Wordless Wednesday - Reflections

{This is my Mommy and Me picture for March - barely in time!}

{Abbi-a-Day} Days 78-84

I couldn't decide on just one picture - she just looks too cute!! She is hilarious when a breeze blows on her face - that is what is happening in the picture on the right.

She wanted to go outside and help daddy in the yard. I don't know why she is sticking her tongue out, but it made me laugh!

She does not let me put anything on her head anymore - hats, bows, headbands - unless she sticks it on herself. It's a shame, too, because she looks so stinkin' cute in a hat. Luckily, she put it on and I was able to get a picture! (Just as a side note - she must have a really small head. We bought this hat last summer when we were in St. George to keep her out of the sun a bit. It is infant sized, and was just way too big for her. It is just now fitting her!)

Ok, I have to come clean and say that I cheated a bit here. I totally did take a picture, but I'm a dork and accidentally erased all my pictures from one day from my camera. Luckily it was only one day, but I was so upset that I lost the day's picture since I haven't missed a day yet. I couldn't leave it blank, though, so I cheated and put on the outfit she was wearing that day and we pretended. So although it's cheating, it's not really cheating...

Abbi loves to be outside so much that she will sometimes sneak out. When Max goes out, we'll usually shut the door, but not all the way so he can push it open when he wants to come back in. Well, she has figured out how to stick her fingers in the door frame so she can pry the door open. She made a run for it this day, even though she is obviously not dressed to be outside!

Josh was taking care of her while I was getting dressed, and I walked into the bathroom with her having a ball on the counter. I missed catching her making faces in the mirror, but she loves when she can get up and play with the things on the sink!

Book #20 - River Secrets

River Secrets
Shannon Hale

Yes, another Shannon Hale book. I only have one left in this series, and I'm going to be sad when I'm finished. But she still has some other books that I'm looking forward to reading!

Just like the others from this series, I really enjoyed this. These books are super easy reads. Although they are 300+ pages, I can get through one in 2 or 3 days. They are fun and inventive, and completely entertaining. I think one of the things I like the best about this series is that each book is from a different character's perspective. I think it really helps you to see the whole picture a little better.

The only thing I have been thinking about with this book and the one previous to this (Enna Burning) is that they are a little dark for young adult fiction. I know my 12 year old niece read the first book in the series - Goose Girl - and I kept saying that I can't wait to read that book with Abbi when she is older. I don't know how young girls would take the second and third book, though, because there is a bit of death and killing in them.

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

Wordless Wednesday - The First Flowers

March Family Dinner

Every third Sunday, my family gets together for family dinner. I usually forget to get the camera out - I'm usually distracted by all the food and conversation! - but I've been trying to be better about documenting my life. So here's a sampling of what goes on at one of our family dinners!

I love watching all of these cousins play together. Although their ages are different, when they get together, the are all like best friends. So many smiles and laughs!

Kaleb and Kade's 4th birthday was the week before, so we celebrated with cake! The boys got to each blow out candles on their own cute cakes.




I wish I would have got a picture of the other cake my sister made - it was SO delicious!! There was also lots of yummy tacos, present opening, and of course - lots of talking time. I love being with my family!

Book #19 - Life of Pi

Life of Pi
Yann Martel

Funny story - a few weeks ago, I got back from the library with 6 new books. I was super excited, and mentioned it to one of my sisters on the phone that afternoon. She asked which books I got. I told her the title of the first - she says that she started reading it, but never finished. I told her another title - that one she had read, but didn't like it. Another title - another book she had started but never finished. Ummm, all of a sudden, I wasn't so excited about my book choices anymore!!

This book was one that she had started but never finished. I can totally see why. The first about 50 pages were really hard for me to get through. In fact, several times, I almost gave up to read something else. But I kept going - mainly just because I knew how popular this book has been. I'm really glad I kept reading, because really, it is a great book. I still don't really get why those first chapters are there, though, because they really don't have much to do with the story. Skip into the second section, and it's a great book!

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

Fashion-less

Yesterday, I watched part of The Devil Wears Prada on tv. I've always liked the movie, and I love some of the outfits Anne Hathaway's character wears after her "fashion transformation". Now, let me say - I've never been what I would call a fashionable person. Real fashion costs money - a lot of money. But I've always tried to care somewhat about what I wear. But as I was watching, I realized that her "before" wardrobe is my wardrobe. And it's gotten even worse now that I'm home all day, and since my clothes fit differently since having Abbi, and since I have no money to go out and buy new clothes. And now, all of a sudden, instead of just feeling normal, I feel very un-fashionable.

This has actually been coming on for quite awhile now. I hate going to the mall. Whenever I do, I leave wanting to either starve myself so I can look like most of the girls walking around in there, or stop at the nearest Krispy Kreme for a dozen doughnuts so that I can wallow in self pity. (Can we say emotional eater??) I went to get my hair cut last week, and my hair dresser is in this new, cute salon that also sells all sorts of cute, trendy clothes. Not to mention the fact that my hair dresser always looks so cute. And there I was, in the same pair of ratty jeans and my scuffed up shoes.

Part of me wants to just say- who cares? I'm at home 90% of the time, and when I'm not home, I'm usually just going to the grocery store. But the other part of me wants to care because I didn't ever want to become that frumpy stay at home mom who never gets out of her sweat pants.

So, where do you find that happy medium? Let's be honest - I'm not going to get dressed up every day while I sit at home and clean the toilet or pull weeds in the yard. But I feel like I'm in desperate need of some fashion help for when I do get to leave the house. I never thought I'd be a good candidate for What Not To Wear, but honestly - now I'm thinking I could really use the help!

{Abbi-a-Day} Days 71-77

Playing with shoes at the ice skating rink

This girl loves being outside!

So tired!

Peeking over our makeshift fence. Hopefully this will get finished soon!

Fun With a Mirror

Gotta love it when you put a toddler in front of a mirror. This little girl cracks me up!

Book #18 - Water For Elephants

Water For Elephants
Sara Gruen

I have figured out why I like young adult novels so much. You don't have to worry about all the language or sexually explicit material. I think I would have really liked this book if it weren't for those two things. The subject matter was very interesting - it's a story about a man who joins the circus in the 1920's. The writing was good. It was hard to put down at times. In fact, I was reading until 1am to finish this, because I didn't want to put it down. I also had a problem with the fact that the love story is about an affair.

But I wouldn't want to recommend it to anyone because of the language and the sex. It's too bad, because I think that the story itself was quite interesting!

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

Studio 5

A little over a year ago, I was asked to be on a cooking segment on a local tv show - Studio 5. Well, they asked me back again, and I was on March 15th, making a Chicken and Cheese Enchilada Chowder. I guess my 7 minutes of fame turned into 12 minutes of fame! If you'd like to see the segment, you can check it out HERE. Surprisingly, I was more nervous this time than I was the first time. But it was fun!

Ice Skating

Ice Skating Fun!!

It was my nephew's birthday last week, and he wanted to invite the whole family to go ice skating to celebrate. I was excited because I have only been ice skating once before, and it was years and years ago.

Josh tried skating, but with his knee, he lasted about 2.5 seconds. Oh well - maybe it will be good enough to skate on next year!

All the kids were so excited and had a lot of fun. Many of the younger ones needed a little help, but they still loved it!


Abbi had a ball watching through the glass. She especially loved it when people would stop to wave or smile at her. She would laugh and smile so big!



Still obsessed with shoes - even when they are not her own. I'm pretty sure she only played with her cousin's shoes, though - hopefully not any stranger's!

Smiles while watching the skaters

We ended the night with pizza and cake for the birthday boy. What a great night!

Book #17 - The Westing Game

The Westing Game
Ellen Raskin

Yes - another teen book. :) This one was really fun, and really clean. It's a super short, easy read, but I thought it was a lot of fun. It felt kind of like Clue to me - the game of finding out "who did it." I thought I was going to have a hard time keeping all of the characters straight since there are so many of them, but it was really easy to follow. If you are looking for a fun read, you should read this!

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

12 of 12 - March

1 - The day started with book reading. A requirement for every day!
2 - Some love and attention given to Max. Since he acts like he is always ignored (but he really isn't!)
3 - Checking on my giveaway at My Giveaway Today.
4 - Out to run errands!
5 - A stop at Kohl's to find a bowl for my segment on Studio 5. And trying on some shirts so that I'll have something to wear that hides my muffin top!
6 - Just found out that there is a French bakery in Orem that sells macarons! I had to go and sample them, and they were wonderful. Surprisingly, I loved the lemon one the best. SO good.
7 - A stop at Target and a cranky girl. Errands cut short because of the cranky girl.
8 - Treats at home to cure the crankiness.
9 - Time to make dinner!
10 - Some time spent on the back porch, enjoying the nice weather and watching daddy fertilize the lawn.
11 - This girl loves being outside!
12 - The house is quiet - time to get caught up on some things, including paying bills. Not the best way to end the day, but it's gotta be done!

{Abbi-a-Day} Days 64-70

I don't know why, but I love, love, love this picture. Probably because of the look on her face. It is just so her!!

Loves Blue's Clues!

Wrestling with daddy

Enjoying the nice weather

Fingers are fun

Wrinkled post-bath feet

Book #16 - Twenties Girl

Twenties Girl
Sophie Kinsella

I wanted to really like this book, and I think I would have if it wasn't for 2 things:

1 - the language. Why do British authors have to swear so much?
2 - one of the characters - the main character's aunt that comes back as a ghost - is extremely annoying. I know that was kind of the point, but she was just so unlikeable. And at the end, I know the author tries to turn it around to show that she really was a good person, but by that point, I really didn't like her and no matter what happened, I was just too far gone. I think it was just a little too over the top.

But overall, it was entertaining. Which, it's Chick Lit, so I'm sure that's the whole point. But I do have to admit that I cried a few tears at the end and found it a bit touching. It was a fast read, especially considering it's length. But I got through it quite quickly and it kept me wanting to read it.

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

You Capture - Quiet

This week's You Capture theme is:

Quiet

These days, quiet is not as common as it used to be. But I think that it makes me appreciate these quiet moments more, as I look down at the beautiful face of my little girl. Watching her suck her thumb in her sleep. (Even though it's a habit I never wanted her to have - I still think it's pretty cute!) Wondering what she's going to be like when she grows up. And thinking about just how lucky and blessed I am.

Life is not always perfect, but it's perfect moments like these that make everything all better.

Wordless Wednesday - A Flower Among the Weeds

Book #15 - The Joy Luck Club

The Joy Luck Club
Amy Tan

I've had a copy of this book on my bookshelf for some time now. I have no idea where it came from, or if it is even my book. But I had read all the library books I had checked out, and instead of waiting until the next day to go to the library, I decided to pick this book up and read it.

I know that I could have really liked this book, but a few things really bothered me. I really liked the writing, and the individual stories were interesting, but there were just too many things going on. If you haven't read it, it is the stories of 4 women and their 4 daughters. Each chapter has a different author. I found myself having to go back to the beginning of the book at the start of each new chapter so I could remember who the author of that chapter was. Then I had to look up any previous chapters by that author and remind myself of what happened in the previous chapter(s). I felt like none of the stories were really complete, and it left me feeling like the book was unfinished. I could have handled maybe one mother and one daughter. But all 8 people - it was just way too confusing. I do think I'd like to read another book from this author, though, because like I said, I did enjoy the writing.

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

Park Day

Last week, the weather was actually quite nice. Abbi and I decided to take a walk to the park. Abbi has been to the park before, but I think this was really the first time she understood and was able to play.

She really wanted to get down and run, but unfortunately, she isn't really used to walking in shoes yet. She ended up on her bum a lot, but it didn't stop her!


She loved to swing, and I loved seeing her face light up with smiles.


It even got warm enough for us to take off our jackets and enjoy the sunshine beating down on us. I can already tell there are going to be a lot of park days this summer.

She is so funny, because she hates having dirty hands. You can see in the top right picture the look on her face - kind of disgusted - before she decides to dig in and play.

(And I realize I have a bit of a picture addiction - and I have the hardest time narrowing down which pictures to share. That's why there are always a million pictures. But I can't think of a better addiction to have!)