Updates?

Updates are coming soon, I promise! We have been out of town and I haven't had a chance to do any blogging or even to check the blogs, please forgive but I will update soon I promise and thanks for caring (Hillari)!

Thanks for the fun!

We had a fun discussion about Life of Pi last night. Thanks everyone who joined it, it really was a lovely discussion and I'm excited to do it again next month. I understand that everyone is pretty busy so some people didn't make it but hopefully you can make it next month. I decided to just choose a few books for the next few months so people can read over the holiday break if they want. Here are the books for the next few months. (Don't hate, I went from the vote and I just picked some.) I think we're going to try Sunday this next month does that work for everyone?
January 11 - My Antonia by Willa Cather
February - I want a good somewhat romantic novel for this month so I will announce it soon.
March - The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
April - Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

If you have suggestions or other books that you would like to read please let me know, I really would like to have input. Happy reading and happy holidays everyone!

I figured it out...

Ok, so I figured out how to let anyone come into the chat room if they would like to join us. You don't need an invitation, though I already sent some out. Just click on the link below and it will take you to the log in screen. Once you're there just type in your name (or alias if you want to stay anonymous) and then as I said before, the name of the Tiger in Life of Pi (no caps or spaces). If you have any problems just comment or email me and we'll figure it out. Hope to see you all there in about an hour!

Life of Pi discussion

I NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES!!!!

Ok everyone, so I realize that I am quite the procrastinator but I just figured out the chat room thing. There is one little stitch and that is that I need your email addresses if you would like to join us because I need to send you an invite. SO...you can either leave it here on my blog or if you would rather email me directly you are more than welcome to. Just send me your email and let me know that you're interested in joining. Sorry that I'm a slacker but at least it's the night before and not tomorrow right? Oh well! If you don't get to this until tomorrow, don't lose hope, I will keep checking throughout the night and it only takes a second to email you and get you in the room so no worries. Please come and chat with us, it really will be a blast. Thanks everyone!

*NOTE*

The password is the name of our favorite tiger, no caps or spaces
(email me if you have any concerns)

Last day to vote!

Last day to vote! If you want to vote for which book we will be reading next month make sure you do it today, it's the last day! Tomorrow we will have the winner and the runner-up will be February's book. Also, if you have suggestions for the next books please let me know, no one has suggested anything yet but I am open to any and all suggestions. So vote if you have a certain book that you really want to read!

Last thought provoking question...

I hope you're all finished reading Life of Pi and that you all loved it as much as I did. Or if you didn't that you have some really interesting input for us to discuss. As a reminder, we will be discussing the book in a chat room (linked from this website) on Thursday December 11 (2 days) and everyone and anyone is welcome. Since most of you are in Utah and I am in Indiana (2 hours later than Utah) I was hoping that 8:00 Utah time, 10:00 Indiana time would work. (After the office of course). If anyone has problems with that time please let me know and we can work it out. Otherwise, plan on meeting here to discuss. Here is your last thought provoking question for this book.

Neither story can be proved one way or the other, so Pi asks the official which story he prefers. Which do you prefer? Which do you believe?

E.'s Big Number 1!

So, my little baby is now a big one-year-old. We had a fun little party with a few great friends (thank you so much for coming fun friends). I about had a heart attack the entire time E. was eating his birthday cake. He was so unsure about it at first and kept looking over at me wondering if I was going to take it away. When I didn't he just went for it and went to town it that sugar filled joy! He was having the time of his life. I made the cake with reduced sugar, applesauce and only egg whites but I was still so sick to my stomach watching him eat cake. I know, I know, loosen up right? It was definitely fun to watch him attack it and get so messy, he loved it. He also received some super cute, super fun gifts (thanks everyone) and was just spoiled today. What a fun birthday!

This is where he first picked it up and started shoving it into his face!

Awww...who couldn't just love that little messy face. Sorry everyone, I have the most adorable little one year old in the world! Ew he's cute!

And of course...the happy birthday song with absolutely no change of expression. He's such a goof!

Come on People!!!!

Come on now people, I need some votes and suggestions! Apathy-shmapathy, vote, suggest, be a doer!

Book Club Suggestions?

Ok, so I have been thinking about all kinds of books that we can read for our fun little book club. I have been through lists and lists and I have come up with a plethora of ideas. I added a poll for everyone to take a look at. By December 11 (Our book club rendezvous date) whatever book has the most votes is what we will be reading. If you have a suggestion (please have suggestions) feel free to put them on here as a comment, I will then add them to the poll and see if people would like to read that book. Even if you aren't reading along with us but you have a great book suggestion feel free to comment. The books can be books that you have read, want to read or would never think to read but would be something new and interesting. The point of reading these together is really just to read something new that you wouldn't have otherwise read and read it with friends, new or old.
Here are links to info on all the books that I have added, not all of them have the best credentials but at least they will give you an idea of what the book is about. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Eat, Pray Love
Three Cups of Tea
The Glass Castle
Enders Game
Mrs. Dalloway
The Giver
A Hat Full of Sky
My Antonia
The Good Earth

Please leave me some feedback on what you would like to be reading! Thanks!

Th-th-th-Thanksgiving!!!!

We had such a lovely Thanksgiving. My parents flew in after a week long vacation in Branson Missouri. They spent five wonderful days with us and we had a ton of fun. (And yes all you jealous siblings out there, I was completely and totally spoiled!!!!) It was a blast. My dad fixed all kinds of little things in our apartment, including turning around my washer that was annoyingly turned around. We also went shopping, cooked tons of yummy food, went shopping, played lots of games, went shopping, and bought a huge Christmas tree. We had a blast. I think my parents were so ready to get home and close their wallets by the end of the week but we had an absolute blast, "thanks mom and dad", "thanks mom and dad", thanks mom and dad". E. was sick most of the week which put a damper on things but he is better now and back to his crazy fun ways. Here are a few pictures for your viewing entertainment!

The crew working hard for their dinner.

The lovely spread...mmmm...

Our fabulous new tree! Yeah for Christmas!



On my parents last day out here we took them to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, it was incredible and so much fun! They have everything, Van Gogh, Monet, Serat, Degas - it was fabulous.

The day after my parents left we decided to go with some cute friends to see the move Australia. I LOVED this movie. It was sad and funny and suspenseful and just wonderful. I would give it four and a half stars. It was great and lovely and wonderful and just go see it. (Make sure you look for the really goofy shot of Hugh Jackman riding his horse, it's great.) Then we went out for Sushi that was just great. It was really fun! Thanks everyone for such a fabulous and wonderful week. Love you mom and dad, thanks for coming out and spoiling us so much!

Question of the Week...

Here is this weeks thought provoking question of the week! Remember that we're meeting December 11, linked right here from this blog. We're reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel and I hope you're all reading and loving the book! (Caution: Spoiler Alert - this question gives away a bit of the plot!)

Pi's story of surviving on a lifeboat with zoo animals is rather incredible. Did the far-fetched nature of the story ever bother you? Was Pi a convincing storyteller?

Food for thought...

Country Christmas Boutique!

Tomorrow marks the 19th annual Country Christmas Boutique put on by M.'s fabulous family. Every year they have a great big boutique (normally at my Mother-in-law's house) with all kinds of crafts and food and absolute fun. I love all the excitement and fun that's involved with the boutique. So many hours and sleepless nights and time spent together, I am really missing it this year and my heart is kind of aching. I just needed to let everyone involved know that I miss you and I wish I was there. For those of you not involved, you should be - go - it's a ton of fun. It's tomorrow and the next day (Friday and Saturday) at the Whitear barn (if you want to know more about the location contact me and I'll get you the info). It's so much fun and you won't be sorry! I wish I could be there. I don't know how to start the holidays without the boutique!

Jolene

Everyone seems to be posting about him and I don't want to be left out, nor do I want to ignore how cool it is that he once resided in my hometown and was friends with my brother. You can check out the other posts about him here, here, and here. As far as I've heard, Ray LaMontagne you deserve all the fame in the world and more.

Question of the Week

So I thought I would give everyone reading Life of Pi with me a question every week to be thinking of (thanks M. for the idea). These are questions we can discuss later but you can either answer now by posting a comment or you can just be thinking about it and let it guide you a little bit in your reading (or remembering, if you already read it). So this weeks question is...
Pi considers himself a convert to Christianity, Islam and Hinduism? Is it possible to practice all three faiths faithfully? What is Pi's reasoning in not choosing one?
Something to think about...

Visitors from Utah!

So I haven't posted some pics of E. for awhile and I thought I would give you all a little treat of when his super cute Tia and Tio came to visit. Tio Marcos got a great shot here of his "bum leg" (it gets stuck in his pj's and he doesn't care, just keeps movin' and scootin'.)

Tio Marcos was holding him in the most ridiculous position and E. was so chill, he didn't care, bringin' out the suave in all positions!

He looks so old!! Yes, my little baby is almost 1 and he looks like it! He is super grumpy in this picture because he was still recovering from the food poisoning we all got to share before our lovely visitors came. He's cute even with food poisoning.

I tried to upload a video of E. and his Dadda dancing and singing and playing the guitar with Tio Marcos but it didn't work. We sadly didn't really take any pictures of our visitors so these are courtesy of our guests and they didn't leave any with Tia Mia in them. (Sorry Mia.) I would love more pics that you took guys if you would send them on over!

Caution: Big Curves!

Life of Pi

So, our first book is going to be "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. I'm really excited about this book, it's so big right now and I've been wanting to read it for quite awhile. I haven't decided on a for sure date yet because I'm not sure what night of the week is good for everyone. If you have a preference please let me know and I will plan for that. Right now I am planning on Thursday nights and possibly December 11. If that doesn't work for you post a comment and let me know what will. I'm really excited about this, I think it will be really fun so if any of you are interested at all and haven't let me know yet please do so I can plan on you being there!
I'm going to work out a book list for a few months in advance so if any of you students want to read up during Christmas break you can still be involved, I will let you know what they will be.

BOOK CLUB!!!!!

Ok everyone, if you have been checking out my blog for awhile you know that I LOVE to read. If I don't have a book that I am currently reading I feel like I'm going crazy. I have always wanted to be in a good fun book club where we can discuss the books and enjoy interesting reading from all genres. SO...after a conversation with my cute friend Chelsea, we decided to start an online book club. Anyone can join. Men, women, children, dogs, anyone really that likes to read and can type. What we will do is read the book (suggestions are welcome) then on a specified day we will all go to a chatroom (linked from this site - again any suggestions are welcome, we're still trying to figure that part out) and we can discuss the book. I am so super excited and I think it will really be a blast. I have a few ideas for some books but I would love some suggestions, otherwise I will just put up the name of the book that we will be reading and we can go from there. I figure it will take us about a month to read the book so I will announce it later this week as well as the date for our first book club "meeting". You can even come to the meeting in your pj's, your underwear, or dressed as Cleopatra, how cool is that? If you like to read please let me know that you want to join, I'm not exactly sure how the chat room will work but I might need to know names. Keep checking to see what the book will be!

Election Day

Yes we can!

Here is huge post about this past week. M. found out last week that his beautiful Aunt Norma passed away. She has been a big part of his life and we loved her so much. We decided that it was really important to us to go home and be at the funeral. Norma did so much for us as a family and we wanted to tell her goodbye. We love you Norma and we know that you are so much happier - I hope you're dancing you saucy lady!

Here is E. on the airplane. He was such a wonderful baby the whole way there and the way home. He mostly flirted with all the women on the plane and then slept the rest of the time. This is him being so macho in his own seat. What a big boy!

M. loves looking out the window while we're flying so he shared his love with his son and we could barely tear him away. Like father - like son.

We flew out on Halloween, (I recommend this to anyone planning on flying this time next year! The planes were empty and everyone was so nice, it was lovely!) so naturally we had to dress up right after arrival and go save the world! (Da na na na, da na na na BATMAN!!!!) This was the only picture we got with his mask on, he wouldn't leave it on.

These were some of the cute cousins that were down for the funeral. How cute right?!

And finally, here is a picture of E. wearing his Grandpa's glasses. Every grandchild has an official "grandparent glasses on the baby" picture in our family. It was time to bring E. into the tradition. What a goof ball.

Well, that concludes our picture show. We had a lovely trip, packed full of visiting family and friends. Thanks everyone for taking time out of your schedules to come and see us. All of you that we didn't get to see (Kels!) you just need to plan a trip out here to come see us. We love you all and miss you already. Thanks for the fun and all the candy (I have already gained way too much weight from all the good eating we did!)

Lenka - The Show - Live @ Mix 106.5

I am loving her music right now! I know I just put up a post but I thought I would share this too! It's great, give her a try! (Lets try this one! It's not as cool as her music video but it works!) Her name is Lenka, she's Australian and she has a really cool happy Indy sound. I currently think she is fabulous! All of you out there in Utah - she is coming to SLC on Nov. 12 if you want to check her out. I am so incredibly jealous, I would love to see her but I guess she only likes the west!

I'm stickin' to public!

Well, unless anyone has other advice I'm going to stick with being public. (Thank you everyone that gave their input, I really appreciated it.) I've done some more research on it as well and what everyone has been saying is true. If you don't give out any info about yourselves that would give any creepo's out there a good shot at you then you're fine. So, for now - take a good look strangers and whatever random people read this. I hope you enjoy the ridiculous rantings of some random woman that you don't know. I guess that's a thought right? I am quite ridiculous and if someone that doesn't know me still wants to read this, then they are probably pretty nuts are incredibly bored! Either way, enjoy one and all!

Public or Private?

So I would love some input regarding whether or not I should change my blog to be private. Obviously I don't use our real names or which town we live in or anything about our schedule but I'm a worried about the creepsters out there. I'm still thinking I will stay private and I want to thank everyone for using my abbreviations in regards to my family but if anyone has advice on whether or not to go private I would love it. Please let me know what you think.

Man Tag, Man Tag, Man Tag...

What is your husband's name? M. Douglas
How long have you been married? 3 years and 2 months
How long did you date? About 3 years-ish I think
How old is he? Young enough that he doesn't like people to know.
Who eats more sweets? What classifies sweets? M. likes candy, I like chocolaty goodness and we both love going for ice cream. I would definitely say he likes dessert more than I do though.
Who said I love you first? M. did - it was lovely and snowing and very sweet.
Who is taller? M.
Who can sing best? M. has a lovely voice, we all love to listen to him sing while he plays his guitar.
Who is smarter? M. is by far with books and numbers, but I beat him hands down with common sense and street smarts!
Who does the laundry? I do most of it now but for the first couple years of our marriage M. did because we always shared our W/D units with guys and they were always either in or next to the bathroom so I made him do it. I have always done the ironing though.
Who pays the bills? M. totally does, like I said, he has the number smarts and he LOVES checking our bank account about a gazillion times everyday so I am more than happy to let him.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? This is such a random personal question. What does it mean? Who cares? Why? So weird...I do.
Who mows the lawn? I mowed the lawn at our house once. Enough said?
Who cooks dinner? M. is an excellent Sous Chef!!!!
Who drives? Usually M. but lately I have the car and he doesn't so when I pick him up I drive, so I have been doing it a lot.
Who kissed who first? M. did, that's a funny story, we both have different versions but mine is much juicier.
Who asked who out first? M. asked me out and took me to yes, a Don Mclean concert
Who wears the pants? "The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants. " - My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Happy Man Tag M.!!!! I hope you enjoyed it!


I tag anyone that would like to do this but in particular Marcela and Jestina!!!!

We'll see I guess...

So E. sleeps pretty well at night and really is doing great. About a month ago he got his first cold and life was miserable for a couple days and he has been fine...until last night. Yes, I managed to keep him healthy and sickness free (besides a few belly achey fluish's) for 10 months and then out of the blue he gets TWO colds in a month! What is wrong with Indiana?!?!? As most of you reading this know, I am a total germ freak and completely obsessive when it comes to E. I barely let family see him for the first three months of his life. Well, so if you add these occurances together, yeah, I'm a basket-case! I guess we'll see if it's Indiana or just a string of bad luck.

On another note - I have some possible great news. For the last fifteen years or so there has been one thing that has been the bane of my existence. I have been allergic to beans (which no one would believe for years) and though I absolutely love them I have had many bad encounters with them. Well, yesterday I was feeding some lovely refried beans to E. and accidentally licked my finger. So I waited (with Benadryl and my phone in hand) for my body to revolt and start the usual process of throwing up, swelling up, and curling up to die...I waited, and waited, and waited...and waited. Nothing happened!!!! So of course, being the idiot that I am, I took a huge bite just to see what would happen. And guess what happened????? NOTHING!!!! I was completely fine, no side-effects, NOTHING! So I called M. and told him to bring me home a bean burrito because if I can eat beans I am going to eat beans! After telling me no he finally did bring one home and I had the first bite into a burrito that I have had in YEARS! It was heaven and I want another one today. I'm going to take it slow and see what happens but I am so excited! I love beans I can't wait to start eating all kinds all the time! Bring on the beans!

Best day of my life!!!!!!

So my husband rocks! On Friday M. got up with E. and let me sleep in, then he brought me this huge delicious breakfast in bed! Yeah I know, I'm spoiled. So I got to relax all morning and just have some nice "me" time and then we went out for the day. We went first to the courthouse so that we could vote. YEAH!!!! It felt so great to vote and feel like I did my little part for our country. The girls at the voting place fought over E. while we did our patriotic duty so he ended up with a little "I voted" sticker too. Here is a picture of this lovely adventure.

We all voted!

That morning M. had accidentally pulled the zipper off of my diaper bag so of course I had to go buy another one. I very rarely get to go wander around stores and shop (because I will spend way to much money, even if I'm just "looking" but don't tell M. that). But since I needed something I went and had a lovely day of shopping while M. was at work. It was so nice to just browse and look at whatever I wanted.
Well, later that evening we went to a Purdue volleyball game. It was such a blast. They played Wisconsin and it was such an intense game. It was really so much fun. We went with our cute friends Dan and Laura (who are big fans and made it even funner). Since it was the first big game of the season they introduced Purdue's basketball players after the game. They were really fun and had E. not fallen asleep we would have stayed longer and watched the scrimmage. Well, it was a lovely day filled with so many fun things. Thanks M. for being such a freakin' fun hubby!

Here is the Purdue train!

And here is the intense game!

For Marcos...

Marcos requested our engagement picture, so here you go taco! PJ did a little editing to it for the actual invitation but this is the original (credit given entirely to Gabriel and Marcela!)

Memory Lane...

Mostly for my own fun and benefit I decided to post some pictures of E. from when he was born to just yesterday. I wanted a reminder of how fun it has been and for those of you who haven't seen these pictures I thought it might give you a laugh. This first picture is the famous "Wendy is absolutely miserable and wants this baby OUT" picture. I didn't deliver for another 3 weeks! And yes, I was that big, there is no stuffing in there, that's what happens when your baby is born 9 pounds 8 ounces!

Here is newborn E. right after he was born, as mentioned 9 pounds 8 ounces and 20 1/2 inches.
All he did was sleep for the first three months of his little life, so naturally my Mom and I posed him and took tons of pictures of him doing just that. This was a few days after we brought him home.

He is about a month old in this picture. This is him stretching, of course while sleeping.

This is a great picture taken by my Mom. It's a rare close up of E. awake!

This is just a few minutes later and he is already asleep again!

M. loves this picture because E. is in his little bear suit, I'm not sure why he looks so terrified!

His first interactive sounds were pretty much him making this face and creating some ghostly sound - I think he was trying to scare us. Though note the very non-scary drool on his chin!

He loves his Daddy and this is the two of them giggling like usual.

Again, sleeping. He still does this with his little hands behind his head.

Random "bitter beer face"! In my favorite '80's turtle-neck! I love that shirt.

Oh so cute. He was helping me pack.

One of his chubbier days chillin' in his favorite thing, boxes. A few days before we moved.

Such a cheeser!!! Taken right after we moved to Indiana.

E. loves to be inside boxes and bins and anything he can, so naturally, garbage cans are ideal! This was just last week.

So worth the stretch marks, the pain, the lack of sleep for ten plus months. He is adorable and fun and my best little buddy!

This is the 3 of us going for a little hike at the beautiful Clegg gardens near our house. You can call this post cheesy or not, I had fun putting it up. So I hope you enjoyed a little walk through E.'s life to date!

Last Tears

I debated all morning whether or not I should post this video but in the end I decided to go for it. Take it as you will, this is a shout out first to "The Girls" and all of you that love them as much as I do. Not much can make me as happy as they do and I absolutely love this song. Secondly, I may have different beliefs and views than they do but they have a voice and they are using it. I admire that and I think we all need to be passionate about what we are supporting. Be wise, know the facts, and make sure you use your voice to vote! And enjoy this video, the Indigo Girls are the absolute BEST!!!!

Conference!!!

Well now wasn't conference just a breath of fresh air? I loved it, I needed it and I can't wait for the next one. There really isn't anything better than being uplifted with the spirit while sitting on your bed in your pajama's eating candy bars. I couldn't have had a better weekend! I thought I would post a couple pictures of just how much fun we had.

This is E. in his make-shift playpen. He is so crazy now that we needed a way for him to be blocked in so we could actually pay attention. It worked for some of the time.

M. took a moment to play a fun new game with E. He was giggling like crazy when they first started then he got a little more creative and started putting his head down so he could see M. and he started putting his hand underneath too. M. would pretend to eat his hand and as you can see I don't think E. knew what to think about that.

M. and E. took a little nap at the end of conference. They are just way too much alike, but I totally loved this picture!

They just keep coming so you just keep hearing...

I had two people do this so I'm doing both to get them out of the way on into your brains. Too much about Wendy and you might blow up. Here's goes Marcos!!!

High salary or job satisfaction?
Why not both?
Describe your self. What do you think about yourself and do you think people perceive you in the same way?
I'm me. I'm laid back, fun, introverted but can be fun at parties. I'm a little psycho and a little goofy but I hope in a good way. I think people either love me or hate me, they think I'm really outgoing and loud but if you get to know me I'm really introverted and awkward.
Which is your most favorite book ever?
(Putting church aside) Enders Game - Orson Scott Card changed a lot for me and I have read that book so many times!
Which is the one television character that you simply adore?
Jim baby! I am a little bit in love with Jim Halpert!
What is your taste in music?
I like talent! And particularly tough chicks!
Which is your favorite genre of movies ? (Comedy/ Romance/Suspense/Action/Horror)
I'm a romantic comedy kind of girl but I definitely won't turn down a good action.
What do you do when you are feeling very sad or depressed?
I eat a GIANT salad. I mean GIANT!
What makes your angry? Do you get angry very soon? How do you overcome your anger?
Ask M. He knows better than anyone, but beyond married anger I really don't like cruelty and injustice, not much else gets me fired up.
Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had in your life?
Twin Falls baby!!!!
If you could have a luncheon with any three people (real or fictitious/ from any time period, dead or alive) , which three people would you choose and why?
I don't know if I can top shakespeare, sinbad, and michael bolton (as is Marcos's request) but I think I would go with John Mayer - because he's funny and I'm totally in love with him, Michael Jackson - I just want to know why, and John Wayne - just cause.
Which is your most cherished childhood memory? How were you as a kid ?
I don't even want my siblings to come back with any kind of twisted version of this so I'm going to just say that I was dramatic and totally "the baby".
If given a complete freedom to start afresh, what profession would you choose and why?
A rockstar, who doesn't want to be a rockstar?!?!?!?
What is your idea of fun? If given a choice to skip work for a day, how would you spend the entire day?
I would spend the day just hanging out with family eating good food and watching a good movie.
Which is your favorite time of the day, are you a morning person or a night person?
I am definitely a night person, I feel my best after about 9:00.
What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
Dated Rob Petrich...gross
Name one person whom you love the most and one person whom you hate the most.
I love my husband and my son the most and I think I would definitely say that I hate Michael Scott in such a love/ hate way!
In case you and I were going out and we had a fight. How would you try to patch things up?
I don't know who you are but I would probably worry about the fight I would have with my husband when he found out more that with you, sorry.
Which is the most funniest prank played on you or played by you?
I used to have a one of those manequin heads from hair cutting school (thank you Hillari) that we used to hang in people's lockers at school. That was funny.
If given a choice, which animal would you want to be? Why?
I would be an elephant. They don't have to worry about being fat because they totally want to be fat. And they're funny and who doesn't love an elephant?
Who was your first crush? Did you ever tell him/her about your feelings?
Troy Kolan, who else? I think he was the first boy that I knew outside of my brothers.
Which is your most favorite place in this earth?
Lake Powell in the morning.
If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what are the five things that you would want to survive?
I'm with you Marcos, I totally hate this question, so I'm changing it to M.'s question, "If you were starving and you were a hot dog would you eat yourself?" and yes I think I would, but only if I was from Hinds Quick Stop.

I've been tagged!

Ok, Dani, here you go girl!

8 TV shows I love to watch:
1. The Office
2. Pushing Dasies
3. Project Runway
4. Chuck
5. Bones
6. 30 Rock
7. American Idol
8. What not to Wear

8 Places I love to Eat:
1. Genie Cragun's Kitchen
2. Susana Chard's Kitchen
3. Taggarts
4. Cafe Rio
5. Ligori's
6. Lee's Mongolian BBQ
7. Roosters
8. Taco Taco

8 Things that happened yesterday:
1. Kissed my little boy
2. Went shopping
2. Bought the most beautiful yarn at the COOLEST yarn store ever!
4. Played "In a Pickle" AND "Canasta"
5. Watched the debates
6. Made Enchiladas
7. Rearranged my kitchen
8. Changed a lot of poopy diapers

8 Things I look forward to:
1. My hubby coming home from work
2. My little boy waking up
3. My little boy going to sleep
4. Dessert, mmm...
5. Seeing family and friends
6. Being tagged so I actually have to tell things about myself (uh huh)
7. Sitting down
8. Conference

8 things I love about fall:
1. The leaves turning color
2. Hoodies
3. Soups
4. Egg Nog comes out in the stores
5. Holidays
6. Planning parties and get-togethers, getting gifts and costumes and etc.
7. Candy, candy, candy!!
8. The blue light (weird, no one ever gets it so I'm not explaining.)

8 Things on my wish list:
1. E. to grow up to be a strapping young man that lives a good life and is happy
2. A "Happily ever after" life
3. To hang out with my friends and family
4. E. to sleep through the night more than 2 nights in a row
5. Lots of artichokes
6. Unlimited funds to my new favorite yarn store
7. A really great pair of red heels (and a great outfit to wear them with!)
8. Obama to win the election!

8 People I'm tagging:
Whoever would like to do this go for it! Tag Power!!!!

News and reviews!

So I thought I would start by reviewing a few books. First I just finished reading Shannon Hale's Repunzel's Revenge. This is a YA graphic novel and I was really impressed. She collaborated with her husband to create this book for kids that don't really like to read but like comics. I loved it! I would definitely rate it a big 5 Peach Puffs! (This is my new rating system in E's honor!) Shannon Hale is fabulous anyway so I wasn't surprised that her writing was flawless, funny, adorable and just perfect! The art was equally wonderful and I would recommend this to anyone that likes to read or not!

Second, I read Gail Carson Levine's Ever. Ok, this book sucked! I'm sorry all of you Ella Enchanted fans, I personally enjoyed Ella Enchanted but I didn't care for this book at all. The writing was very simple, far too simple even for young readers, and the story had an unpolished ending. There really wasn't much of a wrap-up, just an ending. I would give Ever 1 Peach Puff. Not a recommendation from me.

Third and Fourth...
I am still chiping away at the Jim Butcher Dresden Files series. I finished the eighth and ninth books Proven Guilty and White Night. Both were very good, Jim Butcher has really become an amazing writer through this series. He Started out as quite the joke but I have been so impressed with these last few books. In particular Proven Guilty was my favorite to date. None of them have stood out to me like this one has and I simply loved it! It was great. There are such carefully placed jokes to break the tension that I literally find myself laughing out loud and not really noticing because I am so intensly caught up in the story. His writing has improved so much and is just fabulous and the stories have become even more intricate, if that is possible. I also love that he never dissapoints me. Some authors throw in a death or sadness or some kind of "reality" just to say that they can or that it's artistic. Well, I want to read to be swept away and enjoy a good story, Jim Butcher definitely fulfills that for me. He never lets me down!
I might complain though that the love story he has been dragging on for all nine books does not seem to be finding a connection EVER! If this doesn't occur I might completely throw it out the window. Either way Proven Guilty 4 1/2 Peach Puffs White Night 3 1/2 Peach Puffs.

Last, I started reading Storm Born by Richelle Mead. I have boasted about her for awhile now but I have to admit that I couldn't get into this book and it was far too schmutty for my taste. Sorry Richelle but I am slowly phasing you out of my reading to do's. Definitely a disappointment. (I can't rate it because I didn't finish, I only read about 30-40 pages, sorry!)


Ok, so these last two pictures are my fun new projects that I am so excited about! The first are little Dinosaur booties, and the second are being modeled by my little bear and are the cutest little Bear booties! I had a lot of fun making them and I wanted to show them to everyone. The cutest part are the hot feet and legs modeling them! (He was so mad at me for doing this he actually kicked the camera!)

"What Senator Obama doesn't understand..."

If John McCain says that one more time during these debates I'm going to throw my shoe at the TV! Enough said!

Halloween decisions...

Okay, so we're going to have a vote to see which costume everyone thinks is more appropriate and fun for a 9 month old baby. M. and I found these two costumes and fought over which one E. would be wearing for Halloween. I won't tell you who wanted what but I would love some positive feedback and a nice vote for which one you would choose!

Note: This is a really cool costume of a super cool super-hero and very "manly". Also, he could rock this costume any day of the year and who wouldn't have fun seeing him run around in either the whole suit or just part of it for kicks? This one totally says "Rockstar"!

Note: The lighting makes this outfit look like it's very sparkly and gold, well, IT IS!!!! It is a sparkly gold jump suit with a tail and a lion head. SPARKLY GOLD for a little BOY!!!! Can you imagine him running around in a sparkly gold jumpsuit at play group? Talk about being teased, he would need a shrink!

So, now that I have given you some facts (completely non-biased) you can make up your own mind and let me know what you think. We ended up buying one of them and if you would like to make guesses on which one that is completely fine too!