In The Moment

Book Review - A Ship Made of Paper by Scott Spencer

2012-01-24T17:56:00.000-08:00

This is the first book I've read by this author and I thought it was really good! I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for more titles by him.

A Ship Made of Paper is about two people having an affair and the wreckage they leave around them. Thrown into the mix is the fact that the man is white and the woman black. The man is not married but has been the only father his girlfriend's child knows and he adores her. I didn't have much sympathy for the male character, David, at all. I had trouble reconciling how he could risk so much and it made me sad. I was perhaps more sympathetic to the female, Iris, because her husband is rather douchy. Kind of interesting I would feel that way and perhaps not fair. The novel touches not only on cheating but racial issues as well. The last 10pages were very intense, I couldn't read them fast enough, and then the very last page I was just like, huh. The characters truly are consumed with each other at any cost. I do recommend!

Leg Braces for Cooper

2012-01-24T12:28:00.000-08:00

Cooper has toe walked since around age 2 we think. We of course were especially concerned at first as it's a flag often seen for autism and being told he had a 1 in chance of having ASD, were already on pins and needles. Luckily there never was a connection between the two for him and he is considered "typical". After lots of online research and talking to his pediatrician, going to see a neurologist, blood work, it was determined he is not doing it for a medical reason and would hopefully stop as most kids do. By age 4 it became apparent Cooper was not going to stop on his own. On top of that, his tendons had gotten so tight it's now hard for him to even walk flat if he wanted too. Are his tendons tight because he has toe walked for so long or does he toe walk because they've always been tight? We'll never know. We did physical therapy last year but had to stop due to insurance issues. This fall we pursued it again and after getting his tendons looser, we were still unsuccessful in getting him to walk flat without reminding and then it doesn't last but minutes. He pops right back up.

So, now we've come to leg braces. We went to get them yesterday and I just feel so bad he has to wear these. I am trying to remind myself that other kids have to endure much worse challenges, including his brother, but as you can see, it's hard to say it doesn't suck to some degree. I have regretted not putting Cooper in K this year (fall b-day, so we red shirted him) and am happy about the decision now, so he wouldn't have to deal with these at school. I am also glad we got this going in the winter and not the hot summer months. On top of wearing these braces, he has to wear them with shoes all the time and we had to go get size 4XW's for them to fit inside!!! He's 5 and is typically in a 1W. We are really just hoping these do the trick because the next steps are much more invasive and include casting and possible surgery.

We are starting out at 2-3 hours a day for the first week and are to build up from there. As of right now I don't think I'll be sending him to preschool in the braces, it's just to much right now, but we shall see.

Book Review - A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

2012-01-14T21:01:00.000-08:00

This is the memoir written by Jaycee Dugard, the woman that was kidnapped and found after 18years. It talks of the day she was kidnapped, much of her life while in captivity, and of her rescue. The book was very good. There were things in there I expected and then things I never event thought of or can wrap my brain around that she endured. 18 years. 18 YEARS. 2 kids with her rapist. Imagine just being a typical kid at 12 one day and 2 years later you've been a sex slave all that time and are having to let that very man assist you in a homebirth and age 14!

Jaycee does a good job of addressing I think most of what people want to know and understand. Parts are hard to read due to the subject matter, but it isn't to graphic nor drawn out to much. You can just can really not believe what this girl/woman had to go through and I hope she is doing as good as she sounds like she is today.

Book Review: The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan

2012-01-09T13:08:00.000-08:00

I can't remember if this book was cheap or free, but it was one of the two and how it ended up on my Kindle. It is about a woman who experiences something traumitizing in her youth and how that affects the rest of her life. She experiences both horrid hardships and amazing blessings along the way. As I was reading it, I really liked the main character and felt like the book was going to be very depressing. Something I didn't feel like right now. Luckily, it wasn't. It has a sad tone and you question all the time lost to Mary, the main character, but you can see that despite her seclusion, it is not a life wasted. The supporting characters are interesting and you're vested in them enough to care. The book held my attention throughout and I definitely recommend.

Book Reviews

2011-12-30T10:07:00.001-08:00

So, I didn't quite make my goal this year of 60+ books I think it was. I don't even want to look, lol. In fact, I read far less this year then I have in quite some time. Long as I continue to actively read I'm okay with that, although I would at least like to read 40 in 2012, 50 would make me super happy.

I'm behind 3 books in reviewing, so here they are quick and dirty.

Still Missing - Really good, I recommend it. It's about a woman who is kidnapped, what she goes through while in captivity, then her life after she is free.

The Hangman's Daughter - This took me a few weeks to plow through, but it was worth the read. Just for the different subject matter, if anything else. It's fictional, yet fairly educational of the time era. It is the story of an actual hangman and centers around one case of a suspected witch. The book dragged a bit towards the end, but was worth the time to read. I checked it out through my prime lending account on amazon.

Columbine - While it was a bit on the long side, this book was incredibly informative about the Columbine school shooting. So many rumors and myths are brought to light that I think the general public still believes. For example, that the shooters were disliked and bullied. Not true. What I found saddest of all is the foreshadowing of what was going to happen, it truly could of been stopped. The actual descriptions of what went on in the school is heartbreaking, horrifying, a true nightmare. It's amazing to me that these kids and adults are able to carry on after. I have to say I also feel bad for these boys parents, I just couldn't imagine going on with life after that.

Some pics from Christmas

2011-12-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

Almost a week later...Boys favorite toy by far is still the Super Mario game they got for their DSes. Guess we're slowly moving out of the toy phase, sniff sniff. Everything has been organized and found a home, so I am feeling much better as well. Over my post pardom holiday blues I always get. The boys talking about their awesome Christmas and playing with their presents, having a great week at home with no plans, knowing we have a fun New Year's Eve planned, that's all helped!

The ornaments the boys picked out this year!

Looking handsome!

Christmas Eve

After Santa came

Misc...

Christmas 2011 and lessons learned

2011-12-25T21:01:00.001-08:00

Christmas is officially over, it is 12:01am on the 26Th! I am sitting here looking at a trashed house and so so many toys. We had an incredibly blessed Christmas and the boys were spoiled rotten by their Elf On a Shelf all month, various activities with friends throughout December, Christmas with my family Thursday, John's Dad Friday, we exchanged our family gifts Saturday, and then of course Santa Sunday. We had a such a great Christmas but the boys excitement this morning isn't what I had hoped. I think we did so much before, they got so much before, it affected it! I am really quite sad about it, as I don't know if this will be Parker's last Christmas believing. (he's 9 in March, although a bit behind on these types of things so there is hope), but all I can do is live and learn and make the changes next year to prevent this sick feeling I have in my stomach.

My plans:
- No Elf on a Shelf. Now this is fully my fault, as I gave the boys a treat each day with their elf, so they were receiving stuff all December. It was WAY to much but I don't feel like there's any going back, so we're just not going to do it. I also think if Parker does still believe, the Elf will inch him closer to not.
- Spread out the family get togethers better
- I'm going to shot for 7 gifts each instead of 10 and a family gift
- Not worry about having big gifts money wise, but just what they will love. Parker's favorite thing was a plant I got him because he thinks it's a jungle tree. I knew it would be, but it felt wrong to me that that would be his "big" gift so I spent $100 on a smartglobe that I probably didn't need too. Now, he will absolutely use and love that globe, but I probably didn't "need" to buy it to make his Christmas any better.
- Don't start shopping until December and quite it with all the buying and returns and going crazy!
- Don't do Amazon lightning deals and purchase less online
- Allow more oppurtunities to get the boys new things aside from Birthdays, Easter, and Christmas. It creates to big of a list and build up!

That all said, I feel like I am making it sound like we didn't have a good Christmas and we did. The boys were up at 6:30am and thrilled and happy, so I don't know if I have the post holiday blues or what. Maybe my expectations aren't reasonable and I'm basing it off the amount of work I put into everything. I just regret not going with my original plans of less toys, a game table, and calling it a day! Writing all this out will remind me for next year though, and that's what I want. At the end of the day I am upset with myself for going overboard once again because of "deals". I had gotten away from doing that and somehow found my way back. Lessons learned...I will continue to be reminded of it as I find homes for all this crap and clean it up throughout the year!

I plan to post a few pics once I get them all loaded. We really did have a great holiday! Cooper's big hit was the socker boppers and gumball machine. Parker the jungle tree and Animal Planet dolphin play sets. The video rockers are being put to good use. By the far the biggest hit for both has been the Super Mario Brother's game for their DS's though! We have it on the Wii, so I really wasn't expecting that.

Book Review - The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand

2011-10-30T18:52:00.001-07:00

The Beach Club was a fun read! I think I would of enjoyed it even more if I had read it say on our vacation in OCM, instead of in late October where we are looking at snow soon! It tells the story of the owners, coworkers, and guests at a Hotel/Beach Club in Nantucket one summer. The characters stories all weave in and out of each other and they're all enjoyable enough to keep your nose in the book. Great one to grab at the library, maybe next summer!

Book Review - Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

2011-10-27T08:39:00.001-07:00

Winter's Bone was my book club's choice this month. My choice actually. We won't be meeting to discuss for a few weeks though. It is about a 16year old girl in the bone cold of winter that has to go on the hunt for her dad. Her "clan" is poverty and drugged riddled and fiersly loyal. The book was a bit jolting for me, I think I am so niave sometimes to what is happening out there, but then sometimes I think that is good, because this book is not a reality I'd ever want to know. It's depressing, sad, yet the character is so strong and dynamic, I did like the book. The lengths some will go to protect a secret in this book is something else and numbing at times. I'm interested to see how my book club peeps felt about the book too! Very fast read, I just started it yesterday.

Book Review - Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah

2011-10-25T19:15:00.001-07:00

Picked this one up at the library because of the author and it's length. I thought it promised to be a quick great read. The story is about a woman named Joy who's husband cheats on her with her best friend/sister! She then runs away spur of the moment, only to be involved in a plane crash. Things truck along in the novel okay so far, but the last quarter takes a ridiculous twist and I really cannot say enough bad things about the book. I didn't care for it at all. It's not magical. I hate that she forgives her sister so quickly, if at all. You never really feel invested in the characters. It's just no good. Skip this Kristin Hannah book.

Book Review - Unwind by Neal Shusterman

2011-10-25T06:06:00.000-07:00

I can't really explain it better then this summary from Amazon:

Set in the future, the second civil war is fought over abortion. To end the war, a compromise is reached that ends the practice of abortion but creates an alternative called "unwinding." Between the ages of 13 and 17, parents or guardians can choose to have their children unwound, which involves having every part of their bodies harvested to be "donated" to another person so, technically, they don't really die.

The story focuses on 3 teens who have all found themselves to be chosen to be unwound, through 3 different life circumstances. The book definitely reads like a teen novel, which turned me off a bit. Probably because of just coming off of reading another young adult book. I don't even typically read young adult, so 2 in a row was a bit much. The book is good and an easy read. The ending I thought was really great and took an average read to a fairly good one because of it. I thought the premise was creative and a bit thought provoking. If anything I wish the same idea could be done, but in a more adult storyline. Overall I do recommend the book.

Book Review - Fairytale (Fairies of Rush) by Maggie Shayne

2011-10-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

I got a Kindle! I asked for one for Christmas and my parents gave it to me early. This book was the first because, well, it was free. It was a very cute and quick read. Not something I'd ever normally read. I wouldn't say it'd be worth my money, but it was worth my time. It is the story of twin fairy girls and their destiny. It is of course a love story as well and a choice must be made. If you have a Kindle and can grab it for free, check it out!

Book Review - Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand

2011-10-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

Nantucket Nights is about 3 old friends that meet once a year at night to swim and reveal secrets. Things go horrible wrong this time though and all goes to an unbelievable hell and mystery.

I am so glad this was not the first book I read by my beloved author Elin Hilderbrand. I'm not sure it would of made me pick up another. The book is very mediocore and just to far fetched. You never get attached to the characters to beable to look past the predictability and ridiculousness of the plot. The women never even feel that bonded as friends. The whole thing was like a Lifetime movie I could of wrote. No good.

Book Review - The Things We Do For Love

2011-10-09T08:41:00.001-07:00

Love me some Kristin Hannah, so when I saw this at the library, I quickly grabbed it. It's the story of 2 women. One from a strong family who has suffered the worst of loses and is going through a divorce. The other a young girl with nothing to her name, but has incredible will and determination. Their worlds collide and they both fill a void for the other. The story is a bit predictable, but you are attached enough to the characters to not be bothered by it and the ending did go in a different turn then I suspected. Not my favorite ever Kristin Hannah book but it was a good read nonetheless.

Book Review - A Thousand Cuts by Simon Lelic

2011-10-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

A Thousand Cuts is about a school shooting, not by a student but a teacher. As the book unfolds, what it really is about is bullying. I thought it started out a little slow and I found myself being disappointed, but around a quater into it, I was pulled in and anxious to see how everything was going to tie together. The book left me a little sad because I found it to ring of the truth just a bit to much, albeit slightly exaggerated to a certain degree. It's a quick and good read that I recommend and will stay with a little while.

Book Review:Decison Points by George W. Bush

2011-10-01T08:03:00.001-07:00

Picked this one up at the library. I really like to get different perspectives on everything and his presidency is no exception. I'll put out there that I voted for him twice, regretted it once. The second time was out of fear and I just never felt good about it, from the moment I placed it. I always liked him, regardless of my thoughts on his presidency, and the book didn't lessen then sentiment at all. It also made me understand some of his decisions. I found his comments on things that made headlines really interesting, especially the stuff that was often blown out of proportion and misconstrued. His side of things on stem cell research was a perspective I had never thought about before and gave me pause, although I didn't change my mind. I like that I understand more where he was coming from on so many things. He touches on everything from 9/11 to Katrina. The book is a bit lengthy for me, but I was able to plow through the whole thing and it was worth my time. I feel better educated on that era and politics even a bit, as well, which is not a bad thing.

He's 5!

2011-09-21T07:16:00.001-07:00

Cooper that is. He's been SO excited about his birthday and John and I have really enjoyed it. We didn't really have that with Parker at the same age. It's been a lot of fun. Here he is this morning before school. Yes, it drives me nuts he has water spots on his shirt already, but this is Cooper, so I let it go and try to let him be him.

Last Friday we went to see Lion King with his friends and had cupcakes and ice cream after at the theatre. He had such a good time and it melts my heart to make him feel extra special for a day or two or 5, because he is.

My letter to Cooper:
Dear Coop,

You have really matured over the last year. You're truly turning into your own person with lots of opinions and out of your brother's shadow of just liking or not liking what he does. It is neat to watch and I like that you are becoming more independent. You are still my sweet loving guy, who always notices if I change my hair or ask if I'm okay if I stub my toe. You've definitely still a crazy little boy that loves typical boy stuff and recently it's potty talk and you're a little obsessed with bad words, lol! You're favorite things right now are peanut butter, Wipeout, playing with Ryan, going to school, playing games, and drawing. You crack us up everyday, you are so so hilarous, you say the funniest things and are just so silly. We love you so much, you complete our family. I hope you always wake up happy and go to sleep content because you lived life to the max all day, it's one of my many favorite things about you.

Love,
Mom

First Day of School

2011-09-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

Aside from cooler weather ruining my first day outfit plans, the first day went off without a hitch! John took Cooper to school. He is going to Montessori again, 3 mornings a week. He'd love to go more, but we just can't swing it right now. Parker started 2nd grade! I asked if he wanted me to walk him in and he said yes! We walked through the gym and he saw his best buddy from last year (different class this year unfortunately) and left me in the dust! Luckily I found a needy lost 1st grader to at least make myself feel wanted. After that was done, I went to breakfast with my mom friends from the playgroup. That was nice! Both boys reported successful days. Cooper was quite excited he got picked first for his one on one teaching time with Mrs. Summers. I don't think he realizes it's because his last name starts with an A, lol. Parker had a friend walk him to the gym for parent pick up and Travis reported that "Parker has a great day!". No mood swings, no crying, quite pleasant, even got our reading in tonight, so I'm assuming Travis spoke the truth. Now lets hope it warms up so I can get some short outfits in, grrrr!

On another note, John and I completely forgot it was our 14year anniversary today! A friend was talking about her anniversary at breakfast this morning and I was like, wait a minute! What is today? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, then I realized, We went out to dinner last Friday night to celebrate, so I think it just got lost in the first day festivities.

The Boys of Summer

2011-09-03T13:36:00.001-07:00

Well, it's over. I don't think I've ever had such a good summer as an adult! The weather was perfect. Smokin hot and perfect for the beach. The boys went to the cabin 4 times, 1 great time with us and the other with my parents, we did a fair, the zoo, a waterpark, blueberry picking, the beach around 10x's including day trips to Port Austin and Port Huron, out on friends boats a bunch of times (John even likes boats now and all the boys tubed), lots of game nights with friends, hot air balloon festival, bowling, the movies, a rained out tigers game, pool parties, fireworks, the boys got to go to Canada, I got to go to North Carolina alone to visit friends, it was just awesome and we ended it all with a trip to Pennsylvania and Maryland. It's the biggest vacation we've taken since having 2 kids, we were only gone 5 days, but had such a good time. Parker finally got to see the ocean! He did not love the big waves, even bigger due to Hurricane Irene moving in, but he sure loved all the shells and critters and while I of course loved the ocean, what really surprised me (and John) was how gorgeous PA was, love the mountains.

I am super grateful for this summer. It's one of the reasons I left my job. So I could do this with my kids. The last few kind of sucked due to weather or surgeries or Cooper being little. I was so upset back in June that we were going to have to do Parker's reading program everyday and how it was going to ruin things and it went off the charts better then I expected. More and more we are able to do just funner and funner things with the kids as they get older, we are able to go out with friends more or have dates night, and while I do get sad sometimes we are done with babies, embracing everything we can do now that hey are older is helping with that! I feel like we're in a great part of our lives right now and I am enjoying it. I am so blessed with awesome fun good friends.

Book Review: Rescue by Anita Shreve

2011-09-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of Anita Shreve. Her books are always good. This one was no exception. It is about a paramedic who raised his daughter alone and she is now 17 and rebeling. Possibly in the same footsteps her mother once did. We learn of Peter's love story with Rowan's mom Sheila and how it came that she was no longer in her daughters life. I loved the older story more then the present one and feel maybe it was a leap for Peter to be quite as concerned as he was about his daughter to do what he does, but overall the book kept me engaged and was a quick good read! Something I need lately with my attention span, I am so struggling with getting into books lately and start more then I finish of late, something I've never done.

Book Review: Magic Hour by Kristen Hannah

2011-08-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned repeatedly, Kristen Hannah has become one of my favorite authors of late. I was super excited to get my hands on this book at the library. Kristen Hannah plus completely free, woot woot! Unfortunately, while not a horrible book, it is by far my least favorite of hers so far and isn't even in the same ballpark as her other books, in my opinion.

The premise is interesting enough. A local police officer calls in her troubled psychiatrist sister to help work with a "wolf girl" that was found in a tree. The girl does not talk and no one knows her story. The story unrolled rather predictably for me and the characters just never got very deep. The book was just okay, by no means bad enough to stop, but just not what I was hoping for, given my love of the authors other books. Reading the reviews, I appear to be in the minority on this though, so perhaps take my 2cents with a grain of salt.

Book Review:Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

2011-07-16T07:53:00.001-07:00

Wintergirls - "You're not dead, but you're not alive, either. You're a wintergirl, Lia, caught in between the worlds. You're a ghost with a beating heart." So says Lia's dead best friend, Cassie. Lia is haunted by her death and dives deeper into cutting and anorexia. Both Lia and Cassie promised to be the skinney girls and Cassie ultimately paid for it with her life. Wintergirls puts us into the mind of Lia and her sickness.

Anorexia is something I can never relate too, being the fat food loving girl that I am. I can shamely admit I am almost jealous of that mind set, but that is said without a deep understand of just how sick and twisted that mind can actually be. Then there is bulimia, something more appealing to me, or at least I can understand better. Maybe it's good I could never make myself throw up. The book really did a great job of giving me a better understanding of an eating disorder disease and just how hard it is for those that suffer, just how messed up their mind is. Then their poor loved ones who might lose their sister/daughter/friend simply because they won't eat! I can only imagine the frustration.

Wintergirls is a quick read. I grabbed it at the library and while I'm glad I didn't pay any money out of pocket for it, I am glad I read it. It was enlightening and drew me in enough to care about the characters.

Book Review; Those That Save Us by Jenna Blum

2011-07-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

This book has been on my shelf for sometime. I had heard it was good, but have read so so many books from this era, I just wasn't drawn to it when I was picking what to read next. Then I saw a friend raving about it on facebook and decided it was time.

Those Who Save Us tells the tale of Anna, a young german girl during WWII. The story alternates between Anna during the 1930's and her grown daughter Trudy, a history professor, in the 1990's. Anna has never spoken to Trudy of what happened to her and Trudy does not even know who her father is or ever been given any information. Trudy is working on a research project telling the side of German's during the war and this ties the book together nicely.

The book is captivating, sad, and horrifying. It reveals sides and stories you do not often hear. It examines the issue of burying the past, why one does that, and the affect it can have not only on that person but those around them. Such a good read, one that stays with you awhile. Very recommended.

Father's Day 2011

2011-06-22T16:33:00.001-07:00

So it wasn't very eventful and this picture is horrible, but I wanted to post something to mark the point in time. Our weekend consisted of having friends over Saturday for game night. 3 couples, 6 kids, it's always fun. Parker has been hot to trot to catch a turtle and I also managed to snag one off the road on my way home from picking up the party sub. Yes, I have a net in my truck, amoung other things, you just never know. His name is Henderson 3 (after the road he was found on, Henderson 1 and 2 were frogs btw) and he proceeded to piss all over my front seat. Apparently I'm scary. Parker played with that turtle all night. Let me tell you, when he sets him down to exercise, I've never seen a turtle move so fast. As a friend said, the turtles motto is I can rest when I'm dead. He's not fast enough though and very well loved, so at Casa Austin he resides for now. Sunday we went for a walk to try and find Cooper one and that's when the above pic was snapped with my cell phone. It was sunny out so I couldn't see it wasn't very good at the time. If you look closely you can see the chickens behind them. This is also where that cocky asshole rooster lives that likes to wake me up every morning because he thinks it's just amazing the sun rose and must let Henderson Road know all about it. I hate that fucker. (okay, I feel better, excuse the language) Anyways, somehow we were "lucky" enough to find another turtle who happened to be crossing the road. He was quickly named....wait for it....Henderson 4. John especially likes this one as it sounds like Harrison Ford.

Summer is about a week in and all has been good so far. We've already had one beach trip and the boys are currently north with my parents for 2 days. John and I went out to dinner and are catching up on some movies. Next week we start the big reading program which is going to be hell, but I am determined to get through it and still have an awesome summer. We have lots of fun things planned with both playgroups, a trip to my parents cabin in East Tawas, and in August if all goes well we'll be going to Ocean City, Maryland!

Book Review:One Day by David Nicholls

2011-06-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

I happened to get this book from paperbackswap after being on the wait list for months the same week I overheard a friend raving about it. I quickly grabbed it next to read. The book follows the relationship of Emma and Dexter, 2 people that get to know each other better on their last night of being at college, just after graduating. Each chapter is on the same date, 1 year later. It's one of those books I can't say much more on with out possibly giving to much away, but I really did love it. The format was great and kept the book really moving, the characters are flawed, fustrating, and real. What their lives bring feels both realistic and often times heartbreaking. I think it's a great summer read especially!

Book Review:Even Silence Has An End by Ingrid Betancourt

2011-06-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

Even Silence Has An End is the 7year story of former politician Ingrid Beatancourt's time spent in captivity by the FARC, a terrorist guerrilla organization, in the Colombian jungle. It is a longer book and one I thought would be interesting, but may be come boring at times or drag on, especially knowing how it all ends. I was very surprised to find it held me captivated until the very end, if anything gaining more momentum as it went on. Sitting in my house during 90degree weather with no a/c on to save funds, I found it hard to complain, let me say! There are times I really liked the author and others I can tell she is a woman that would drive me insane in real life and maybe is a bit egotistical, but you can't discount her experience or perseverance. The backdrop of the book in the jungle, the workings of what is happeninging else where in this world politicaly, just adds to the amazing true story. Very good book!

Book Review:Night Road by Kristin Hannah

2011-05-23T05:21:00.000-07:00

Such a good book! I don't want to get into it to deeply in fear of spoiling it for anyone, but Kristin Hannah has definitely cemented or place as one of my favorite writers right now. She once again made me cry reading a book, very rare. The story is about twins, a brother and sister, a best friend, and the twins mom. It took me back to highschool, in a good way, and then in a greatful way that I made it out unscathed doing some really stupid things. The author does such a great job of creating flawed characters that fustrate the heck out of you, yet you still care about. Must read for sure!

Me & Reading

2011-05-19T07:15:00.001-07:00

If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time, you may have noticed how much I've slowed down on the reading. I think I self sabatoged myself by setting reading goals and such. Or it could be that I got my ipod touch fixed and am having fun with that at night instead. Regardless, I am still reading and the last few books have been good ones, so check them out if you're looking for something to add to your TBR list! I'll try to get back in the swing of reviews too, but I've just lost my mojo for now.

T Ball

2011-05-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

Cooper started T Ball a few weeks ago and we are having so much fun. He had a few practices to learn the basics. At his first one they had him practicing hitting off the tee, then running the bases. As he rounded 3rd they told him to go home, go home, so he ran to me to go "home". :) So funny. He also runs on his tip toes and so slow, like slow motion slow. He is having lots of fun and a few of his and Parker's friends are on the team, so that helps a lot.

His first game was this week and it went really well. Each team bats 2 times and plays the field 2 times. They don't keep score or do outs really. They also pitch the ball 3times to the kids before pulling the tee out. Cooper actually hit one pitched to him! He looked so cute running the bases and this time when he was rounding third base they told him to make sure he touched home plate, so when he got there he bent over and touched it.

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-08T20:00:00.001-07:00

I had such a great day! Actually weekend.

John and I decided to get each other a flowering tree for the front yard, for Mother's/Father's day, so we picked that out during the week (Prairfire Crab Tree) and he planted that Saturday. We also had Cooper's t ball practice and then our monthly game night with 2 other couples, which always makes a weekend good.

During the week we had tossed around the idea of going to the Tulip Festival in Holland, MI. Gas is so high though, $4.20/ga, and would of cost us $60 just for that. With a few other expenses we have going on this month, it just didn't make sense to go, as much as we wanted it too. SOOOO....I woke up to coffee and breakfast in bed. John sent Cooper in to wish me a Happy Mother's Day which he promptly said to both Daisy and myself. Mind you not only is Daisy barren and never had children but has eaten the young of 1 momma bird and 1 momma rabbit that we know of. I question Cooper's standards. Oh, which reminds me, Parker choose to do the Mother's Day project at school for my mom, good time Grandma, instead of me. Yeah.

Anyway...We decided to head out and do some garage saling and hit a flea market. After scoring some good deals, we grabbed lunched to go and went to a new playground.

We meandered our way back, taking time to stop at one of my favorite stores, Past Tense, were I picked out a few goodies. We got home, had some popsicles, then it was off for our first frog hunt of the season. Parker caught 3 frogs and 1 fish. Yes, a fish! In a ditch!! So weird.

For dinner I had my favorite, crab, we watched the Amazing Race Finale and hockey playoffs.

It was a perfect day with a little of everything I love. OH, and on top of all that, John did his annual gift of cleaning out my truck!! I am a happy girl.

I'm 8 now!

2011-03-31T19:41:00.000-07:00

My baby turned 8 today. He's been waiting for this all month. I woke him up this morning, he rolled over all sleepy and asks me "Am I 8 now?". I said yes and he yelled Yeah! and hopped out of bed. He immediatly greeted is dad with, I'm 8 now! When I took him to school and dropped his treats off he walked in the classroom and announced he's 8 now, and it goes on. My Mom called to wish him a happy birthday and he picks up the phone and says "I'm 8 now mamma!" and then with the next 2 grandparent phone calls as well.

He had a most awesome birthday. We surprised him with a train trip to Chicago and Shedd's next week! He also got a camera from grandma and grandpa along with some cool toys.

I personally can't believe he is 8, it sounds so old and I can't wrap my brain around it. I am sure the fact that he is in 1st grade still and is more at a 6yr old level plays into that a bit! Tomorrow we are having a playdate since there is no school and that should wrap up the weeklong festivities.

Book Review - Cold River Rock by J.L. Miles

2011-03-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Cold River Rock is about a 17yr old pregnant girl during the 1960's. While faced with her own challenges life has dealt her, she finds refuge in the diary of a 17yr old slave girl. Adie, the main character, is one you just can't help but root for after everything she endures. Those around her you will both love and hate but also feel like you fully understand. The book is very well written and the ending only made me like the book even more. Definitely recommend!

1st Time Ice Skating

2011-03-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

We had the opportunity to go ice skating back in February (yeah, I'm a little behind, out livin my life) and it was such a great night! Much to our surprise, Cooper was like a deer on ice and Parker loved it. I think because he's so thin and spindley, there's not much to hold up or hard on his ankles. I definitely hope we can get him to an open skate or something else again. There's not to many things he takes to sports wise like that, it'd be nice to foster it a bit.

Field Trip

2011-03-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

Wednesday I got to go on a field trip with Parker's class to the planetarium. I am still recovering. I seriously do not know how these teachers do it at this age. EXHAUSTING is an understatement and one of my kids was a no show, so I only had 4 to watch! While I'm at it, when did buses get some damn bumpy. I'm fairly certain my organs are no longer in the same place they were before that trip. If you are 9months pregnant and ready to have your baby, go sit on the back of a school bus ride, just sayin. Something is sure to come out, be it a plug, water, or baby.

I was happy to go and Parker was thrilled to have me there. The kids first made ice cream, which I thought was pretty cool myself, then went into the plantetarium to watch a show on the planets. I pretty much took this oppurtunity to enjoy the peace and quiet. Back at school was a pizza party, in which Parker doesn't eat, so I popped him some popcorn.

I worry a lot about Parker at school and whenever I go, it's reassuring. The kids are genuinely sweet to him, interact with him, and help him along when it's needed. I cannot say enough how blessed I feel that his teacher has created this enviroment for my child.

Parker and his school bff on the bus!

Makin ice cream...

Book Review - Living Oprah by Robyn Okrant

2011-03-03T08:35:00.000-08:00

The full title of this book is My One-Year Experiment to Walk the Walk of the Queen of Talk, Living Oprah.

This book is okay, worth grabbing if you see at the library or a garage sale. The author basically watches Oprah everday, reads O Magazine every month, and consults Oprah's website frequently. Anything Oprah says to do she does, be it "Everyone should have these 10 things in their closet" to " You must read this book" or "No tv's in the bedroom!". I couldn't imagine running around for a year doing every command someone doles out, it sounds exhausting as does the author by December when she's almost done. What I did find interesting is the contradictions if you look at Oprah's shows as a whole. She does a lot with Suze Ormen and finance issues but then the next day, it's you need this! The author spend almost $5k follow the commands of the queen of media all year! She says she is healthier and more fit, but not sure she feels better about herself or if anything isn't more vain when she wasn't even remotely that before. I'd like to visit her website sometime and see how she feels about it now, 2 years out.

Book Review - Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

2011-02-28T19:27:00.000-08:00

I told a fellow reader that I like to read books about different subjects because I do read so much and the same old stories can get repititious. Next time I saw her she showed up with this. Oh my word. The weirdest horriblest movie I've ever seen is Boxing Helena. I now have my bat shit crazy bizzaro book everest. I don't even know wether to recommend it or not.

The summary on the back of the book is weird enough. A carnival couple, in an attempt to draw in more people, purposely attempt to have babies with deformities and such to create their own freak show. They do this with drugs and more. They have a son with flipper arm and legs, conjoined twin girls, an albino dwarf with a hump, a child who is telkinetic, and then those that did not survive in jars on display.

If that is not odd enough, there exist a power struggle between the kids for the most box office draw. A cult following forms around Arturo, the flipper boy. We then get into people purposely mutilating their limps to belong. Conjoined twin prostitution. Lobotomies. It goes on, and the story tosses back and forth from the old carnival days and it's demise and the present and what has become of those left.

I've never read anything like it and I can't say I want to again, but it's a notorious one under the belt and now that it's finally done, I guess I'm glad to have read it.

Book Review:Half Broken Horses by Jeannette Walls

2011-02-22T15:43:00.000-08:00

Jeannette Walls wrote The Glass Castle, a wildy popular and highly recommended book I thought was okay. It's on my list to reread, but I am thinking I just didn't get into it enough at the time for whatever reason.

Half Broken Horses is her second novel. It is based on the true life of the author's grandma and narrated from her view as pieced together by the author. The book was originally intended to be an biography that shaped into this. It is about Lily, a woman born in 1901 in the southwest. Lily is everything but conventional and I really enjoyed that. I often wonder what I would of stood up for if I was around in another time, when it wasn't so easy to take a stand. She does lead quite the life and while I found the book interesting and easy to read, I never really felt engrossed or overly attached to the character. It was interesting, that about sums it up.

Book Review - Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

2011-02-08T14:36:00.000-08:00

Prep is about a high school boarding school out east. The main character, Lee, is from the midwest and on scholarship, so she immediatly doesn't fit in. Or doesn't let herself fit in, that is debateable. The book follows all 4years of her schooling. There are somethings that Lee does that I don't understand at all, like wanting to goto boarding school in the first place, and then somethings that I could totally relate too. You find her at times so fustrating, like a true teenager I imagine, and can't really figure out what she is thinking or why. While the book is about high school, it doesn't read like a young adult novel and is actually written from her perspective in her late twenties. I really like that and I think it's why an adult can read this and relate and enjoy the book. It reminds you of some times and makes you reflect a bit. It's one I've seen recommended time and time again over the years and finally got too. I am glad I did.

Book Review - Honolulu by Alan Brennert

2011-02-02T19:46:00.000-08:00

This is the second book I've read by Alan Brennet. The first you can find under my 2010 books read.

Honolulu is about picture brides that come from Korea to Hawaii in the early 20th century. It tracks the main characters life from a young girl in Korea to where her path takes her into adulthood along with 3 other picture pride "friends" of the main character. I found it a really interesting piece of historical fiction and it really touches on the tormoil of that time in regards to race relations as well the oppurtunities afforded a woman and what is expected of her in a Korean culture versus one in America. The message I think this book ultimately conveys is that our country truly is the land of oppurtunity, but one has to want and take that, and work for it. It's a lenthier book that with the exception of 50pages or so read rather quick for me. I thought it was really good and would recommend.

Book Review - Room by Emma Donoghue

2011-01-31T05:33:00.000-08:00

This book was part of my Take a Chance Reading Challenge:
http://inthemomentdana.blogspot.com/2010/12/363365.html

The subject matter couldn't be more horrifying. It's about a girl kidnapped at age 19 and her son who have been held captive in a room for years. It's written from the child's perspective and while for his mother this room is a jail cell or torture chamber, to him it is home. I don't want to say much more, so I don't spoil it for anyone, but it's a really good book and I consider a must for the avid reader.

Book Review - In The Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White

2011-01-15T07:25:00.000-08:00

This book is a memoir about a place called Carville, La that not only hosted criminals but leprosy residents. The author was imprisoned for a year for check kiting. He talks about himself quite a bit, which I guess is typical for a memoir, lol, but the parts I really enjoyed were what he learned from the other people, both the sick and the prisoners. This is the second book I've read about leprosy and how it was handled and it really is so sad and quite tradgic. I think I picture these kids of things happening elsewhere, not right here in the U.S.. The book was okay good, I wasn't excited to read it everyday and the author was way to windy at times, but if might be worth grabbing if you come across it for free or close to it. Perhaps if it was the first book I had read on such a subject, I would have been more impressed.

10 Random Rambles

2011-01-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

1. I am no longer a leo. If you know me well enough, you know this is a crock o crap. Not that I believe in this stuff or anything.

2. Our paperwork is finally to the underwriter for the mortgage modification. So, only 30-60more days until we know. Yes, ONLY. I can't imagine what else they are going to want, I should start preparing Parker if it's the first born.

3. If I have to answer one more question about the ocean, I may drive myself to the nearest one, dose myself in blood to attract sharks, and jump in. Yes, that would be P's current obession. Salt water fish tanks to be exact.

4. I could prepare dinner with the amount of crumbs in my laptop keyboard.

5. Thinking about showering today, but not when John is home. He seems to think it's some type of sign for lovin not that maybe I just would like to be clean.

6. Cooper is currently practicing for Wipeout on the couches.

7. I consider our new wireless printer (Christmas gift) my 3rd born. It also might be my favorite child, if it's true confession time.

8. If Dora doesn't find cocaine island soon, I'm cracking open the wine early today.

9. How can a dog that came from death row at the animal shelter, starving, turn her nose at popcorn. I know why. She knows it'd be way to helpful if she were to eat it. She likes to watch me vacuum and sweep. I know it. I've even see her winking at the kids, as I push that p.o.s. dyson over the crumbs 50trillion times before just breaking down and doing something I hate to do, bend over.

10. I make Cooper wear his moonboots everywhere so we can skip socks. It's awesome. You can hear him stomp his way all through Target.

Cooper's Mad Face

2011-01-13T18:39:00.000-08:00

I have no idea how this got to be it, but if you ask him to show you his mad face, this is what you get.

I think this is his happy, but I'm thinking crazy is more like it.

Book Review - The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

2011-01-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

The Castaways is about 8 friends, 4 couples, on Nantucket island. It starts out with the death of 2 of those friends and then the story is told in alternativing voices of the remaining 6. At times you are almost jealous of the 4couples at their friendships and at others they are all so different, it's hard to imagine them all that close "in real life". Their lives have become entwined with each other in ways the others do not know and the story unfolds with the details of that and the story of what happened on the boat when they're friends died. I thought it was an excellent book that I whipped through pretty quick and would highly recommend.

This book also meets number 5 in my Take a Chance reading challenge:
http://inthemomentdana.blogspot.com/2010/12/363365.html
"Blurb Book: Find a book that has a blurb on it from another author. Read a book by the author that wrote the blurb."
The blurb was on the back cover jacket of Winter Gardens that I read this year by Kristin Hannah.

Book Review - Revolutionary Road

2011-01-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

This book is about a married couple in the 1950's. Married, with two children, neither are very content with where they ended up and the book chronicles their actions on how they got to that point and what they are doing about it now. I really did not care for it, it was very mellow and a downer almost. I didn't feel connected to the characters at all. It has the spirirt of a book like Catcher in the Rye to me, and I never loved that one either. I guess it was good enough for me to finish but I don't recommend it for reading at all. I would probably check the movie out, just out of curiosity. Maybe I am missing something.

Book Review - Winter Garden

2011-01-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

My first book of the year and it was so so good. I actually cried at the end and I rarely, if ever, shed an actual tear for a book. This story is about 2 daughters and the relationship they have with their mother, a very cold and unloving woman. After their father dies, the girls push to learn more about their mom and her story. The girls learn not only about her but reconcile some of their own issues as well. Kristin Hannah has become one of my favorite authors and this book was the best one yet.

365/365

2010-12-31T09:34:00.003-08:00

I've been reflecting a bit the last few days on what kind of year 2010, and was actually pretty down on it for some reason. I knew that it was a good year simply because there wasn't as much death as 2009 and I always feel blessed to have my parentsalive and healthy, but besides that I was kind of just focusing on the bad. I think because December was rough financially and the overall mood here is low. When I fully reflect though I realize that it was a really fun year.

I thought I'd end this year with the way I started it, the good and the bad of the year:
reflecting on 2009
http://inthemomentdana.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-decade-new-blog.html

2010
Good
- I love my trips and while these weren't dream vacations by any means, they were really nice. I got to spend a weekend in Ohio with friends, goto Texas again, we had an awesome trip to East Tawas, and also took the boys camping for the first time.
- Healthy parents, husband, and children
- finally getting Cooper help for his toe walking (PT)
- Parker is making new friendships and maintaining old ones
- John and I are good for the most part (we have our moments of course)
- truly had a blessed Christmas and were spoiled by my parents
- as the boys are getting older we are able to do a lot of new and fun things, it's nice. we are also getting more alone time as they are easier to take now by the grandparents

Bad
- even worse off financially
- surgery I had, removing my ovary
- boys are uninsured for January and that is scary. Had to downgrade John's insurance to castrophe, very scary as well.
- Parker is not doing well academically and it's just hard to watch
- my health is exactly the same, still on the steriods (gosh, it's been years now), and weight once again has climbed

What I would like for 2010:
- I say this every year but off the steroids and some weight loss
- A Wii (hee, hee)
- Cooper to stop toe walking
- Parker to start reading
- Take 2 camping trips & one weekend at the cabin. 1 get together with my out of state friends.
- keep our house w/o having to cash in our retirement accounts
- no surgeries
- read more, play with the boys more, less computer time
- not be so argumentative over shit that doesn't matter. Just be more patient and chill.

364/365

2010-12-31T09:34:00.001-08:00

How cool is this? I really really want to make it for Coop seeing as he did have a toy kitchen that I returned and didn't give him for Christmas. I know he would love this, he currently has a box in his room that is a restaurant.

363/365 2011 Reading Challenges

2010-12-29T19:01:00.000-08:00

2011 Reading Challenges

I am going to participate in 2.

#1
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
hosted by The Book Vixen
http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://www.thebookvixen.com/2010/11/2011-reading-challenge-sign-up-outdo.html
The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2011 than you did in 2010.

I read 53 books in 2010 (my goal was 50). I am going to do the second level, Out of Breath, leaving me with a goal of 59-63 books read in 2011. It's a hefty challenge for me and I was tempted to do the level one, but I do want it to be a challenge
Levels:
Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books

#2
Since the above challenge is pretty much what I did last year, just a higher number, I thought I'd choose one more and decided on the Take a Chance Challenge.
http://www.tiftalksbooks.com/2010/12/take-chance-challenge-3.html
Basic Information
The concept of the challenge is to take chances with your reading by finding books to read in unusual or random ways.

The 2011 Challenges

1: Staff Member’s Choice: Go to a bookstore or library that has a “Staff Picks” section. Read one of the picks from that section.

2: Loved One’s Choice: Ask a loved one to pick a book for you to read. (If you can convince them to buy it for you, that is even better!)

3: Blogger’s Choice: Find a “Best Books Read” post from a favorite blogger. Read a book from their list.

4: Critic’s Choice: Find a “Best of the Year” list from a magazine, newspaper or professional critic. Read a book from their Top 10 list.
Room by Emma Donoghue, from 10 Best Fiction 2010 list.

5: Blurb Book: Find a book that has a blurb on it from another author. Read a book by the author that wrote the blurb.
The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand, on jacket cover of Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

6: Book Seer Pick: Go to The Book Seer and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.

7: What Should I Read Next Pick : Go to What Should I Read Next and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.

8: Which Book Pick: Go to Which Book and use the software to generate a list of books. Read a book from that list.

9: LibraryThing Pick: Go to LibraryThing’s Zeitgeist page. Look at the lists for 25 Most Reviewed Books or Top Books and pick a book you’ve never read. Read the book. (Yes … you can click on MORE if you have to.)

10: Pick A Method: Pick a method for finding a book from the choices listed below (used in previous versions of the challenge).
Random Book Selection. Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)
Public Spying. Find someone who is reading a book in public. Find out what book they are reading and then read the same book. Write about it.
Random Bestseller. Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1950 for the min. and 2010 for the max. and then hit generate. Then go to this site and find the year that Random.org generated for you and click on it. Then find the bestseller list for the week that would contain your birthday for that year. Choose one of the bestsellers from the list that comes up, read it and write about it.

362/365

2010-12-28T19:34:00.000-08:00

Only 4 more posts and my 365 day blog is complete. I am definitely not doing this again next year, but do plan to maintain the blog and can totally see me taking this project on again in a year or two. I am excited to have a years worth of daily posts to print and save, to remember our year.

Today was mellow. The boys watched a lot of tv, I took the tree down, and we just hung. It was nice. It also doesn't give me much to post, so I thought I'd comment on a few toys the boys got for Christmas.

Moon Dough - this is the perfect gift for whom ever you are passive aggressive with and would like to torture. It is cool, it does work, but it grumbles and gets on the floor like no one's business. I'd put it way above moonsand, since it's actually fun to play with, but I will say the 2sets we got are in the closet and I am hoping out of sight out of mind. I didn't throw it all away which makes me a much better then other mother's from what I hear.

Perplexus - I was really excited about this, after the reviews. I thought it'd be something to keep Parker busy, maybe even Cooper, and a little different. Well, I don't know if we have a carbon monoxide leak in our house and are all slow on the uptake, but it's hard. DAMN hard. We haven't even completed one maze yet. Cooper hasn't even touched it, Parker maybe 5 minutes, and I've grabbed it here and there just out of spite because it pisses me off. For $20, I am super attempted to try and tape it back in the box and take it back. But, then my laziness out weights my cheapness any day of the week.

Red Rover - I didn't play this one myself, but John did with Cooper one morning while I slept on and on. He said it sucked. Now, John has never walked away from a kids game in awe of it, tingly with excitement to do it again, but for as bad as Cooper wanted this, he hasn't wanted to touch it since the 1x they played it.

Glow Dome - this is actually pretty cool...in the dark. Which for the record is only like 1/2 the day and my kids aren't awake but for a few hours of it. I do recommend it, it just isn't the keep them busy for hours and leave me the hell alone toy I imagined, but then I'm a dreamer.

361/365

2010-12-27T20:19:00.001-08:00

Monday we did Christmas with my inlaws. The adults don't exchange gifts, so it's all about the boys! Big hit of the evening was a treasure chest they each received with pirate goodies in it, everything from a hook hand to pirate earrings! It was a nice evening and a great way to officially end Christmas. I love that we got it done nice and compact. Some years it gets super drawn out.

360/365

2010-12-27T20:18:00.000-08:00

Book Review:Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

This is the 4th book in the Outlanders series and for me, this series just keeps getting better. Especially after book 2. It is the story of a woman who time travels from WWII to the 1700's. If you are a reader, I would suggest reading the first one, Outlander, and checking it out. They are very long reads, over 1000pages, so I tend to space them out, but do really enjoy the series. I also got The Outlandish Companion for Christmas last year and it makes a great addition to the first 4 books. I wish I would of had it all along.

359/365

2010-12-27T20:16:00.001-08:00

Saturday, December 25th.

It's Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas PJ's on and ready for bed.

Santa came!

358/365

2010-12-27T20:04:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve...

This year we decided to open family gifts to each other on Christmas Eve. We gave the boys their handheld games we got them and a few other things like books, and we got to open the gifts they got us. They were SO excited to give us the things htey made at school and what Parker bought at this Santa's Workshop, it was my favorite part of the holiday I think. I just loved their little faces and excitement. This is 2 of things things they made.

Parker was super excited to give Cooper his gift. He got him 3 things, lol! A rubber ducky, farm animals, and a pirate hat. So sweet.

On top of all this, John surprised me with a $40 gift card to the movie theatre. Not a big deal to most I know, but things are so tight right now and I guess he got a little tip from someone he did work for and he knew I've been wanting to goto the movies, so he did this. It really made me happy.

357/365

2010-12-27T19:57:00.000-08:00

Thursday, Dec. 23rd

We went to my parents house for our Christmas get together. My parents really went out of their way this year to make things amazing. From dinner, shrimp and filets, to even more gifts (remember the tv??!!!) including gift cards, a wireless printer, and a panani maker!! Of course, new clothes for the boys. We were just floored. The boys loved everything, the biggest hits being Spike the dinosaur and Bigfoot, which they of course try to make battle. It was a really awesome night and not because of the gifts, although that helps, but just because we got to be together and I know how lucky I am to have that.

356/365

2010-12-27T19:55:00.001-08:00

Parker came home with this little ornament from his resource room teacher. It's personalized, how cool is that?! I am not exaggerating when I say he has the most amazing people working with and for him.

355/365

2010-12-21T19:15:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, Dec. 21st (yeah, I am waaaaaaaaay behind) I got to help out in Parker's class for his school party. He just loves having me there and and an added bonus is he was really good about it this time, and conitinued to participate with this class and behave okay. I feel so lucky that I can do this as a stay at home mom and that my parents will take Cooper for me so that I'm able. All the kids are incredibly sweet and it makes me feel better knowing Parker is surrounded by such awesome friends and a truly amazing teacher.

354/365

2010-12-21T19:10:00.000-08:00

Monday I got a package in the mail from my friend Rachel, in Washington. I was expecting something specific, but not the other stuff in there!

First was this memo pad and magnet, which I just love. It said:

10 Things to Alway Remember...
Your presense is a present to the world.
You're truly one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days one at a time.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You'll make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Have courage.
Be strong.
Wish upon a star, and dont ever forget...how very special you are.

It makes me teary just reading it. It was just so what I needed to hear and be reminded of.

Then there was this adorable ornament that the boys grabbed and hung on the tree.

Little did I know that Rachel and my other friend Kelly (from Texas) stuffed some money in the stocking! I was just floored! I am actually still processing this, it is incredibly hard to accept and my first instinct is to send it right back. I'm trying to remind myself what I would want if I did this for someone, but it's hard.

I've been incredibly blessed with these friends that I met online some 8yrs ago and got to met up in person the last few years. I love them for pieces.

352-353

2010-12-18T20:38:00.000-08:00

Saturday & Sunday

Omgosh, am I struggling down the home stretch here. Doesn't help that the book I am reading is over 1000pages so I don't even have my reviews to do as fillers.

The weekend was mellow, so there is just no pictures to post. I did talk John into going to Blockbuster because I saw a sign that said 99cent movies. We get in there and basically they've redone their prices and there's maybe 5 99cent movies in the joint. There is a bunch of $2.99 ones, so we rented The Perfect Getaway. For $3bucks, it was pretty good! Let's see, oh, the Lion's won Sunday, on the road. This was big, to John anyways. So, yeah, that was our weekend and you can see why I am coming up blank on pics.

351/365

2010-12-18T20:36:00.001-08:00

Coop's last day of gymnastics.

350/365

2010-12-16T07:05:00.003-08:00

Thursday the boys finally got to see Santa! Parker was so excited, it was so cute.

Here he is waiting with his list. (as you can see, his eye is still a bit wonky)

Sitting with Santa and then singing songs.

349/365

2010-12-16T07:05:00.001-08:00

Due to Parker's eye, I was unable to get a more wintery type picture for the few Christmas cards we send out. This works though and thanks to Erin for doing the card for me!!

347-348/365

2010-12-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

Monday & Tuesday were snow days here. Monday it was actually a good thing because Parker still wasn't well enough to goto school. Tuesday, I was at my wits end. I hadn't been out of the house or alone in I don't know how long. Unless you count a trip to urgent care the week before. My parents saved the day by driving over and taking us all out to lunch. They were also nice enough to drop me off at the grocery store for much needed supplies and took the boys over to the dollar store and loaded the up with crap to bring home. I mean , who doesn't need gigantic sunglasses?

346/365

2010-12-12T16:13:00.001-08:00

In addition to it being a long week due to illness, the fact that we had not gotten a Christmas tree yet and this seem just unbearable to #1, certainly didn't help matters. I actually found this where the Christmas Tree usually goes.

John had suggested we cut down a pine tree from the backyard due to financial issues and I was not for this at all. Well...between Parker's eye, the blizzard we got today, and time contraints, he won.

I give you, our Christmas tree farm (and a cute pic of Coop).

Given the vast selection, we somehow narrowed it down between big and ugly or not as big and ugly.

Our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. The no garland or tree topper is not helping matters, but we are snowed in. So, I am stuck looking at this pitifulness for a few days and John is as pleasd as can be. This never makes me happy.

345/365

2010-12-12T15:52:00.000-08:00

Saturday's Post...

It has been a hell of a long week. Monday, Parker stayed home sick. Tuesday he seemed better, we sent him in, and the school called before noon saying he had pink eye. So, for the 2nd week in a row, my kid free Christmas shopping day is foiled. He falls asleep Tuesday at 3:00 and doesn't really wake up until the next day around 3:00, with the occassional demand for water or to pee. Seems to be doing better Wednesday night and we think we'll keep him home Thursday as a just to be safe day, but he wakes up worse and the eye is out of control. Thursday night we goto urgent care and get meds for the eye and a diagnosis of acute bronchitis. Friday he is awake and demanding but looks like hell. This is when I get sick, just a nasty winter cold, nothing big but enough to make me tired and miserable. Saturday we are seeing big improvements with the bronchitis but even now, which is Sunday, his eye still doesn't look very good! I don't know what to do, we have to get him back in school! and I have to get out of this house! and I swear on my dog's life that I wish would die, I just got a call that school is canceled for tomorrow due to snow. I think this is a blessing, because I really don't know if he could of gone with his eye like it is. I will say that one big blessing is Parker is finally taking medicines for us if we put it in 7up. This is massively huge life changing. Granted, we push the doctor off a lot because we don't have office visit coverage but another reason has been he wouldn't ingest meds, no matter how you tried to approach or hide it. This is actually the first time he's ever been on antibiotics!

344/365

2010-12-12T15:50:00.001-08:00

Friday's Post...

and the grinch is down.

343/365

2010-12-12T15:37:00.000-08:00

Thursday's Post

Parker's Christmas List

Pirate Ship Toy
Telescope
Illnois Toy (wtf??)
Ocean Stuff
Pirate Island
Space Stuff
Toy Ocean
Salt (to make saltwater, duh!)

342/365

2010-12-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

This isn't my fridge, but I thought it was a cute idea.

341/365

2010-12-07T06:38:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, caught up!! I am really struggling in the home stretch here.

Today was my kid free today until 330, then I was picking Parker up and taking him to the Cultural Center activities in Flint. I was really excited to surprise him with a show at the planetarium and it was free!!! That plan was foiled when I got a call from school that he is sick. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Guess it is his turn this week. While this has sucked and been incredibly drawn out between the two, at least it doesn't seem to be to awful like they get be sometimes. I am greatful for that.

340/365

2010-12-07T06:37:00.001-08:00

My neighbor put this up over the weekend, so now I am looking at John's likeness all.the.time. It is super windy here and $10bucks says the Grinch is flying high by the new year.

339/365

2010-12-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

Sunday

Only in Michigan is it difficult to find the new Kid Rock cd.

338/365

2010-12-07T06:29:00.000-08:00

Saturday

Sam's club finally has lobster bisque!!! I've been waiting for this day for almost a year, since we left Costco and their heavenly soup. Things are looking up.

337/365

2010-12-04T14:54:00.001-08:00

The blower in my truck was making this incredibly loud noise when I would try to use it, so John looked into it and found this. A mouse had made a nest in it!! So creepy and now I am wondering where the mouse is! Hopefully not with the frog Parker lost in my truck a few months ago.

336/365

2010-12-02T17:58:00.001-08:00

Aaaaaaaaaaarh, snow. Cooper loved it. We really need to get him boots and good gloves this weekend. He played in the backyard and I was watching from inside, he was doing snowangels everywhere. So cute, I should of got a pic of that instead of this crappy cell phone one. I was busy livin my life on the inside though.

335/365

2010-12-01T14:51:00.000-08:00

The new tv...

334/365

2010-11-30T17:50:00.003-08:00

I had to make a major life decision today. I was forced to lay my priorities out on the table and really evaluate them. It came down to 3 big big things in my life;internet, my text/data plan, and the dvr. One had to go, I could see it in John's eyes, it is time to cut costs. So...I choose the dvr. Seriously one of the best life changing inventions ever, I hope we can be together again someday.

333/365

2010-11-30T17:50:00.001-08:00

This pretty much sums up Coop's last few days. His throat is so itchy he coughs until he vomits. He breaks out in these random rashes 2-3x's a day. He's now being kept home from school, canceled a playdate, and I'm hoping some rest will do the trick. If not, we'll probably have to go in to the doctors.

332/365

2010-11-28T15:25:00.000-08:00

Sunday John finally decided to start painting Cooper's room. He's 4 and sad as it is, it's time to ditch the baby green colors and theme. :( While I would love to do a dark green combo of some sort, fact is we're poor, so we dug up the blue paint we used for Parker's room. One wall will be dark blue, and the other 3 light. Then we'll use Parker's old car theme stuff and the quilt my friend sent us (Rachel, do you read my blog) for Parker's room. So, a new grown up room to come on a major budget. I have lots of ideas of what I would like to do, so hopefully I can add to it here and there. Might be more fun that way anyhow!

331/365

2010-11-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

Saturday we made our annual trip to Bronnor's to let the boys each pick out an ornament. Parker new he wanted soemthing ocean and had a crab for a bit until he spotted this sparkly starfish he declared "beautiful". Cooper wasn't so easy. He wanted a "sign" ornament, like an open/close sign, no parking, no smoking... Yeah. So, after spending forever looking for the in possibly he spotted this ice cream and loved it. I was glad we found something that was "him" at least.

330/365

2010-11-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

Book Review:April & Oliver by Tess Callahan

This was a really good book. It is beautifully written and gently flows as these characters, stepcousins, come back into each others life after a tradgic death. The book is much about the friendship that was and what it has become, and even where it might go along with the family that surrounds them.

329/365

2010-11-26T09:56:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was very laid back and nice. My parents and brother came over, John deep fried a turkey, and watched the lion's lose. At least Kid Rock was the halftime show. After they left, we watched Grown Ups which we were expecting to be hilarious and were actually disappointed!

328/365

2010-11-24T18:45:00.000-08:00

This was delivered today...turns out my parents decided to surprise us for Christmas with not only a bluray player but a new 46inch tv, which is being delivered and set up next week!! I am still in shock. We are not big electronic people, in fact our current tv is 15yrs old and bought by my parents as a housewarming gift. I don't even know what a bluray is really, does it play regular dvd's? I am hoping so. This is something we would of never bought ourselves and I just feel so lucky and greatful. My parents do these things every few years and it makes me sad that with how things are going, I might not to get to do the same for my own children. I really hope it's not the case because I would love to beable to to surprise them like this everyone now and then too.

327/365

2010-11-23T10:27:00.001-08:00

326/365

2010-11-23T10:18:00.000-08:00

This is a pretty cool coupon for Hallmark, $10 off a $10 or more purchase. Thought I'd share in case you somehow missed it.
http://f.update.hallmark.com/s/5/474648236/exp.html

325/365

2010-11-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

Book Review:This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. The book is about 4 siblings and their mom sitting Shiva after the passing of the father and all the family and old neighborhood dynamics and happening that go on. It touches on their current issues and rolls in the past as well, since they are all back home. You'd expect sad, touchng, maybe enlightning, but it's so damn funny/witty too! I haven't read anything by this author before and plan to find some other of his books STAT. I really love his writing style.

324/365

2010-11-20T11:16:00.001-08:00

I had a $50 rewards card for Gap/Old Navy that I begrudgingly used on the boys winter needs instead of myself. For less then $10 oop I got both boys hats, gloves, and Cooper's winter coat! Luckily Parker's coat still fits from last year with lots of room. So, now we just need boots and hopefully can score a deal somewhere.

This is Coop trying out his new duds.

323/365

2010-11-20T11:12:00.000-08:00

FRIDAY

John, me, and my neck Cranberries Cafe. We went out to dinner with 6 other couples and had a great night. I only wish we could of stayed out later, but it wasn't in the cards with our sitter. I noticed that night during pictures that I got crazy eyes lately when someone says smile. I think there's to much to think about, stick the neck out to reduce the number of chins, suck in the gut to reduce the number of rolls, fluff the hair to hide the grey limp dead look, the stress stress of it all comes out in my bulging crazy eyes. Or, I have gone crazy and my eyes are just realizing it before the rest of me.

322/365

2010-11-20T11:02:00.000-08:00

THURSDAY

Cooper had to have a baby root canal done. :( They gave him gas, then a shot (which he thankfully doesn't remember), and did really well. He even fell asleep during it! The biggest issue has been afterwards when his lip was numb, he just chewed the shit out of it. This picture doesn't really do how bad it is justice, but since I have to post a picture a day, I'm posting this! 2 days later, it's still looking pretty bad, but healing.

321/365

2010-11-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

Wednesday

Parker is really into pirates lately and I've been wanting to gently introduce legos w/o spending a bundle, so when I saw this, I thought it was perfect for Christmas. I had a 40% off coupon to sweeten the idea too.

320/365

2010-11-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

Cooper wanted the tea cup pig for Christmas and I was kind of on the fence until I saw it in person. SO adorable. Better yet, they have a boy one named High Top. I want one for myself, it is so friggin cute.

319/365

2010-11-15T18:45:00.000-08:00

Book Review:Somewhere Inside by Laura Ling & Lisa Ling

Number 50, I made my goal!!

This book is about Laura Ling's captivity in North Korea and the fight to bring her home. I have always been a fan of Lisa Ling, Laura's sister, since her time on The View and now on Oprah. I was intriqued by this story when it actually happened and can remember trying to find more information, updates, and also so happy at the eventually release of Laura and her collegue. This was a great book, told between the two sisters. It answered all the questions I had and gave an indepth account of what was going on. Very interesting and enlightning book.

318/365

2010-11-15T18:37:00.000-08:00

A friend sent us some key limes from her tree and Cali. Thank you Hope! They smell soooo good. I really had no idea they would and also that they'd be yellow, not the standard bigger green. I found an easy recipe for key lime pie and it turned out pretty good.
5 Egg Yolks (beaten)
1 can sweet condensed milk
1/2cup lime juice

Combine and bake for 15minutes at 350. I topped with some cool whip and that's it!

317/365

2010-11-13T15:30:00.000-08:00

Book Review:Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler

I think this is my 3rd book I've read by her. It was just as good if not better then the others. I like that it touched a lot more on her current life and the people in it and on her show, along with her childhood. It was a super quick read and I would never pay fulprice, but off paperbackswap is perfect!

316/365

2010-11-12T15:54:00.001-08:00

Friday's post.

I may have cracked the case of why clothes are coming out holey after the wash.

315/365

2010-11-12T15:45:00.000-08:00

Thursday...

We had conferences for both boys and I just don't have the energy yet to type out Parker's, but I will. So, Cooper first.

He is doing super well! It's only preschool, so this is good news. He is 1 of only a handful of students that is going to start Handwriting Without Tears, because he's got his letters and sounds down, knows his shapes and numbers, etc...While he is ahead of the game there, were he is struggling is his fine motor skills, which we knew. He can even spell many words, but he'll do it on his little computer instead of writing them. He will not write and color for us because he's not good at it. An issue, because knowledge wise, he is ready for this. So, we got some simple things to do at home to work on his hand strength and really, we aren't to worried, but it does back up my belief a little that he's not ready for K next year.

Parker took this picture of Coop and I thought it was cute. They were in our bedroom watching tv with the door shut. Sometimes I wonder what is going on in there, but mostly I am just greatful when it's quiet. but not too quiet or quiet for too long...

314/365

2010-11-11T06:23:00.000-08:00

Book Review:The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

This book is set in 1940 and centers aroun a radio personality, a Cape Cod town postmaster, and the town's doctor and new wife. Then there is of course the various side characters and really the main character, the impending war and what is already happening "far away".

I think I had to high expectations of this book because I was on my famous paperbackswap wait list so long. I was bored through much of it, predicted some, but the ending was good and finally held my attention.

This is the last paragraph of the book in "The Story Behind The Story" section and it sums the book up much better then I could.
"It's about the lies we tell others to protect them, and about the lies we tell ourselves inorder not to acknowledge what we can't bear:that we are alive, for instance, and eating lunch, while bombs are falling, and refugees are crammed into camps, and the news come toward us every hour of the day. And what, in the end, do we do?"

313/365

2010-11-09T17:57:00.000-08:00

We are having an amazing week of weather and what is super nice is it's a 3day school week, giving us extra long for homework to be due, so we can really enjoy our evenings. Today we headed to the park after school and had a great time!

312/365

2010-11-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

Which one of these are not like the other one? It was fairly easy to spot Parker's right away but what I couldn't figure out is what he was going for. A coral reef was the answer.

311/365

2010-11-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

Posting Sunday early

Saturday Parker documented our errands with my camera.
Here's the exciting results.

On our way...

pehraps Parker also has yard envy when we drive by this house.

we're there!

He asked to take a picture of me with this and told me to say "sweater!".

Cooper insisting on taking a picture. Mamma need a eyebrow wax!

After Sam's Club it was off to the pet store for hermit crab sand.
He caught this one showing a little leg.

This turtle almost has sweet puppy dog eyes!

Hot tub paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarteey!

and finally showing me what he wants for Christmas. (the pirate ship up top)

310/365

2010-11-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

Parker's disquise a turkey project for school. Hopefully you can tell it's Spongebob, with Gary in one hand and a Krabby Patty in the other.