Happy New Year

 I just can't believe how fast the month of December went. 

I do owe apologies for not finishing my 12 days of Merry Pinterest Projects...

 or a least posting them. We did bring at least 12 pins to life around here!

 Time got away from me and to be honest...

 my kids and I were so busy making memories I just did not get to blog them. 

I hope to pre-blog them, while they are fresh in my mind

 and just post them next December... hmmm? Isn't that smart?

I have been working on my Big Picture Class

and have REALLY enjoyed this one. 

 I am already on day five and so proud of myself

for making time time to do what I love the most...scrapping!

I have also been reading this book and for the first time in a very long time

 I am ready to get rid of this "baby weight"... lol...

by "baby weight" I am talking about the 60 pounds

I gained with Mike FIVE YEARS AGO. 

I have a plan,

a support team,

 and motivation- woo hoo!

I also made a big trip to the container store! 

 I can't wait to share some of the ideas and areas I have been working on!

 

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What we are reading...

I have not posted our current reads in awhile and since I just got my new order from amazon, I thought it was about time... My friend Erin sent me a copy of Redeaming Love by Francine Rivers. I finished it last week and I really liked it. It has a christian theme and sure made me think about my own faith. Some would say it is a love story, but for me it was a story about God's grace and forgiveness... which form me, as many christians, struggle with when it comes to the big unjustices of the world.

Super thrilled with this book by Slater... ummm,I mean Mario Lopez. This book has great reviews and know I know why. In a nut shell it is a five week family meal plan to help you and the kids eat better and feel better. I bought it thinking I need some good recipes, but girls, this is chock full of GREAT ideas and information. I am sure I will have a few more posts on this one!

To go along with, Extra Lean Family, I bought PrayFit... It seems like every time I turn around someone is talking about this and since it combines one of my biggest battles (weight loss) with one of my biggest strengths (faith) I think it will be a hit. The website devoted to this program/ lifestyle is pretty great , too. Sometime this month the PrayFit Family book is coming out... adding that to my wish list!

And again, because every time I turn around friends are raving about the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins I am starting this one... have you read it?

Adam is reading... okay skimming this book my parents gave him. We are trying to get the back yard ready for gardening and entertaining this spring. I hope this inspires him!

Mike has been on a very silly kick these days... he will do anything for a laugh. He adores this book and thinks the poems are just as funny as the illustrations. Alan Katz has a few more books I will have to add to Mike's Christmas list!

Even though, he is on his 2nd week of school... he stills wants to read The Night Before Preschool every night. He can really relate to it and it makes him happy. I also bought the kindergarten version and the first grade versions for our cousins... who both liked them!

At 22 months Adelyn has decided that SHE will be doing all the reading in her room. If you try to read a book to her (even a brand new one) she quickly takes it from you and begins touching and "reading" the words. My favorite part about this is that even the bible becomes a "Peek-A-Boo" book... she says, "Where's Jesu-sh? Peek a boo!"... lol. These Peek-A-Boo books can make a reader our of any kid... we super love them!

Happy Reading!!

What We're Reading...

Mommy just finished The Red Tent... loved it! Very profound for me as I have learned how deep relations are between women, namely mothers, sister, and daughters. You MUST add this book to your reading list.

Daddy has put down books for awhile because he found The Office on Netflix and watches it on the computer while mommy reads. (It is a little distracting 'cause Micheal is so funny and Jim is so cute!)

Mike is still digging pirates and he loves the illustrations in this Mem Fox book... mommy loves the message!

He is also back to Eric Carle which makes me very happy!

He even likes to act out this one and can pretty much read it to you himself!

Adelyn LOVES to read... I thought Mike did at this age, but his love of books pails to hers... woo hoo!

In this picture she is reading Mikey's Seek and Find Thomas (a family favorite) She points out random things and says "yes!"

But the book she brings me three times a day is The Pout-Pout Fish... and she reads "blub, blub, bluuuub!"

What We Are Reading....

Mommy is reading...

Thanks to my dear friend Erin, I did not have to wait for paperback, as our library has a long waiting this for this one!

This is a great book. It is helping me with my OLW FAITH. The author, Debbie Alsdorf, is so real and down to earth... I am really enjoying this one and see myself pouring through it twice.

Daddy is reading...

He just finished this one and it is a life changer. Super easy read with a big impact!

He just started this one... yup, seems like a yawner to me! Mike is reading...

This Playmobile catalogue that refers to as "My Magazine", has become an obsession and is falling apart, so I thought we would try seeing what magazines he would like.

This one is pretty fun and have some standard articles he likes, like the I SPY page. It is also pretty affordable so we may get a subscription for this one.

This one is more expensive, but has a better variety... so we will see!

Addy is reading...

Aunt Kelly got Addy this sweet book for Christmas and it is a big hit. I have to admit most of Addy's books are really Mike's board books, so it is almost like she knows this 'feely' book is hers! Hmmm... I should video her reading this one for my teachers friends... she is already pre-reading and I am so loving it!

Tell us what you and your family are reading these days... we are always on the hunt for books!

A Shout Out To My Teaching Peeps

So for the very first time in 13 years, I will not be attending the first day of school. But just because I am no longer a literacy coach does not mean I don't know a great book when I read one. So, if I were headed back into the classroom these are a few books I would be taking with me!Read it, Don't Eat it! By Ian Schoenherr is a funny way to introduce children how to take of books. I would use this book when I introduced my library center or Reader's Workshop.

I'm the Best is about a boastful dog whose bragging almost costs him his friends. I like this book for young readers because often they can become discouraged if they are not reading as well as their classmates. The moral of the story is that we are all 'the best' at something, even if we don't have wings!

Mike picked The Wheels on The School Bus up at the local library to pacify his school bus addiction (by the way his Lala enables this addiction). I was pleasantly surprised by the creative spin Mary- Alice Moore put to the old song. The entire elementary school staff loads onto the bus and they each say something to reflect their job... My favorite is the librarian who says "Read, read, read!" This would make a great first week of school book or a fun pattern book in your Writer's Workshop.

Keith Grave did it! He wrote a children's book that made me laugh out loud. Boo-Hoo Moo is a story about a depressed cow who drives her barn yard friends nuts with her awful singing. This book is about team work and perfect for classroom team building and relationships.

So happy teaching and happy learning!

What We're Reading

I always like to hear what my friends are reading and this summer The Fey's have been reading a lot! I am currently reading Belong To Me by Marisa de los Santos. So far so good... it is about a woman who makes a big move to the suburbs and has some regret... hmmm... maybe that's why I like. I finished this one a few weeks back. It is a trilogy and everyone seems to love it, but it was really slow for me, but I liked the ending. I bought the second one when I bought the first, but have not started it yet... so has anyone read these? Should I keep going with the series? Anyone want me to mail them this first one?

Adam and I are both reading Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey. We hope it will help make the transition from two nice paychecks down to one... without stressing Adam out and making me feel guilty. Our biggest challenge is letting go of our debit cards... we do not use credit so that was easy, but man I miss my debit card!

Just in case anyone cares... Adam is currently reading Clive Cussler (yawn). It is a best seller and Adam is not the voracious reader I am , so if it is fiction that keeps his attention it must be a good one!

The kids and I have been reading lots of books this summer with the local library summer reading program. This book, The Bridge is Up! has been a big hit. It has every vehicle boys love, plus animals, and it is repetitive so my little emergent reader wants to hear it over and over...and over!

When Mike was a baby he liked the peek-a-boo flap books the best. We have worn several out completely, but Adelyn seems to prefer the books with real faces on them. She squeals and kicks her feet like a crazy woman. Smile! is the book she earned in the reading program. I don't think I would have ever bought this book, but now I will buy it for baby gifts for sure. (PS. Doesn't this cover just scream scrapbook inspiration)

So what is your family reading these days?

My New Best Friend

Meet my new BFF, Emily Giffin!... she even says so... in writing... ok, inside the cover of her new book... so maybe I told her what to write... but she knows me now... sort of... Last night, a two of my girlfriend and I took an "adventure" to Dallas... (darn Map quest!) where we meet one of our favorite chic lit authors (hope that doesn't offend her..."chic lit")

She is super funny and charming in person... not to mention beautiful... you can't help but like her... plus she passed out FLAIR... you can see them on her blog.

Her new book is about mommy friends- can't wait to start it! Emmmie (that's what I call her) writes with great wit, charm, and anything but typical story lines. Perfect for pool side (or bath tub) reading!

But if you have not been bitten by the EG bug.... start here with Something Borrowed.... it is gonna be a movie! With Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin (from Big Love and He is Just Not That Into You) LOVE HER!

And then the sequal that has great twists and turns! You might even surprise yourself with this one.

Then we headed over to PF Changs- yum! And we ate alot! My mission today (aside for getting a ticket dismissed, cleaning my bathroom, and buying a new computer) is to locate a great copy cat recipe for their Won-Ton Soup... I have one for their lettuce wraps... but too complicated for me! Thanks for the fun night girls!