Things that Make Me Smile #7-12

7. Books. All kinds of books. Kid books, adult books, YA books.

Mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, biographies, non-fiction, fiction. It's all good.

8. Sweets. Mostly chocolate, but just about anything sweet is wonderful.

9. When a sewing project begins to take shape.


10. Warm, sunny days.

11.

12. My kids actually eating their dinner and not complaining.
(Don't have a picture of this since it happens so rarely, but still, it does happen.)

Things That Make Me Smile #1-6

1. Hugs from Jeremy (seriously, the kid gives the best hugs ever).

2. Megan coming up to me every day and saying,
"Mom, I have something to do to you!" and then giving me a kiss.


3. Emma laughing with her mouth open really wide.


4. Nathan doing the dishes.

5. Finding really weird things--like the Beer Can House in Houston.

(this picture is really, really old)

6. Having a day where I don't feel like the world's worst mom, but like I did ok.

I'm Laughing on the Inside. Maybe.

I'm trying to laugh about this.


Really, I am. But it just isn't coming today.


Normally Emma eats just fine on her own, but not lately. I was busy with Megan and Jeremy, double checking that their new winter gear fits perfectly.


When her food and bowl became her shirt and hat.

Book Review: The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I first heard of this book about three years ago. This was way before it had been published and still had a lot of editing needed. I met James and he told me a little of the idea behind the book (a little less than what's on the back of the book) and I was intrigued. The last time I saw him he told me it was being published and would come out Fall of 2009. I didn't think I could wait and wanted to ask for an advanced reader copy.

I bought it almost as soon as it came out, but had to wait to read it because I was reading a book for book club and wanted to give my full attention to my friend's book. As soon as I was finished with the book club book I started on Maze Runner.

I think James did a great job. The idea behind the book, which is the first in a trilogy, is interesting, the way he developed is amazing. The characters remind me of characters in The Outsiders, a group of teenage boys who have their own language, slang. The boys have created a lot of their own slang that gets used frequently. Having their own words seems to help bring them solidarity.

The story itself is terrifying and the ending, of course, left me wanting more. It is, after all, the first in a trilogy. I found myself ignoring my kids all day and almost fed my family hot dogs without the buns because I had such a hard time putting the book down. In the end I had to stay up until almost 1AM finishing it.

My only complaints would be 1) the characters do sound very similar to one another. Occasionally I couldn't tell who was speaking because their language was so similar. The main character stuck out from the others, but among the rest of the boys I did have a hard time. However, I understood that all the boys were in exactly the same situation, with exactly the same background, not remembering anything before showing up in the maze and some of them being there for over two years, and so they would sound very similar because of that.
2) I have to wait for the next book!

All in all I really loved this book. It was scary, emotional, and fun. Great job, Dashner!

View all my reviews >>

What do you get when you cross a fish, a ballerina, a chicken, and Edward Cullen?

A Very Fun Halloween!

Nathan was Edward Cullen for Halloween. Just kidding. He would not be happy if I let you believe that. He actually made these fangs in the sim clinic at school.

Here are the kiddos. Megan is a ballerina, Jeremy is a fish, and Emma a chicken.
It was too cold for Emma to go as a ballerina like Megan,
so we brought out the old chicken costume to keep her warm.

We went to a fun Halloween party some friends from the dental school were having and then went trick or treating around their neighborhood. Here's a picture of the kids when they were still going strong. Emma was practically running from house to house saying, "Candy! Candy!" She was very excited.

Here's just a good back shot of his fishy costume.

Megan was actually the first to admit being tired
and said, "Mom, I think I have enough candy. Let's go home."
What a funny kid. I don't think I ever would have said that when I was her age. Or now.

Motherhood = Hurling

Motherhood is like a wild, wicked roller coaster . . . and right now, I want to hurl.

Today was a good day.

We chased leaves at the school for half and hour before Megan's class started.
We watched for them, waiting for the leaves to fall and then ran after them, trying to catch them before they hit the ground.
Well, Megan and Jeremy did. Emma mostly just picked them up in handfuls from the ground.

Emma found a garden area that she was really interested in. Unfortunately it was very muddy and so now her pants and shoes are as well. Here she is trying to figure out how to get into it.


At home I was actually pretty productive and one of the things I did was rake the leaves in the front yard. Megan and Emma helped me, as you can see. Jeremy opted to stay inside, feigning lost shoes, so he could sneak into the Halloween candy. Smart boy.

Chili Cook Off!

Our ward had a Halloween party tonight and there was a chili cook off. There were three judges and each judge picked their favorite batch. Mine was one of the winners! I was so excited and it really made my night, which had been horrid before that. I got a fun apron that said I won. Here it is----->

The only other food related contest I've won was a brownie baking contest in college between me and one of my roomies who thought homemade brownies were better than box brownies. Please! There was no way she'd win that. So obviously I won that. But at the Church cook off there were 14 different chilies that were contesting.

So my absolutely horrible day full of frustration and tears ended on a great note. It helped that another Texan was the judge that picked mine:)


***ok, I just realized that you can't see where it says I won, but it is at the bottom of the apron, written on the edge.***

Carved Out

I forgot to post these pictures the other day when Nathan and the kids carved our pumpkin. So here they are! You're welcome grandparents! Sorry everyone else for the picture overload.

I saw pumpkins at Aldi for only $1.99, so I figured I'd go ahead and get it. They were good sized and in good shape, so I was surprised they were so cheap.


Megan quickly decided she wasn't as keen on taking the guts out as she has been in years past.



Emma was really excited to hold the scraper . . .
. . . until she tasted what was on it.

Everyone Needs A Samwise

"I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you."

This one line is Samwise Gamgee. He carries Frodo through the entire journey. He lifts him up, encouraging positive thoughts and urging Frodo to banish any fear about their situation or future. He goes without so Frodo can be strengthened. He watches out for Frodo when there is danger. He risks his own life to protect Frodo's. Helping Frodo overcome his trial, keeping him as comfortable and happy as possible is all that matters to Samwise.



I have a Samwise. My own personal Samwise Gamgee. He takes care of me everyday. He helps me be positive. He helps me be happy. He helps me remember the good things in life and keeps me from dwelling on the heavy load I carry. My Samwise does things he doesn't want to do and doesn't complain. Without my Samwise this world would be so much more difficult for me. My Samwise carries me everyday, from one moment to the next, often without any thought for himself.

"But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. . . . Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something. . . . That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for."



Nathan, I love you. Thank you. You are my Samwise. You are my good in this world that is worth fighting for.