February Books

These were the books I bought for February. It was a good thing that we had something to read, because there wasn't much chance to go outside. Unless you count shoveling snow and searching for lost gloves and boots in the snow banks. So here's my rundown:

The Power of a Positive Mom.... I haven't read it yet. I probably won't. Isn't that awful. I just don't care for self-help books. I should probably keep it in the car to scan through when I'm stuck waiting. I'm sure there are good things to glean from it...

The 13th Reality is a series I'm pre-reading for the kids. It was pretty good. I read The Lightning Thief as well, hoping that Kaden could tackle it before he sees the movie, but that one can definitely wait a few years.

When You Reach Me was excellent. Definitely for the teen years, not middle school, but I'm glad it's waiting on the shelves. In the ranks of The Wednesday Wars and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

The Hobbit... incredible. I'm going to get the audio version for our next road trip. I can't believe I never read this! The writing is musical and evocative. Definitely a book better savored aloud.

Catching Fire is the sequel to The Hunger Games. I am looking forward to reading the conclusion due out in August.

Dandelion Fire... I haven't read it because Kaden snatched it away before I could get to it. He couldn't wait for me to finish reading the first book, 100 Cupboards, so he finished the last 100 pages of that himself and is already 200 pages into Dandelion Fire. I have forbidden him to speak of it until I've read it!

Dissolution was excellent. I like the time period and the hunchback lawyer/detective. A great mystery. I'll look for more of Sansom's books.

I love Jasper Fford's writing. I'm looking forward to finishing Shades of Grey, but I can't read it quickly, the writing is just too fun to rush through! It might seem a strange book on it's own, but I loved the Thursday series and I'm glad he has another series in the works!

I also read Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood from the library. I'm glad I didn't waste money on it. I just don't care for Atwood. Her stories are interesting, but it's all the other stuff she crams in them. In my opinion, they distract from the story and leave the characters one-dimensional and superficial. I don't know why I keep bothering to read her books.

So, that was my busy reading month. I'm looking forward to reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy this spring and I have about 70 books on my Amazon wishlist! Decisions, decisions.

Feed the Bunny

Poor bunny was digging the grass out of the snow, so the kids put out some lettuce and carrots for him. It was so much fun watching him hop around the back yard.

Seven

We got seven inches yesterday. They predicted one to two inches, but at least it wasn't twenty-four like last time! I hope it warms up this week and melts it all quickly!

The First Four

Saturday, lunchtime, the first four inches are cleared.

Let's Play Pretend

I'm pretending that it's sunny and hot outside and that I might go to the pool this afternoon to cool off, but for now I'll just sip this refreshingly cold glass of iced tea...

Because the reality is that it is 19 degrees and gray and snow is in the forecast for tonight through Sunday and

I. STILL. DO. NOT. LIKE. WINTER. ONE. BIT!

My Girl

My girl is completely unselfconscious.

My girl knows she is worthy.

My girl fully intends to rock the world.

I totally look up to my girl.

I hope these things never change.

Boys are Weird

Smile...

Or, eat your legos.

Or, look goofy.

I'm going to blow these up to enormous proportions one day and you will wonder why you didn't just give me a nice smile.

Battles of Epic Proportion

In a galaxy far, far away...

and here in our own backyard.

January Books

These are the books I finished this month. They were all good reads. The Maze Runner and The Hunger Games are both Young Adult Fiction. I started reading YA fiction last year so that I could build a library of books that were appropriate for my kids to read as they got older. I remember as a young teen reading a lot of books off my parents shelves that were way too mature, way to horrifying for my age: Steven King, Flowers in the Attic, Clan of the Cavebears. I am careful to select inspiring picture books for my littles and I've been pretty selective about the kid's chapter books, so I figured I better get a pretty good head start on YA, I remember how much I loved to read as a teen. Anyway, I found that I really enjoy a lot of YA Fiction! Our shelves are filling up nicely. Maze Runner and Hunger Games are both the beginning of series. They were great reads, I hope their sequels are as compelling. The Illuminator is historical fiction, another favorite genre of mine. It was well-written, but about half-way through, I wondered how the author would be able to end it happily. The author, however, wasn't concerned about that at all. While I really love a happy ending, I suppose this ending was much more realistic. Sigh. Water for Elephants has been on my wishlist for a long while. I'm so glad that I finally read it. An amazing book. Not one to miss.

In February, I am planning to read The Hobbit. I've never read any of the Lord of the Rings books or seen the movies. I don't know if these qualify as classics, but they are on my list of popular books I've never opened, that's reason enough for me.

Take Me to Your Leader

It's almost sinister, but what's with the bucked-tooth grimace?

Abby, Not Always Crabby

There's a song, Sweet by Lex Land, that always makes me think of Abby when I hear it.

I know I may seem tough, and that I can play rough

I may seem like I've got one point of view,

............. But really I can be sweet, too.

She can. She doesn't always like to, but she can.

For the Record

Kaden, enjoying his math.

And Chloe, also enjoying her math.

Just in case I ever have to prove they are learning.

Wasn't it sweet of them to look so happy.

Good kids. A+

Not Business as Usual

We rarely do crafts for history, but today the kids made this Jamestown replica.

I've been out of the kitchen since November, but today I made banana bread. Jack was sure it was his birthday.

I Really Like You

Baby, you are turning into a big boy.

I will miss your babyness,

But I'm looking forward to your boyish misadventures.

Cluttered

My desk, a reflection of my week.

A new box of tissues and an old one.

Bills scattered here and there.

Tax stuff not neatly organized.

Open scissors, an invitation for harm.

An empty glass, spare lego parts, random books and CD's, used tissues.

A reflection of my week or my life?

Obsession

He has spent countless hours, every day, for months, with his nose in this Lego Star Wars Encyclopedia. Without hesitating, he can tell you what episode every figure is from, what year Lego first produced each set, what figures come with each set, and what the current price of all available sets are on Amazon (and how much that compares to the Lego Store and Target). The other day, I asked him to explain to Scott who the Separatists were. We are studying the Pilgrims in history. Kaden got a twinkle in his eye and proceeded to explain who the Separatists were, just not the ones I had in mind. At least he's able to focus his attention!

A Brief Moment

Sometimes he gets close and, ever so quietly so as not to draw unwanted attention, he cuddles. It only lasts a few moments, but then I see this face that he reserves for rare occasions, and my heart melts, again.

Sunshine in Virginia? Get it while it lasts!

Play outside while the sun shines!

It is only 50 degrees, but it feels so much better after so many weeks of freezing temps! Sam even took his hoodie off. I caught the kids in a fierce game of tribal battle. Now it's cloudy and windy again, but those precious couple of outdoorsy hours this morning were wonderful!

Chess, Anyone?

Sometimes, when I can't find the baby, I have to look in the most unlikely places. Today, I found Jack hiding out in the front room with Kaden's chess set. It's an original set up, I guess, very unconventional.

Abby, who is ever my shadow, decided to educate Jack on how the board should be set up. Then she set out to teach him to play. Then Jack threw all his white pieces at her. Then she said he was the worst brother EVER and put the chess set away!

Jack thinks next time I should just mind my own business and let the man have some peace!

Dinner with Family

It's a rare treat to enjoy an evening with family! John is in town for the week so he and Kyle and Erin made the major trek in traffic to join us for dinner! It was so much fun! Really makes me homesick... again.

All the kids were excited to see Uncle John and they all missed Aunt Lisa! Wish she could have come along, too!