Books read in January

I love books. I love to read. I don't read nearly as much as I would like to, but I do make time as often as I can. I also find that I go in spells where I want to read constantly and other times I could go a month without picking up a book, though this is pretty rare. I will read most anything.

I thought I would share the books that I have read so far this month. I am always looking for suggestions so if you have any please share!

I Like You - Hospitality under the Influence by Amy Sedaris- Funny book about entertaining

The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards-very good.

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult-Love her books

The Undomestic Goddess-Funny, light read- also love her other books.

The Best Life Diet by Bob Greene- The guy who helped Oprah- gonna try it! (I will probably post more about this later.)

I am lucky enough that I can trade back and forth with my mom and some of my friends but I still find myself buying books. I would like to use the library more often. I am actually there once a week for story time but never seem to make it to the adult section. I have been reading

some of the young adult/teen literature which has been kinda fun though. I really enjoyed Hoot and Flush both by Carl Hiaasen.

So that is my list for the month. I would recommend them all!

My Birthday

I have had a very nice birthday so far. I still have several hours left and intend to enjoy the rest of it too. My husband and children let me sleep in this am. My husband took me out to lunch without the children. The girls got to play at their best friends house. When we got back to pick up the girls they had a cake for me. Very yummy!

So after the responses to my tattoo post I am really considering getting one. I still need to think about it a little longer, but maybe this summer....I'll keep you posted. The whole belly button piercing is out because it would require hiring a personal trainer and getting a tummy tuck, so unless we win powerball that just isn't going to happen!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to Me,
Happy Birthday to Me,
Happy Birthday to Me (and Auntie Lisa!)
Happy Birthday to Me!

So it's my blog and my birthday and today is all about me. But right now I don't feel like writing about me so I'll save that for later on today. I just wanted to wish myself a Happy Birthday!!
Cause it's all about ME! As a typical mom I always put family first so this is kinda fun! ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME,(No offense Lisa) ME,ME, ME.....LALALALALA....ME,ME,ME.........
Happy Birthday to ME.........

Blog challenge

The scrapbooking website that I visit quite often has blog challenges or topics actually that they challenge you to write about. The one for yesterday was "If you got a tattoo, what kind would you get and where would you put it?"
I decided to take this challenge and reveal a little known secret which is I have always wanted to get a tattoo but have never actually had the courage to do it. (I have always wanted to get my belly buttoned pierced too!) So if I ever did get a tattoo I would get two simple little butterflies or dragonflies to symbolize my two girls. I would probably put it just above my ankle.

Becca's Birthday

It seems like we have been celebrating Becca's birthday for a week now and we kinda have. We started on Sat. the 13 the with Grammy and Grampy. They came over for lunch and cake and ice cream. Her official birthday was on Thursday the 18th. We celebrated at home with cake and presents. This is also the day that the big present arrived by pure luck. The gift was given by Nonna, Nonno, Auntie Lisa and Uncle Chuck. It was a three foot tall stuffed pony that actually moves like a real pony. Her name is Butterscotch and you may have seen them in some stores around Christmas time. It really is amazing how realistic this thing moves its head and ears, swishes its tail and actual air comes out its nostrils when it snorts! It is also amazing that it was delivered on her birthday. After Christmas there were none of these to be found in stores, so after some research by Auntie Lisa we decided to order online from Target whose price was a little cheaper and then with the extra cost of shipping it wasn't too different then if I had found it at a store. Target didn't have any in stock but was taking orders and estimated a delivery of 3-6 weeks.

Despite randomly checking the website on the Tuesday morning before her birthday I had pretty much given up that it would arrive in time for her birthday as had everyone else. Tuesday evening when I checked the email there was the shipping notice from Target! I was so suprised that I gasped out loud causing Becca to look at me and ask what was wrong. "Nothing."

I innocently replied. I wasn't able to find out where it was shipping from that night and checked first thing Wednesday morning. It had shipped from PA and I knew that it still had a shot of making it for her birthday. Weds. afternoon it hit Chelmsford, MA. and overnight it was sitting in Dover, NH. By 9:00am it was out for delivery. I couldn't believe the luck! Of course we rarely get deliveries before 4:30 from UPS. This actually was another stroke of luck. Dom left work early and was driving in the driveway as the UPS man left. The girls were playing and never heard the delivery. Dom snuck the pony into the garage and put the batteries in and the head on.(There is a warning on the box not to open in front of small children because the pony is headless.) Dom then turned the pony on and left it on the porch and came in throught the garage. I then told Becca she had a delivery and then there was much screaming and dancing around in excitement.

Saturday Becca had a Willy Wonka themed party with friends which was very nice and on Sunday we were at Nonna's for more cake and presents.

Peyton vs. Brady

Peyton Manning, after living a full life, died. When he got to heaven, God was showing him around. They came to a modest little house with a faded Colts flag in the window. "This house is yours for eternity, Peyton," said God. "This is very special; not everyone gets a house up here. "Peyton felt special, indeed, and walked up to his house. On his way up the porch, he noticed another house just around the corner. It was a 3-story mansion with a Silver and blue sidewalk, a 50-foot tall flagpole with an enormous Patriots logo flag, and in every window, a New England Patriots towel. Peyton looked at God and said "God, I'm not trying to be ungrateful, but I have a question. I was an all-pro QB, I hold many NFL records, and I even went to the Hall of Fame. "God said "So what's your point Peyton?" "Well, why does Tom Brady get a better house than me?" God chuckled, and said: "Peyton, that's not Tom's house, it's mine."GO PATRIOTS!!!

Kitty Entertainment

We have one of those bird feeders that sit right in the window and has a one way mirror so you can see the birds but they can't see you. This is where the cat spends 80% of the day. Every now and then you hear a thump as she crashes into the window trying to get one of the birds. It's not a great picture but if you look closely there is a bird sitting in the feeder. Now that everything is covered with ice there is a constant flow of birds to the feeder. (as you can see I need to fill it up again!) It's really kinda fun to watch them. Just ask Misty!

"Water is the worst nightmare!"

I am very lucky to have two well behaved children most of the time, but Mackenzie can be very challenging. At least several times a day we butt heads about something, usually clothing but it could be anything on any given day.
Last night was a perfect example. As I was making dinner Kenzie asked for some milk. Not wanting her to fill up on milk right before dinner I told her that she could have water now and milk with her dinner. This of course did not go over well at all and Kenzie went on and on about how she hated water and "water is the worst nightmare!' She continued her tirade until we sat down to dinner. In reality Kenzie drinks water all the time. In fact both girls will no longer drink juice only milk or water by their own choice. We finally sit down to dinner and the girls get milk. When dinner is over I notice that Kenzie's glass is still over half full. So I ask her if she is going to drink it.
"No, I want water." She sweetly replied as I resisted the urge to bang my head repeatedly against the wall. It is a good thing that she is so cute!

Winter is finally here

We seem to finally be getting some honest to goodness New England winter weather here in mid-January. Not that I want actual winter weather. I was in fact enjoying the mild weather very much. Today we have had a mixture of sleet, freezing rain and snow. I would prefer just straight snow but since I didn't have to go anywhere today the ice is okay. As long as we don't get too much and lose power! Becca should have had school today but it was cancelled because of the weather as was her dance class. Dom wisely chose to work from home today so everyone has been home safe and sound. When everyone is home and we can just hang out and not worry about the weather I don't mind the snow/ice/freezing rain. The weathermen are saying that the cold weather is here to stay. It is supposed to be really cold all week.







Now so you don't think I am total geek rambling on about the weather for my last two posts, onto other news:







THE PATRIOTS BEAT THE CHARGERS!!!!!!!!!!WOOOHOOO!!!!!!!







I am not a big football fan but I watched the whole game to support my poor husband who was a total wreck the entire time. How they managed to pull it off I don't know but they did. Dom thinks that if they can beat the chargers they'll go to the Superbowl. Let's hope he's right!







We are in the final planning stages of Becca's birthday party. She wanted a Willy Wonka themed party this year so I have been wracking my brain trying to come up with ideas. I made the invitations and they came out pretty cute. For the front of the invitation I color copied a Wonka Bar then inside is of course a golden ticket! Sorry, pics aren't so good. I've got some candy crafts planned. I even found a small chocolate fountain on clearance at Target for our chocolate waterfall! (I love Target clearance! It was only $12.00!!) You should have seen Becca's eye's light up when I told her about the fountain. Instead of a cake I will make cupcakes and let the kids decorate them.
I will post more pics after the party on Saturday.

I am officially freaked out!

By the weather. It was 65 degrees on Saturday January 6th. There is no snow on the ground and we played outside in sweatshirts. The girls didn't even seem to mind the mild weather. Our road and driveway is a mess of mud as well as our vehicles. It is currently 41 and pouring rain. I am not complaining but it's getting a little creepy. Can you say global warming????

A dog's life

This is Boomer relaxing and just letting it all hang out. He is not supposed to be on the couch but does it look like he cares????

He actually sleeps all sprawled out like this all the time and it cracks me up. This is the best one so far.

Happy New Year!

New look for the Blog for the new year. Like it?