all are dying to know what Drew wrote! I know because you are all asking me by phone and email:-) OK, here it is...

Please do not come in my room. Not even grown-ups! Thank you.

An 11 year old neighbor kid had a similar note pinned to his bedroom door. Naturally Drew looks up to the big kids and wants to do whatever it is that they do. It's scary how much influence random people have on what Drew thinks a "big boy" should be like. On with the deciphering! The next one I'll do line by line...

Nerf gun (checkmark, period) To Santa
Goliath (period, checkmark)
Skateboard (period, checkmark)
Two-wheeler skateboard (period, checkmark)
Robot Dad (period, checkmark)
Robot dog (period, checkmark)
To Santa Claus (Checkmark)

This was Drew's list to Santa. Now that you know what the words are, you are still probably wondering what they mean. Some things just don't make sense, even after they are deciphered. Now we will go deeper into Drew's mind...

I bet you are wondering, "How many kids were asking for Goliath this year???? Was that the hot item?" Back in the fall, Brian bought Drew a David action figure. Well, to Drew, to have a David (complete with sling shot) would not be fun to play with without a Goliath to defeat. Drew has been asking for a Goliath since then! I went to get one at the Christian bookstore and believe it or not, they were all out!!!

Next on the list that might need some explanation is the two-wheeler skateboard. That really wasn't a fair one for you all since only Brian and I really knew what that was. He actually wanted a two-wheel scooter. He's been playing with a hand-me-down baby 3 wheeler and was ready for the upgrade.

Now the robot Dad and robot dog have been on the list the longest. Since last Christmas in fact. Drew and I visited our friends Karen and Chloe just after Christmas last year. Chloe had received a robot and a robot dog. What an impression those robots made on Drew because a year later they still make the list.

Can You Read Drewese?

As we were cleaning-up and taking-down Christmas decorations this afternoon, we came across these little "notes" that Drew wrote. I must say we have been very proud of Drew for his reading that he has been doing (he's on level 2 books now)! His writing, on the other hand, needs translation from him.

So, in the spirit of reading Drew's writing, we are holding the first annual "Decipher the Drewese" contest. This is an opportunity for all of you "lurkers" out there that visit our site but never leave comments-hence the term lurker-to comment on the site. If you can decipher, line by line what these two notes from Drew say, then you will receive a leftover Christmas gift from us.

Just to let you all know, we already know what the notes say as we had to have Drew decipher them for us:-)

Good luck...