My family doesn’t generally need much reason to get excited, especially on our annual trek to the beach. We have many activities planned to keep everyone as busy as possible. This year, something changed beach week for ever.

Somebody brought a Wii.

Up until now, I had only heard about how much fun you could have with Nintendo’s newest video game system. One of my brothers got it for his 10-year-old son for Christmas, and that entire family has had plenty of fun in the past seven months.

I figured I would have a good time when I got a chance to play. After all, I like video games and had read about how the interactive nature of the Wii made things fun even for people who didn’t usually like video games.

But I never expected to have as much fun as I did. I really have to guard against weak moments while shopping because I could pick up one of these things at a moment’s notice.

That would excite Bridget to no end. She had a little trouble with the bowling game the first night the family got together to play Wii (there was a crab feast going on at the same time, but the Wii dominated many people’s time). A few days later, however, she got the hang of things and informed me she wanted one for Christmas.

I had to act all father-like and tell her we would see what Santa could do while suppressing the urge to jump up and down and tell her how much I wanted one too.

The thing about all this is that we only played the games which come on a free disc included with the system. Wii Sports includes bowling, golf, baseball, boxing and tennis.

I managed one of the highlights of the week when I chipped in a golf shot from about 30 yards off the green. That made up for six-putting a green earlier as I struggled to get used to how slow or fast you needed to move the controller when you took a shot.

I also got into a very spirited doubles match in tennis and bowled a few games. By the end of the week, I had figured out how to put a wicked spin on the bowling ball, a feat I never accomplished in six years of league bowling.

I didn’t get a chance to play baseball or boxing. I could do without the baseball game,. But I really, really need to get into a boxing match. Watching one of my nephews excitedly move his hands with reckless abandon and knock out one of his cousins was something I’ll never forget.

I still enjoyed all the other beach activities. I partnered with my nephew John to win our second straight summer cornhole tournament. I enjoyed some refreshingly cold adult beverages after sitting on the beach and doing nothing. I won lots of tickets in the arcade so Bridget could bring home armloads of stuffed animals and other trinkets.

But I will always remember Beach Week 2007 for the Wii.