Abbi - July 2011

Loves daddy's phone!

Nothing better than dinner outside

More messy face

Beautiful girl outside

Fashionista!

Friends

I miss having my friends live nearby!! I'm so happy that both Michelle and Syndi were in town at the same time, and we all met up for some fun times at Micky D's to catch up and let the kids play. It was so fun to see them and to chat with them. I miss them both so much!!

24th of July

I love all of the fireworks shows in Utah in July!!

We celebrated Pioneer Day down at my parent's house. Since the 24th of July was on Sunday, the fireworks show was on the 25th. (I guess technically, this fireworks show wasn't even for Pioneer Day, but for Spanish Fork Days.)

The kids all played dress up while we waited for it to get dark outside.

And we got to celebrate Gavin's big 3rd birthday with cupcakes!

There were some smaller fireworks while we waited for the big fireworks show.  I am not good at photographing fireworks, and I was trying to figure out how to do them - but not having a whole lot of luck!

Except I do love this picture of Asher watching the fireworks!

Then it was time for the big show.  My parent's backyard was the perfect location!!

I always love a good excuse to get together - especially when fireworks are involved!!

Splash Pad

Just some random pictures of Abbi at the splash pad at the Riverwoods. We went to the Taste of the Valley, and after Abbi saw this, all she wanted to do was go and play. It was a fun way to cool off!!

Book #32 - The Road

The Road
Cormac McCarthy

Blurb: Unfolding in a terrifying future where Armageddon has been waged and lost, The Road traces the odyssey of a father and his young son through a desolate landscape of devastation and danger. (From Goodreads)

Opening Sentence: "When he woke in the woods in the dark and the cold of night he'd reach out and touch the child sleeping beside him."


Length:Medium - 241 pages

Notes: I'd had this book on my "to-read" list for quite some time.  I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to read it!  At first, I didn't think I was going to like it.  The short, choppy paragraphs kind of bothered me (no actual chapters) and at first, I felt like the story was going nowhere.  We were walking down the road, watching out for the bad people.  We got really hungry, then found some food.  Then we were walking down the road again, and ran out of food again. Then found some more food.  But then, somewhere in there, I totally got sucked into this book.  I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading, and trying to find a spare minute here and there to pick it up and read it.  I was completely engrossed in it.  It ended up being one of my favorite books that I have read lately.  There were a couple of disturbing parts in it, though.  And I was left feeling kind of hanging at the end.  If I would have gotten a little more closure from the ending, this would have been a 5 star book. 

Random quote: “You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

Recommend: yes

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

Book #31 - Something Borrowed

Something Borrowed
Emily Giffin
  
Blurb: Meet Rachel White, a young attorney living and working in Manhattan. Rachel has always been the consummate good girl--until her thirtieth birthday, when her best friend Darcy throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiance'. Although she wakes up determined to put the one-night fling behind her, Rachel is horrified to discover that she has genuine feelings for the one guy she should run from. In her wildest dreams (or worst nightmare?) this is the last thing on earth Rachel could ever have imagined happening. As the September wedding date nears, Rachel knows she has to make a choice. In doing so, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't always neat and sometimes you have to risk all to win true happiness. (From Goodreads)

Opening Sentence: "I was in the fifth grade the first time I thought about turning thirty."
 
Length: Medium - 341 pages

Notes: Don't ask me why I read this book.  I guess it's because I'm a sucker for books turned into movies, and I saw that this book was coming out as a movie.  But it's about a girl who has an affair with her best friend's fiance.  I should have known, right from that, that I wouldn't like this book.  It's hard to feel sorry for the main character when she is doing something like having an affair.   It almost feels like the author is trying to justify the affair and give reasons for you to side with Rachel, but I really don't see any circumstance where an affair is justified.  When I finished the book, I kept asking myself why I even wasted my time reading it.  So unless you are ok with affairs, I wouldn't recommend this one!

Random quote: “When you’re in love, sometimes you have to swallow your pride, and sometimes you have to keep your pride. It’s a balance. But when the relationship is right, you find the balance.”

Recommend: no

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

Happy Birthday to Josh!

Happy 33rd Birthday to Josh!!

(Please excuse the lack of and the poor quality of the photos!!)

We kept things pretty low key for Josh's birthday this year.  He had been craving wings from Winger's, so we picked up some wings and his parents came over for a little feast.

(Abbi doing "here is the church, here is the steeple" with Nanas)

My cake with frosting that totally didn't work.  I knew I should have stuck with a recipe I knew was good...  But at least the cake was good!

Josh blowing out the candles, and yes - the only picture I have of him.  On his birthday.  I need to change that next year!!

Happy birthday, Josh!  I hope the next year brings good things and that all your wishes come true!