We agreed, and very likely it's a sentiment being felt in millions of homes this year. And it isn't about fear about the economy, or a kneejerk reaction to the stock market, or at least just that, but it seems to me to be an "awakening from slumber" moment for many of us.

For years we were pulled in deeper by the undercurrent of Christmas capitalism, pushed by the desire for greater and more expensive electronics and sports equipment and other items because everyone else was going in a bit deeper as well. Our kids deserve this, because their friends have this, and because their friends have this, our kids want this, and Christmas was there to satisfy the want.

And it wasn't just the kids, but us as well, wanting more than we needed simply because we felt the pull and didn't feel any desire to resist. There was almost a sense that we deserved it.

Funny thing about an economic crisis, though, is it makes you think about the reasoning of what you're doing as you consider the results as well.

I wonder if that reasoning is going to make a big change in the future of Christmas in families around the country. If families have a more modestly priced Christmas, and this Christmas is seen as just as enjoyable and rewarding for families as previous Christmases, then what is the value of spending that additional $500 or $1000 or $2000 dollars on gifts? Especially when compared to things that could be done with that money for the family in the future?

We'll see what happens this year, but hefty-price Christmas may be about to get the same kind of review from the American family that the SUV has received the past few years - and a similar buying decision for the future.

Oh, and they hated the songs.

Here's that scene with the pitcher.

Kinda strange to think that Kurt Cobain would have been that age this year.

Now that we have two kids in this league, I've had to make a decision, and this year I'll coach our oldest and assistant coach the youngest. Games and practices will conflict and the head coach really should be there unless of an emergency - that's the commitment you make to the kids on the team, and their parents.

The sad part of that is that this is likely to be my last year of head coaching hoops for the oldest. She and I have already discussed it, and the three of us (including the youngest) are in agreement - next year she'll need a different coach, hopefully someone who can bring coaching and kid talents to the table that I don't, and I'll head coach his team as well.

My wife is likely to find it sad again in a few months as our oldest turns 12, because Pennsylvania state law allows a 12 year old to sit up front in the passenger seat and there will likely be many, many challenges about her sitting up front (instead of my regular copilot) on family trips in the future.

"I Love Middle School."

Aha, I'm not alone.

Times touts us as top spot
Waterlogged, mosquito-bit, but still the best of times
The $4.49-a-Gallon Vacation
A weekend getaway in western Michigan

"You should go on Vehix.com then. It's free!"

I had to explain that searching Vehix.com was free, not the cars for sale there.

Oh, not as cool then.

There were two forts I remember building when I was a kid - one was in Muncie with supply delivery flats, and the other was an underground fort we dug out in California and put a gigantic piece of plywood over the top, except for the entrance. You can do that in California, since it doesn't rain for about 7 months.

There's a time in the evening in the longer daylight days, not quite sundown but getting near, after dinner, when we usually have a relative stillness in our house. The kids are usually eating a snack and watching some television show or reading or playing on X-Box intently, part of the wind-down before bedtime. My wife is doing things to prep for going to work for the next day. I, on the other hand, usually take the opportunity to slip outside and enjoy our backyard for a few minutes.

Actually, it's not all of our backyard. Because of our position on our street and the next cross-street, there are three backyards that run together, almost as one, that over the years have somewhat grown separately yet similar in appearance, almost as if a park landscaper had intended for the entire area to look the way it does. The yards are bordered by fences on one side, and homes on the other, but are wide enough and long enough to keep both out of main focus when looking at the yards. There's always an abundance of natural activity going on in the back, from insects (lightning bugs, cicadas, crickets, butterflies, damselflies, you name it, if it's local you might see it) to vertebrates. At dusk is a good time to see the bats come out and swoop between the trees, catching the bugs that are starting to lift from the grass as dark approaches.

Rarely, other than my family, do you see people at this time in the backyards.

My Dad, in Livermore and in Bakersfield, used to like to go in the backyard for 10-15 minutes and just enjoy whatever he was enjoying, quietly. I tend to think I have a far wealthier view to enjoy, but I've found myself doing the same thing. It's more than just relaxing, there's almost a soothing music of sound and visual, and often of smell, that combines to provide a useful "reset" for me. It's not something that is as describable as it is experienced, but I think you have to be open to it for it to happen, because for many years I was not.

The front yard actually doesn't cut it for me as a view unless it's a thunderstorm. Then, I can sit in the garage, and get a pretty good view of the storm rolling in and the lightning cracking around and the reaction of people as they hurry to get out of the weather. It's still not the same, but it's enjoyable.

For me, the backyard is somewhat of a place where I can rejuice my batteries. How about you?

Geocaching? So far it has proven to be the most popular camp to her this summer, other than basketball. The way we choose these camps, is that she chooses most of them, and then we choose one that we think might be fun and different, or at least mind-opening. She wasn't so hot on our selection of chess last year, and she was afraid that geocaching would be about as interesting. But she loved geocaching. Now the talk is about getting a handheld GPS navigation thingy, and she says this is a good family activity we can all do together. And there are lots and lots of caches - apparently over 2500 in the 17011 zip code alone.

I guess we made a better choice this year than last.