Books

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Well summer is here upon us again.  Time for me to get started on some more books.  I got started a little early this year and have already read a load of books.  So much so I’m not even sure that I can remember all of them.  I’m starting to get a little book burned out.  Here are a few of the books I have read already and hope that you might be able to start reading too.  I notice that when I do read that my brain works a little better and doesn’t feel so muttled all the time.  I usually remember things better too.  Now I’m always looking for a really good read so if you have any suggestions I’m up for it.  There are a few things I don’t like in a book.  I don’t like a book that is going to make me cry my eyes out.  I also don’t like books that have too much foul language in it.  So if you know of any let me know.

the-dragon-of-trelain

The dragon of Trelain by Michelle Knudsen is the latest book that I have read. The main characters are a young boy and girl about 14. One is a princess the other a mages apprentice. It’s a good story but not my favorite it is similar to other stories I’ve read. It also looks like it will have a book 2. Which means I’ll probably have to wait another year before I can continue the story.  By then I might have lost interest.

farwalkers-quest

The Farwalker’s Quest by Joni Sensel is another book I’ve read.  I really liked this book.  It’s a little different then I’ve read before.  No dragons or anything like that.  It’s a story based on the belief that everyone had some kind of gift.  Some are able to talk to trees others have a gift of healing.  There are many gifts and this is a journey to discover the gifts of two 13 year olds.  It takes them on quite an adventure.  I’m trying not to say much so I don’t give any of it a way.  Over all I really did enjoy reading this book.

13th-reality-2

The 13th Reality: the Hunt for Dark Infinity by James Dashner.  This is the second book in this series.  The first book was the first book that I blogged about.  I really like the first book.  The second I didn’t like as much but still a good read.  It’s been a year since I read the first and so I had forgotten a lot of characters and events that happened.  So if you have read the first book already then you should review before reading this one.  I think it will go a lot smoother if you do.

the-singing

The Singing by Allison Croggon.  This is the last book of 4.  I read the other 3 books last summer.  I really got into this series.  It is kind of like the Lord of the Rings series.  I didn’t like having to wait so long for this last book to come out but it was well worth it.  I hadn’t forgotten much anyways and she did a good job of reviewing with it in the book.  If you haven’t already I recommend reading this series.

I think I have included enough pictures so now I’ll just finish with some other books I’ve read.  Fablehaven: the Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull.  I love this series and I read the other ones last summer.  There is still yet another but last book to come out next year but I can’t wait for it.  This is a good series to add to your personal library.

Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel.  This is the 3rd and final book in this series.  I really liked this series too.  I think it will be a good one for my boys to read when they are teens.  It’s full of adventure and flying machines.

I also read Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer.  Its 6 books!  I know I can’t believe I had that much time to read too.  This series is really not my favorite.  I was pretty much reading them while waiting for other books to come availiable at the library. It wasn’t a total waste on a scale from 1 to 5 it would rank a 3.  It was really hard to get into the books but once you got past the first 100 pages things got more exciting.  So if your looking for a series to fill up some time this would be a good one.

Now I’m waiting and have been waiting for months for the new series of Vampire books (first one is called Marked) by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast.  I don’t know if I’ll like it but I’ll let you know.  But I think I might need a break from fantasy for a while.  Let me know if you have any suggestions.



Sophia Turned 1

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A couple of weeks ago Sophia had her first birthday.  It came so quickly and she is growing so fast.  We didn’t do much but had fun anyways.  First we opened presents.  Sophia was more interested in the bags and hangers than the actual gifts but that’s expected from a one year old.  Then we ate cake.  It was nice to do a girly cake for once.  Corey didn’t think she was getting messy enough so he put some frosting on her face.  I don’t think she liked it much so I quickly wiped it off.  Hope you enjoy the pics.sophiapresents12sophiapresents21buterflycake1sophiacake12sophiacake21sophiacake31sophiacake41sophiacake51


Ten Years

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10anniversaryYep it’s been ten years.  We got married 10 years ago today.  Corey was on call so we couldn’t go to a fancy dinner out or anything like that.  So we made the best of it and fed the kids Mac n Cheese before and then sent them downstairs to watch a movie while we enjoyed a quiet dinner at home.  The food was as good as any we would have gotten at a restaurant.  We had steak, sour cream mashed potatoes and chives, and a yummy salad.  We plan on going on an over night hike when the weather warms up.  That will be our big hurah for our anniversary.  I just want to say that I’m a very lucky woman to find such a great guy.  Corey is the love of my life and I don’t know what I would do with out him.  I love you sweetie your the best! 


Mischievous Sophia

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If you ever wonder why you visit a friends home and she is still in her pj’s at noon this is a perfect example of why.  I was getting ready for the day when my 3 year old runs into the bathroom and informs me that my almost one year old is making a mess.  I came out of the bathroom and into the kitchen to find her sitting in the middle of a whole box of sandwhich bags.  She sees me and procedes to hold up the empty box to show me what she has done.  I had to take some pictures to prove that it’s really difficult for any mother with young children to even take a short shower.  What my 3 year old didn’t tell me when he came running into the bathroom was that he was also making a messdownstairs.  He had taken the spray bottle (the one we use for their hair) and completely soaked the TV screen.  How do I keep my eyes on these two?  The second set of pictures is of Sophia finding a not quite so empty box of cereal that her dad left by the garbage to be taken out.  She managed to take the bag out of the box and dump it on the floor and in her lap all within a few minutes of me turning my back (I was making a salad for dinner).  Needless to say I called her dad up to clean the mess up.  He won’t be leaving a box near the garbage anymore. sophiamess01sophiamess02sophiamess03sophiamess04


Preston Turns 7

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I can’t believe it this past week Preston turned 7.  We didn’t have much planned because Corey was gone to Alabama.  The cake isn’t even anything to look at.  We went to IHOP and had Preston’s favorite (pancakes of course).  He got to bring a friend a long.  Her name is Morgan.  We had fun.  As the pictures show preston really liked the present Nami and Nampa gave him.  Also in the one with Preston holding his hand over Levi’s mouth he was just trying to stop Levi from blowing out the candles.7preston017preston027preston037preston04


Car ride to Grants Pass

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The car ride to and from Grants pass was long.  We got a DVD player for the car for Christmas.  This trip was the test to see if it was worth it.  It was great.  It kept the kids occupied and us sane.  Well worth it.  Also we would stop and make sandwhiches to eat for lunch.  Unfortunately it was most of the time to cold to eat outside so we stayed in the car.  I usually ended up with Sophia on my lap playing with the stearing wheel.  She loved it but what kid doesn’t? levicar1prestoncar1sophiecar1sophiemomcar1


The coast

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Okay I’m not the best at taking pictures and uploading for everyone to see.  We went to Grants Pass for spring break and on one of the days we decided to go to the coast.  It was wet and cold but we still enjoyed it.  So here are some pictures from then.  We have a lot more of our whole trip but that is on film and still needs to be developed and then scanned.  This this will have to do for now.levicoastcoastfamilycoastmesophiecoreysophiecoast


Snow?

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Okay yesterday we woke up to the ground coverd in snow.  Not surprising for this area but a little depressing.  Spring just isn’t coming soon enough.  Still no blossoms on the trees and tulips are just now coming out of the ground.  Well my 3 year old loves the snow. This past Christmas he asked Santa for snow.  It snowed a ton.  So everytime it snows he thinks that he was some how responsible.  Very cute.  Well yesterday he was pretty excited to see the snow on the ground.  By the end of the day it had all melted.  We were sitting at the dinner table just enjoying our meal and he suddenly turns around looks out the window and puts both fist in the air and says “OHHHH my snow is ruined!!”  He then turns around and puts his head on the table like it is the end of the world.  Corey and I just looked at each other and started to laugh.  I wish I had had the camera ready but no luck.  So sometimes snow isn’t all bad.  We just need to look at it through a three year olds eyes.


Shopping madness

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grocery_shopping_with_her_baby_boyjpgToday I decided to go to a craft store to get some scrapbook stuff.  I don’t normally go to these kind of places with kids because, lets just face it, that is just plain crazy.  I had a gift card that some friends gave me for my birthday and I had put off going there long enough.  I really wanted to get started on a scrapbook for Sophia.  So I put my almost 4 year old, Levi, in the big basket.  I put my 10 month old in the little basket.  We were fine for a while but I wasn’t finding exactly what I wanted and it was taking longer than expected.  By the time I got to the check out Sophia is screaming because, of course, she has messed her diaper and it’s leaked everywhere.  This is not the worst part.  I keep having to tell Levi to sit down or he might get hurt.  I think about taking him out of the basket but know if I did he would make a mad dash around the store knocking whatever he can off the shelves.  While checking out he stands up and tries to reach for something.   The cashier politely tells him he better sit down or he will knock the cart over.  He sits down and all seems well.  I turn to pay and all of the sudden  CRASH, BANG, SCREAM!!  Yes, he did, he stood up and the cart fell over.  With his little sister in the cart with him.  The screaming was horrible.  She was crying anyways because of the poopie in her pants but then you add trauma like this and it’s all over.  Levi a little dazed was fine.  I picked Sophia up and held her tight as people from all over the store come up to me and tell me I should have her checked out that she hit pretty hard.  By the time I get out to the car I’m a mess.  I’m filled with anger for Levi who disobeyed.  I’m scared out of my wits for Sophia.  I change her diaper and give her a good look over.  She has no  bumps and seems to be as happy as can be with a new diaper on.  She has a little bruise on her thigh but that is all.  I bring her home and talked to Corey about the whole insident and we both check her for a concusion.  I count my blessings that this didn’t go so horribly wrong like it truely could’ve done.   I’ve learned my lesson.  It will be a long time before I take Levi to the store again and by that time he won’t even fit in the big basket so no more of that.


Slathbog’s Gold by M.L. Forman

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slathbogs-goldMy friend Jennifer lent me this book and said that she thought that this series will go far.  I have to agree with her.  I can see it doing the same as Fable Haven, Harry Potter, and the Twilight series.  It has a really interesting story.  The main character, Alex, becomes an adventurer and is sent on a quest to kill a dragon with 7 other companions.  He has many adventures on his trip.  I love the idea of thier magical bags.  I don’t want to say too much because it is a really good story and I want others to read it.   The major down fall is that because it is just starting we have to wait another year for the next one to come out.   This would be another to add to my personal library so my young boys can enjoy it later.