CHRISTMAS LISTS!!! 2011

PETRY WISH LIST 2011

Inga

interests: reading, cello, design, cooking, fashion, American Girl, i-pod touch

size 10

American Girl Doll stuff

Mini laptop

Clothes

Jewelry

i-pod touch

please ask for more ideas (work in progress)

Andrei

interests: Star Wars, geology

French Horn, discovery

Look on Amazon.com for updated gift ideas and books/CDs

size 10

legos of any kind

Star Wars

Geology books

Crystal rocks

remote control car

medieval costume (dress-up) size 10

Star Wars costume

light saber

bike (banana handlebars)

transformer

batting tee

nerf gun

toy guns

bionicles

pocket knife

spy gear

TRX suspension system

Theraband

Watch

nightlight

Superhero ring

Elena

interests: tomboy things, cello, art

size 9/10

light saber

gum

watch

remote control car

sunglasses

hat to keep sun out of eyes

wallet

football

baseball

Lord of the Rings toys

pocket knife

sonic screwdriver (10^th doctor)

toy pistol

toy bazooka

star wars figures

Indiana Jones whip

Alex

interests: piano, violin, collecting things,

learning, books, science

size 6

watch

coin collecting kit

Superhero ring (or boy ring)

Justice League action fingures (he asked for boys)

remote control car

bust of a past president

double light-saber (red)

General Grevious dress-up (size 5-6)

Darth Maul dress-up

rock collection with collection box

car that stops and goes with button

lego castle (Star Wars)

Star Wars battle droid

Bionicle

First aid kit

3 ninjas

Lord of the Rings toys

Sonic screwdriver (Doctor Who #11)

Indiana Jones gun

Bazooka toy gun

General Grevious Toy

Fake cobra snake

light-weight shield

Zing Shot launcher from Hearthsong

Jump rope

Jump rope rhymes book

Music headphones (to plug into piano for quiet practicing, basic quality)

Piano sustain pedal for electric keyboard

Sam

Interests: glasses, picture books

superheroes,

size 5/6

lego sets

double light saber

Ratchet Transformer

Optimus Prime Transformer

Green Lantern ring

Bazooka toy gun

Recorder radio

Star Wars dress-up (size 5-6)

remote control car

underwater goggles

case for glasses

Superman castle

sonic screwdriver (Doctor Who #11)

battle shield (light-weight)

small nerf football

rug with street scene on it (for playing cars on)

cars to go on rug

books on CD (fairy tales, etc.)

Knight costume

A clip to put little toys on his backpack—little toys to go on the clip

Elissa

interests: toys, developmental toddler

size 5

anything with chocolate in it :)

cute, unusual hair things

ask me for more ideas (work in progress)

magna-doodle (large)

I-pad apps (gift cards for I-store)

Jennifer

interests: writing, music, cooking, reading, traveling, therapy

anything kids are into

size 8-12

books and CDs (look on Amazon wishlist)

JJ Heller: Painted Red (CD)

Subscription to The Writer’s Magazine

Subscription to Locus Magazine

Cool Celtic Music

Books on how to make good movies from home

Jewelry from Etsy

Glass custard dishes

Music notation software

Chocolate molds from: http://www.bakedeco.com/dept.asp?id=347

Voice-activated software (Dragon—the kind that transfers digital voice recordings)

Tupperware (or similar quality) spatula

Li’l Davinci art frame

Cuddle duds (long underwear) long-sleeved undershirts, V-neck size medium

Nice pots and pans, bamboo steamer (ask Ben and Julie for brand recommendations)

i-pod with huge amount of storage

Bose docking station

Digital Dictaphone

Cook’s Online magazine subscription

All Kids

recess balls

sweatshirts for kids

art tray

crafts works for making cards

Dan

interests: teaching, learning, reading, traveling

classical Christian education

Mars Hill audio subscription

Teaching Company gift certificates

Canon Press gift certificates

Skyline chili

dress shirts (16 1/2, 34-35)

ties that match shirts

sit-up bench (adjustable decline)

Quotes

Inga--"I'm armless"

Alex--"I'm a handful" **

** Alex was actually trying to say "I am full of hands".

PETRY FAMILY WISH LIST for CHRISTMAS 2010

OK, this was not what I wanted to do for my first post in Lancaster. Ah, well:

For more ideas and details, our Amazon wish lists can be found at: http://amzn.com/w/2R51ATWJ0Y8SW

PETRY WISH LIST

Inga
interests: stylish clothes, Harry Potter,
jewlery (no pierced ears yet)
size 9/10
hair straightener
magnetic earrings
stylish clothes (size 10)
candy
lip balm
nail polish
bouncy ball
stylish sunglasses
matching suitcase and bag
swim goggles (like Marisol's)
Point of Grace-How You Live
Jars of Clay-Redemption Songs
They Might be Giants (anything except Flood)
spray-on lotion
toe-less socks

Andrei
interests: Star Wars, science, Greece and Rome
French Horn, discovery
size 8/9
remote control car
remote control helicopter
Star Wars legos
medieval costume (dress-up) size 8-10
cowboy costume with guns
Star Wars costume
light saber
hot wheels cars
bike pump
bike (banana handlebars)
motorbike for kids
piggy bank
books
transformer
t-ball set
play mat for wooden train
gargoyle play set
spy gear

Elena
interests: tomboy things, cello, art
size 8/9
light saber
cowgirl costume (size 8)
gum
socks with animals on them
watch
remote control car
sunglasses
hat to keep sun out of eyes
wallet
hopscotch carpet
books on CD (call to ask)

Alex
interests: piano, violin, collecting things,
learning, books, science
size 5/6
watch
Superhero ring (or boy ring)
Justice League action fingures (he asked for boys)
remote control car
bust of a past president
double light-saber (red)
General Grevious dress-up (size 5-6)
Darth Maul dress-up
rock collection with collection box
car that stops and goes with button
lego castle (Star Wars)
Star Wars battle droid
light-weight shield

Sam
Interests: glasses, picture books
superheroes,
size 5/6
sunglasses (Darth Vader, Spiderman)
light saber
Star Wars dress-up (size 5-6)
remote control car
underwater goggles
case for glasses
cape
battle shield (light-weight)
small nerf football
rug with street scene on it (for playing cars on)
cars to go on rug
4- or 6-scene sequencing cards from Lakeshore (http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/p%7CCG192~~.jsp)

Elissa
interests: toys, ages 18 mos.-3 years
food, especially sugary desserts
size 4
anything with chocolate in it :)
cute, unusual hair things
cute dresses
soft shoes (size 7)

All Kids
walkie talkies (need 5 on same channel)
recess balls
sweatshirts for kids
art tray
crafts works for making cards

Jennifer
interests: writing, music, cooking, reading
anything kids are into
size 8-12
books and CDs (look on Amazon wishlist)
Classical music
JJ Heller: Painted Red (CD)
Adobe premier Elements 9 for Windows XP
or Mac laptop computer :)
10 sets of everyday dishware
Subscription to The Writer’s Magazine
Subscription to Locus Magazine
Cool candlesticks for the dinner table
Queen Sheets
Cool cookie jar
Cookie sheets, good quality (I have issues with cookie sheets)
The Carpenters
Cool Celtic Music
Juicer (wide mouth, white) from here: http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/juicers.aspx
Juicing for Life by Calbom & Keane
Calla Lilly
Turtle necks
Nice jewelry box
Books on how to make good movies from home
Jewelry from Etsy (example: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62416746/helene-14kt-gold-filled-chain)
Paper towel holder
Glass custard dishes
Tart pans for making pecan tarts for Christmas J like these: http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Platinum-Nonstick-Tartlette/dp/B00005NCWX/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2FJ9RA1B8UN3R&colid=2R51ATWJ0Y8SW

Dan
interests: teaching, learning, reading
classical Christian education
Mars Hill audio subscription
Teaching Company gift certificates
Canon Press gift certificates
Skyline chili
mac laptop computer
dress shirts (16 1/2, 34-35)
ties that match shirts

Household
You are Special plate
stereo dock for i-pod and CD combined (BOSE?)
digital video camera
apple laptop
large toolbox for all tools (to go in garage)
large print Bible (for kids to read more easily) with normal to thick pages (not those super-thin pages that tear so easily). New King James Version, please

Birthdays, Medieval Times and Crabs

On Friday afternoon Elena had her first birthday party, and invited several girls from her class over to celebrate. One of the games involved trying to drink from a cup like Lena. It was pretty funny!

On Saturday evening Inga went out with a couple of friends in her class to Medieval Times, a castle near Washington, D.C. built into the Arundel Mills Mall complex that hosts people for a medieval meal. While you eat they put on a show for you with a story line involving kings and kingdoms and amazing horsemanship. There was a lot of sword fighting and jousting involved, and each section had a particular knight to cheer for. Ours was the yellow knight, and when he won the competition he received a white carnation from the princess which he threw to Inga's friend. Inga insists that he looked at her when he threw it, but he missed.

On Sunday evening Dan and I went to a crabhouse and ate crabs steamed in Old Bay seasoning. It was quite the experience; a lot of work for a little bit of food, but great fun with friends. We saw some other people we knew there, too. Amazing that we have lived here this long and haven't done this yet. We are told we need to introduce our kids to this sooner rather than later, or they might get grossed out by the crabs. I can understand that...it was a little much like biology lab! Afterward we went over to our friends' house and introduced them to Dr. Horrible, which they appreciated appropriately.

I played in church this morning for the first time in a long while. I guess I should do that more often...

New Post!!

It has been an incredibly long time since I've posted, due to an amazingly challenging and full life recently. However, things are starting to get back to normal, which means things like: my husband has no job as of today, we lose our health insurance at the end of June, we might move, I might be homeschooling five kids next year, and we won't be home for most of the summer. Yup. Normal crazy.

Today was the last day of school. Inga was very sad saying goodbye to her friends and teachers, but she gets to go out with the girls from her class to something called Medieval Times where you can go to a castle, eat a four-course medieval meal (with your hands/feet, of course) with "royalty", and watch real live jousting with trained horses and "knights". She just finished a whole year of studying the Medievel Ages so this is my treat to her for a year of hard work. She also had a medieval feast at school, which will hopefully help prepare her for the real thing tomorrow.

Elena had her birthday party today. I've decided to give each gender a specific year for parties: this year the girls get birthday parties, and next year the boys get to have birthday parties. That way I don't get too worn out throwing the parties, but the kids know their turn will come and they won't have to wait too too long. I've also discovered that I'm not too bad at throwing interesting parties, which is nice. Maybe I can be a legitimate mom after all.

Dan is at school finishing grades and clearing out his room. It has been a long four years with St. Stephen's and we are finally done. Not having a job to go to from here has us all a little worried, but God is good and I can't be too concerned when He has taken us through so many miracles and hard times to bring home our kids. I would just like a little sneak peak ahead to know what to expect, though. Just a small one.

Dan also graduated recently, last week if my sense of time isn't too stretched out by now. Oh, it is--it was two weeks ago. Ugh. Anyway, the graduation ceremony was great, the trip to Idaho was a breeze (which I wasn't expecting with all the kids and 6 airplanes and two rental cars because we couldn't all fit in one vehicle--why don't places rent out 8-passenger vans, what is wrong with people?--and sleeping at Megan and Michael's little apartment on the last evening). I met some of Dan's professors and a lot of Megan's friends and we got together with the Mileurs who are currently in Idaho at the moment. Someone who was taking pictures at the graduation asked if we could come to the studio and have our photos taken professionally by him so we all trooped down there Friday morning and took lots of pictures, then he came over to our hotel and his kids swam with our kids in the pool. I hope he got some good photos, because we don't have a professional photo of our family since Lissy came home and it would be great if these turned out and we could order a few. All in all it was an incredibly refreshing trip, which was just what I needed.

Sam adores Michael, by the way.

I'm going to play in church on Sunday, for the first time in...years. It feels good to practice. I'm playing the first movement from Bach's second partita. I like it because it's dark, and that's my mood recently. I've also started writing a lot over the past year, in comparison with the year before that, anyway. I've added about 150 pages to my book, which may not seem like a lot but I revise as I go so it's a little more work than you might think. I think the final number of pages may be somewhere around 400, which when translated to publisher layout may just about equal 700 pages. That's too long if I want to publish it as one book, but I don't know how to turn it into a trilogy or a...what do you call it when you write two books? Anyway, I really like this book, I just don't know how to make it good enough to be marketable. I have a number of friends reading it and giving feedback, and it's a wonderful way to learn but I am only learning how much more I still have to learn before I think I'm good enough to sit back and say, "now I am ready to say this is finished; I've done the best I can."

Elissa is walking all over the place now, and is starting to say individual words. She consistently says: more, night-night, bye-bye, pizza, please, cookie, cereal, Mama, Dada, Inga, banana. It's soooo cute!! I've never really had a kid go through this little child phase. All of my kids have come walking and talking; it was just a matter of learning English. Elissa came essentially as a newborn, and I have had the opportunity to watch my child grow from virtual infancy up until now, where she is just about at the two-year old developmental level. Including the tantrums, I might add. Those are fun. I am so pleased with the progress she's making. She laughs and giggles all day long, and is usually quite easy to take places because she likes her stroller and she likes interacting with people now. She's a lovable little girl, and I can't imagine my life without her. She will most likely go to school next year, in a class specially for kids like her who need a lot of educational support and therapy. I visited the place she'll go and saw the teacher she'll have and I think she's ready and it's a good fit for where she is. This year the class size was four kids to one teacher and an aid. Elissa will also most likely have a one-on-one aid to help her with walking and snack and toilet training. She'll go to school from 9-12 every day, and if we want to she can even ride the bus (in a carseat) to and from school. It would be the short yellow bus--but I don't think she'll notice the stigma.

Annie comes on Monday, and we're all looking forward to it!

By the way--I saw that Samantha was "following" my blog, which I think means it will show her when I next post to my blog, and that is what inspired me to go ahead and post again. Thanks, Samantha!

CHRISTMAS LIST POSTING!!

Yes, it takes shameless greed to finally get me to post again to my blog. How sad. But hopefully this will make things easier all 'round. I will simply change the font color to red if I know someone is getting a particular item for someone. So please let me know what you're getting people in my family (through e-mail, phone call, or PaterKessler account) and I'll update this way...that should make it simple for everyone's list...except mine, of course.

We will be spending Christmas Day at home, and then heading out to Ohio to visit people the next couple of days after. It would be easiest for us space/time wise if you sent gift to our house for Christmas Day, but if you have other preferences then please do as you like :)

I'll be adding to this as we go along...

Petry Family Christmas List
(spoken-for items are in red)

INGA
CDs:
Point of Grace-How You Live
Jars of Clay-Redemption Songs
They Might be Giants (anything except Flood, which she already has)
Books--Look on Amazon wishlist (e-mail address djpetry@juno.com)
DVDs:
Scooby Doo cartoons
Little Mermaid 2 and 3
American Girl Doll
Books for American Girl Julie Albright
Klutz series (book on craft): room lanterns, window art, stencil art,
Potholders, etc. (not face painting or thick plastic “string” bracelet making)
Necklace and earring combo (clip-on earrings), bracelet, jewelry
Costumes (not princess)
American Girl doll clothes
Lotion (the kind you spray on)
Gum
Stationery
Really awesome clothes (shirt, pants, dresses)
i-Fan (fan you can hold that sprays water)
Sunglasses
Watch
Cool PJs
Kids’ make up (for summer theatre and dress-up)
Recess Ball
Travel hairbrush
Remote control car
Npower digital diary digital camera (iCarly)
Digital photo viewer
Lip smackers chapstick
Littlest petshop stuff (anything)
Hair colorist kit (So Chic Salon or similar)
Easy-Bake recipes
Poster
Kid’s pottery wheel
Disney fashion designer (Hannah Montana)
Hydropowered rocket


ANDREI
Books--Look on Amazon wishlist (e-mail address djpetry@juno.com)
Star Wars legos
Freckles (1904) by Gene Stratton Porter
Child’s magazine (comics, superheroes, nature, trucks/machines)
Books on how things work
Superhero toys (car, superhero)
Recess ball--Superman
Sunglasses
Superhero car (Batman, spiderman, superman)
Transformers animal (sturdy)
Radio-controlled car or helicopter
Books for ages 7 and up
Clothes (shirt, pants, shoes)
Baseball hat
Cool cup/plate/bowl combo (plastic or china/ceramic)
Cool clock for room
fun fuzzy socks (traction on bottom, please) or slippers
Educational games
Special bandaids
Cool PJs
Superhero coloring book
Semi truck with matchbox cars in it
Marshmallow bow and mallow
Transformers desert tracker Ratchet
GI Joe dress-up, fireman dress-up
GI Pit mobile headquarters (expensive!)
Transformers laptop
Star Wars The Force trainer
Imaginext bat castle
King Arthur Attack Action Warship
Hot wheels cars
Ultra blast batman
Remote control robot sergeant
Lego castle, lego Star Wars anything
Erector set multi-models
Model (basic—this would be his first one)
Wooden train track stuff (Thomas and Friends or compatible) –bridge
Bow and arrow set (Tucsan)
T-ball set (Sizzlin’ Cool)
Air Zone crossbow
Gargoyle playset
Bop bag
Shield
Puzzles (150 +)
Radio-control tarantula or car
Play mat for wooden train
Art supplies
Spy gear


ELENA
Books: look on Amazon wishlist (e-mail address djpetry@juno.com)
Glasses
Toy cat
Special bandaids (Strawberry Shortcake ?)
Special china or ceramic cup/plate/bowl combo for special meals
Cool Pencils and pens
Really cool cupboard/shelf combination for her to store her own things
Watch (Strawberry Shortcake)
Cool PJs
Toe ring
Horse things
http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toys/interests/horses/index.cfm?source=google&kwid=horse+toys&gclid=CPz2y86Rv5cCFQECGgodu3KpRw)
stuffed doll (Woody) –rather large
Bakugan
Radio-control car
Poster
Lego castle (Star Wars)
Play mat for wooden train
Incredible hulk power glow mask
Puzzles (35+)
Yo-yo
Art supplies



ALEX
Books: look on Amazon wishlist (e-mail address djpetry@juno.com)
Radio-controlled car
Play mat for wooden train
Star Wars battle droid
Star Wars Battle Pack
batman dress-up clothes (batman with mask, etc)
Cool Cape
Coloring book
wallet
Educational toys
Special bandaids
fun fuzzy socks (traction on bottom, please)
Sunglasses
Clock
Watch
Superhero pajamas
GI Goe accelerator suit Duke
Imaginext bat castle
Star Wars the Force trainer
2-wheeler bike with training wheels
Good quality musical toys
Stuffed doll-Buzz Lightyear (big)
Guitar
Bakugan
Batman poster
Lego castle
Star Wars playdoh set
Thomas the Train wooden tracks and stuff (he has the basic track) –especially the signal house
Star Wars kite
AirZone crossbow
Bop bag
Shields
Yo yo
Puzzles (35+)



SAM
Books and toys: look on Amazon wishlist (e-mail address djpetry@juno.com)
Coloring books with superheroes
Wallet
Cape
Special bandaids
Movie or superhero action figures (for little kids)
fun fuzzy socks (traction on bottom, please)
Super cool PJs
Superhero books
Recess ball
Watch
Raffi songs (we don’t have any)
Transformers that turn into cars (simple)
Spiderman laptop
Radio flyer tricycle
Riding helmet for bike
Spiderman action figure
Batmobile
Poster of Spiderman or Dragonball Z
Small nerf football
Batman bop bag
Large rubber shark


ELISSA
Toys: look on Amazon wishlist (e-mail address djpetry@juno.com)
Fisher Price corn popper
Playschool busy balls terrific textures
Fischer-Price riding toy (Little People time to learn to ride-on)
bath toys
Anything for 18 months +


ALL KIDS
Leonard Bernstein’s The Carnival of the Animals and Peter and the Wolf (CD)
You Are Special plate for special occasion meals
Heelies
Good-quality kids’ hand-bells for bellchoir (http://www.kidsplaymusic.com/?gclid=CM7PopqD950CFQRM5QodL1TvqQ)
Billy Joel CD:
http://www.amazon.com/Billy-Joel-Greatest-Hits-Vol/dp/B00000DCHI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1258692261&sr=8-1
Beethoven’s Wig 4 (CD)
Classical Kids Lullabys http://www.amazon.com/Daydreams-Lullabies-Classical-Kids/dp/B00000212O/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1258693750&sr=1-9
The World’s Very Best Opera for kids…in English! http://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Very-Opera-Kids-English/dp/B0000C5ROP/ref=pd_sim_m_11

DANIEL
Subscription to Mars Hill audio magazine (http://www.marshillaudio.org/)
Books: look on Amazon wishlist (e-mail address djpetry@juno.com)
Gift Certificate to The Great Courses (www.teach12.com)
Gift certificate to Borders or Barnes and Noble
Gift certificates to Canon Press (http://www.canonpress.org/)
Gift certificates to Red Robin, Skyline
Books: look on Amazon wishlist (e-mail address djpetry@juno.com)

JENNIFER
Books: look on Amazon wishlist (e-mail address djpetry@juno.com)
Subscription to The Writer’s Magazine (Brad got me one last year)
Subscription to Locus Magazine (sci-fi and Fantasy)
Jennie—trac suit I can wear around the house and not look completely ratty
Headphones like these (noise reduction, great for listening to classical music or reducing noise so I can write my book
http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/home_en.nsf/root/private_headphones_wireless-headphones_502384
Footie pajamas (fun ones—just google it)
Nutrimill Grain Mill http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/nutrimill.aspx
Bosch Universal Mixer + cookie paddles http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/Bosch_Universal_Plus_Mixer_MUM6N10UC.aspx
(these two can be combined for a large savings if anyone's crazy enough to get them for me)
Photos (in frames) of family
Warm fuzzy socks for around the house
Warm practical socks
Spoon holder for stovetop
Headphones--good quality
Cool candlesticks for the dinner table
Cool cookie jar
Cookie sheets, good quality (I have issues with cookie sheets)
Spatula for getting cookies off cookie sheets
Small but bright table lamp for reading in bedroom
Hands-free phone earpiece (for regular phone)
Really nice computer speakers
Bowls or, if you want to get extravagant, a whole new set of every day plates and bowls (10 each)
Books
· The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler
· Books for children on various composers by Children’s Press in Chicago
· Look on Amazon wishlist (e-mail address djpetry@juno.com)

Music CDs
Easy French books-on-tape
The Carpenters
Cool Celtic Music


THE WHOLE FAMILY
Family photos sitting and pictures from Olan Mills
Awesome lamps, floor and table (the entire house needs them!)
Fun Drinking glasses (for everyday drinking)
Cool doormat that will remind us of whoever gave it to us

Gift Certificates:
Amazon.Com
Home Depot or Lowe’s
Bed, Bath and Beyond
Red Robin (restaurant)

My Much Delayed Post

Christmas is over now and since Megan was able to update I guess I should fulfill my duty and update as well.

Life in the Petry household is busy as usual and yet routine enough to keep everything sane. Inga is in the third grade and participates in Choir and Taikwando. Andrei is doing well improving his reading ability and pronunciation. Yelena is enjoying half-day Kindergarten with Alex and is excited about going to Hilton Head for Spring Break this year. Alex is excited to befriend a new student in his class this month and is going to be celebrating his 6th birthday in April. And I've really been enjoying the quality time spent in the mornings with Sammy and Elissa as Elissa begins to scoot along the floor and take steps as she holds on to the couch.

Since December I've gotten one sister married off and in May I will travel to London to see my Brother and Friend be married. Dan has been busy keeping up with teaching here at St. Peters and continuing his education at New St. Andrews in Moscow. 

Elissa was recently baptized and mom and Papasan were able to drive down and join us for her baptism. Thanks Mom, you mean so much to me and my whole family!