Secret Pleasure…

Hello!

When I go to the library, I am secretly happy when I come across a book that I want to read and it has “LP” on the spine!

“YAY” I whisper in my head, because of course, I am at the library.

What does LP stand for? LARGE PRINT! And I love it because I can see it!

I usually read before I go to sleep and don’t have the best light. That is why LARGE PRINT makes me happy! AND I feel as if I am I reading the book fast because there are fewer words on a page!! What a bonus!

If you haven’t read a LP book, you might want to check one out! It’s actually very nice!

The Flu…

Hello.

We have had the flu go through our house. yuck. As much as I keep saying it’s not the flu. It’s the flu. Jack had it last Sunday and Sam came home Monday not feeling well.

He felt so bad, that he didn’t even park in the garage. He didn’t think he could walk that far. It wasn’t too long after he got home, that he started to get sick. Thank goodness, Jason was actually home and took care of “all that.”

Just like Jack, Sam didn’t feel the best for  24 hours (a little less) and then he was good to go. I am already tired of my house smelling like Lysol and my hands about to disintegrate into pieces due to being so dry from constant washing! And to think flu season has only just begun. ugh.

Just Finished

Hello!

Jason and I went to North Carolina this weekend to see friends and go to a Vikings game. More on that later, but I did start and finish an amazing short book on our trip!

I shared a review on the book, Alex, by Pierre Lemaitre and it is one of my top 5 books. While at the bookstore, I spotted another by Pierre Lemaitre  and thought it would be a great quick read for out trip! LOVED IT!

Blood Wedding
by Pierre Lemaitre

Blood Wedding by [Lemaitre, Pierre]

From Amazon:
Sophie Duguet–young, successful, and happily married–thought at first she was becoming absentminded when she started misplacing her mail and forgetting where she’d parked her car the night before. But then, as her husband and colleagues pointed out with increasing frustration, she began forgetting things she’d said and done, too. And when she was detained by the police for shoplifting, a crime she didn’t remember committing, the confusion and blackouts that had begun to plague her took on a more sinister cast. Her marriage started to come apart at the seams.

Now Sophie is in much deeper water: the young boy she nannies is dead while in her care, a tragedy of which she has no memory. Afraid for her sanity and of what the police will do to her when the body is discovered, Sophie goes on the run, changing her identity and appearance to evade the law. Forced to lead a very different kind of life, one on the margins of society, Sophie wonders where everything went wrong.

Still, with a new name and a new life, she hopes that she’ll be able to put her demons to rest for good. It soon becomes clear, however, that the real nightmare has only just begun . . .

And only just begun is soooo true! The review shares only the tip of the iceberg about this story. Halfway through it takes a HUGE twist I did not see coming!! YES!!Love a twist!!  Again, I can’t say too much about the book because I don’t want to give anything away. You’ve got to read this one!!

I give this 5 out of  5 stars!

Also, I have heard that this author isn’t very easy to find in the library. His books are available on Amazon and I have found many at second-hand book stores or the Half Price Book Store.

Not Good…

Welcome Back!!

I started our Christmas decorating on Saturday morning. All set to go (not really wanting to do it, but it had to be done), bring in the tubs (ugh why so many decorations!) and Jason brought up the tree box (please lite up, please lite up.)

I stepped outside to grab a couple wreaths that I had placed on a bench and noticed they were both missing a few berries, but only on the lower section of each wreath. About, hmmmm, dog level.  Let’s just say, I think Charlie will have festive poop.

I walked back in the house and noticed Charlie had something in her mouth. I fished out the item and found out it was Henry’s hat!! OH DEAR! What about Henry!!

Phew, she had just pulled off his hat and no damage had occured to Henry. I very carefully and strategically placed his hat back on his head so not to touch him. If I touched him, we all know he would lose his flying powers! His hat now has a little tear in the front, under the old band-aid, but above the chocolate stained mouth.

I then walked into the living room and noticed no Jason. I looked at the tree and knew right away why he had vacated the area. We have a pre-lit tree. As you can see, there are only 2 1/2 sections lit and no top on the tree. A section had not lit up, so Jason watched a you tube video on how to fix a pre-lit tree bulbs. He did as the video instructed and blew out a whole section. It went down hill from there.

Thank goodness Jack had a basketball game so I offered to take him to his early practice before the game, quickly piled the decorations on the table and left the house. Decorating can and would wait for another day.

I’m Melting!!

Welcome Back!

The weather sure has turned frightful in a short amount of time…brrrrr! The only thing that likes it this cold, is a snowman…speaking of…(wasn’t that a great transition!)

My mom gave Jack a Melting Snowman Kit. It has given him loads of fun!! I didn’t think he would think much of it, but boy was I wrong! He LOVED it!!

Related image

It’s almost like silly putty. You shape the snowman, add the accessories and let it sit. It will melt before your eyes. It’s great!

Jack left his overnight on his desk and it was as flat as a pancake in the morning! So cool!!

It would make the perfect little gift for someone or a great little stocking stuffer!

 

Annual Cookie Walk!

Welcome Back!

A Christmas tradition the boys have with my mom is getting up on the first Saturday in December and going to the local Cookie Walk! A  dear friend of our family, Nancy, has helped the boys with the cookie walk since 2010!

The boys point out the cookies they would like and she places them in their container. Talk about service!! By the look of their containers, it seems like they have had a hard time choosing cookies! (hahaha)

This picture was taken in 2010…the boys first cookie walk!

The boys look forward to it every year. Even Sam got up on Saturday to go to the cookie walk (which explains his squinty eyes in the photos.) The only thing that has really changed is the height of the boys! Other than that, including Nancy, everything is still the same!

This will definitely be a page in my December journal! (cross fingers)

(How tall is Sam? Almost 6’4″. Why do I think people will wonder?)

 

Happy December First!

Here We Go…

Sometimes, I feel like December 1st is a train I jump on and it takes off at break neck speed and doesn’t stop until Dec. 26 and I have no idea what even occurred during the month. I don’t slow down to enjoy moments because I am so focused on doing, going and planning…do this, do that.  I miss a lot because I try to do so many things and end up feeling like I enjoyed nothing.

This year is going to be different. I am slowing down. I am going to enjoy December and the holiday season. I am going to focus on my family and doing things to create memories with them.  I am going to get them more involved with the holiday activities: wrapping gifts, decorating the house, go see lights together, making cookies…but mostly that we will be doing things together.

And! I am going to attempt a December Daily. Nothing fancy like the ones on Pinterest or Instagram! This year I am going to do it for me and the memories. Not for show. Not going to worry about everything in it matching. Not going to worry about the flow of the album.   It’s going to have our memories in the album…no matter how small. It’s going to have pictures and papers and embellishment that make me happy.  It’s going to be about the four of us.

So…with that said, I found a great little picture on Instagram (which I later found out was done by a girl that I know!) I love the picture, so it is my opening page of my journal. Nothing fancy, I like it and it makes me happy!


The stars are from an overlay.

What are your intentions for the Holiday Season? Besides my December Journal, I am also hoping not to gain the holiday 10 pounds!

Just Finished…

Welcome Back!

Just Finished the book
“The Stars Are Fire”
by Anita Shreve

Image result for the stars are fire

From Amazon:
In October 1947, after a summer long drought, fires break out all along the Maine coast from Bar Harbor to Kittery and are soon racing out of control from town to village. Five months pregnant, Grace Holland is left alone to protect her two toddlers when her husband, Gene, joins the volunteer firefighters. Along with her best friend, Rosie, and Rosie’s two young children, Grace watches helplessly as their houses burn to the ground, the flames finally forcing them all into the ocean as a last resort. The women spend the night frantically protecting their children, and in the morning find their lives forever changed: homeless, penniless, awaiting news of their husbands’ fate, and left to face an uncertain future in a town that no longer exists. In the midst of this devastating loss, Grace discovers glorious new freedoms–joys and triumphs she could never have expected her narrow life with Gene could contain–and her spirit soars. And then the unthinkable happens–and Grace’s bravery is tested as never before.

I really enjoyed this story. The main character, Grace, so impressed me with her loyalty, devotion and determination. I also was angry with her decisions at times. She did what was expected of her then doing what was best for her.  But, that was how many women behaved and did during the 40s. What I really liked, is that Grace faces some heart breaking struggles and she breaks down. She gives up.  She doesn’t  persevere through the whole book. It seemed so real life to me, which was refreshing.

While reading, I also found myself wondering what I would do in her situation. Could I be as strong?  Would I put others before me in situations that did not involve my kids?  Would I be able to make the decisions she did to move forward?  This is a quick, thought provoking book and definitely worth your time!

I would give this 4 out of 5 stars.