0 Photo Highlights of November 2009

• Annual mommy retreat: Wolf Creek, Utah. This year we did very little scrapbooking and more relaxing. We soaked in the hot tub, played cards, read books, and even did a little shopping in Ogden. (We found the ‘great’ Target top that looked good on all of us. I think we each got one or two.) Between naps we watched the entire LONG movie of ‘The Pride and the Prejudice’ or as Laura calls it, ‘the dancing lady show’.

• First snow to play in.

• Hanging inside more.

• putting up the Christmas decorations.

• Staffords visit for Maren & my Birthday Weekend which nicely fell on the release of the second Twilight movie, ‘New Moon’. We have a nice lunch at the ‘Olive Garden’ before and then did a little Christmas shopping after. When we got home the men (and when I say men, I mean Mike) had prepared a yummy BBQ Ribs dinner complete with flowers and ice cream cake.

0 Picture Highlights of October 2009

• Playing in the Fall leaves at Grandma JoAnne’s home.

• Allie had her first dental appointment. The got to wear the special sunglasses to protect against ‘Mr. Sunshine’ and got her teeth tickled.

• Annual pumpkin carving, complete with a black sharpie.

• North Logan Pumpkin Walk.

• Annual ward carnival put on my the young men and women.

• Trick-or-treat: Kylie was ‘a piglet’ and Allie was a 'princess’.

1 Allie is a natural bike rider

Yesterday Nate took off Allie's training wheels at her insistence. She has been asking us to take them off since last summer. Nate said she took to it like a fish to water. No wobbling! Her only probably is tending to put on the brake when she is coasting. With the training wheels her bike would skid to a stop, but with now she wobbles with the sudden lost of momentum. In under 24 hours she figuring it out.

This morning she was the first one to wake up, bright and early, so that she could get ready for school in time to ride her bike before carpool. The below-freezing temperature didn't detour her a bit. She had made several rounds in the cul-de-sac before we left for preschool. She was right back at it after school...after lunch...after nap. Her goal is to get fast enough to keep up with her friends that are a few years older when they ride to the elementary school (2 blocks away) this fall for Allie's kindergarten year.

Here's a little video clip from day #2.

0 Book Report

The binge is over. I've finished 9 big novels in 3 weeks. I sure love a good series and I came across a few. Here's a quick review:

C: The Immortals Series, books #1-2 - - Alyson Noel

These were not as good as I had hoped. I read the first chapter of the first book online awhile back and was intrigued, but I was disappointed by the lack of 'growth' in the main characters. I kind of get the feeling that the author is dragging out a good idea to sell more books. Yet, I love a series and have never left one unfinished.

Book #3 is out but I think I'll wait (*gasp* I really said that). I bought 'Evermore'(#1) and 'Blue Moon'(#2) in paperback and I bet that they release the paperback copy of 'Shadowland' (#3) with the release of 'Dark Flame' (#4) in June. Depending on how the third installment goes (low expectations based on the summaries I've read), I will probably wait till the rest come out in paperback. Even though they are not my favs, I'd really like to have a complete set that match...OCD, I know.

A-: The Queen's Thief Series, books #1-3 - - Diane Setterfield

The first book, 'The Thief', was a bit slow to get going but then the story took off. I really liked trying to solve the mystery before it was revealed. There were lots of twists and turns, which I like. Each additional book (#2 'The Queen of Attolia', #3 'The King of Attolia') added something new, and the character development was great.

I am really excited to read #4, 'The conspiracy of Kings', Which is due in about 3 weeks. I am so glad I finally gave in to my mother's and sister's recommendations after all these years. Its also nice to finally pick up a series after they have been published and skip the 4-5 year waits between installments.

A: The Thirteenth Tale - - Diane Setterfield

This was the only single, stand alone book I read this month, but it almost felt like a series. The mystery was a journey that drew me in. The characters were tangible and their struggles were 'real'. It also had a very satisfying ending. I hate it when a book just stops...thus my fetish with series. Since this was her first publication, I'll keep my eyes peeled for her future work.

A+: The Mortal Instruments Series, books #1-3 - - Casandra Claire

WOW! This was a cross between Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Twilight. There was conflict, oh my! And the characters developed, struggled, and grew. I don't want to give anything away, but go read these books. I'd be glad to lend you my copies, just as soon as I get them back from my sister. It will be interesting to see what the first of the 3-book prequel looks like this fall when it comes out. Only a year till #4, 'City of Fallen Angels'.

0 Book Binge

I am starting in on a book binge. I'm so low energy and need an escape. I've ordered/bought 9 books in the past week (there goes the last of my Christmas cash). Most are still in the mail, so I've only read one (see directly below this post). If you are feeling the itch to read, then join our book blog {I think it is open for the public to read and I can have Devony add you as an author if you want to post.}

LINK: Book Club Blog

* * Books I have coming in the Mail this week * *


The Mortal Instruments Series -Cassandra Clare
1. City of Bones, 2. City of Ashes, 3. City of Glass
"Dear Edward and Jacob, I adore you both, but I'm spending the weekend with Jace. Sorry! Love, Stephenie" --Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight

The Queen's Thief Series - Megan Whalen Turner

1. The Thief, 2. The Queen of Attolia, 3. The King of Attolia
my mother and sisters loved these

The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield
found on GoodReads


The Immortals Series, book #2: blue Moon - Alyson Noel
I read book #1 'Evermore' Saturday



* * Books I am looking forward to in the near future* *
March 16, 2010 - - The Girl Who Chased the Moon (Sarah Addison Allen)
March 23, 2010 - - A Conspiracy of Kings (The Queen's Thief Series, #4)
June 22, 2010 - - Dark Flame (The Immortals Series, #4)
Aug. 24, 2010 - - The Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3...final installment!)
Sept. 2010 - - The Clockwork Angle (The Infernal Devices Series, Prequels to Mortal Instruments, #1 of 3)
March 31st 2011 - -City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments Series, #4)

0 The Immortals Series, book #1: Evermore (by Alyson Noel)

I was desperate for a book to read while I'm waiting for several in the mail (I'll post about them as soon as they get here and I read them), so I bought this one at Hastings while my husband was deciding what DVD to rent Saturday. (Oh, they gave me 10% off since the back upper corner was crumpled-yeah)

It was a quick read and kept me involved, but it's similarities with Twilight were eerie and a bit distracting. I did like it enough to have ordered the sequel, Blue Moon (drat those publishers putting the first chapter of book #2 at the end of book #1). There is a third book out (Shadowland) and a fourth book (Dark Flame) is due out June 22th this summer. From reading the previews, I'm not sure I'll like the rest of the series, but I'm willing to give them a try. I'm pregnant and need an escape.

Link: The Immortals Series

Amazon summary:

This opening book in a new series, The Immortals, will thrill many teen fantasy-suspense readers, especially fans of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. Seventeen-year-old Ever survived the car crash that killed her parents, younger sister, and their dog. Now she lives with an aunt in Southern California, plagued not only by survivor guilt but also by a new ability to hear the thoughts of all around her. She tries to tune out all these distractions by keeping her hoodie up and her iPod cranked loud, until Damen, the cute new boy at school, convinces her to come out of her shell. Damen, however, is frighteningly clever—and has the strange ability to produce tulips from nowhere and disappear himself at critical moments. Noël (Saving Zoë, 2007) creates a cast of recognizably diverse teens in a realistic high-school setting, along with just the right tension to make Ever’s discovery of her own immortality—should she choose it—exciting and credible. Grades 8-10. --Francisca Goldsmith

1 Hunger Games will resolve!

I'm sure everyone has seen and heard about the Mockingjay cover (Hunger Games book 3) by now, but I just had to post it. It's amazing! I'm so excited about this book, and I can't wait to read it. Here's some information from a Scholastic UK press release:

THE EAGERLY-AWAITED THIRD BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED ON 24TH AUGUST 2010

Since the September 2009 release of Catching Fire, the second book in Suzanne Collins' best-selling Hunger Games trilogy, there has been a great deal of internet speculation about the title for the forthcoming third book. The wait is over. Today we can reveal that the third book will be called THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY.

In the series, mockingjays are government-bred mutant birds, the offspring of mockingbirds and jabberjays, created in order to spy on rebels. Mockingjays became the symbol of resistance in book two of the series.

5 My Excuse...

I working full time in the office (at least for the winter) and I am pregnant.

I've been quite sick and tired this time around. Definitely different that previous pregnancies of mine. I'll try to get back on the blog...

P.S. "NewBaby" is due July 19 and we are waiting till birth to find out the gender

2 Sisters

In our home it is the little sister who beats up the big sister. Kylie is constantly pestering Allie.

• Kylie swipes the paper Allie is drawing on.
• Kylie eats Allies yummy bedtime snack.
• Kylie runs off with 'orange,' A's beloved blanket.

All of these antics leave Allie dissolved tears while Kylie dances off, giggles mercilessly. Sweet Allie never retaliates and often only shrugs her shoulders and moves on, so sometimes Kylie ups the anti. Lately she's been testing out shoving, hitting, and full body tackles. We've tried to be good parents, but the 'naughtly chair' and other previously successful consequences haven't been deterrents at all. Well last night it came to a head when Kylie took a bite out of Allie's arm for no apparent reason (no blood, but teeth marks). After locking the offender in her bedroom, frustrated Nate told Allie that next time she needs to 'whomp' her little sister. In response Allie howled louder. Sweet soul didn't want to 'hurt' Kylie.

2 Treat to eat!

I can not take any credit for this yumm-o recipe. I got it from my good friend Brandi after she brought it to scrapbook night. Every time I make it I try a different combination based on what I've got on hand and its always disappeared behind smiles. Let me know what you mix in and how its received. At Ellen's request here's...

PUPPY CHOW

In a large bowl measure out:

8 cups dry cereal-type stuff
1 large bag hard-shell candy

In a pot over low heat stir till melted:

1 bag white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Pour hot goo over mix in bowl and stir till well coated
Spread out on a large cookie sheet
When dry, break into pieces and enjoy

Dry stuff options:

4 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
2 cups cocoa puffs
2 cups pretzel stixs
- or -
2.5 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
2.5 cups Fruit Loops
1 cups cocoa puffs
1 cup chocolate gram fish
1 cup pretzel stixs

1 bag candies:

plain M&M
-or-
Kissables
-or-
Reeses Pieces

4 Annual HOGLE ZOO trip

If you ask, the girls will tell you the metal statues, goldfish in the pond, and the little birds eating crumbs were their favorite things this trip.

I personally thought the baby elephant was the highpoint.

The daddy Lion also put on quite a show for us. We were glad to spend the day with our Beattie cousins, but missed the Stafford girls who ended up not being able to come this year. (yes, Abby & I are wearing the same sweater. We love ModBe and great minds think alike.)

I don’t think we can go to the zoo without a picture on the lion statues.

Of course the girls were on their best behavior to get a ride. They grinned ear to ear the whole time. When it was over poor Eden ran away crying…she wanted another ride.

This is my favorite picture of the day.