Spring Seven

To Me, one of the best things about spring, is sitting outside in the afternoon, under the warm sun, and escaping in a good book. (Glass of wine, mojito or margarita are optional.) My problem is, I don't have any books on my wish list. I need some recommendations! I love historical fiction, political thrillers and Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. So, I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine. I will post my top 7 favorite books, to help guide you in your quest for the perfect hammock companion, and I ask that you post yours (doesn't have to be 7) in the comments section (and you have it easy as you don't have to find picture links!) (Let's leave off books like Harry Potter, which everyone has read and Da Vinci code, which is good but only read it if you can understand that it is COMPLETE FICTION.)

#1: Katherine by Anya Seton

This book is probably my absolute favorite ever. Talk about escape! This is the love story of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, true to the extent we know it. It takes place in 14th century England and when this story ended I cried, I didn't want to let her go. Another book I just read by this same author that's also truly amazing is The Winthrop Women.


#2: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

If you ever have any interaction with children, this is a must read. Jodi is an amazing author. Her character development is astounding. In this book, she takes you into the mind of teenagers, their world and a school shooting. By the end, you don't know if you are on the side of the shooter or the victim.




#3. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

This book is being made into a movie, and I think it's coming out this spring or summer. Read the book first!! As we all know, the movie never does a book justice and I can't imagine the movie will invoke the same feelings the book does. If you have a sister, read this book. If you don't, read it anyway!!



#4. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

This is historical creepy fiction. This book will keep you up all night, one because you can't put it down and two because you will be a little to creeped out to lay there in the dark. The story centers around 2 people traveling across Europe chasing the legend of Dracula. No synopsis I could give will do it justice, so just read it. This is vampires for grown-ups for sure!


#5. A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith

This is another great historical fiction story, centered on King Richard III, and will challenge anything you've heard or learned in history class! There is another book by the author, dealing with this same family that I also recommend: Daughter of York.




#6. Transfer of Power by Vince Flynn

This is the first in a series of 9 books (and counting) involving Mitch Rapp, a CIA agent. It is most definitely the best political thriller out there (and I've read A LOT of them!) This book will have you rooting for your country, and the men who fight for it. It's also another, "stay up all night because you can't put it down" book.



#7. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I saved the best for last. Ahhhh, words cannot describe Jamie. This is the first in a series also, and it straddles (no pun intended) genre: historical fiction and romance. In Outlander a 20th century woman crosses through a "stone circle" in England at the precise moment and is transported back to the 18th century, where she meets Jamie, the Scottish love of her life. These books are very intelligent in medicine, history, psychology and pure escapist romance. The 6th one is supposed to come out this year. And those of us in the Jamie cult are eagerly awaiting it. Become a member of this sorority and we'll share the secret handshake!!!

My little Hawaiian

Wes had to do a culture project for school. Normally I dread school projects. I am the least crafty person I know! For this project he had to dress his doll exemplifying a culture of his choice. He had to explain a cultural tradition they do in a presentation. We did the Polynesian culture since he was born in Hawaii. I needed some ideas from my crafty friends to get me started.... I was shocked how many little trinkets and things you can find in Michaels! I think I need go to back there soon and bond and be one with with the craft. Deep breathing exercises weren't even necessary! I really enjoyed spending time with Wes teaching him about a place he has very little memory of. We watched videos on fire dancing (his cultural tradition in his presentation.) We learned about the Polynesian islands, how the people settled Hawaii and so on. It was priceless though when he asked me if his skin was that brown when he lived there! (Yes but he wasn't born that way like he thought! I know there are certain people reading this who will remember him chasing the garbage truck down the street with his naked bottom reflecting a lot of light! Ohhh those tan lines!) I miss Hawaii so much! Living there was always a catch 22 but I am so thankful that God provided us that opportunity. Watch out Erin- we can't wait till you back get there! I actually had a dream that Ben got back in the Marine Corps and we moved out there again. I don't know that Oahu is big enough for Brannon!
*this doll is dedicated to my crafty girls: mom, jill, erin m, and brandy! xoxo

I am just not meant to post......

I had a whole entry typed up. I mean a long detailed explanation of what has been happening over the last 3 months. I was on fire, I gave witty comments AND pictures. Then when I was proof reading I pressed something on this dang laptop and it erased my entire entry! Try like I might I could not get it back. I almost threw this thing across the room. I can't retype it all. For one, I am creatively drained, and 2 I don't have time to redo the last 30 minutes worth of work. So here it is in a huge nutshell:
I haven't updated my blog in a long time because we moved into our home that took 11 months to build, I did Christmas, I overextended myself in volunteer work at my children's schools, GE cut my husband's salary and I was in a bad mood for a few weeks (and therefor not capable of speaking to other humans), I ripped the ligaments in my ankle stepping in a hole and I've been in a cast and my family has been on meltdown mode because I wasn't taking care of everything. And, now I can sorta walk on my walking boot so I am trying to get my life back to normal (I still can't drive though so I have no independance) and that includes blog updating.
Ok, so there it is. I've been a slacker and I will do better. Although if Holly keeps getting me hooked on good books I will never get anything done.
And because I had good pics posted before and I am not retyping the stories to go with them (maybe another day or time) here is a completely random picture of my dog sleeping on the stairs last week. Can you find her? She's mastered the camo thing.
I will post at least once a week now, unless the computer attacks me again......

Can I really get 2 for 1?

As you well know, if you have been reading this blog for any amount of time, I have been working diligently on potty training Brannon for the last year. Just in the past few weeks, we've finally made it. He is consistently doing his thing on the potty. Now, over the past week or so, when I get Tierney undressed at night for her nap, she likes to go sit on the little toddler potty. She tells me, "I potty mama." I was pretty sure she didn't even know what she was supposed to do. Tonight, she had been sitting there for a few minutes, chatting away, when I took her off to put her in the tub and lo and behold... there was all kinds of stuff in there. I was SHOCKED!!! She did in that potty what took us a year to get from Brannon! I immediately started making a big deal about it and then she looked in there and burst into tears. In fact, she was terrified. She saw her big "deposit" and freaked out! Her whole body was trembeling and she cried and cried. I am not sure why but after talking to my mom and grandma, have learned this can be a normal reaction. So, here is a picture of Tierney when she realized what she did. We were clapping even though she wasn't so happy about the situation. I am now having dreams of not only getting one kid out of diapers, but dare I think 2!!! Oh the money I'll save......

And this is why I pray.....

I have found this blog is to me, very therapeutic. It is for this reason I post about what happened to us yesterday.
We had our final walk through at our house yesterday afternoon (we close today.) We were leaving and Ben buckled the kids in the car for me (we had Brannon and Tierney with us) while I stood in the driveway asking the builder a couple of questions about the care of our landscaping. About 3 houses down the street was an 18-wheeler Allied moving truck, moving in one of our neighbors. After Ben got the kids in their car seats he came up to us in the driveway (our van was parked along the curb) and was shaking hands with our builder when all of a sudden the semi truck goes by us, backing up. The next thing that happened was like watching it in slow motion. The semi did not back out correctly nor did it seem was he paying attention. It then started backing into the side of my van right where Brannon was sitting!! Ben and I immediately were screaming and running towards the semi- me towards the back (I think all the adrenaline in my body and thought it could just push the semi off my van) while Ben ran towards the driver. My real estate agent and builder were right behind us running and screaming as well. The driver had 2 mexican guys at the rear of the semi waving him back. When they realize the semi was running into my van they just stood there with dumb looks on their faces. I was screaming at them, "My babies are in the car, STOP, STOP!!!!!" The semi though didn't realize it was doing anything wrong and just kept easing into my van. The sound of the metal scraping and screeching and all the screaming from the 4 adults was ringing in my head. Somehow the dumb-ass driving the semi realized he was hitting something, he pulled forwarded and I was in the van immediately. My poor babies were screaming their heads off. The kids were unharmed, but very scared. I scooped both of them out (I don't even know how I had them out of those car seats so fast) and I was holding both of them in my lap on the ground and we were all crying. Brannon asked me the rest of the night why that big truck was trying to run into him. :( My throat still hurts this morning for all the yelling I was doing at the top of my lungs.
All the stuff that happened next took hours: police came, the mexicans guiding the truck backing up disappeared before the police showed up (and I mean literally they ran into the woods and were gone which means they were ILLEGALS, kids crying lots, van is in bad shape, 2 hours later we got to leave, Ben had to argue with Allied moving company's insurance and that conversation will continue today. They want to wait until next week to do anything but our back left tire is now flat and we need them to give us a rental car now because it's our only vehicle that fits our family and WE ARE MOVING TODAY AND SATURDAY!!!!
Every night before I go to bed, I go in and touch each of my kids on their heads and ask Jesus to keep them safe. I truly believe this prayer kept them safe yesterday. Now I am praying that God will help us get through the next couple of days without me having to do a stint in the insane asylum! Thank God my parents will be here this evening to help me!!

Happy Birthday Tierney!

My sweet baby girl is 2 today! She loves Elmo so we are having an Elmo themed day! I can't believe it's been 2 years since she was born! Wow time goes fast!

Halloween and random thoughts.....

We finally made it out of our candy coma today. Although, if Bran sneaks anymore candy, he's heading right back in it. Last night was really fun for the kids. We slummed for candy in one the sections of our new neighborhood. The part I am moving into currently has 2 occupied homes so we couldn't go there! The kids had a great time, although Tierney got quite nervous as the more scary costumes came out. Thanks to my friend Kim, she got the cutest ladybug costume. Brannon insisted on being the same dragon he was last year (the costume was big on him last year and barely fit him this year) so that made that one easy. This is the first year that Wes wanted to be something scary instead of a superhero. He was quite thrilled with himself but his sister and brother didn't want to get too close to him. On Thursday Bran had a costume party at his preschool and on Friday Elmo came to the galleria so we took the little ones to see him before trick or treating. Tierney was slightly afraid but it was priceless seeing and hearing her reaction. All 3 of these events are depicted in the photoshow:

Make a Smilebox slideshow

And now for some random thoughts:
*Tierney's second birthday is Monday. I have so many mixed emotions about this one. On one hand, I love the 2-3 age, it's my favorite. On the other, I am sad that my last baby is not really a baby any longer. I am also having the mommy guilt. She doesn't have any little friends, like the boys did at this age, so we don't have any other little kids that are going to come over and help her celebrate. I can't help but think that if we were back in Mansfield she would have tons of little friends to play with.....
*I am so scared of this election. I know emotions are running high and I hope through all of that people are clearly voting on facts and not emotions. I still have yet to hear from ANYONE a single reason why Barak Obama should be/can be President of the most powerful country in the world. I think his election will be a mistake of monumental proportions and I worry for the future of this country. The last few days are like watching a train wreck in slow motion. I can only pray that people are finally starting to realize he's all fluff and the current media darling, and that does not make a good President. And, I know some of you who read this won't agree with me but too bad, it's my blog. :)
*My 3rd random thought that feel I just have to express is how much I HATE Walmart. All the reasons why I hate Walmart are too long for this post. Let's just say that I think that store is destroying the American economy and it always smells like pee and it deludes people into thinking they are getting a good deal on something when all they are getting is cheap crap. Ok, I'm done. For now......