Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling




Third book in Harry Potter series.



Im slowly making my way through this series. I read this in October 2010.



View all my reviews

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling




First book in Harry Potter series.



I must be one of the last people on earth who hasn't read this series or watched the movie.



I started reading these summer 2010. It's a good series so far, but something I need to read in stages.



View all my reviews

Music

I finally had the time to figure out how to add my playlist on here. WOW did that take awhile!! I accomplished something today..it's not a total sluff off day.

"Room" by Emma Donoghue

In many ways, Jack is a typical 5-year-old. He likes to read books, watch TV, and play games with his Ma. But Jack is different in a big way--he has lived his entire life in a single room, sharing the tiny space with only his mother and an unnerving nighttime visitor known as Old Nick. For Jack, Room is the only world he knows, but for Ma, it is a prison in which she has tried to craft a normal life for her son. When their insular world suddenly expands beyond the confines of their four walls, the consequences are piercing and extraordinary.

"A book to read in one sitting. When it's over you look up, the world looks the same but you are somehow different and that feeling lingers for days."
Audrey Niffeneger (author of The Time Travelers Wife).

I included Ms. Neffeneger's quote cause that's exactly the way I felt after reading this book. It was breathtaking and heartwrenching.

"Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" by Tom Franklin

In the late 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas "32" Jones were boyhood pals. Their worlds were as different as night and day: Larry, the child of lower-middle-class white parents, and Silas, the son of a poor, single black mother. Yet for a few months the boys stepped outside of their circumstances and shared a special bond. But then tragedy struck: Larry took a girl on a date to a drive-in movie, and she was never heard from again. She was never found and Larry never confessed, but all eyes rested on him as the culprit. The incident shook the county—and perhaps Silas most of all. His friendship with Larry was broken, and then Silas left town.

More than twenty years have passed. Larry, a mechanic, lives a solitary existence, never able to rise above the whispers of suspicion. Silas has returned as a constable. He and Larry have no reason to cross paths until another girl disappears and Larry is blamed again. And now the two men who once called each other friend are forced to confront the past they've buried and ignored for decades.

I really enjoyed this book.

For my BFF Nicki!

Love ya girl!!!

"The Accidental Mother" by Rowan Coleman

Coleman makes her U.S. debut with a disarmingly sweet tale of motherhood and reluctant love. London party planner Sophie Mills becomes the improbable guardian of sisters 6-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Izzy after their single mom, Sophie's childhood best friend Carrie Stiles, dies in a car accident. Life suddenly gets very complicated and dirty for the hyper-organized career chick, and a panicked Sophie figures she'd better launch a search for the girls' long-missing dad before maternal mayhem wreaks havoc on her busy life. But once found, mysterious charity worker Louis Gregory triggers Sophie's own overwhelming sense of loss for her late dad and dead pal Carrie. And for the first time in her life, Sophie is forced to jump into the middle of life instead of planning it from a safe distance. Love isn't the instant fix for Sophie's fragile makeshift family, but Coleman shows how it can kick-start a lonely heart.

This book was "eeehh". I liked it enough to finish it (which honestly isn't really saying much cause I have a real hard time quitting a book once I start it). It was read-worthy to see Sophie go through the changes she went through while taking care of Izzy and Bella. There is a sequel to this book "The Accidental Family" and I will NOT be reading that book. If that says anything..

New Year..New Hope

Well let's breath some life into this blog. I think Im going to turn blog into my bookreading blog. I don't know..it might take on a life of it's own. Guess I'll wait and see.

Camping!!

The kids finished 2nd grade on May 20th. They had a great teacher this year. We will miss you Mrs. Zackery!!



We went on our first 2010 camping voyage last weekend. It also happened to be our wedding anniversary! For those of you keeping count it's now 16 years of bliss. :)

Here's a few pictures of our camping weekend. Abby was the only one in the water when I finally got the camera out. But the boys had fun in the water too. It was to cold IMHO, but Abby was in it everday.







This is the view I had of the lake. :) Loved it!!!!



We also did some fishing, but Wyatt didn't feel like it. So he stood on the bank and pouted.

Happy Mothers Day!!

Last night the kids went to Kids Night Out at the YMCA and Troy took me out for supper at Red Lobster! He asked where I wanted to go and I told him I didn't care as long as the fries were not served in a bag. It was fantastic! The kids had a great time at the Y swimming, playing games and watching a movie.

Happy Mothers Day to all women in the world who play a role in a child's life. Whether you be an aunt, a grandmother or a mom. This day is for you!!!

"Flirting with Forty" by Jane Porter

Im Jackie Laurens and 18 months ago if you looked at my life on paper, you'd think it was fabulous. Gorgeous husband, Daniel, 12 years of marriage, two kids and a big house. The not so good part? I discorvered Daniel was having an affair.

He got the 2nd home and the Porsche. She got the kdis and a broken heart. Now Jackie, post-divorce and heading toward the big 4-0, is on vacation in summy Hawaii and staring down her upcoming birthday alone. But not for long. She's soon falling for Kai, her gorgeous, much younger surf instructor, and the wild passionate fling they have becomes the biggest surprise of Jackie's life.

Back home in Seattle, Jasckie has to struggle with single parenthood and memories of Kai. He hasn't forgotten her. Yet thousands of miles of ocean-not to mention an age difference that feels even wider-separates them. And, of course, her friends disapprove. When a choice must be made, can she, will she risk everything for her chance at happiness?

Really fun light book! I enjoyed it. It was all tied together in a big red bow in the end and the journey was pretty funny. Considering the book I just finished, this is exactly what I needed.

"The Hour I First Believed" by Wally Lamb

When forty-seven-year-old high school teacher Caelum Quirk and his younger wife, Maureen, a school nurse, move to Littleton, Colorado, they both get jobs at Columbine High School. In April 1999, Caelum returns home to Three Rivers, Connecticut, to be with his aunt who has just had a stroke. But Maureen finds herself in the school library at Columbine, cowering in a cabinet and expecting to be killed, as two vengeful students go on a carefully premeditated, murderous rampage. Miraculously she survives, but at a cost: she is unable to recover from the trauma. Caelum and Maureen flee Colorado and return to an illusion of safety at the Quirk family farm in Three Rivers. But the effects of chaos are not so easily put right, and further tragedy ensues.

While Maureen fights to regain her sanity, Caelum discovers a cache of old diaries, letters, and newspaper clippings in an upstairs bedroom of his family's house. The colorful and intriguing story they recount spans five generations of Quirk family ancestors, from the Civil War era to Caelum's own troubled childhood. Piece by piece, Caelum reconstructs the lives of the women and men whose legacy he bears. Unimaginable secrets emerge; long-buried fear, anger, guilt, and grief rise to the surface.

As Caelum grapples with unexpected and confounding revelations from the past, he also struggles to fashion a future out of the ashes of tragedy. His personal quest for meaning and faith becomes a mythic journey that is at the same time quintessentially contemporary—and American.

This was my least favorite Lamb book. It drug on and on and Im really not sure why I kept reading it and ended up finishing it.

Camping! YEA!!

This week Dh brought the camper home from storage! YEA! I spent about 2 hours out there that night just hanging out and airing out. No little insect visitors were found so I was very thankful for that!!

On Friday night the family spent the night in the camper. So I guess you could say we have 1 night camping already! :) Yes it was in the driveway but it was still a lot of fun, but darn was it COLD!!

Friday dh also traded in our truck for a new truck, new to us truck. It will work much better for towing so we'll beable to camp farther from home. We are VERY excited about that! I think another camping trip to Minnesota is on the agenda for late summer.

17 days of school left!!

I can't wait for summer! I can't wait for camping, fishing, sleeping in late, enjoying hot summer days at the pool and just being carefree.

Frustrating Sunday!

Well today I took the kids to K-town so Abby & I could get haircuts. The boys were AWFUL!! Typical boy awful! So Abby was the only one who got a haircut because I didn't trust the boys to not run through the mall while I was strapped to a chair.

Now they are all fighting like mad. I am changing my name. If I hear "Mom!! They are not sharing!!" or "MOM!!! She hit me!!" or "MOM!!! He kicked me!!" One more time I am seriously selling their bodies to science. Seriously...

Beautiful Day!!!

24 Hour Read-a-thon

This has been a big talk at bookobsessed for the last couple of weeks ( bookobsessed is a place I hang out with my book friends, please come check us out if you're a bookworm!!). I really hope in a couple years that this 24 hour book a thon is still going on because I would definately LOVE to participate, but since I have 3 adorable kids right now there is no way I could spend 24 hours doing nothing but reading. But like I said..in a couple of years. But in the meantime Im enjoying cheering on the lucky ones who are spending the next 24 in bed/couch/deck chair/ect. reading. I am extremely jealous!!

On the home front, Blaine is recovering from strep and fighting taking his meds. So he's definately feeling better. Wyatt woke up this morning coughing up junk from his lungs and has a horribe runny nose. But as I sit here watching the wind gently blow the leaf buds on our maple tree and listening to my neighbor's lawn mower I know that spring is here.

Sick kids

Well Blaine has strep throat for the 2nd time in a month. Yea..Im getting a bit sick of it too.

Tonight was the kids music concert and poor Blaine couldn't go and he had a speaking part!! Wyatt stepped up and did Blaine's part (along with his own speaking part). Im so proud of him! :)

My dad is visting!

And it's great to have him here! Why am I online if he's here? Because he's napping! Hey it's a looong drive from his house to mine. So while he's napping I finally uploaded the pictures off my digital camera..all 150 pictures! YIKES!! Here are a few of my favorites.



First is just a cute picture of Abby. Just looking all Abbyish. This was taken in December 2009, right after Christmas.



That is Abby on top of the snow pile at the end of our road, right in front of our house. The kids spent hours on this hill and it was great because I could watch them from the front window. I couldn't even tell you how big this pile was, Im horrible when it comes to estimating height. But I can say it was huge, HUGE.



This is the same above mentioned snow pile. Last week the kids & I drove all over our little town looking for any left over snow (besides what was in front of our house) and we found none. This was the last snow left in town. So we took a picture of the kids on top of it. The pile is completely melted now, gone, nothing left.

Life going back to normal now??

Well this week was hell in one short word. Dh got sick, really sick and ended up in the hospital for 4 days. He was dx'd on Monday with diverticulitis and was in the hospital Tuesday-Friday. He is home now but really sore and tired. I think he's in a lot more pain then he's letting on.

"The Hour I First Believed" by Wally Lamb

My current book. I love everything I've read by Lamb and Im 50 pages into this book and I think Im going to feel the same about this book. More opinions of mine to come...

Went to see Valentines Day..

Last night myself and 3 friends went to see the movie Valentines Day. Lots of laughs and giggles going on around me but I can pretty comfortable saying that very few of them came from me. The movie had no meat, no motive, no nothing. Taylor Lautner was in the movie so I was able to get excited about Eclipse. 108 days until Eclipse!!!!

Resurrecting my blog

Im going to try and breath some life back into my blog. Hang on tight, this might be bumpy.

Last hurrah of winter?

Sitting here at my kitchen nook, listening to the wind howl and watching the light dusting of snow we got last night blow around. I really hope this is the last of winter's hold on Nebraska. I am ready for spring!!

Happy first day of Spring!!

I felt compelled to blog.

Well that's over now..

Yikes!

Merry Christmas!! Happy New Year!! Happy Valentines Day!!

Im not making any promises about keeping this blog up to date anymore. Im a facebook whore..look for me there. :)

Merry Christmas!!!

From our family to yours, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas season!!

This morning our kids woke up to a bunch of presents under the tree and lots of fun instore for all!!

But I must mention my poor poor A. She asks for gifts that I know as her parent she will not like. Last year she begged Santa and us for Butterscotch Pony. Over $200.00 later the prized pony waited for her under the tree (and that's ALL she got besides a bunch of clothes because that's ALL she wanted, and because of the price..that's ALL she got!!). She played with it for 10 minutes, then decided she didn't like it (after she broke the tail and chewed up the brush (A is a chewer). So we couldn't return it..sorry honey.

This year..she BEGGED Santa & us for "Bendaroos" some crap she saw on TV advertisment. "make them into anything, they stick, they bend, no mess, play again and again..BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH." Yea right.. So the precious Bendaroos were under the tree. I tried my HARDEST to talk her out of this thing. And I mean I spend DAYS trying to convince her she maybe should consider something else, but I had no luck. So here I sit..with my dd on the other end of the table complaining that her precious toys will not stick to anything (but the Bendaroos) and she can't make the *cool* things that the girl made on TV. Sigh..THANK GOD they were not $200.00, so she did receive other toys that probably will not full-fill her wildest desires to be disappointed with.

My boys ask for appropriate age gifts and loved everything they received.

My kids do know that it's not about the gifts though. Next year I really want to take my kids to a homeless shelter and help serve meals to the homeless. I wonder if DH would be up for that??

Work, Christmas shopping & company! OH MY!!

It's been busy and the above about covers it all. I've been working A LOT, like 4x a week! I finally started my Christmas shopping TODAY, and we had company (BIL & nephew) leave this morning, they were here for a week and another BIL & SIL are on their way down here now to also stay for a week. They should be here in about 3 hours. I am up wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to late because I am still washing the bedding from the last company for the new company! I love having company so I am completely flyin' happily!! I just wish Christmas wasn't coming up so quickly. I still have a lot of shopping yet to do.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope all my American friends had a Happy Thanksgiving!! Ours was a bit on the crazy side, but crazy is our middle name so it was just a normal fly by the seat of your pants day.

A few weeks ago we saw an advertisment that USA Steak Buffet was having a T-day meal from 10-3:30. I said to dh "Let's just do that..the boys probably won't eat turkey anyway (part vegetarian I swear) so it doesn't pay to cook a big turkey for just the remaining 3 of us." We starved the kids and headed over. Well...apparently...1/2 of town decided the same thing. We got to the restaurant around 11:00 and the parking lot was FULL, the parking lot next to the restaurant..FULL..the parking lot across the street..FULL! People were waiting out the door, down the sidewalk and almost around the corner. Soo..onward we drove, trying to come up with a plan B. We drove by the local jail and saw the guards bringing in the Thanksgiving meals for the prisioners. We briefly thought about stealing the birds and making a run for it, but decided against it. So we went to Perkins instead, and not a one of us had turkey. BUT..3 of us (dh, myself and *A*)were still hungry for turkey. We went to Walmart, bought a turkey, stuffing, etc, and made turkey with all the fixins' at home today.

Jon & Kate Plus 8

I watch this show weekly, have my DVR set to record every week. And I loved the show, until recently. Now I can barely stand to watch it. It's gotten so fake and commercialized (is that a word?). Free stuff here, free stuff there. I want to see a daily (REAL) life.

There..I've wanted to say that for about a month now.

Crazy last several weeks!!

WOW it's been awhile again! I had no intention of bailing on my blog but sometimes real life gets in the way of my fun. Who would of thought??!?

The good news is while I was MIA, I finally finished "The Crimson Petal & the White" by Michael Faber. It took me a little over 2 months to finish that 800+ page whopper. And IMHO, it could of easily been cut in almost 1/2 and could of been just as good. It was a great book, and I will recommend it to *some* people, but it's definately not a book for just anyone.

The kids & I also finsihed a couple books. "Fiddlesticks" by Beverly Lewis and "Knights at Dawn" by Mary Pope Osborne.

We had a brief beautiful snowfall the other morning. The biggest snowflakes I've ever seen. I wish I would of taken some pictures of the snow, because I don't know if I'll ever seen anything that beautiful again. But then again, Im not sure how good the pictures would of turned out, because of the 60 mph winds!!!

I've been working a lot (that's why I haven't been around). I worked at school 12 days last month, and worked for Matt 3 days. Consider the kids had 4 days off of school the month, and I was at their school volunteering 3 days. It was a CRAZY month. The weekends were there to recoop!!

Im alive, just real busy!!

I thought I'd better post in here, just incase someone does read my blog from time to time and they might wonder where I am. Im alive. Im just really busy with school and now halloween. All 3 of my kids decided LAST NIGHT (and 1 this afternoon) that they wanted me to make their costumes. I don't know what they're thinking..Im no Martha Stewart!

Happy Birthday kids!!!

Today my babies turned SEVEN years old. I can not believe it.

*W* wanted the Wii game "de Blob". If you were listening at 12:15pm today you would of heard him squeel like a pig.

*B* wanted a remote control dinosaur (another kid who was totally happy).

*A* was sooo hard. She really isn't my girly girl, all she said she really wanted was a new bike seat. So we thought we'd get her that, then get her a walking Barbie horse (wave the wand over it's head it walks) that she's been eyeing up at Walmart. So I *thought* she'd be overjoyed. But she busted out crying saying she really wanted the Baby Choo-Choo doll. HUH? Where did that come from???? But after an hour or so she decided she did like the horse. I'll also be taking her shopping this weekend for some new Hannah Montana shirts.

We went out for supper tonight at the local chinese restaurant then had ice cream sundaes at McD's. It was a good night.

Kiddos & I are leaving tomorrow am for Omaha to meet my mom for our bi-annual weekend get away. It'll be short trip this time but we're planning on making the most of it.

I'll be updating with my 2 weeks worth of Sunday Salon on Monday!!

Sunday Salon

I've been neglecting my blog this week.

It's time for Sunday Salon. Any big new books for me to share this week?? NOPE! I am STILL reading "The Crimson Petal & the White" by Michael Faber. I am on page 424 so Im just over 1/2 way. I just haven't dedicated any time this week to reading.

But my kids & I did finish "The Stinky Sneakers Mysery" by Beverly Lewis (Cul-de-Sac Kids Mystery #7. We also tried "Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus" by Barbara Park. Which requires it's own paragraph..

When I say we *tried* Junie B. Jones I mean just that, we tried it. We read 2 chapters and I said to the kids "That's it, we are returning this book to the library..it has to many naughty words." You're thinking "WHAT? Naughty words??" Well, in our house stupid, dumb and hate are naughty words. I really cringed at the thought of getting this book to begin with at the libarary because of the word stupid on the front cover. But *A* asked if we could get it, and she rarely asks about books (no chance of her following in my book reading footsteps..boo hoo..) so I had to say yes, we could get it. After 2 chapters my kids & learned that Juie B Jones has a bad attitude and she threated to beat up another little kid on the school bus. It's very safe to say that Junie B. Jones will NOT be visiting our house again anytime soon.

Oh My Gosh! I won TWO books!!!

I know you always hear people saying "I never win anything!" I AM one of those honest people who really never win! I've never even won a dollar on a scratch off!! But my luck has changed!!!! I won "The Almost Moon" by Alice Sebold from Cheryl's Booknook and "Matrimony" by Joshua Henkins from Nat's blog

Thank you so much Nat & Cheryl! I am so excited! :)

Sunday Salon

Another week has ended and another pretty oh-hum Sunday Salon from me.

This week the kids & I finished only 1 book "No Grown-ups Allowed" (Cul-de-sac Kids Mystery #3) by Beverly Lewis. This book wasn't as good as the others in the series, there was one part (when the cul-de-sac kids were making a snowman) where I completely lost my kids interest, but it was still real enjoyable.

I am STILL reading "The Crimson Petal & the White" by Michael Faber. I've been reading this book for almost a month now, sure seems longer though. I am almost halfway now. I was really hoping to be done by the end of the month but I don't think I will be.
Am I enjoying it? Yea I am.
Am I really enjoying it? No not really.
Is it worth 800+ pages? IMHO, probably not.

I usually love books of this type. 1800 London ho's, but for some reason I just can't muster up any feelings for Sugar.

"Shoot the Moon" by Billie Letts

Bree over at The Things We Read is giving away FIVE of this book by this very talented author! Come over and win one of the copies!!

"The Almost Moon" by Alice Sebold-giveaway

Cheryl's Book Nook is giving away FIVE copies of this book! This book is up there on my wishlist and Im hoping to win a copy! You could win one too!! Head over there and sign up!!

This morning..

at 6:15am I am woken up by *W* screaming "MOM!! Im sorry, Im sorry, Im sorry!!!" I jolt up, run to his bedroom (not there) and yell "Where are you?" I hear the toilet flushing and run to the bathroom. I open the door and see *W* standing by the toilet, with his feet wayyyyyy in the corner and I look down and I am met at the door by fecal matter, toilet paper and gushing water. It takes me a second to realize what is going on and the first thing that goes through my mind is "This is more then a 1 Bounty sheet job..." After using every towel in our house and a little dry heaves I think we've learned our lesson. You don't need to use an ENTIRE roll of Charmin Double Roll, and if it doesn't go down on the 1st flush or the 2nd flush, yell for mom BEFORE you hit the 5th flush.

"Matrimony" by Joshua Henkin (giveaway!!)

My book pal Nat is having a giveaway for "Matrimony" by Joshua Henkin.

Stop by her Nat's blog for a chance to win!!

Tuesday Teaser & and what not..

Time for the Tuesday Teaser!!

Grab your current read

Let the book fall open to a random page

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Join here!!

From the book "The Crimson Petal & the White" by Michael Faber. I really wanted to take my teaser out of the other book Im reading, but that book is downstairs and I don't want to go get it (you'll understand why later in this post).

Anyhoo, taken from pg. 575..

"Possibly." William knows very well she is. His wife's belief that she and her coachman share a "little secret" is a pitable delusion. "She'll grow out of it, I trust."

On to other news..

I can't go downstairs because..I AM SICK! And I mean really sick. White blood cell really high sick. I needed a shot and antibotics for several days sick. I have bronchitis & pharyngitis. I went to the dr. yesterday and though I am getting better going up/down stairs makes me wease and really winded. Pretty pathetic. My hip hurts like crazy from the shot. So please..pour on the sympathy. The ONLY reason my other book is downstirs (which is.."Riding the Bus with My Sister" by Rachel Simon..tune in next Tuesday for a teaser) is because it accidently went downstairs with dh in a laundry basket.

Well another week, another Sunday Salon! Im still plugging my way through "The Crimson Petal & the White" by Michael Faber. Im almost done with Part 2, so hopefully before the end of the month this big book will be behind me! I am enjoying it more now then I was a few days ago, finally Im starting to learn more about the characters, rather then just hearing pages and pages of Williams obsession over Sugar.

This week my kids & I finished "The Chicken Pox Panic (Cul-de-Sac kids #2)" by Beverly Lewis. We are really enjoying this series of books! I picked up a couple more from the library this week.

I also picked up "Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House #1)" by Mary Pope Osborne and "Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (Junie B. Jones #1)" by Barbara Park.

This week I am also going to start a side read for myself "Riding the Bus with my Sister" by Rachel Simon. I need a book that can travel with me to/from school, etc. I usually can not have 2 books going at the same time so we'll see how this goes.

My Birthday!!

Well today is my birthday. I am now (hahaha..Im old enough not to tell) years old. Today I spent the day with Rachel and her adorable babies and then Rachel took me out for lunch. Ok..the truth is she gave me money and said "Go get us lunch..my treat for your birthday". So I ran across the street to Dairy Queen and got us Chicken Strip baskets. YUMMY!! I haven't had a chicken strip basket in a long time and it was wonderful.

Birthdays really haven't ever been a big deal for us, even our kids are not overly fazed by their own date of birth. They don't expect the earth to move and the sun to rise and set on their wishful whims on their birthday. Are we bad parents because we don't spend months and months on a particular b-day theme? I sometimes wonder..

A few weeks ago I asked "A" what she wanted to do for her b-day and she said "I just want to have a family day". Well she'll kinda get her wish, on their b-day the kids & I will be in Omaha with grandma for our bi-annual kids weekend get away. "W" says he wants a boy party (with only his sister there..and sometimes that changes). "B" says nothing.

Grab your current read

Let the book fall open to a random page

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Join here!!

From the book "The Crimson Petal & the White" by Michael Faber (pg. 188)

"Guided by the master of the house, brother Henry and his companion are shown everything. The melancholy atmosphere of the Rackham home, which had been replaced; the old steps have been removed from teh garden; new French windows have been screwed into the parlour door. The whole place smells of paint, wallpaper paste and fresh air."

Sunday Salon today is going to be short and sweet.

Im still reading "The Crimson Petal & The White" by Michael Faber and this week I worked everyday so I didn't get much reading time. I did lug this book to school once and tried to read it during lunch but I couldn't concentrate on it. So it will not be making any more out of the house trips. It's just to heavy and bulky. Anyway..I read about 50 pages this week so I am making headway.

My children & I read "Arthur and the Popularity Test" by Marc Brown this week. My kids are not Arthur fans, so this book was not a huge hit. We're going back to the Cul-de-Sac kids & Beverly Lewis tonight.

Because of someone's blog (sorry I can't remember how, so please post me a comment and tell me who you are so I can thank you) I ordered the book "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova from Bookmooch. I should hopefully get it this week and start it soon! Im so psyched!!

Tuesday Teasers

Grab your current read

Let the book fall open to a random page

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

30 Books in 30 Days Giveaway!!

Check out Deanna's Blog for all the details!

WOW, it's been a week?!

Since I updated. It sure doesn't seem that long but the calendar doesn't lie. This past week has been pretty crazy around our house. I was busy every day this week. Monday of course we didn't have school, but I worked Tuesday, Thursday & Friday and spent Wednesday with my friend Rachel & her babies. :)

The kids are now in their full school schedule. They start at 8am and get out at 3:20pm. That's been a huge adjustment for them. They also had their first spelling test this past week. *B* passed on the first try, *W* and *A* passed on their 2nd try. Now they have new spelling words for next week. UGH..

Dh is busy gearing up for harvest which will start very, very soon.

Really isn't to much to comment on this week.

I just joined "The Sunday Salon", it looks like fun so here goes my first blog dedicated to The Sunday Salon.

Im reading "The Crimson Petal & the White" by Michael Faber . Yesterday I finally got a really big chunk of reading done and Im starting Part II. Im enjoying it so far. If I may quote my friend Giz here..."It's all about the Ho's"

My kids are starting to get into chapter books, but since they are only 6 years old I am reading the books to them. So we finished our first chapter book last night "The Midnight Mystery" by Beverly Lewis. My kids loved it and I enjoyed it too. I'll be reading more of these books to them in the coming weeks.

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day weekend all my American friends!!

Any big plans for the long weekend? Here in our household there wasn't any plans, but so far we've had a great long weekend and we're looking forward to another day tomorrow.

Dh's friend from work went away for the long weekend and we've had the joy of watching their 2 horses. Now *A* loves horses, LOVES them, but I think she was a bit intimidated when she saw those 2 big horses yesterday. I'll have pictures to share tomorrow, because I got my digital camera back yesterday and the battery is now fully charged!! YEA!!!

This weekend Bella & Sadie (our new puppies..well they are 8 months old now) went into heat. Oh what joy..any dog owner knows what the next few weeks will be like for us. The dogs not left outside alone for ANY reason. Though the absolutely worst hasn't started yet, the extra entryway gate has been put up in hopes of keeping them off the carpet.

Yesterday was a fun day for us, it's nice that the kids are now at an age where they almost prefer to eat at restaurants where we don't have to wait in a line to carry our food to a table, and there isn't a slide and private dining area for children attached to the building. So yesterday we all went to Valentio's Italian Buffet. The kids ate great and dh & I were shocked with how much we saved! A family a 5, all you can eat buffet, costed us less then $30.00. After that dh & *W* went to get their hair cuts and then we went to Wal-mart. Oh Lord in heaven..I dispise that store. After we went there, saved a crapload of money (the only reason I go at all is because in the long run I really do save sooo much) we went bowling.

It was a great day. I got a lot of reading done during the drive and while everyone else bowled.

First week of school over

The first week of school is over already! It went by fast, but considering that it started on Tuesday and the kids got out at 1:30 everyday this week I guess it should of gone fast!! Personally I think the 1:30 dismassal is a joke, the kids no more then get there, they get a morning snack, eat lunch, have 3 (THREE) recesses and then they are home. No one is overly tired yet, but Im sure that'll change when they start their *normal* hours (getting out at 3:20 Monday-Thursday) after Labor Day.

While the kids have been in school I have been enjoying my time! I did work at the Middle School on Thursday which went really good and Im looking forward to working more again (I already have 4 more days scheduled in Sept/Oct.) and I spent two days this week with my friend Rachel and her 6 month old quads. They are soooo damn cute!!! I'll be with them again on Monday next week for sure.

It's a beautiful rainy Saturday today. The kids & I have nothing really planned today. We should go to church and clean and we should go to the grocery store. I should finish my current book too.

Kids love 1st grade!!

Today was day 3 of 1st grade and they love it! They are in a perfect size class (10 kids total, 6 boys & 4 girls) and they really seem to like their teacher.

I'll have picture to post once I use up the rest of the film in my 35mm. I really miss my digital camera. I hope I get it back REALLY soon.

3 days

Three days until school starts! I think Im a bit more nostalgic about the kids starting 1st grade then I was about them starting kindergarten. I've said it before but it deserves to be repeated, this summer has gone by so fast. We had fun, but looking back at the summer, not nearly enough. I didn't get some things accomplished that I wanted to this summer (*W* still is on 1 training wheel and *B* is the only one who can tie his shoes).

Next week is already jam packed with what I need to do.

Monday-dentist appt. for *A* in the am, back to school night for kids
Tuesday-kids back to school, work all day at Matt's (I haven't been there in 3 weeks!!) Im hoping to have time to run to Wally World and return some stuff.
Wednesday-Spend the day with Rachel and her kids
Thursday-Work at middle school
Friday-NOTHING (yet)!

Im not going to work for Headstart this year, I just didn't mesh well with that structure. I was plenty busy last year with just subbing at the school. Matt is giving me some more responsibility this year and that needs to be my first priority.

My mom left early (like crazy 4am early) this morning. The kids & I really miss her. It was great having her here. But I suppose a week is about long enough. We did quite a bit, but we also stayed home some too. We're already looking forward to our yearly trip to Omaha in October. I think the weekend is going to end up being the weekend of the kids b-day, which could cause a problem because Im sure *dh* would like us to be home that weekend.

Well I'd better go finish the laundry, I've neglected it all week.

School shopping is done!

That feels so good to type, now school can start Im not in a panic anymore. Walmart was crazy (as usual) with hundreds of other moms doing the same thing as me..Arguing with their kids to pick a lunch box they wanted, beggin' them to try on 1 one pair of pants and screaming at them to "GET OFF THE CART!!"

School starts next tuesday the 19th and I already got called to work at the middle school on the 21st.

13 days

I just can't believe it. 13 days until school starts again. The summer went crazy fast this year. I haven't even started school shopping yet, oh I take that back..I did buy the boys new backpacks.

My mom is coming down this friday to spend a week with us. We're really looking forward to her visit! The kids are super exicted to see Grandma Elmo.

I had to send my digital camera off to be repaired. The LCD screen went out and I've had to go back and use my ol' 35mm one. Boy has that taken some getting use to!

Somehow I got talked into helping with bible school this year. So my friend Jane came over this afternoon so we could go over the stuff. I feel so unorganized. Bible School is friday 1-5 and all day Saturday. Since my mom is going to be here visiting, my *plan* was to drop the kids off at bible school and then do some serious school shopping. I guess that went out the door, completely! As long as I get everything the kids need for the first couple of days all should be fine. I'll worry about buying the clothes while they are in school. Plans are meant to be ruined anyway right? Oh well..

And speaking of school, I got a call on Monday and my first day of subbing is the 21st. Yea..two days after school starts I'll be subbing already!!

Dh brought camper back home yesterday

I think I forgot to mention that our camper was in the shop. On our maiden voyage we found some cosmetic flaws so the dealer was fixing it. Dh finally had a chance to go pick it up yesterday. YEA!! Seeing that thing come down our road made me want to go camping again sooo bad. I spent the day yesterday stripping bedding, and cleaing in the camper. I have the bedding all washed now and Im going to remake the beds today in hopes that we get to go out one more time before school starts.

School starts in 23 days!!!

Back from vacation

We recently got back from our maiden voyage with our camper. We had so much fun and 2 kids cried when we left the campground. They didn't want to come home. We were in Minnesota for 9 glorious days!! Everyday was an adventure filled with nothing but fun! I enjoyed sitting by the campfire and reading! :) The kids loved running around the playgrounds and fishing with dh. Dh enjoyed everything. We're ready to go back. Here's a few from many, many pictures.







34 days of summer vacation left already! Where is the summer going??

Summertime!!

Summer is in full swing and today was our first trip to the pool. It was short lived trip because W decided he was going to smart off to me and be a poop. A's friend left an hour after we got there so she was ready to go, and B scrapped his foot on the rough deck around the pool. So we were gone within an hour. We'll try again maybe tomorrow.

Kiddos & I also just got back from our first solo driving trip to Minnesota and it was a success!! I think dh feels more comfortable that I can do this and hopefully it'll be a yearly thing for the kids & I. We had so much fun!! I took a few pictures and will upload them when I get time.

Another highlight is we bought a camper! All 5 of us are SUPER excited about this venture! Though the gas prices are out of this frickin' world high, we are not going to let that stop us! I am hoping that we go out camping alot. Our maiden voyage is end of the this month when we head back to MN over the 4th of July.

School was out on May 22nd. The kids passed Kindergarten and will be going to first grade in August. I can't believe it!!!

10 days or something like that..

Im to tired to get up and check for sure, but the last day of school is the 22nd at noon and today is the 9th, so if you're so inclinded you can do the math! lol

And so far I am working 7 of those 10 days. UGH! I was approached today at the high school if I wanted to be lunch lady sub next year. I tried to contain my fierce urge of laughter as I was thinking of Adam Sadler & Chris Farley SNL skit, and I told her "I'll think about it, but school subbing keeps me pretty busy already."

Here's the skit, incase you've never seen it or need to see it again. It's worth a repeat..lol lol

Chris Farley & Adam Sadler Lunch Lady Land

19 days! WHAT??!

That's how many days of school we have left!! Most parents would be growling under their breath, but honestly I am excited for summer to come. I've worked more this school year then I ever planned, I enjoyed it sooo much, but I am definately looking forward to some summer fun and R&R.

I finally finished "The Worst Hard Time" and in the end I really enjoyed it. I am reading a great Sparks book now, what is there not to love about Sparks?!?!

I almost forgot to add..if you page down a few entries you'll see the two cute little puppies in a kennel in my kitchen. And if you read the entry, you'll read about how dh couldn't decide which puppy he wanted so he brought home 2 and planned on returning one. Well...2 months later I'd like to introduce you to Bella (black puppy) and her adorable sister Sadie (brown puppy) and it's my pleasure to tell you I am typing this update on my brand new laptop! :) I told dh if he kept both dogs, I WAS going to get something out of the deal.

do da do da do..

Kids are healthy, weather is beautiful, work is crazy, life is good.

Im working again all next week at the preschool, but I think next week is the last. Someone has been hired full time for the person I was covering for and I *think* the new person starts on the 14th. I will miss those little kids in preschool sooo much though. I've been there for almost a month and I've gotten to know all of them and they've gotten to know me.

Im stuck reading the same book for the last month! I am ready to move on. It's keeping my attention when I do get a chance to sit down are read it, but I just don't seem to have that time lately. I am definately reading something in the fluff genre when Im done with this heavy topic.

Sick little boy today..

Well I guess the ride finally stopped for now and I have some down time, but not the way I WANT downtime. B woke up this morning with a tummy ache, diarrhea, back ache and just all over blahs. The poor kid.

Someone stop this ride!!

I don't know how working moms do it. I really, really don't. And I bow down to ALL working moms! The last 3 weeks I have worked everyday, either at school or for Matt and it's been very, very busy!! Next week will be more of the same. I work at school Mon, Tue & Thursday. Wednesday the kids don't have school so we'll be going to Matt's. And so far (FINGERS CROSSED) I have Friday off. But I'm not betting anything that I'll STILL have Friday off once Friday comes. I was suppose to have last Friday off too, but got a call from school at 6:30am saying they needed me. The money will be nice, I need to keep reminding myself of that.

So this weekend I did more laundry then I have ever, ever done! Because of Easter last weekend I didn't have time to do to much of anything with Easter egg hunts, church services, etc. Yesterday the kids and I did NOTHING! We stayed in our pj's until 4pm (and I am NOT to embarassed to say that!!) and only got dressed so we could go to Pizza Hut so the kids could use their "Book It" program coupons for free pizza.

I also watched all of my DVR'd Y&R from the last 2 weeks yesterday. It was seriously a VEG-OUT day!! And we LOVED IT!!!!!

It's been a busy February!!

I've been neglecting my blog again! How will I ever know what happened in my life when I get old and gray if I don't remember to blog!!!

There's been a lot going on here! Friday dh came home with 2 new additions to our family.



He's been begging since we lost Buck in May 2007 for a new hunting dog. I finally caved. The deal was he was going to get ONE German Shorthair. Does this look like ONE to you?! He said "I just couldn't decide which one I wanted, so I took them both and the one I don't want will go back." ROFLMBO! Right..bring home 2 adorable puppies for your kids to see, let them fall in love with BOTH of them, then rip one of them away. Well..I have accepted the fact that we have TWO new puppies. Honestly the kids really have stepped up to the plate and showed how responsible they can be. I just hope the honeymoon stage doesn't end anytime soon. What are their names? No clue..so far it's "The Girls" or "Thing 1 and Thing 2". We haven't come up with 2 names all 5 of us are happy with.

Last week the kids & I went to Omaha to meet my mom for our bi-annual kids weekend. We went to CoCo Key Water Resort and had a FANTASTIC time!! I highly, highly recommend going if you're ever in the Omaha area and have kids who love water as much as our kids do. We also did the whole The Amazing Pizza Machine while we were there too. Just a few pictures of that to share too. :)


A on lilypads


B on lilypads


W on lilypads


Kids on Wild Ride at The Amazing Pizza Machine

It's been a great February so far, but can someone tell Spring to come now? We really can't complain toooooo much because today and yesterday were beautiful, but I think that's about to change again.. UGH!!

Oops..one more bit of news before I forget. I found another part-time job. That makes 3. I am now also subbing at the local Headstart facility. Let's see how many balls I can get in the air at the same time hmm?

Needs very few words..

and if you look closer...

Sesame Street Live!!

I've been waiting to post this blog until I had the pictures uploaded..finally!!

On January 9th, the 5 of us went to When Elmo Grows Up (a BIG thanks to my SIL who got us the EXCELLENT seats..front row/center!!)

The kids really enjoyed it! Here's a few pictures, it's almost a blessing that our digital camera batteries decided to die on us 1/2 way through the show. We took over 20 pictures, who knows how many we *would* of ended up with!!

Work, work, work!!

The kids went back to school on Monday (January 8th) by 3:15pm I was scheduled to work 11 days this month at 3 different schools!!!

I worked this entire week at the Middle School with a 5th grade girl. Very sweet little girl (but you can tell she can be a bit of a devil when the mood strikes her). She has a reading level of a 1st grader. It nearly broke my heart and brought me to tears when I was reading, "Old Black Fly" by Jim Aylesworth, to her. This is a book that W was reading last year, when he was in preschool. She could hardly make out the simple words "the, on, my". I don't think she has much support at home.

I love working within the school district, but it's kids like this that makes me go home and cry because I hope what little I do makes a different somewhere. Such a simple, simple, SIMPLE thing to read to a child, and it makes such a HUGE difference.

New Year Resolutions

Yes I made a few, and some I am actually going to keep.

1-Seriously go through the kids bedroom, toyroom and computer room closet and clear out all broken/not played with toys and get rid of them! This WILL be done by the end of May (before kids get out of school, and said above toys become a prized possession once they realize where the toys are going).

2-Find a GREAT computer program that makes DVD movies. Every year I keep telling DH I want to make a DVD movie of the kids for the grandparents for Christmas. This year I AM going to do it!! If you know of any such programs, PLEASE let me know! I did do some looking at Office Max last week and was not impressed with what they had there. I am not looking to get director of the year award, I just want a program I can use still pictures and little pieces of video with backgroud music and/or video audio.

3-Keep better in touch with my MN friends. I miss them all terribly and it's a shame that I don't do better in keeping in touch.

4-And of course the ol' standby for women. Exercise and healthy eating (aka..loose weight or die trying). I was doing so well last year at this time with this, and I completely fell off the wagon this past fall with me working. I guess another resolution for me should be time management!!

Happy New Year!!

A few days late, but what the heck. Since I didn't do it last year, I'd better do it now while I think about it...

2007 year in review

Of course the biggest news of last year was the kids starting kindergarten. They love it and I was glad to see them go. It honestly wasn't a hard transition at all for me. I was ready for them to go, because they were ready to go. We had some trials at the beginning with W, but now things are going great and with only 2 days left of Christmas vacation I am REALLY ready for them to go back.

Another big news is that I found 2 part-time jobs that I do enjoy. It's great finding not one job, TWO that will work around my kids schedule!! Working for the school is great, the flexibility and change in enviorment is exactly what I was hoping to have, and I have it. And my 2nd job working for my old boss (B4 kids) is going great too. The best part of me working these 2 jobs is now dh isn't working at the farm NEARLY as often as he was. It feels more of a family atsmosphere around here with him more around. I am glad that I am finally able to contribute more our family financially.

It was a good 2007.

Fifth Disease

Ever heard of it?? No it's not the 5th disease we've had this year or this month. It's the actual name our physician dx'd W with today. "Fifth Disease". Poor W woke up with this today, it's highly contagious so it looks like nothing but F-U-N is in store for dh & I for the next week! Oh YEA!!

This is what it looks like..

Happy Holidays!!!

From our house to yours, we hope you had a great Christmas and wish you a wonderful 2008!!

Little ice storm today

We had a little taste of winter today in the form of an ice storm. Nothing like we had in January, but it was a little reminder of how powerful mother nature can be when she wants to be! So the kids & I stayed inside today and had a pj day, something we haven't done in a very, very long time. I loved it, and the kids fought like caged animals all day. I am hoping the road condition clears up tomorrow and we'll be able to get out of the house, otherwise I don't think our house stands a chance of remaining standing.

I worked all 5 days this last week. I was BEAT! 4 days at school and 1 day for Matt. It was crazy!! I was only scheduled to work 1 day for the school, but ended up getting called everyday (even Thursday when I couldn't work I got a call from the school). Hopefully next week will be a bit lighter for me, though I am working on Monday. I think the paras are taking some days off to do a little Christmas shopping...which is making me wonder when I am going to do that too! And speaking of Christmas, the kids really have NO idea what they want this year. What do you get kids that seem to have everything under the sun?? I really am clueless. The stuff they say they want, I know they'll play with it for about 10 minutes then it'll get put in a toybox, never to see the light of day again.

Guess I'd better go get some laundry done. That's all I did today was wash clothes, 7 loads total. See..that's what happens when I work everyday. Crap doesn't get done at home. I honestly have NO CLUE how full-time working moms do it!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!!

To all my American pals from my family to yours..We hope you had a GREAT holiday!!

We sure did! The kiddos (and me too) enjoyed watching the Thanksgiving Day parade. The turkey was extremely good and we ate more then we should of! :)

I am NOT planning on heading out tomorrow (well today since it's 12:30am) for Black Friday. Dh is going hunting tomorrow and I have no clue what the kids & I will do. Maybe head to the Y (if they are open?).

Felt like a bloggin'

Not really much to updating on. I had strep throat last week and by the grace of God the kids managed to NOT get it. Which IMHO is a miracle.

Dh went deer hunting last weekend, hunting started at 6am and by 7:10am he was home with a nice 12pt. buck.

Kids are doing great, weather has been really warm (in the mid 70's on Sunday) so we've been spending lots of time at the park enjoying the last of the nice weather.

I am watching The Amazing Race 12 now (recorded from Sunday) and I am about to break through the TV and strangle Donald. UGH!

Colds!!! UGH!

We are all fighting colds here. It's been about 2 weeks of coughing up crud from our lungs and crap running out of our noses. Forget about breathing..that isn't even an option lately.

Regardless the kids did have an ok Halloween. W was a ninja turtle, B was a dragon and A was a princess (surprise surprise)! I forgot to take a picture that night. Figures..

I haven't really been working much the last couple of weeks, it seems like more times then not I have a sick child at home or waiting for school to call because of a sick child.

Still alive!

When it rains it pours! I am working more then I ever thought! Averaging 4 days a week. I am subbing at school for a para who has West Nile Virus. She is pretty sick, but thankfully seems to be getting better and is now working part-time.

I now have 3 six year old! O-M-Gosh!! Their b-day went by without a hitch, they loved their gifts. Kiddos & I went to Omaha the 11-14th to meet my mom. We had a great time.

Honestly not to much else is new. I've been trying to read but (ROFL) can't seem to find the time??

Gosh where have I been?!?

I ask myself that all the time!! Here I thought I'd have all this free time (ROFLMBO) once the kids got in school. And I *thought* my 2 little part time jobs were not going to take up to much of my time. Honestly they really haven't, but I am working 3 days a week now. Though that doesn't seem like a lot, it really is! I love doing what I am doing, so I'll just have to learn to budget my time a little better.

Today I met an angel..

I had the pleasure and the honor of working with a 10 year old girl who has Angelmans Syndrome Angelman website. It was a very hard, very draining day, and I loved it!

I've been subbing in our local school district. It's been exactly what I had hoped it would be, flexible, never dull, and entertaining. Today was by far the hardest physical and emotional, but the most rewarding.

I had never heard of Angelmans Syndrome until today and after doing research online about it, it is more common then I even imagined.

Got me one of them there jobs..

I actually got myself 2! Neither of them are full-time, which is perfect! Flexible yet provides a bit of income. I am working for my old boss (B4 kids) 1 day a week and tomorrow (which is my b-day btw..) I start subbing at one of the schools! YEA!! I am super, super excited about this school job, I now have my foot in the door at the school and *IF* the time comes for me to go full-time I'll have a chance!!

I am no longer a bum.. :)

What the heck are these??!?

This morning I was taking out the garbage and almost stepped on ONE of these. I almost called out to the kids to come see the caterpillar, but thought better of it when I remembered I have 3 kids, and there was only ONE capterpillar. After lunch the kids went outside to "go find something to do or you might literally drive mom to the looney bin." B came running in the house seconds later "MOM! We found some caterpillars! Get a bucket!!" I was thinking *two* and casually got an ice cream bucket for the kids prize possessions. I screamed in horror when 1/2 hour later then came in the door with THIS!!!



I immediately called dh and told him if we were not home when he came home from work that we'd been taken over by what I *assume?* is armyworms. Im not sure if that's what these are, the picture does not do it justice (sadly) there are at least 80 in there. I can't find an exact picture of an armyworm that looks like this online. Anyone know for sure?!?

Check this out!!

This ebay auction http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:11&item=130144061675

This got posted in my triplet parenting group and is definately worth the laugh! This mom also has a blog mom2my6pack blog

She is hysterical!! And the worst thing that happened to me today was B came running up to me screaming with blood coming out of his nose. I asked "What happened??!" B said "I stuck on of A's necklace beads up my nose!! It's stuck!!" Thankfully some huge nose blowing got it out. It flew out and B looked at it and laughed, I am sure this will be repeated..

Happy Saturday!!!

1st week survived..

The kids survived their first week of Kindergarten. But W says he's done with kindergarten now and wants to go back to preschool. I wasn't expecting THAT the first week!! I am going to have a looong 12 years if he's already sick of school!!

Tomorrow I am taking the kids to get their hair cut and find a nice picture shirt for B. The kids are getting their pictures taken at school next tuesday already! B is also getting a new pair of tennis shoes (W & A still have some tread left). And weather permitting we're going to the water park. Should be fun. :)

Today has been a really low key day with just veggin' out. The kids have pretty cranky and tired from their busy week.

First day of school!

Praise God!!

They were beyond excited! Did I cry? Are you kidding?! I was singing Zip-e-doo-da and skipping away from school! It's 11:45 and I'll be picking them up at 2pm so my rest is almost over already. :(

Dh & I took the kids fishing today..

A with one of her many fish!! She's daddy's little outdoors gal!

B looking cute! He was already done fishing by the time I got my camera out, but he caught his share!

W with ONE of his fish. He caught several. The big smile shows he was having a GREAT time!!

This great little fishing pond is only 2 blocks from our house. Great fun for the entire family! :)

The kids were playing on the Banzai today. Enjoy!!

3 DAYS!!!

Oh I can hardly wait!! Oh please don't think I am an ungrateful parent because I am overly excited at the thought of school starting. And if you think I am ungrateful, then you don't know me very well.

I made a late night run to Wal-mart last night. I picked up everything I can think of that 3 kids starting kindergarten could practically need (lunch wise). I also found myself a really cute new purse to celebrate the fact that I made it.

Margarita time is near.
I might even chase it with a beer.

Salt on the rim and a lime on the side.
Cheer to us all we survived the ride.