Counting my blessings

Sick

2011-01-05T21:37:00.002-05:00

OK, thanks to my dear friend Colleen, she has sparked my interest in trying to blog again. I do think I'm gonna try out this 365 Photo Challenge that some of my friends are taking part in. http://365project.org/
But also, we have some big changes coming up this year that I think would be nice to blog about for several reasons. First, as a journal to track the process. Second, to vent my feelings and maybe even get some feedback from others. Third, I'm hoping it will help me sort through what may become a messy and confusing journey.
So, there you have it - my first post in what will hopefully become a more regular occurance.
Meanwhile, I feel like crap and I'm ready to medicate and go to bed.
Goodnight all!

Perspective

2010-05-05T22:44:00.002-04:00

So I've been feeling kind of overwhelmed and 'knocked around' these last few months with our financial situation, Tim's job, our house, the kids, blah, blah, blah...

Then today at school, I saw a mom that I haven't seen in several months so we were talking and catching up on each other's lives. I met her when we first moved here because her daughter was in my Madison's preschool class. Well about a year after I met her, she tearfully expressed to me that she had found a lump in her breast and was in the process of finding out the prognosis. Long story short, it was cancer, she suffered through more than 5 surgeries including a double mastectomy plus radiation and some other forms of treatment. Last April the doctors said she was in remission and the future looked bright.

Fast forward to our conversation today - she felt a tiny 'bump' in her breast region in January, went to see her doctor the very next day and by the following week, she was getting operated on again to remove the CANCER - it came back. In these last few months, she has endured 2 more surgeries plus lots of radiation. And this Friday she starts chemotherapy which will last through the end of August.

Meanwhile, her husband tore is ACL along with a few other muscles in his knee and was out of work for six months. Of course she has had to quit her job because of her sickness, therefore they are unable to afford their mortgage. Needless to say, it is now taking a toll on their marriage. Heartbreaking.

I wish I knew why God puts these obstacles and painful experiences in people's lives? It just doesn't make sense to me. They are a hardworking, loving couple trying to do the best in this world and raise two beautiful children. Why??

One thing I do know is that God placed her in my life for a reason and today that reason was to give me a little 'shake' to say 'Count your blessings!' It could be so much worse, there are people out there who are truly suffering. What we are going through pales in comparison. For that I am eternally grateful. But I continue to pray - I pray for the complete healing of my friend and her marriage and family. So, let's keep our lives and our troubles in perspective. And keep your chin up, the sun will come out tomorrow!!

New Beginnings

2010-05-03T21:21:00.002-04:00

Its been so long since I last blogged, you may think, 'why now?' Actually, I have wanted to post for awhile but honestly thought 'whats the point?'. Then I realized the point is: for me to journal about my feelings and my life. It's for me. If you find my thoughts interesting or maybe they help you in some way, then that is even better.

We are going through some major changes in our lives right now. Tim's new job in Delaware. Bankruptcy, which will ultimately lead to losing our house. Giving up our expensive car. Financially, we have crumbled. And it was/is devastating. Heartbreaking. Embarrassing. Frustrating. But the positive is, now we are off to a fresh start and I have to be excited about that. I want to make the right decisions to lead us into a brighter future. I know we can rebuild and be as good, if not BETTER, than we have ever been financially. But it is going to be a long, slow journey. We can do it! Right?

The big decision that we face at this point is whether we want to stay in our current town or move back 'home' to PA. I think ultimately, PA is where we belong. No matter how long we live here, this will never truly be our home. Home includes all of our family and friends. The people who are most important to us. The only reason we moved down here was for Tim's job and now that job has gone away. So, why stay? But it's actually not quite as easy as that.

The schools are incredible! They are everything the reviews say and more. The girls really love school and are doing so well. The special education dept is out of this world and they support our girls in every way imaginable. Not to mention, I have a job at the school which I really enjoy, which is the cherry on top!

The town itself is quite endearing. The bike path. The playground/park. The community as a whole with events and fun things that pull the community together.

Living near the beach and boardwalk keep us happy all year long. We are only 10 minutes away, which is far enough away to avoid the traffic or flooding issues, but close enough to go anytime we want! Sun, Sand and Mack & Manco's pizza - can we ask for more than that?!!

Friends. The girls have met some nice friends at school and enjoy lots of play dates. Especially Kaitlyn. She has grown so connected to a very sweet little girl in her class and they became instant best friends. I have also met some very nice people. No one who could even come close to my friends back home though. And that is tough. You would think after almost three years, I would have really connected with a core group of friends. People are very different down here. We live in a wealthy town and people have very high standards when it comes to lifestyle and such.

So anyway, for now it looks like we will be staying in our house until next summer. Meanwhile, we are going to save as much money as we can and keep our eyes out for the right rental property in PA (probably Owen J Roberts school district in Chester County).

The skies are looking brighter. We are all healthy and safe. Tim has a job thank God. So although life isn't turning out the way we planned or expected it to, we are learning to roll with the punches... one day at a time!!

Is November really half over?!?!

2009-11-19T21:13:00.002-05:00

One week till Thanksgiving ... REALLY???

So many things to be thankful for:

- My job that I love
- All four girls remaining healthy (even thru the Swine Flu scare)
- Tim's vasectomy went well and hopefully was a success!
- Pops was not hurt in his car accident PLUS Tim & Pops were able to fix the car with parts from a junkyard
- Kaitlyn joining 2 social groups at school - both started this week and both are geared toward self-esteem building - one is a running group
- Got to visit each of the girls classrooms this week and see what they do everyday
- the 'Best' pediatric dentist around now finally takes our dental insurance and all four girls have an appt in 2 weeks
- addictive Facebook games that help take my mind away for awhile
- Tim's job offer from a company in Delaware (not the offer we were hoping for, but still promising)
- Our awesome date night last weekend - I finally got to eat at PF Changs (Tim's fave) and we saw A Christmas Carol at IMAX 3D and walked around The Tropicana in AC
- Tim loving his new car (BMW)
- having the girls help put away tons of laundry tonight - they even hung them up!
- Tim's safe flights all around the world (I still worry after all these years)
- Awesome family & friends who create the best support group for us
- taking aspirin everyday has helped relieved some of my awful heart pain (at least to get me thru till my next test on Dec 4)
- Mack n Manco pizza (love it! haha)
- I could go on and on but... well the one big thing I'm thankful for is a cozy warm bed to sleep in!! Which is where I'm headed right now! :)

G'night my friends!

We are still ALIVE!!

2009-10-22T21:28:00.003-04:00

Hello folks!!

I don't think it's ever been this long in between blog posts for me - I can attribute it to a few factors:

1. An awesomely FUN summer!
2. Facebook - since joining FB, it seems I am better able to keep in touch with friends and family, as well as post pics and update my status every day.
3. Crazy busy with Tim gone at least 3 weeks out of every month.
4. And... well... life just kinda took over a bit more than usual.

SOOOO... I'm Baaaaackkk...!! I honestly cant promise that I'll be posting full Summer updates because frankly, it's so far past that you probably wouldn't even care! And even if you did care, I probably wouldn't be able to remember half of it anyway!

Hopefully I will keep up a little better now and let's get re-connected cuz I missed you! :)

Rewind to May!

2009-07-27T20:02:00.012-04:00

Since I'm SO far behind... let's just do a review in photos!

5.2.09 Brian's college graduation

5.5.09 Kaitlyn's birthday

5.9.09 Kaitlyn's party

5.10.09 Mother's Day

5.25.09 Memorial Day

5.30.09 Dorney Park

Manic Monday

2009-07-27T17:43:00.002-04:00

Manic Monday #177
CLICK HERE

What is one thing that you would change about yourself if you could?
Increase my patience level

Name three exotic countries you would like to visit:
1. Phuket, Thailand
2. Morocco (Africa)
3. Brazil (South America)

What do you think the secret to life is?
Live with an open mind, Love with an open heart, Laugh with an open sense of humor

Everything She Thought She Wanted

2009-06-18T21:47:00.002-04:00

Everything She Thought She Wanted

by Elizabeth Buchan

Published in 2006. 384 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction, Women's Lit

My Overall Score: 3

What its about (taken from amazon.com): The separate stories of two women--one a career-driven late-20th-century professional and the other a 1950s housewife--are displayed in this novel. Thirty-five-year-old Siena Grant enjoys a life that many women only dream of. A highly successful fashion consultant with her own business, a magazine column, a book deal and an American television show, Siena is also married to a loving, sensitive man. She and Charlie live in a trendy flat and enjoy intimate little suppers. What more could anybody want? For starters, Charlie is dreaming of a country home and children--not a life that appeals to the oh-so-chic Siena.

Meanwhile, in 1959, 42-year-old Barbara Beeching, a married mother of two grown children, lives with her pilot husband, Ryder, in a charming country home and hosts the most delightful little parties. Perfect partners, Barbara and Ryder survived the atrocities of war over England and now face the rest of their lives as Ryder thinks of retirement and Barbara thinks of... Alexander Liberty, a hunky psychiatry student whose passion for her takes her by surprise.

What I thought: Interesting storyline taken from two different yet similar women. I was curious how it would turn out but I never connected with either of the main characters. It felt slow moving to me and I honestly couldn't wait to be finished with this one.

Why I read it & where I got it: I got it at the Ocean City Library Used Book Sale last year and thought it would be a quick read to help me up my annual book count.

Date finished: June 10, 2009

Currently reading: Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Dewey

2009-06-18T21:36:00.004-04:00

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

by Vicki Myron

Published in 2008. 288 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Non-Fiction

My Overall Score: 3

What its about (taken from amazon.com): One frigid Midwestern winter night in 1988, a ginger kitten was shoved into the after-hours book-return slot at the public library in Spencer, Iowa. And in this tender story, Myron, the library director, tells of the impact the cat, named DeweyReadmore Books, had on the library and its patrons, and on Myron herself. Through her developing relationship with the feline, Myron recounts the economic and social history of Spencer as well as her own success story—despite an alcoholic husband, living on welfare, and health problems ranging from the difficult birth of her daughter, Jodi, to breast cancer. After her divorce, Myron graduated college (the first in her family) and stumbled into a library job. She quickly rose to become director, realizing early on that this was a job I could love for the rest of my life. Dewey, meanwhile, brings disabled children out of their shells, invites businessmen to pet him with one hand while holding the Wall Street Journal with the other, eats rubber bands and becomes a media darling. The book is not only a tribute to a cat—anthropomorphized to a degree that can strain credulity (Dewey plays hide and seek with Myron, can read her thoughts, is mortified by his hair balls)—it's a love letter to libraries.

What I thought: First of all, if you dont like cats or libraries, this is not the book for you. I thought it was cute and touching at times. Definitely a fast read and by the end, you do feel some love for little Dewey.

Why I read it & where I got it: My dad had told me about this book when it first came out (he is IN LOVE with cats, hence the recommendation!) so when I found it for 50% off at Borders I picked it up.

Date finished: May 31, 2009

Currently reading: Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Body Surfing

2009-06-18T20:53:00.003-04:00

Body Surfing
by Anita Shreve

Published in 2007. 298 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction

My Overall Score: 3.5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): The beach house in New Hampshire which figured in Anita Shreve's The Pilot's Wife, Fortune's Rocks, and Sea Glass is once again featured in Body Surfing. This time, it is the summer home of the Edwards family, Anna and Mark and daughter Julie. Mrs. Edwards has great hopes for Julie, who is "slow," so she hires Sydney to tutor her, in preparation for her senior year. There are two older brothers, Jeff and Ben, whose arrival changes the household dynamic considerably.
Once again, Shreve revisits the minefield of love and betrayal that she has explored so well in her best novels. Sydney is 29, twice married, once divorced, and once a widow. Mrs. Edwards dislikes her instantly, is dismissive, and treats her like a servant. Mr. Edwards befriends her, shows her his roses and talks to her about the history of the house, giving the reader a rundown of the role the house has played in prior novels.

What I thought: This was a decent read, definitely not top on my list, but worth the read I guess. It kept you wondering how it was going to end, but it turned out to be a bit silly and a bit anti-climatic.

Why I read it & where I got it: I got this off the sale rack at Atlantic Book store because I have enjoyed some of Shreve's prior novels and wanted to give this one a chance.

Date finished: May 28, 2009

Currently reading: Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Rewind to April: Part 2

2009-06-16T21:37:00.011-04:00

Disney - April 13-19... I'm sure you remember those updates! lol

In April, we began the process of applying for Obama's mortgage plan to see if we qualify (due to Tim's recent pay cuts and job changes). It looks like we qualify for a free refinancing program, but here we are two months later and still no further ahead. So we'll see how that works out.

Also, my allergies started up awful in April, but thankfully have gotten better more recently. Kaitlyn also started with allergies this year and has taken Claritin for kids almost every day...hers continues just as strong even now, poor girl.

The girls had some nice time with Mommom & Poppop...
Pops jumped in the trampolene with them:

He walked the girls to a lake nearby on a sunny afternoon and got a few cute pics:

Mom & Pops took them on a bike ride for treats at the local market:

Sunday, April 26 my cousin Julie got married! I drove up to Tommy's house (her brother) and rode to the wedding with Tommy and his wife Kim.
Tommy & his pregnant bride:

Sean & Boochy (Holly):

Brian & Amanda:

Korn (Karen), mom, me & Julie:

Uncle Tom & Aunt Joann - parents of the bride - with Korn:

Bride's whole family: Tommy, Korn & Jen plus parents:

Family with spouses:

Ortiz family: Julio, Karen, Julian & Madeleine:

Uncle Tom with my mom (brother & sister):

What a beautiful wedding!!

April 30, Kaitlyn went on a class trip to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and I was lucky enough to be chosen as a chaperone! Her three best friends were in our group and it was such a fun day!

And that wraps up our April... busy busy busy! Check back soon for May updates - they will be aplenty! :)

Rewind to April: Part 1 :)

2009-05-26T20:28:00.014-04:00

I'm trying to get caught up cuz there's lots going on around here that I'd like to post about daily, but feel like I'm so far behind...

April did not start out real well for us - Tim got a dreaded call from work... there were 5 more pilots laid off and those that are left were getting a $15k pay cut (this on top of the other pay cut from a month ago). He is now at a salary lower than he started at with the company 2.5 years ago. Scary. Things are not looking good at his company and although he is trying to hang in there, the future does not look bright. On top of all these pay cuts, Tim has also acquired additional duties and positions within th company (good for job security, horrible for quality of life). Therefore, he is gone even more, and rarely gets his whole week off once per month.

Mommom, Poppop & I took the girls to see Monsters vs. Aliens 3D which was SO much fun! Cool movie with fun 3D effects :)

Spring Fun playing outside:

EASTER
Easter was nice -- We all made the best of it, although Tim was gone (as usual) and missed all the fun. Our town had their local Egg Hunt which the girls enjoyed. It was windy and FREEZING, so we came home like ice cubes, but it was well worth it!

Poppop bought us some beautiful hyacinths - probably my all time favorite smell and definitely my favorite flower! Of course I couldnt resist taking pics of those:

The girls and I and Poppop dyed Easter Eggs with Carl, Anita & Ry Guy:

Tommy & Kim came down Saturday morning (April 11) so we all spent the day together. Carl & Anita left that evening and Tommy & Kim slept over to spend Easter morning with us...
We were so lucky the Easter Bunny came on Sunday morning with lots of goodies for the girls!

He even hid the real eggs that we dyed all over the front yard!

Then we went to church... we tried a new church in Ocean City which we all really enjoyed!

We even baked a special bunny cake (got directions from a girl at work)...I think it came out adorable!! Especially with the girls help :)

And a yummy meal to wrap up a beautiful day!

Testing new website...Cute?

2009-05-22T22:17:00.002-04:00

Click the play icon in lower right to 'turn pages'...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The Middle Place

2009-05-22T20:39:00.003-04:00

The Middle Place

by Kelly Corrigan

Published in 2008. 288 pages.

Amazon link

Author's website

Genre: Non-Fiction, Health Mind & Body

My Overall Score: 4.75/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Newspaper columnist Corrigan was a happily married mother of two young daughters when she discovered a cancerous lump in her breast. She was still undergoing treatment when she learned that her beloved father, who'd already survived prostate cancer, now had bladder cancer. Corrigan's story could have been unbearably depressing had she not made it clear from the start that she came from sturdy stock. Growing up, she loved hearing her father boom out his morning HELLO WORLD dialogue with the universe, so his kids would feel like the world wasn't just a safe place but was even rooting for you. As Corrigan reports on her cancer treatment—the chemo, the surgery, the radiation—she weaves in the story of how it felt growing up in a big, suburban Philadelphia family with her larger-than-life father and her steady-loving mother and brothers. She tells how she met her husband, how she gave birth to her daughters. All these stories lead up to where she is now, in that middle place, being someone's child, but also having children of her own. Those learning to accept their own adulthood might find strength—and humor—in Corrigan's feisty memoir

What I thought: This was definitely one of the most uplifting inspirational stories I have ever read. Well written. Encouraging. Engaging. I enjoyed reading about local spots in the Philadelphia area, including the King of Prussia mall. The relationship between Kelly and her father was extraordinary. Perhaps the most inspiring part was the essay at the end of the book, which Kelly wrote during her treatments entitled 'Transcending'. I wish I could find the text online, but trust me, it is beautiful!

You Tube video of author reading Transcending - CLICK HERE

A few passages I really enjoyed were:
p 215 "The way I see it, if you have four kids, you don't really have to do anything else, ever...Four kids gives you a pass for every forgotten birthday, overlooked appointment, and missing form....It's like having nonthreatening cancer, forever." - funny!!
p 216 talking about why she wants a big family: "...every kid I've ever met from a big family doesn't take himself too seriously and has learned things you cant teach...they make do. They roll with it." --Helped to put my mind at ease about having a large family

Why I read it & where I got it: Once again, I heard some wonderful things about this book so I ordered it on amazon.

Date finished: May 21, 2009

Currently reading: Body Surfing by Anita Shreve

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

2009-05-15T20:26:00.003-04:00

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by Mark Haddon

Published in 2004. 240 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction

My Overall Score: 4.5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Christopher Boone, the autistic 15-year-old narrator relaxes by groaning and doing math problems in his head, eats red-but not yellow or brown-foods and screams when he is touched. Strange as he may seem, other people are far more of a conundrum to him, for he lacks the intuitive "theory of mind" by which most of us sense what's going on in other people's heads. When his neighbor's poodle is killed and Christopher is falsely accused of the crime, he decides that he will take a page from Sherlock Holmes (one of his favorite characters) and track down the killer. As the mystery leads him to the secrets of his parents' broken marriage and then into an odyssey to find his place in the world, he must fall back on deductive logic to navigate the emotional complexities of a social world that remains a closed book to him. Christopher can only make sense of the chaos of stimuli by imposing arbitrary patterns. His literal-minded observations make for a kind of poetic sensibility and a poignant evocation of character. Though Christopher insists, "This will not be a funny book. I cannot tell jokes because I do not understand them," the novel brims with touching, ironic humor. The result is an eye-opening work in a unique and compelling literary voice.

What I thought: I really liked this book! It was written from the perspective of a teenage boy with Aspergers (on the Autism spectrum) and was such an eye-opening reality check of what life can be like for these people. The chapters were numbered by prime numbers because thats what Christopher feels comfortable with. Although it is a work of fiction, it really feels like a true story - very real and true-to-life characters. I highly recommend this book - whether you go into it with zero knowledge about Aspergers or if you live/work with someone with the syndrome - either way, there is much to learn about this charming boy named Christopher!

Why I read it & where I got it: I got this book from the library. Although I never heard of it before, when I read the back, I was instantly drawn because I am fascinated by this topic. And due to my line of work, I was eager to enter the mind of a boy with a similar disorder to what many of those kids live with every day.

Date finished: May 15, 2009

Currently reading: The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

Ten on Tuesday

2009-05-13T21:11:00.004-04:00

10 Favorite Places to Shop

Play along HERE!

1. Ross
2. Old Navy
3. Amazon
4. Ebay
5. etsy
6. Michaels & A.C. Moore
7. Walmart (a big thing I miss from PA, NJ Walmarts stink)
8. Target
9. Any bookstore (especially Used book sales)
10. TJ Maxx

Next week: 10 Favorite Cities

REWIND to March!

2009-05-13T19:22:00.014-04:00

Here's a quick update (mostly in pictures) to catch us up ...
March 11 - Megan & Madison both got their first official haircuts! Can you believe it, at 5.5 years old?!

We've had lots of FUN play dates!

All of the triplets are officially riding two-wheelers (and have been since March!)... no more training wheels! In fact, just today we all rode bikes to school and overall it was a pleasant experience.

March 17 - We had a Happy St. Patty's Day... I even took the girls to McDonald's for Shamrock Shakes! Tim started this tradition years ago, but since he wasn't home, I wanted to keep the tradition alive :)

Tim & I enjoyed a date night (just went for Wings in Margate):

March 28 & 29 - Brian and Amanda came down to visit and we had so much fun with them! Our weekend included bowling, Applebees, bookstore, S'mores in the fireplace and Tetris on Wii (highly recommended!)
Here's a glimpse into our bowling bonanza! I only got a shot of our scoreboard and missed the other team's... most important - notice who WON! lol

March 30 - Pops started his new job with the Vineland School District. He is working as a Bus Attendant full-time and so far he really enjoys it.

March 31 - Kaitlyn got her retainer! This is only the beginning of our orthodontic journey. For now, she only wears it at night while she sleeps and we've already noticed a slight difference. Of course, we have a long way to go...
Isn't she beautiful?!

Handle With Care

2009-05-12T21:28:00.004-04:00

Handle With Care

by Jodi Picoult

Published in 2009. 496 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction

My Overall Score: 4/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Picoult delivers another engrossing family drama, spiced with her trademark blend of medicine, law and love. Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe's daughter, Willow, was born with brittle bone disease, a condition that requires Charlotte to act as full-time caregiver and has strained their emotional and financial limits. Willow's teenaged half-sister, Amelia, suffers as well, overshadowed by Willow's needs and lost in her own adolescent turmoil. When Charlotte decides to sue for wrongful birth in order to obtain a settlement to ensure Willow's future, the already strained family begins to implode. Not only is the defendant Charlotte's longtime friend, but the case requires Charlotte and Sean to claim that had they known of Willow's condition, they would have terminated the pregnancy, a statement that strikes at the core of their faith and family. Picoult individualizes the alternating voices of the narrators more believably than she has previously, and weaves in subplots to underscore the themes of hope, regret, identity and family, leading up to her signature closing twists.

What I thought: This was like an emotional roller coaster that did not end until the very last page - well the emotions continue even after you're finished reading. I like how Picoult tells the story from each character's perspective. Also included throughout the book are some of Charlotte's recipes (she's an award winning baker in the book) ... I'd like to try some of them out, they sound delicious!

A few quotes stuck with me from the book - two of which are:
page 262: Charlotte & Marin speaking about the difference between a dutiful mother and a good mother -- "A dutiful mother is someone who follows every step her child makes. A good mother is someone whose child wants to follow her."

page 445: Sean speaking in court to Charlotte -- paraphrased... "Maybe you expected marriage to be perfect, I guess that's where you and I are different. I thought it would be all about making mistakes, but doing it with someone who's there to remind you what you learned along the way. People always say that, when you love someone, nothing in the world matters. We know that when you love someone, everything in the world matters a little bit more."

Why I read it & where I got it: I like Picoult's novels and when I read about this one it definitely sounded interesting. I got it at Target just after it's release with a gift card from my good friend Jenn (thanks Jenn!)... and was chomping at the bit to read it!

Date finished: May 12, 2009

Currently reading: The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban

2009-05-12T19:28:00.004-04:00

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)

by J.K. Rowling

Published in 2004. 435 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction, Children's Lit, Fantasy

My Overall Score: 4/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): The third book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series catapults into action when the young wizard "accidentally" causes the Dursleys' dreadful visitor Aunt Marge to inflate like a monstrous balloon and drift up to the ceiling. Harry is mysteriously rescued from his Muggle neighborhood and whisked off in a triple-decker, violently purple bus to spend the remaining weeks of summer in a friendly inn called the Leaky Cauldron. It seems that Sirius Black--an escaped convict from the prison of Azkaban--is on the loose. Not only that, but he's after Harry Potter. But why? And why do the Dementors, the guards hired to protect him, chill Harry's very heart when others are unaffected?

What I thought: I do enjoy the Harry Potter series so far. There are so many facets to each story and this book in particular, explained some of the history and introduced characters that will be important for future books. This is not one of my favorite genres though and I found myself getting sidetracked and losing interest at many points along the way. I do intend to read the rest of the series, but definitely not back-to-back. Plus, I'd like to see the movies up to this point, now that I've read the books. I'm interested to see how they compare. Also, if you want to read different perspectives about the book, check out the amazon link above and scroll down to reviews. Overall, this one got rave reviews!

Why I read it & where I got it: This was sitting on my bookshelf for years... it is actually my little brother's book - my great friend Colleen talked me into reading these (she has read them all, multiple times I believe)!

Date finished: April 27, 2009

Currently reading: Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

Junie B. First Grader, Dumb Bunny

2009-05-12T19:05:00.003-04:00

Junie B. First Grader, Dumb Bunny

by Barbara Parks

Published in 2009. 128 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction, Children's Lit

My Overall Score: 4.75/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): It's an Easter Egg-stravaganza! Lucille is having an Easter Egg Hunt at her rich expensive mansion! And guess what? The winner gets a play date to swim in Lucille's heated indoor swimming pool! Only, here is the problem. How did Junie B. get stuck wearing a big dumb bunny suit? And how can she possibly find eggs when she keeps tripping over her huge big rabbit feet? Being a dumb bunny is definitely not as easy as it looks. Will Junie B. end up with egg on her face? Or will the day deliver some very uneggspected results?

What I thought: The girls really liked this one - they love Junie B. anyway, but this book seemed to particularly catch their interest. Maybe because I read it just days before Easter, so they could really relate to the story. Maybe because Junie B. is growing up a bit (First grade now) and she is even better at explaining things with 'gusto'!

Why I read it & where I got it: I got this book at Walmart when it first came out in paperback. We love Junie B. so I thought this would be a perfect Spring read with the girls.

Date finished: April 11, 2009

Currently reading: Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

New design...

2009-05-05T22:50:00.002-04:00

So -- what do you think of my new blog design...??

As you can see, I "spiced" it again. I'm hoping to change it more regularly. But it helps to know how the colors work, is it distracting, does everything still show up?

Thoughts? :)

Disney Part 7: The end...

2009-05-03T19:44:00.006-04:00

Saturday, April 18, 2009
We woke and hurried downstairs around 9am for our last day of the delicious free breakfast at the hotel. Then we made our first visit to the outside pool around 10am. It was a sunny day, but the water was FREEZING!
This is the one and only pic taken outside...
While we were outside, I turned around and realized Morgan was missing. Oh my word, I cant describe the heart-sinking feeling. Other parents were helping us, Tim was shouting her name. We made everyone (strangers included) get out of the pool so we could be sure she wasn't in there. No sign of her. I checked the bathroom. This is when panic set it.

A few minutes later, a dad hollers to us, are you looking for a little girl? Of course we are, we ran to him. Here there was a hot tub out there (hidden behind some lounge chairs) and Morgan walked right over to join this other family. WHAT?! That is so not like her to just walk away from us like that, especially into the hands of strangers. Thankfully, this was a nice man who put an end to our major scare. When I got Morgan into my arms, she was crying and scared, afraid she was in trouble. She told me, with tears streaming down her cheeks,'But mommy, it was too cold in that pool so I wanted to go over and warm up.' Whew... thankfully that story came to a happy ending.

We quickly grabbed all our stuff and rushed to the indoor pool where we could relax and enjoy our last morning in Florida.

Then it was time for showers, we got dressed and packed up all of our stuff.

There was a really nice guy that loaded up all of our bags and brought them out to our car for us. Then while Tim & I put everything into the car, this guy entertained the girls for us... he was a God-send!

From 1-2:30pm, we stopped at Walmart in Orlando for some souvenir shopping. Because it was such a last minute trip, we told the girls we could not buy anything in the parks (and we stuck to our word). But on this last day, we really wanted them to have something special to bring home to remember this great family vacation. They each chose T-shirts, key chains and adorable Mickey ears headbands!

We were on our way home by 2:30pm and it was 92 degrees - hot and sunny! We stopped at Applebee's in Jacksonville, FL for dinner from 4:30-6pm, then back on the road.
The chosen movies for our trip home were: Bolt, Enchanted, Barbie Rapunzel, Max & Ruby and High School Musical 3.

Traffic was horrendous through South Carolina because of traffic and we were much more tired this trip, so we stopped for a nap at a rest stop in Virginia from 5-8am.

We decided to get breakfast at McDonald's (with a Playland of course!) in Maryland...

We were home by 12:45pm on Sunday April 19th!
Upon arriving home, it was a complete team effort to get everything in from the car, unpack bags, start laundry, and all the other fun stuff that has to be done after vacation! WOW... what a whirlwind! But we had a FANTASTIC time and would do it again in a heartbeat!!! Disney, anyone?! :)

Disney Part 6: Epcot!

2009-04-28T22:14:00.006-04:00

So, we left Animal Kingdom around 2pm and rushed over to Epcot for the rest of our day (for some reason, both of these parks closed earlier than normal that night).

We arrived at Epcot by 2:30pm and raced to put our tickets into the machine and start our fun! Well... as I mentioned previously, things didnt go as we, er, Tim had planned. They didnt let us in because we did not have the park-hopper pass. We went over to the Guest Relations desk to see what they could do for us. First she offered us the chance to upgrade to the hopper pass for almost $50 per ticket - I was like WHAT?! To make a long story short, the girl was super helpful and changed our tickets in a way that would allow us to forfeit our extra two days (which we didnt need anyway), enter Epcot AND we got over $50 back as a refund! Can you believe it?! My prayers were answered, I was sweating it out for sure. Tim said I worked my magic! LOL
So, after that adventure, THEN we finally entered the park! My good friend Colleen and her husband Ben have their photo permanently etched into the Wall of Legacy at Epcot. So she gave me the coordinates of their photo and... HERE IT IS!

3:15pm - Honey I Shrunk the Audience 3D Movie
3:45pm - Imagination with Figment ride
-- This one brings back so many memories. It was my favorite attraction when Tim and I went to Disney during our Senior Class trip in High School. So we make sure to visit it each time we're there and it has surely changed over the years. The girls loved Figment almost as much as I always have!

4:00pm - The Seas with Nemo Ride
4:15pm - Turtle Talk with Crush
-- Girls got to sit right up front and be part of the interactive show. During our last Disney trip, this show was not impressive, but it definitely improved since then and the girls enjoyed it this time.

Megan was crying because she sat on a 'poky' rock! Her bottom hurt:
5:00pm - Circle of Life
-- Cute movie with Lion King characters about saving the Earth.

5:15pm - Living with the Land
-- Boat ride through greenhouses with real vegetation, it was interesting.

5:30pm - Innoventions East
-- We quickly walked through here, but it was mostly empty and lots of things were closed already (?)

5:45-6:15pm DINNER at Electric Umbrella (near the fountains)
6:30pm - Ellen's Energy Adventure
-- 45 minute ride/movie with Ellen DeGeneres through the Dinosaur Era. Kaitlyn just finished studying a unit on Dinosaurs in school, so she found this one particularly interesting.
8:45pm - GM Test Track
-- We had a 90 minute wait which was terribly long, but we managed to have fun while in line - playing Rock, Paper, Scissors and Thumb wrestling, along with lots of other fun things. The ride itself was awesome and we all loved it! Definitely worth the wait!

9:00pm - Spaceship Earth
-- This is the ride that goes up to the top of the big 'ball'. We were the last to enter before it closed, there were 2 of us per car, they made some improvements and it was a tad more modern. They take your picture when you enter and you can create a postcard at the end, which was very funny!

Unfortunately, Epcot closed at 9pm, so we didnt make it over to the countries at all. And we missed the night time show because we were trying to fit in as many attractions as we could in the short time we had.

When we got back to the hotel that night, the girls watched all the videos we took while in Disney and I loaded pictures onto my computer. Then it was time to get some sleep, since we had to leave the following day...

Disney Part 5: Animal Kingdom!

2009-04-28T21:34:00.005-04:00

First, please be sure to read Disney updates Parts 1 through 4...

Friday, April 17, 2009

For our last day in Disney, we decided to split our day up between two parks - Animal Kingdom first, then end the day at Epcot. We had 5-day passes that included one park per day. Since we were only there for 3 days, Tim thought it would be a good idea to forfeit those extra days to visit 2 parks in one day. Unfortunately, Disney didn't like our idea, but I'll update more on that in next post. For now, here is a glimpse at our 3 hours in Animal Kingdom :)
We arrived around 11am and were out of there by 2pm. As you may be able to tell, this is my least favorite park of the four. If you have more time to spend in Disney, Animal Kingdom can be fun and definitely has some interesting things to check out. But in my opinion, if you have to choose only a few to visit, I suggest this be the park you skip.
We saw a lady bug on the tram ride from our car to the entrance. If you've read The Shack, you will know the significance of that ladybug and why we entered the park with some apprehension. We definitely held our girls a bit closer while there!
11:15am - It's Tough to be a Bug! 3D movie
-- We didnt wait at all our whole time in Animal Kingdom, so it was nice to get through our three total attractions fairly quickly. Once again, the girls (especially triplets) dont like getting wet during these attractions, so they were hesitant. But this is a really fun show!

12noon - Festival of the Lion King Live Show
-- Phenomenal performance! If you see nothing else in Animal Kingdom, please see this show! It is beautiful and mesmerizing with fantastic music... I cant say enough good things about it! We loved it even more this time than our last time (and we loved it ALOT then!)

1:00pm - Finding Nemo: The Musical
-- Blah... this is a new attraction since our last Disney visit and I was not too impressed. First of all, if you've ever seen the Nemo movie, you'll know that there really isnt any music in it. So my question was, how can they turn THAT into a musical? Want to know how? They created music especially for this attraction... ugh. Therefore, they are songs we dont know and the kids had difficulty connecting to the characters as well as the music. We had horrible seats all the way on the back bleachers. A kid barfed right in front of us. It was way too long. I kept dozing off and wanted to leave the show early, but Tim was 'partially' enjoying it, so we stayed...
We have done the Safari before and it is definitely awesome - but we were limited on time and knew there would be a long wait. We were also curious to try out the roller coaster there, but again, no time.

So, overall, nice time in Animal Kingdom - but I was ready to go when it was time! Then we were off to Epcot for more family fun!

Disney Part 4: Hollywood Studios!

2009-04-27T20:41:00.009-04:00

First, please be sure to read Disney Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3...
Thursday, April 16, 2009
This was our day to visit Hollywood Studios (previously known as MGM) and it was another HOT and sunny day! After our glorious breakfast at the hotel, we arrived at the park around 11:15am -- ready for the fun to begin again!
11:30am - Watched part of the High School Musical 3 show along the main boulevard - girls loved the music and sang along to every song!!

12:15pm - Voyage of the Little Mermaid show
-- This was the attraction Morgan was most excited about (Ariel is her absolute favorite princess!) however it did not meet up to her expectations. First off, there was a long wait. Second, we had bad seats all the way in the back. Third, Tim missed the show and didnt get to see it with us because he ran over to get a Fast Pass ticket for Toy Story. Fourth, you get wet and she did NOT appreciate that! And finally, Ursula (the big scary octopus) is part of the show and the girls are definitely not a fan of her. But I still feel it is a beautiful show and I enjoyed it!
1:00pm - The Great Movie Ride

1:30pm - Muppet Vision 3D Movie

2:00pm - Studio Backlot Tour (35 minute tour)

3:10pm - Met Sulley from Monsters Inc.

3:20pm - Playhouse Disney Stage Show
-- We got to sit right up front and the girls had fun dancing and singing along with the characters. I know by the next time we go, they will surely have outgrown this attraction, so I soaked up the cuteness :)
4:00pm - American Idol Experience
-- This was my favorite part of the day... It was an awesome show. They have 3 contestants sing (which are real visitors to Disney who had to try out and all). There were also 3 judges and they acted similar to the real ones (Randy, Paula & Simon - Colleen, they dont include Kara, sorry! heehee) Very cool!
4:45-5:30pm DINNER Rosie's All American Cafe for girls, Tim & I got BBQ Pork sandwiches. We ate in the outside seating area just in front of the Tower of Terror.
5:45pm - Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
-- Beautiful performance, we love this show more every time we go. The looks on the girls' faces were priceless
7:00pm - Tower of Terror
-- Longest wait of the day, girls were nervous while in line - spooky hotel, great ride. Tim & I thought it didnt seem to drop as much or as fast as it did the last time we were there.

7:30pm - American Idol finale
-- We sat in a crowd outside the Idol studio to watch the finale on a big screen. The guy we voted for made it to the Top 3 of the whole day, but didnt win.
8:00pm - Journey into Narnia
-- Commercial-type movie in a circular theater - awful - I dont recommend it

8:15pm - Disney: One Man's Dream
-- Walk through tour with an inspirational movie at the end. All about Mr. Walt Disney - he had many failures and never gave up, very interesting story
We walked around a bit while waiting for our Fast Pass time for Toy Story...

9:50pm - Toy Story Mania
-- SO much fun, probably the girls' favorite part of our visit to Hollywood Studios! Its a ride where you shoot targets and it keeps score - bright and fun!

We skipped all parades and fireworks shows... did well at avoiding crowds leaving the park.

10:30pm - We took the girls to the 'World's Largest McDonald's' near our hotel for Hershey's ice cream. Then the girls had fun in the playland for a bit before crashing back at the hotel :)

Disney Part 3: Magic Kingdom!

2009-04-21T21:18:00.011-04:00

FIRST, Please be sure to read Disney Part 1 and Disney Part 2!

Wednesday April 15, 2009

We woke for showers, then our yummy free breakfast! We arrived at Magic Kingdom at 10:30am (and stayed until well after midnight)!

Of all four parks, Magic Kingdom was the definitely the busiest with long waits for many attractions. The weather was sunny & beautiful - even bordering on hot at some points during the day... we loved every minute of it!
CHECK OUT THOSE CROWDS...

I will post the list of all we did that day, and include pictures of course :) I apologize now if there are too many pics, but I have trouble choosing which ones to post! By the way, we (I) took more than 700 pictures during this Disney getaway!!

10:45am - Watched some of the morning Move it! Shake it! Celebrate it! parade

11:00am - Mickey's PhilharMagic 3D Movie
12:15pm - Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride
12:30pm - Walking tour through Minnie's Country House

1:30pm - Met three Disney fairies including Iridessa, Tinkerbell & Rosetta
--after waiting in line for almost an hour! It was definitely a major highlight of the girls' day... it was like meeting famous celebrities for them!

2:00pm - Brainstormer at Goofy's Farm Roller coaster

2:30pm - Snow White's Scary Adventure ride
3:00pm - Cinderella's Golden Carousel
3:30pm - Peter Pan's Flight (used Fast Pass for this ride)

4:00pm - It's a Small World Boat Ride
4:30-5:30pm DINNER at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe (cafe-style dining)
5:45pm - Stitch's Great Escape
--Megan & Madison screamed & cried the whole time - dark & scary attraction, none of the four girls enjoyed it, but it's definitely a fun one!
6:15pm - Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor show
--One of our family favorites for the day - very funny, they made fun of people in the audience, you could text jokes to them that they would use during the show
6:45pm - Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin Ride
--use laser gun to shoot targets and the joystick turned the car

We took a walk and got some nice pictures in front of the castle...

8:00pm - Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride
--took some fun pictures after the ride with the girls wearing Jack Sparrow's hat

8:30pm - Enchanted Tiki Room (sing along bird show)
9:00pm - Jungle Cruise boat ride
--silly safari boat tour, driver told cute jokes, it was chilly & the bugs were biting

10:15pm - Space Mountain Roller coaster
--Indoor coaster in complete darkness - girls LOVED it!

12midnight - Met three Princesses including Aurora, Cinderella & Belle
--very long wait (90 minutes) after an exhausting fast-paced day, but girls really enjoyed it and loved getting their autographs

12:15pm - Walk through Mickey's house
THEY LOOK A LITTLE TIRED, HUH?! lol
The castle is beautiful after dark when it turns all different colors!

There is nothing quite like watching your four little princesses walk hand in hand with their prince...

Disney Part 2: Arrival, Hotel & First night in Florida!

2009-04-20T23:24:00.010-04:00

FIRST, please read Disney Part 1: Road Trip!

We arrived at our hotel at 9:45am, exhausted, smelly & enjoying the lightening flashes & loud booms of thunder as rain poured down around us! Our hotel was not ready for us to check-in yet (we arrived many hours earlier than expected), so we decided to drive over to buy our Disney tickets. On our way to the parks, we passed a small blue hut (literally) with a sign announcing 'Discount Disney Tickets'.
We hesitated, but figured, what could it hurt? So we stopped. Of course, there's always a catch. We would have to take a tour of a timeshare up the street (lunch included) and then they would pass over our (highly) discounted Disney tickets! Once again, I'm not spontaneous, but leave it to Tim and he said "Sure! Let's Do it" and there we went (in 2 day old clothes with messy hair and hungry bellies) off to view a timeshare we knew we wouldnt buy. What was promised as a 90-minute tour, of course actually took up 4 hours of our day, but it wasnt as bad as it sounds. If the sun was shining, I would've been more upset, but the heavy rainstorm lasted the whole time. And they had a fun Kid's Center which the girls loved (movies, video games, arts & crafts and games). We were there from 11am till 3pm and got a free lunch out of the deal as well.

After the tour, they handed over our tickets as promised. Tim had a $500 Amex gift card from buying fuel for the jet - so with the timeshare discount and his gift card, we paid pennies (not literally of course, but close!) for 5 day Disney tickets (and we would only be in Disney for 3 days!) Then we stopped at a HUGE Walmart next to the timeshare to buy some goodies to replenish our snack stash and we got things like water bottles to bring into the parks.

At 4pm we finally checked into our hotel...and what a hotel it was!! We stayed in a Hilton Embassy Suites completely FREE (with Tim's Hilton points)!! *click link to view our exact hotel and please take a tour to see all the pics*

Some of our favorite things about this hotel were:
* FREE made-to-order breakfasts every morning (including the best omelets ever!)

* FREE Happy Hour each evening (including unlimited alcohol and snacks plus juice for the kids)

* Two pools (indoor & outdoor) plus a hot tub
* Huge soft King size bed for Tim & I

* Girls slept on a comfy sofa bed in the 'living room' area of our suite

* Great view from our sliding doors to balcony (we were on 7th floor)
* Awesome views of Disney fireworks while sitting on our bed
* Beautiful water fall in the lobby with trees and pretty gazebo
* Free internet (with Tim's code)

I could go on and on, but you get the idea - we were very impressed! Of course Tim lives like this on a daily basis while on the road (poor guy - cough cough), so he may not typically have been as impressed. But I think he really did enjoy seeing our excitement at staying in this beautiful hotel!

After checking into the hotel, we unloaded our bags and Tim & I crashed in bed for a short nap while the girls watched TV. From 6-7pm we went down for free Happy Hour... lots of free drinks & snacks (chips with salsa, popcorn, pretzels, etc).
Unfortunately, this was the only night we were able to take advantage of the Happy Hour because we were busy running through Disney World the other nights!

We splashed in the beautiful indoor pool and extremely relaxing hot tub from 7-7:30pm.

Then up for showers and cozy PJs while we snuggled up and watched American Idol together :) I cant give up my Idol fix even while on vacation! heehee... I also made a packing list of things to bring to the parks with us (Tim carried a backpack the whole time). We saw the Disney fireworks from our balcony then collapsed into bed for a much-needed night of rest. We requested a Wake-up call for 8am to start our Disney fun...

Disney Part 1: Road Trip!

2009-04-20T21:28:00.004-04:00

I will return to my regularly scheduled blog updates shortly (including Easter & other fun events), however I am interrupting to give an EXCITING UPDATE!

Monday, April 13, 2009 --
It was the day after Easter and my wonderful husband returned home after being gone on a trip for almost 2 weeks. Tim got a call from work Monday morning stating that his week off would start immediately, rather than Thursday, which was originally expected. The girls and I were already off work & school for the week for Spring Break, so we were excited to have this unexpected week together!

Tim woke me with his 'brilliant' idea to make an impromptu trip to Disney World in Florida to celebrate our special family time! My response? WHAT?!?! Are you crazy?! But then we did some research online and made a few phone calls and I quickly realized it was actually a pretty cool idea! Those who know me, know I am NOT a spontaneous person. I am a planner and want to have all my info gathered and examined before making any final decisions. Therefore, this was completely out of character for me! I decided to put all my trust in Tim's hands and there began our Disney Adventure!

We booked our hotel (more detailed info on that in next post) and began packing around 2pm. We all got showers, ate an early dinner, loaded up the car and we were on the road by 5:30pm - just a few hours after making the decision to go!

I had a special bag packed to help the girls enjoy the car ride, including tons of DVDs, coloring stuff, books, lots of yummy snacks as well as candy of course!

ON OUR WAY:

It took us a total of 16 hours & 15 minutes door to door. With four potty breaks totaling one hour (15 min each), our actual drive time was only 15 hours & 15 minutes! Tim and I alternated driving through the night so we could make the trip in one long shot instead of stopping halfway. We left home at 5:30pm on Monday and arrived at our hotel at 9:15am Tuesday morning!

A FEW STOPS ALONG THE WAY:

To make the trip more fun for Tim & I, we tried to find all 50 state license plates and also counted how many yellow cars we saw. Including our trip down & back, we saw a total of 49 yellow cars (mostly spotted by Eagle Eye Tim!) and we saw only 32 different state license plates (plus 3 different Canadian plates).

The girls watched 3 movies on the way down - The Parent Trap, Max & Ruby and Bedtime Stories. On the way home (Sat April 18) they watched 5 movies - Bolt, Enchanted, Barbie Rapunzel, Max & Ruby and High School Musical 3.

We stopped for gas two times on way down, one time while in Florida and two times on the way home. Gas is definitely cheaper in NJ than anywhere down South!

Unfortunately, it rained most of the way to Florida, sometimes very heavy. It made the drive not as much fun, but we made it. And I have to say, the girls did GREAT! They travel very well and honestly, other than maybe one or two times of bickering, they got along nicely for the drive both ways. They really were troopers!

If you travel from the Northeast down to Florida, the majority of your trip will take place on Route 95 South. We drove through New Jersey (approx 1.5hr), Delaware (approx 15 mins), Maryland (approx 1.5hr), Virginia (2hrs 45 mins), North Carolina (approx 2.5hrs), South Carolina (2.5hrs), Georgia (approx 2hrs)and Florida (approx 2.5hrs). Times are approximate of course due to traffic & weather variances each way, plus the day of the week. We definitely noticed more traffic coming home (Saturday night 4/18) compared to the way down (Monday night 4/13). On the way home, there was awful traffic in South Carolina due to construction - at one point we literally sat still for one hour - ugh!

One interesting thing that we look forward to each time we drive to Disney (we've made this trip probably three times in the last 10 years) is the South of the Border signs. South of the Border is a place located in South Carolina which includes apparently many fun things (we've never actually stopped there) and bright lights. But they have humorous signs along the way, starting several hundred miles before you get there!

For the way down, we had printed Mapquest directions, but I forgot to print the reverse directions for the way home. Luckily, Tim & I have awesome new Blackberry Storm phones (update on that coming soon as well!) so we were able to use free GPS apps and also Google Maps, which worked out very well!

Overall, the road trip in both directions went very smoothly. The girls did great. Tim & I had many hours to talk and together as a family, it turned out to be part of our awesome bonding experience!

The Shack

2009-04-06T21:21:00.003-04:00

The Shack

by William P. Young

Published in 2008. 256 pages.

Amazon link

Official SITE

Genre: Fiction, Spirituality

My Overall Score: 5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

What I thought: Fantastic! By far, the best book I have read this year! I devoured this book in one day! I am not into Godly books where they shove it down your throat preaching at you. If that's what you're looking for, this is NOT it. Instead, this book opened my mind and filled me with hope. I can see how it could be considered controversial, but if you go into it with an open mind, hopefully you will love it as much as I did!

Why I read it & where I got it: I asked around for book suggestions and many people gave me this title as THE book to read. It didn't sound like my type of book but I broke down and ordered it from amazon.com. (BTW, I'm soooo glad I did!) Thanks to all those who suggested it to me!

Date finished: March 29, 2009 - in one day!

Currently reading: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) by J.K. Rowling

Manic Monday

2009-04-06T21:12:00.003-04:00

Manic Monday #162

How often do you change your toothbrush?
I have a Sonic Care toothbrush with replaceable heads. The heads get replaced every three months.

What is your favorite item of clothing to shop for?
Children's clothing!

Do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)? Which do you use most often?
Yep - I'm on Facebook quite a bit... my new phone has a direct Facebook button! Plus blogging of course ;) I'm curious about twitter, but havent looked into it and dont really see the point yet?

Fun in PA!

2009-04-04T22:08:00.004-04:00

After all the snow melted away, Tim & I and the girls took a trip up to visit PA (yes Tim was actually home - hurray!)
We stayed at our dear friends Anita & Carl's house. Saturday (March 7) was beautiful weather - sunny & warm. So we were outside all morning playing with the kiddies.

Then in the afternoon, I had my first Tastefully Simple party for my friend Carrie. Everyone seemed to have a great time and of course the food was yummy. I loved getting a group together and even meeting a few new people.

Tim snuggling with all the kids:
Tim & I snuck away for a few hours just to visit a local store that I used to frequent ;) It was nice to have some quiet peaceful time together...a rare occasion.
Then when we got back to their house, a few friends came over and we finally got to participate in their GAME NIGHT! It was tons of fun and we enjoyed many laughs!!

That night was Daylight Savings, which I really do love (it means longer days and Spring is coming), but we were exhausted from losing that hour of sleep. On Sunday, we walked around the local mall (talk about memories) and even got some hot wings at our old stomping grounds. It felt so strange being in that place after 2 years (we used to go every single Monday night for probably ten years - before we moved of course). And as always, the wings were so good...nothing compares to them here at the Jersey shore (at least none that we've discovered yet, and we've tried ALOT!)
Saying goodbye after a fun weekend...
We got home around 9:15 Sunday night and we were wiped! But what a great, rejuvenating weekend and so nice to feel 'at home' with our old crew again. Aaahhh... the good old days!

Blizzard of 2009

2009-04-04T21:42:00.006-04:00

OK, so maybe it wasn't really considered a blizzard, but it seemed pretty darn close! I believe the South Jersey area actually got more snow than our old neighborhood in PA, which is kind of strange, considering accumulating snow is very rare down here.
On Monday, March 2 we had NO SCHOOL! Unfortunately, I felt so sick and spent the day in bed :( The good news was that Mommom & Poppop were here to take care of the girls - thank GOD!
Pops even took the girls out to play in the snow (while he took care of snow removal and clearing the cars, etc). What a great Poppop that he remembered to take his camera out with him!! And our wonderful Mommom had hot chocolate waiting for them when they came back inside to warm up! Very cozy day for those girls!
And here you have it...

Then a few days later when Tim came home, he helped the triplets build a nice big snowman (while Kaitlyn & I were at school)! Just hours later, all the snow melted away because the temps got into the 60's ... crazy weather!

Uncle Sean & Aunt Boochy!

2009-04-04T20:59:00.006-04:00

We finally got to have a full weekend visit from Sean & Holly (Boochy)! They came down Friday, Feb 27 and stayed till Sunday, it was so nice.

For the most part, we just hung out, chatted and caught up with each other.
Saturday we went to the mall and then Denny's for dinner (yep we LOVE the Kids Eat Free deal!) heehee We also watched movies.
By Sunday, I was really not feeling well. We went Mack's pizza on the boardwalk for lunch and they left for home after that - trying to beat the SNOW!

We only got a few pics this weekend because for the most part, we were just hanging out, enjoying each other's company :)

Check out those prices - Holy Moly...And it's always packed!

But it is OH SO GOOD!

And of course we snagged some group shots just before they left:

Breaking Dawn

2009-03-29T20:58:00.004-04:00

** Possible Spoilers **

Breaking Dawn
(The Twilight Saga Book 4)

by Stephenie Meyer

Published in 2008. 768 pages.

Amazon link

Click to read my reviews:
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult (YA), Fantasy

My Overall Score: 2.5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): In Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final installment in the series, Bella’s story plays out in some unexpected ways. The ongoing conflicts that made this series so compelling--a human girl in love with a vampire, a werewolf in love with a human girl, the generations-long feud between werewolves and vampires--resolve pretty quickly, apparently so that Meyer could focus on Bella’s latest opportunity for self-sacrifice: giving her life for someone she loves even more than Edward. It’s as if Meyer was afraid of hurting her characters too much, which is unfortunate, because the pain Bella suffered at losing Edward in New Moon, and the pain Jacob suffered at losing Bella again and again, are the fire and the heart that drive the whole series. Diehard fans will stick with Bella, Edward, and Jacob for as many twists and turns as possible, but after most of the characters get what they want with little sacrifice, some readers may have a harder time caring what happens next.

What I thought: This was definitely my least favorite book of this series. It had nearly zero 'spark'. I had to force myself to pick it up each time to read. The characters were blah. This story contained nearly no romance. Strange story lines. Way too many new characters introduced, none of whom I remotely cared about. Um, pedophilia? (OK that may seem like a stretch, but that's what it felt like to me). Breaking Dawn should have been cut in half, maybe then it could have redeemed itself? This book just had a completely different tone than the other three - some have even speculated that Meyer didn't actually write it? It left me feeling.... like I wish I had stopped reading after Eclipse...

Why I read it & where I got it: I ordered this from amazon.com and read it to complete the 4-book Twilight series.

Date finished: March 28, 2009

Currently reading: The Shack by William P. Young

Clementine's Letter

2009-03-24T20:53:00.004-04:00

Clementine's Letter
by Sara Pennypacker

Published in 2009. 160 pages.

Amazon link

Authors Website

Genre: Fiction, Children's Lit

My Overall Score: 3/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Clementine can't believe her ears - her beloved teacher, Mr. D'Matz, might be leaving them for the rest of the year to go on a research trip to Egypt! No other teacher has ever understood her impulsiveness, her itch to draw constantly, or her need to play "Beat the Clock" when the day feels too long. And in his place, he's left a substitute with a whole new set of rules that Clementine just can't figure out. The only solution, she decides, is to hatch a plan to get Mr. D'Matz back. If it means ruining her teacher's once-in-a-lifetime chance -- well, it's worth it. Isn't it?

What I thought: I adore Clementine. This is the third Clementine book and Kaitlyn and I have read all of them. This was probably my least fave of the three, but it was still good. Clementine is in third grade and has an endearing personality. I love how Clementine comes to terms with her impulsivity. And there are some sweet, tender moments between she and her dad. Kaitlyn really enjoyed this story as well!

Why I read it & where I got it: Kaitlyn brought this home from the school library. We read it for a book report (she's in second grade). Here is the pic of her final project:

Date finished: March 13, 2009

Currently reading: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer ...Still...

Happy 1st Birthday Ian!

2009-03-10T21:27:00.006-04:00

On Sunday, February 15, I drove out to Harrisburg alone with the girls to celebrate Ian's first birthday party. Unfortunately, once again, Tim was away on a trip (even though it was his scheduled week off...sigh) but it was important to me to be there for Ian's special day. And also very nice to spend time with Gary, Beth & the boys :)

It was great fun seeing Ian tear into his cake!

We stayed overnight at Gary & Beth's house Sunday night and had lots of fun, as always.

Beth made a big breakfast for us on Monday morning, then it was time to leave for home around noon... I'm already counting down till the next time we get to see them - as of right now, it may not be till Summer :(

Happy Birthday BIG BOY Ian!!

Ten on Tuesday

2009-03-10T14:42:00.004-04:00

10 Things You Won't Miss About Winter

Play along HERE!

1. Cold weather
2. Getting dark so early
3. Layering up with coats, hats, gloves, scarves, ... you get the idea!
4. Lack of color - brown grass, bare trees, no flowers blooming
5. Having to stay inside with the girls
6. The exuberant heating bill (Gas)
7. Keeping the windows closed & not hearing the birds sing
8. Getting into a freezing cold car each morning
9. Everything closed on the boardwalk (except Macks of course!)
10. No outside picnics, beach fun, daily bike rides to the park

Next week: 10 Songs You Hate

Manic Monday

2009-03-09T22:28:00.002-04:00

Manic Monday #158

What would you do with an extra hour each day?

What would I like to do? Read, exercise, digital scrapbook. What I would probably do? Sleep!

Do you wear a watch? If so, tell us about it. If not, how do you keep track of time?

Yes, I wear a watch every day and feel naked without it. My watch is a Seiko that Tim bought me about 8-9 years ago and I LOVE it! It is mostly silver with some gold touches.

If it was possible, would you want to know how many days you had left to live?

Yes, I think I would want to know. Could be scary, but I couldn't resist if that info was available to me.

The Guy Not Taken

2009-03-03T19:49:00.003-05:00

The Guy Not Taken (Stories)
by Jennifer Weiner

Published in 2007. 320 pages.

Amazon link

Authors Website

Author's Blog

Genre: Fiction, Women's Lit

My Overall Score: 3/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Jennifer Weiner's talent shines like never before in this collection of short stories, following the tender, and often hilarious, progress of love and relationships over the course of a lifetime. From a teenager coming to terms with her father's disappearance to a widow accepting two young women into her home, Weiner's eleven stories explore those transformative moments in our every day.

We meet Marlie Davidow, home alone with her new baby late one Friday night, when she wanders onto her ex's online wedding registry and wonders what if she had wound up with the guy not taken. We stumble on Good in Bed's Bruce Guberman, liquored-up and ready for anything on the night of his best friend's bachelor party, until stealing his girlfriend's tiny rat terrier becomes more complicated than he'd planned. We find Jessica Norton listing her beloved New York City apartment in the hope of winning her broker's heart. And we follow an unlikely friendship between two very different new mothers, and the choices that bring them together -- and pull them apart.

What I thought: First of all, Weiner is from the Philadelphia area so it was interesting to read of local places I'm familiar with (including the King of Prussia mall!) This was the first book I've read by Weiner and I did enjoy her writing style. I am not generally a fan of short stories, however, these were well-written and conclusive enough for me to feel some closure by the end of each. There were maybe one or two which left me wanting more, but overall, when each story ended in the book, it ended in my mind. I suggest you don't buy this one, but if you happen across it in the library, I say go for it.

Why I read it & where I got it: I got this book at the Annual Family Book Swap at our elementary school this past Fall. I had been curious to read one of Weiner's books for awhile, so I snatched it up when I saw it on the big table.

Date finished: March 3, 2009

Currently reading: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer (almost 800 pages - HOLY MOLY!!)

The Reader

2009-02-24T20:51:00.004-05:00

The Reader
by Bernhard Schlink

Published in 1999. 224 pages.

Amazon link

Released as a movie January, 2009

Movie links HERE and HERE

Genre: Fiction/Literature

My Overall Score: 4/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): The Reader is a brief tale about sex, love, reading, and shame in postwar Germany. Michael Berg is 15 when he begins a long, obsessive affair with Hanna, an enigmatic older woman. He never learns very much about her, and when she disappears one day, he expects never to see her again. But, to his horror, he does. Hanna is a defendant in a trial related to Germany's Nazi past, and it soon becomes clear that she is guilty of an unspeakable crime.
The Reader, which won the Boston Book Review's Fisk Fiction Prize, wrestles with many more demons in its few, remarkably lucid pages. Schlink's prose is clean and pared down, stripped of unnecessary imagery, dialogue, and excess in any form. What remains is an austerely beautiful narrative of the attempt to breach the gap between Germany's pre- and postwar generations, between the guilty and the innocent, and between words and silence.

What I thought: At first, this book was a bit strange. Even though I read the back and knew what it was about, when the love affair became reality, it still shocked me. But as the story progressed, it did suck me in and the storyline was both touching and thought-provoking. It was a bit dark at parts, which was necessary to get the point across. Decent book. I would like to see the movie now!

Why I read it & where I got it: I got this book at the Ocean City Library Book Sale for 25 cents last year. It has been sitting on my bookshelf since then and when I was looking for a shorter book to read, this one caught my eye.

Date finished: February 22, 2009

Currently reading: The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner

Another fun weekend :)

2009-02-19T21:34:00.009-05:00

On Friday, February 6, Tim, Poppop & I took the girls to the Atlantic City Boat Show at the Convention Center. It was fun and the girls loved climbing through the huge expensive boats (with houses in them!) The best part was a big indoor 'lake' filled with water where the kids could ride pedal boats around (and that was FREE!)

Then on Saturday morning, my cousin Tommy arrived for more weekend fun! He brought McDonald's breakfast - which is always a special treat! Later, we went to the mall for dinner and to let the girls play in the indoor playground. Then back to the food court for a special birthday surprise for Tommy!!

After the girls went to bed, we watched the movie Revolutionary Road which was very sad.

On Sunday, Tommy got up early with the girls and took them for a walk to the park. That gave Tim & I a break to rest in the morning before our busy day. After lunch, Tim, Tommy & I took the girls to the Cape May Zoo on a beautiful warm & sunny day! Then we let them play on the playground before heading home for dinner. Of course I took a ton of pics, but here is a little sample ;)

All too soon, the time came for him to leave & as always we were very sad to see him go. But it was a perfect weekend and was like a mini-vacation for all of us!

So proud!!

2009-02-18T21:45:00.008-05:00

I think we officially have a recovering thumb sucker in the house! Kaitlyn has religiously sucked her thumb since she was 3 months old (and she is almost 8 years old). Recently, it was mainly when she was tired, but also if she was upset, angry, frustrated, or feeling cozy. She spent many hours of the day with her thumb in her mouth.
Needless to say, this habit was not kind to her teeth - poor girl. A friend of hers got a mouthpiece cemented into the front of her mouth to stop her from thumb-sucking. It was not attractive. Plus uncomfortable and difficult to eat with. We have talked about it with Kaitlyn for months now and finally made the appointment with the Orthodontist.
So on Monday, February 2, Tim & I toted our darling oldest daughter to a local orthodontist (Dr. Pfund) and anxiously awaited his assessment. He gave Kaitlyn two options. And he was very stern about it. He told her she has to stop sucking her thumb. And that once she has broken the habit completely, she can get a pretty retainer to start moving her teeth into the correct position. They make the retainers in rainbow colors with sparkles - hit the spot for Kaitlyn! So her options were:
1. Get that obnoxious mouthpiece cemented into her mouth to make her stop or
2. She could stop on her own.
We decided to give her one month to try and stop on her own and if she couldn't do it, we would get the mouthpiece put in at her next visit (March 2). The doctor asked if we had tried all the 'tricks' to get her to stop. Of course we thought we had. However, he had a great suggestion for us. He said to buy an ace bandage and wrap her elbow in it, so she cant bend her arm as easily to get the thumb in. What a great idea!! Luckily she has only ever sucked her left thumb, so it was an easy target! Plus he said to put a sock over her left hand at bedtime just in case she unconsciously sucks her thumb in the middle of the night.
So starting that night, we followed his suggestions and VOILA! As a reward, for each night she goes without sucking her thumb, she gets to chew a piece of gum the next day (which you all know I despise gum). But it is enough of a reward for her.
I am excited to say, she has gone more than 2 straight weeks without putting her thumb in her mouth for even a minute!
Of course we know that many times kids revert and go back to their habit sometimes, so we are not blind to that. But we have a few other tricks up our sleeve in case that happens and I have faith that she wants this badly enough to stick with it.
So when we go back to the Ortho in a week and a half, she will probably get fitted for her brand new sparkly retainer!! :)

And now, follow me through Kaitlyn's journey of her strongly-engrained habit!

My little cutie pie at 3 months old(2001)...
Started with her left thumb and never switched:

One year old princess (2002):

Sleepy girl :)

One happy three-year old (2004)!

Four years old (2005):

Daddy's little girl:

And she taught Megan to suck her thumb...ugh:

Our snuggly five-year old (2006):

Still happily sucking thumb at six years old (2007):

Almost 8 years old (2008) - we gotta do something about this!

Now that I am welling up with tears, looking back through these photos, I try to stay strong knowing this is for the best. Kaitlyn, I'm so proud of you baby girl!!

Change of Heart

2009-02-18T21:12:00.002-05:00

Change of Heart

by Jodi Picoult

Published in 2008. 464 pages.

Amazon link

Author's website

Genre: Fiction

My Overall Score: 4.5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Freelance carpenter Shay Bourne was sentenced to death for killing a little girl, Elizabeth Nealon, and her cop stepfather. Eleven years after the murders, Elizabeth's sister, Claire, needs a heart transplant, and Shay volunteers, which complicates the state's execution plans. Meanwhile, death row has been the scene of some odd events since Shay's arrival—an AIDS victim goes into remission, an inmate's pet bird dies and is brought back to life, wine flows from the water faucets. The author brings other compelling elements to an already complex plot line: the priest who serves as Shay's spiritual adviser was on the jury that sentenced him; Shay's ACLU representative, Maggie Bloom, balances her professional moxie with her negative self-image and difficult relationship with her mother. Picoult moves the story along with lively debates about prisoner rights and religion, while plumbing the depths of mother-daughter relationships and examining the literal and metaphorical meanings of having heart.

What I thought: This is a book that will definitely make you think. And keep you thinking well after you've finished reading. Which is exactly the kind of book I like. The main two components of the storyline were religion and the death penalty. Also a third thought-provoking topic was how far would you go to save your child's life. There were a few aspects of the story that were a bit distracting, but in the end it does all come together for the most part. I wish Picoult had built the characters of mother & daughter (June & Clair) more because I found it difficult to relate with them. Otherwise very nice character development.

One (of the many) quotes from the book that really touched me:
page 399 the Judge speaking:
"I am not a religious man. I have not attended a service for many years. But I do believe in God. My own practice of religion, you could say, is a nonpractice. I personally feel that it's just as worthy on a weekend to rake the lawn of an elderly neighbor or to climb a mountain and marvel at the beauty of this land we live in as it is to sing hosannas or go to Mass. In other words, I think every man finds his own church-and not all of them have four walls."
huh...

Why I read it & where I got it: I have been a Picoult fan for awhile now (my fave so far was My Sister's Keeper) & I got this book from my mom for Christmas.

Date finished: February 15, 2009

Currently reading: The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

KornJulio! :)

2009-02-16T19:55:00.005-05:00

The weekend after Baby Ryan's visit, we had my cousin Karen (who I lovingly call Korn), her husband Julio and their kids Julian & Madeleine down for an overnight stay (Fri Jan 30-Sat Jan 31). They arrived later than expected Friday night after getting lost somewhere in NJ (NJ roads are so confusing, you get off one exit, you may not be able to get back on for miles, if you're lucky!). So Friday night we just relaxed and watched a movie. The kids have a blast together, it's so nice. It reminds me of years back when Korn & I were little - we looked so forward to our weekends together!

Saturday morning, Tim made a big yummy breakfast, so we started the day with a feast! Then we played Wii with the kids. Korn & I went for a late lunch at a place called Caroline's by the Bay - it was very nice. We were the only ones in the dining room and we spent hours talking and eating and more talking. The guys stayed home with the kids and ordered hot wings.

Later we hung out at home and just enjoyed each other's company. Unfortunately, they had to leave Saturday night because they had an event to attend Sunday morning. So we all went to Denny's for a late dinner before they were on their way. It was nice because Saturday nights Kids Eat Free and they have face painting, which of course my girls loved!

Our time together always goes so fast, so I treasure every moment we have together!!

Manic Monday

2009-02-09T13:53:00.002-05:00

Manic Monday #154

What is your favorite candy? That's a hard one! I love Twix, 100 Grand, Kit Kat, Raisinets, should I go on? heehee

Name one thing that you'd want to receive as a gift for Valentine's day. A Purple Laptop ;) But seriously, ummm... love?

Can we truly love someone who loves another? I believe we can. I think it is possible to truly love someone even if that love is not reciprocated.

A weekend with 'Baby' Ryan!!

2009-02-04T22:04:00.009-05:00

Our super duper bestest friends Carl & Anita (yep the ones with our little Ry-Guy) came down for the weekend from Friday Jan 23 thru Sunday Jan 25th! They arrived late on Friday night, so we just spent time together chatting and of course playing some Wii.

We had a great family day on Saturday - Tim made a huge breakfast/brunch and we all ate together. Then more play time and fun with Ryan.

Then we went for an early dinner to a nice restaurant in Brigantine called 'Laguna Grill'. A friend of mine works there and suggested we try it. The food was delicious and the prices weren't too bad. The best part is that it is located right on the beach with an enclosed, heated outdoor deck -- what a beautiful view!

While in Brigantine, we walked along their Stone Wall - it was SO COLD!! But once again, gorgeous...

On our way home, we drove past the Absecon Lighthouse. Unfortunately, it's in a really bad neighborhood, so we didn't get out of the car, but I got some nice pics.

Then some shopping - Carl & Anita wanted to check out some stores down here that they don't have at home (we weren't impressed! LOL). We had a cozy night at home making S'mores in the fireplace. Ryan was a bit nervous to stick his marshmallow in the fire (I think his mom was more nervous...) but he LOVED eating them!

Since Anita is a Certified Massage Therapist, sometimes I hit her up for a relaxing massage during their visits. This was one of those times! ;) And it was great as usual.

Sunday was another relaxing day - we actually had a BBQ lunch on the grill - reminded me of Summertime! We had lots of fun with the Wii fit (I think Carl had the most fun...he took over all of our First Place scores! heehee)

Before they left, we gave the kids baths and let them watch a movie together in their PJs...too cute!

We cannot wait until we can see them again - we always have a BLAST together!!

"That's what we love about ya, Babe!!"

Guess who turned 34...?

2009-02-04T21:28:00.003-05:00

Tim was not home for his birthday - but was lucky enough to spend his special day (Jan 18) in Miami, FL! He was not able to come home until Tuesday Jan 20 because of snow in NY... So during the day Obama became president and at night we celebrated Tim's birthday! We had a yummy Chicken Parm dinner, then of course a nice dose of homemade Birthday cake :)

Happy (belated) Birthday my Love!

Uncle Sean & Aunt Boochy

2009-02-01T23:48:00.005-05:00

We were so lucky to have my brother Sean & his wife Holly (Boochy) come to visit with us for a belated holiday get together on Saturday, January 17, 2009.
We spent lots of cozy time at home - chatting, playing Wii, and exchanging Christmas gifts.

Then we braved the freezing cold, windy weather and headed up to the boardwalk for some Mack n Manco's pizza!

We had a super time together and of course the girls were in heaven having Unca Sean & Aunt Boochy here to play with! :) Hopefully we'll get to see them again soon!

Multiple Blessings

2009-02-01T22:59:00.005-05:00

Multiple Blessings:
Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets

by Jon & Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson

Published in 2008. 208 pages.

Amazon Link

Genre: Nonfiction, Family/Parenting, Christian Life

My Overall Score: 3/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Infertility treatments, twins, more infertility treatments, followed by six beating hearts on an ultrasound screen. That sets up the Gosselins' memoir of the exhausting and joyous events surrounding the births of their now famous sextuplets. Those familiar with the TLC program Jon & Kate Plus 8 know how their household runs; now their story comes alive for readers as well. Details such as how they chose names; the sextuplets' birth day of May 10, 2004; and the babies' weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit are fascinating, as are stories of running a household that was perpetually full of volunteers, looked like "baby base camp" and required carefully sequenced nightly bath time. The Gosselins' life is a whirlwind, with their book reflecting the fast-paced, faith-filled approach they take to raising their twins and their miracle sextuplets.

What I thought: Well, I have mixed feelings about this book. First-the positives. It was very well written, no editorial mistakes, nice time line, very descriptive. Reading this story from Kate's perspective brought me back to my own memories of higher-order multiples (our first ultrasound showing all those beating hearts, a house full of volunteers, feeling isolated & overwhelmed, etc). The reader learns more details about this family and their situation than what is available on their hit TV show. Now, for the bad... Kate comes across as very ungrateful (irregardless of the fact that she goes 'overboard' to act grateful in this book). How many times does she have to say 'Because I am a nurse', 'I am a nurse...', over and over? Although I am sure she does have great faith in God, I thought she went a little overboard with all that this book. It just seemed to me that Kate had a mission in mind when writing this book and it was slightly irritating to me. In fact on page 167, she states 'I guess in a sense that is exactly why I decided to write this book.' and she goes on to explain her exact reason (ugh). If you enjoy their show, you will probably enjoy this book. If you already don't like Kate, you definitely wont like this book!

Why I read it & where I got it: I watch the show religiously and was intrigued when I heard about this book. This is my sister-in-law's book and she let me borrow it.

Date finished: January 31, 2009

Currently reading: Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Say When

2009-02-01T22:34:00.004-05:00

Say When

by Elizabeth Berg

Published in 2004. 288 pages.

Amazon Link

Genre: Fiction,Women's Lit

My Overall Score: 3.5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Popular author Berg will thrill her fans with this sweet, often humorous novel about loss and reconciliation. Staid, routine-loving Frank Griffin is dealt a horrific blow when Ellen, his wife of 10 years, tells him she has been having an affair and wants a divorce. Just so he will have somewhere to go on the nights she is not with her lover, he signs up to play Santa at the local shopping mall and meets Donna, an attractive photographer. He throws away his wedding ring and makes a halfhearted attempt to start up a relationship with her, but although she outwardly appears to have it all over his wife--Donna is a wealthy, talented, and classic beauty--he has to admit to himself that he has never met anyone who appealed to him more than Ellen. Berg keeps her story light and funny, shading in the particulars of their relationship with just the right kind of domestic detail.

What I thought: It was so interesting to read a book about marriage and divorce from the man's perspective (written by a woman). There were many parts that I could totally relate with and although some parts of the story line were a bit silly (the whole Santa thing didn't seem relevant), overall I enjoyed this book and it's characters.

Why I read it & where I got it: I wanted to read a shorter book after Eclipse and was interested in this storyline. I've had this book on my shelf for awhile - I got it for 25 cents at the Used Book Sale at the Ocean City Library last year. I've read other books by Elizabeth Berg & remember her being a good author.

Date finished: January 28, 2009

Currently reading: Multiple Blessings by Jon & Kate Gosselin

Eclipse

2009-01-27T18:42:00.005-05:00

Eclipse
(The Twilight Saga, Book 3)

by Stephenie Meyer

Published in 2007. 640 pages.

Amazon Link

Read my review of Twilight HERE and
New Moon HERE

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult (YA), Fantasy

My Overall Score: 4.75/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): The legions of readers who are hooked on the romantic struggles of Bella and the vampire Edward will ecstatically devour this third installment of the story begun in Twilight, but it's unlikely to win over any newcomers. Jake, the werewolf met in New Moon, pursues Bella with renewed vigilance. However, when repercussions from an episode in Twilight place Bella in the mortal danger that series fans have come to expect, Jake and Edward forge an uneasy alliance. The plot patterns have begun to show here, but Meyer's other strengths remain intact. The supernatural elements accentuate the ordinary human dramas of growing up. Jake and Edward's competition for Bella feels particularly authentic, especially in their apparent desire to best each other as much as to win Bella. Once again the author presents teenage love as an almost inhuman force.

What I thought: Once again, a winner in my book! (pardon the pun...) Eclipse has a nice combination of both Edward and Jacob and can be summed up to Bella feeling torn between the two. So far, I liked Twilight best, this one would be my second fave of the series, and then New Moon would be last. I have one more to read to complete the saga, however I have a few books I want to read before then! These 600-700 page books take so long for me, I need to throw a few shorter ones in there to break it up a bit!

Why I read it & where I got it: It is the 3rd book in the four-book series I'm currently reading and I got it from amazon.com.

Date finished: January 19, 2009

Currently reading: Say When by Elizabeth Berg

New Year's (belated...sorry!)

2009-01-26T19:42:00.013-05:00

Our New Year's celebration lasted about 5 days and including many stops to visit lots of family!! It was tons of fun (and exhausting!)

It all began on New Year's Eve when I packed up the girls (the car was FULL!) and headed up to PA for our mini-getaway! Unfortunately Tim was away again, so it was just the girls and I.

First, we got spoiled at our friend's Carl & Anita's house - they surprised me with my favorite wings and made yummy food for the girls. It was nice to spend time with them and play with my Ry-Guy!

Then it was off to my cousin Tommy's & his girlfriend Kim's house for more food & fun! Tommy's friend Adam was also there and we had a good time. The girls chased their puppy Nicky all over and he was wiped by the end of the night. We put the girls to bed around 9pm, but of course they played around so long - I brought them down to watch the ball drop at midnight!! That was a first for them and they really enjoyed it! Shortly after midnight, we were all fast asleep!

On New Year's Day, we packed up the car again and headed to my other cousin Karen's house. She made the most delicious breakfast/brunch I ever tasted. Oh.My.Word! We all devoured it! It was great to chat with Karen & Julio and of course the girls had a blast playing with their cousins. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures, and our time together went too fast. We will definitely be planning a time when we can go spend a whole weekend with them soon!

Then it was back to Carl & Anita's for some MORE FOOD! My goodness, my belly was constantly full over this holiday! They had some other family there visiting as well and it is always enjoyable spending time with them. 'Little' Ryan isn't so little anymore and he talks up a storm - it's adorable! He knows all the girls names and he calls them 'My Girls'! The love is mutual :)

Sleeping peacefully...

Carl, Anita & their dog Cody:

The girls and I slept over on New Year's night. Then Tim took a Greyhound bus from Atlantic City to Pottstown on Friday Jan 2 (so we wouldn't have 2 cars up there). We ordered cheesesteaks from Ice House Deli (mmmm....) for lunch. Megan lost her first tooth at their house - eating an apple! It had been loose for so long, we were thankful it finally came out! And there were no tears - hurray! She is the first of the triplets to lose a tooth.

Next, it was time to visit Tim's brother Gary and his family! We left Carl & Anita's in the afternoon and arrived in Harrisburg in time for dinner (yep MORE FOOD!). We even enjoyed some yummy cheesecake for dessert!

We exchanged Christmas gifts with them since we didnt get to see them before the holiday. Ian was starting to get the hang of ripping them open by the end!

The guys and the kids played Wii all night. Beth & I went to see the movie Marley & Me. It was good - we had both read the book already and of course the movie never quite compares, but it was definitely worth it for a night out!

Gary was supposed to work Friday & Saturday nights, but he got called off because his nursing floor wasn't busy. It worked out perfectly because we got to have the whole weekend all together!

On Saturday we packed up the kids and headed over to Hershey's Chocolate World for their free tour and then some milkshakes & ice cream! (yep...MORE FOOD!) The girls loved it! They remembered seeing Jon & Kate plus 8 go there and thought it was so cool to be there also!

On the way home from Hershey Park, we stopped for dinner at a wing place. They were awesome! The girls even ate them and of course more full bellies!
Back at their house, Tim made some drinks for us and we played more Wii. Beth offered for me to do all of our laundry there which was a Super help - I got it all washed, dried and folded! And the tooth fairy found Megan all the way in Harrisburg!

Sunday, January 4th was our last day of the 'holiday'. Gary, Tim & Tyler got up early and went to a shooting range to enjoy some guy time. Tim's parents came to Gary & Beth's house to celebrate our belated Christmas. We had good food & more importantly drinks! I needed that to survive the afternoon...

Everyone piled on top of Tyler - poor kid was at the bottom of that!!

We were home by 7pm... got the girls to bed and prepared to head back to work/school the next day... WOW! It was a fun & busy holiday :) We are so blessed to have such wonderful family & friends!

Manic Monday

2009-01-26T19:35:00.002-05:00

Manic Monday #152

What gives you hope?
My children give me hope. They are a sign that life goes on. There is a future. And they raise my level of optimism about what is to come.

How often do you get your haircut? Describe your worst haircut.
I only get my haircut like every 2-3 months (if I'm lucky). My worst haircut was when I decided to go really short and I hated it. It wasn't the hairdresser's fault, I take all the blame. It was awful.

What's your most treasured piece of jewelry? Why?
My Pandora bracelet... It was a gift from Tim and the girls for Mother's Day last year. So far I have 9 charms on it - each was personally chosen for me with special meaning. It is expensive (which I usually don't like) but I wear it every day and I really do treasure it!

Sick again :(

2009-01-10T15:45:00.002-05:00

I am sick of being sick. This is crazy. I was just at the doctor Christmas week for a sinus infection. Finished off those antibiotics and now... I'm sick again!??! What is up with this?

Thankfully my sinuses are clear, this time it's different. My throat is sore, glands swollen, bad headaches, achy all over, occasional nausea, almost feels like the flu. UGH.

I have never slept so much in a long time - thank god for Mom and Pops taking care of the girls for me. Nyquil is my current choice of ammo. Also gargling warm salt water. (and tried Orange soda- Korn!)... drinking OJ. Blah. I just hate being sick :(

Christmas!

2009-01-05T20:28:00.011-05:00

What a beautiful Christmas we had! Tim was away for pretty much the whole holiday season...we missed him like crazy, but we definitely made the best of it. My mom and pops were here and my brother Brian came down for a few days - so it was really nice :)

Christmas Eve, mom, Brian & I took the girls to church...

Kaitlyn wrote a letter to Santa and of course we set out cookies and milk!

The girls wanted to sleep together... so cozy!

Let's see if Santa came!!

We all got very spoiled! And these are a few of our favorite things :)

Tim made it home for a quick family pic before girls went to bed...

The adults opened our gifts after the girls went to bed:

We could not have asked for a better Christmas - so thankful! I wish we could have been with the rest of our family - and of course having Tim home more would have been nice. But hey, beggars cant be choosers, right?!! I hope you had a wonderfully merry Christmas as well!!

Manic Monday

2009-01-05T20:11:00.002-05:00

Manic Monday #149

Do you have any idiosyncrasies or unusual quirks when it comes to food and/or eating?

Yes, lots! I find 'seeds' in hamburger, cheese steaks, etc. I don't eat to the end of a chicken finger. Can't eat cold french fries, pizza, etc. The list goes on and on...heehee.

Have you ever written love letters? If so, do you still have any of them?

Yes and Yes!

How easy or difficult is it for you to say you're sorry?

Well it depends what I am apologizing for and who it is to. If it is something minor, its not so hard. But overall, it is difficult for me.

Favorite book for 2008??

2009-01-04T22:42:00.005-05:00

Did you have a book (or two!) that you read in 2008 that really stands out ahead of the rest? A book that touched your heart or really made you think? Please post in the comments section - you may give others good ideas of books to read this year!

OK - so I set a goal for myself last January to read 50 books in 2008... well - I completed 44 books, which is pretty darn close if you ask me!! LOL
Here is the list of books I read this year including author, date completed & my score (didn't start giving a score till Book #13). Feel free to click all book reviews to read what I thought of each.

44. Why Do Men Have Nipples by Leyner & Goldberg 12.29.08 3/5
43. Go Green, Live Rich by David Bach 12.26.08 4.5/5
42. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks 12.22.08 3.5/5
41. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney 12.15.08 4.25/5
40. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer 12.12.08 4.5/5
39. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 11.22.08 5/5
38. The Talented Clementine by Pennypacker 11.13.08 4.75/5
37. The Secret Blog of Raisin Rodriguez by Goldschmidt 11.9.08 4.5/5
36. The Wednesday Letters by J.Wright 11.7.08 4/5
35. Time Traveler's Wife by Niffenegger 10.28.08 3.75/5
34. Second Chance by Jane Green 10.25.08 3/5
33. Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets 9.30.08 4/5
32. Harry Potter Sorcerer's Stone 9.3.08 4.75/5
31. The Last Summer by Ann Brashares 8.29.08 4/5
30. Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson 8.17.08 3.75/5
29. Promise the Moon by Elizabeth Joy Arnold 8.13.08 3.5/5
28. Marley & Me by John Grogan 8.5.08 4/5
27. Sandcastles by Luanne Rice 7.30.08 2/5
26. Unclutter Your Mind by Donna Smallin 7.25.08 4/5
25. The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller 7.23.08 2.5/5
24. Life's a Beach by Claire Cook 7.17.08 3/5
23. The Beach House by Jane Green 7.7.08 5/5
22. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson 7.6.08 3/5
21. For One More Day by Mitch Albom 6.30.08 3/5
20. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult 6.25.08 4.5/5
19. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 6.18.08 3.75/5
18. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch 6.2.08 5/5
17. The Road by Cormac McCarthy 5.31.08 4/5
16. Sisterhood of Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares 5.19.08 4.75/5
15. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella 5.16.08 4.25/5
14. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri 5.7.08 2.75/5
13. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert 5.5.08 4/5
12. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 4.22.08
11. Finding Peace by Paula Coxe 4.8.08
10. Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand 4.4.08
9. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah 3.25.08
8. No Death, No Fear by Thich Nhat Hanh 3.16.08
7. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker 3.15.08
6. Living a Life That Matters by Harold Kushner 3.12.08
5. Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers 3.9.08
4. The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult 3.2.08
3. The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards 2.19.08
2. The Choice by Nicholas Sparks 2.8.08
1. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd 1.26.08

Wow, looking at this list kind of helps me relive this past year, as I always link a book to what's going on in my life at the time I read it. Which of course may also affect my opinion of the book!

My Top 8 books of 2008 are:
Twilight (my FAVORITE this year!!!)
The Secret Life of Bees
Eat, Pray, Love
The Beach House
Harry Potter Sorcerer's Stone
The Last Lecture
The Kite Runner
Marley & Me

Will I give myself another challenge for 2009, you may ask?? Of course! I will keep my goal set for 50 books since I didn't reach it this year. For anyone who actually reads my reviews - is there anything I should change? add? remove? from my reviews? I try to keep them fairly short & simple because I know many blog followers do not read my book reviews. But they are a big part of what makes me tick, so I will definitely continue posting them! :)

Oh and if any of you have read a book that I post about or have suggestions of books you think I should read - please post your thoughts in the comments!

Happy Reading!

Happy 2009!!!!

2008-12-31T23:33:00.000-05:00

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009!

2008-12-31T22:39:00.003-05:00

It turns out that our plans for New Years were not made until the very last minute, so I am extremely happy at how well it all worked out. Unfortunately, Tim is still out of town - so he missed all of Christmas Eve and Christmas - and now NYE and New Years. Sigh. But I am trying to be a good sport and make the best of what we have.

So the girls and I came up to PA this afternoon and spent a few hours with our friends Carl, Anita & Ryan! What a surprise when I arrived to a special treat of my very favorite hot wings in all the world!! I haven't had them since we moved to NJ a year and a half ago - aahhhh they were good! And Ryan is a complete angel - he is talking up a storm now and a total love bug.

Then we came over to my cousin Tom and his girlfriend Kim's house for the night. I just feel so spoiled to have so many people love and care for us the way they do. Once again, we got our bellies filled up with all sorts of yummy treats. And now the girls are 'trying' to go to sleep upstairs while the adults are watching Dick Clark's NYE special on TV.

Tomorrow will include visits with more friends and family, as well as another sleep over - this time at Carl & Anita's house. Then Friday, Tim should be home and ready to come up to PA...for our journey to Harrisburg to spend a few days with Tim's brother Gary and his family. So... we have quite a busy time ahead of us for the next few days.

I am thankful to have my girls and although they make me crazy sometimes - I love them with all my heart and could never imagine how empty my life would feel without them in it.

So here I sit feeling ... hmm... Anxious? Excited? Nervous? I am sad missing Tim. Looking forward to what the new year holds. Contemplating the good, the bad and the ugly from this past year. This night tends to make me more emotional than any other night of the year.

On to bigger and better for the new year!!

All the best and warm wishes to you and yours :)

Why Do Men Have Nipples?

2008-12-30T22:24:00.005-05:00

Why Do Men Have Nipples?
Hundreds of Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini

by Mark Leyner & Billy Goldberg, M.D.

Published in 2005. 224 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Nonfiction, Health & Fitness, Humor

My Overall Score: 3/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Urban legends and perennial wonders get a witty treatment in this lighthearted guide to largely inconsequential yet intriguing aspects of the human body. Leyner & Goldberg address food and the body (does coffee stunt your growth?), "body oddities" (what are goose bumps?), folk remedies (does breast milk cure warts?), drugs (does marijuana help glaucoma?), bathroom humor (why can you ignite a fart?), medical media (is the show ER accurate?), old wives tales (can lip balm be addictive?) and aging (why do old ladies grow beards?). Some of the authors' answers are unsatisfactory and, as a whole, this is much more of a humor book than a health one.

What I thought: Some foul language - definitely not intended for the younger crowd. Obviously, this book is to be taken lightly and provide comic relief more than anything else. Although the authors do include some interesting info and topics for discussion. Of the hundreds of questions, here are some that stood out for me:

Is it bad to crack your knuckles?
Why are yawns contagious?
Are canker sores contagious?
What are goose bumps?
What happens when my foot falls asleep?
Big hands/feet = Big penis?
Is it true that you can break your penis?
Is there really a G-spot?
Do Kegel exercises really work?
Does Cranberry juice cure Urinary Tract Infections?
Does Melatonin work for Jet Lag?
Is it dangerous to pop zits?
Does urinating on a jellyfish sting stop the burn?
What are hiccups and how do you get rid of them?
Does warm milk really help you sleep?
Can poppy seeds make you test positive for heroin?
Does drinking alcohol kill brain cells?
Why do you get all 'pruney' after a long bath?
Will you get hemorrhoids from sitting on the toilet too long?
Is it dangerous to hold it when you have to pee?
What causes the rumbling in your stomach when you have to go?
Why do you see stars when you are hit in the head?
Is it true that you have to wait a half hour after eating to go swimming?
Does wet or cold weather cause a cold?
Can lip balm be addictive?
Do microwaves cause cancer?
Is it dangerous to hold in a sneeze?
Can you swallow your tongue?
Why does hair turn gray?

Date finished: December 29, 2008

Currently reading: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (Book 3 of the Twilight Series!)

Go Green, Live Rich

2008-12-30T16:29:00.004-05:00

Go Green, Live Rich:
50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth
(and Get Rich Trying)

by David Bach

Published in 2008. 192 pages.

Amazon link

Author's website

Genre: Nonfiction, Environment, Economics

My Overall Score: 4.5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Bach offers a multitude of suggestions for conserving the planet—and your money—in this attractive and accessible guide. Bach also advocates making environmental consciousness a family value. Bach clarifies how the most conservative changes in lifestyle can yield radical results. A winning and wise guide, this book—printed on recycled paper with proceeds going to a green advocacy group—will find a large audience.

What I thought: This is a small, convenient book that packs lots of good info into a nice little package. Lots of useful websites & helpful tips to save energy and money. Here is a highlight of some of the tips I found most interesting:

Tip #12: Adjusting your thermostat up or down by just three degrees all year round will save you about $114 on a 1500 sq ft home. For every degree you turn the heat down in winter, you'll bring your energy bill down by as much as 5%.

Tip #13: Unplug it. Phantom load=things sucking energy by being plugged in when not using it. Totals 5 to 15% of monthly electric bill.

Plasma HD-TVs use twice as much energy as their LCD counterparts.

Tip #15: Switch to Compact Fluorescent bulbs (CFL). They use 75% less electricity than traditional bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

Tip #17: Turn off the tap while brushing teeth. Only run dishwasher when full. Your toilet uses the most water of anything in your home.

Tip #21: Buy in bulk - uses smallest amount of packaging per unit.

Tip #22: Bring your own bags to grocery store.

Tip # 24: Grow your own fruits and veggies or buy at a local farmers market.

Tip #26: Use 'Green' Cleaning supplies - homemade with baking soda, club soda, vinegar & salt. Or buy commercial alternatives (Shaklee or Seventh Generation).

Tip #27: Use 'Green' personal-care products that contain natural ingredients, smell great, aren't tested on animals and don't cost any more than the chemical filled varieties. List of 13 potential brands on page 83.

Tip #29: Buy & Sell everything - ebay, craigslist, freecycle, yard sales. Make/save money and save the landfills. Or donate unwanted items.

Tip #31: Get rid of junk mail - new opt out legislation provides website and phone numbers to say no to junk mail and catalogs.

Tip #37: Bring your lunch to work in a reusable bag.

Tip #39: Do it online. Pay bills. Read newspaper.

Pages 160-169 are full of sources and websites collected from throughout the book.

Bach asks that we choose just one of the 50 tips and start today. Of course there are many of these things that we are already doing as a family. And I have chosen a few that I will start with asap: 1) Switch to CFL lightbulbs, 2) look for Green cleaning supplies, 3) officially get rid of junk mail and 4) unplug unused appliances.

Date finished: December 26, 2008

Currently reading: Why Do Men Have Nipples? by Mark Leyner & Billy Goldberg, M.D.

The Lucky One

2008-12-30T14:54:00.003-05:00

The Lucky One

by Nicholas Sparks

Published in 2008. 336 pages.

Amazon link

Author's website

Genre: Fiction, Women's Lit

My Overall Score: 3.5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): In his 14th book, bestselling author Nicholas Sparks tells the unforgettable story of a man whose brushes with death lead him to the love of his life. Is there really such thing as a lucky charm? The hero of Nicholas Sparks's new novel believes he's found one in the form of a photograph of a smiling woman he's never met, but who he comes to believe holds the key to his destiny. The chain of events that leads to him possessing the photograph and finding the woman pictured in it is the stuff of love stories only a master such as Sparks can write.

What I thought: This was typical Nicholas Sparks. My favorite of his was The Notebook and although I continue to read his new novels right away, they never compare. I did like this one better than his other most recent one which I reviewed HERE. It's not one of those storylines that your mind keeps going back to. But definitely a quick read.

Date finished: December 22, 2008

Currently reading: Go Green, Live Rich by David Bach

Counting my blessings

Sick

Perspective

New Beginnings

Is November really half over?!?!

We are still ALIVE!!

Rewind to May!

Manic Monday

Everything She Thought She Wanted

Dewey

Body Surfing

Rewind to April: Part 2

Rewind to April: Part 1 :)

Testing new website...Cute?

The Middle Place

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Ten on Tuesday

REWIND to March!

Handle With Care

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban

Junie B. First Grader, Dumb Bunny

New design...

Disney Part 7: The end...

Disney Part 6: Epcot!

Disney Part 5: Animal Kingdom!

Disney Part 4: Hollywood Studios!

Disney Part 3: Magic Kingdom!

Disney Part 2: Arrival, Hotel & First night in Florida!

Disney Part 1: Road Trip!

The Shack

Manic Monday

Fun in PA!

** Blizzard of 2009 **

Uncle Sean & Aunt Boochy!

Breaking Dawn

Clementine's Letter

Happy 1st Birthday Ian!

Ten on Tuesday

Manic Monday

The Guy Not Taken

The Reader

Another fun weekend :)

So proud!!

Change of Heart

KornJulio! :)

Manic Monday

A weekend with 'Baby' Ryan!!

Guess who turned 34...?

Uncle Sean & Aunt Boochy

Multiple Blessings

Say When

Eclipse

New Year's (belated...sorry!)

Manic Monday

Sick again :(

Christmas!

Manic Monday

Favorite book for 2008??

Happy 2009!!!!

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009!

Why Do Men Have Nipples?

Go Green, Live Rich

The Lucky One

Blizzard of 2009