books, books, 52 books

I know you all have been sitting on the edge of your chairs wondering how I did on my goal of reading one book a week for the year. I DID IT. On the nose. I read 52 books and then decided not to read one more this year. I am burnt out. (((Amended. I finished a book today called The Swiss Courier. It was pretty good. Ben was watching basketball so I had to start another book even though I thought I was done for the year. It was historical fiction from the WWII. I was reminded how much I like historical fiction. May need to add that to my list for 2010.)))

What I realized is that there are only a couple of really good authors. Then there a lot of authors who must just write to make money, and some authors that should never have picked up a pencil.

The favorite for the year was Charles Martin. I love his writing and am anxiously awaiting his next book to come out in June, 2010. I was also surprised to find I liked DreamHunter and DreamQuake by Elizabeth Knox. Those were suggested from a blog that Stephanie Meyer's keeps, author of the Twilight series.

I also really enjoyed Last Lecture and books by Cecelia Ahern and O, My Stars by Lorna Landvik. I found I do not like Ted Dekker, though there he does have a following,and I was really disappointed in Vanity Fair.

I still have a stack of books to read, though none of them are really screaming to me to read them. They may be put away for awhile.

Next year I plan to have a reading goal again but am changing it up a bit. I would like to read a few more classics, Christian books, ones on specific areas of the Bible and Jesus' life, and maybe some history books. I would like to stray from what I normally read and try some other genres. Not actually sure how I will put guidelines on my goal but I need to work on it.

Good Husband Good Daddy

Last night when Ben got home from Salem, where he put in a hard day at work he piled us into the van and drove back to Salem. Why? So we could see some snow. Salem had snow. Stayton did not. We had a few flakes and I mean a few. We had nothing to really even get a smile on for. The area where Ben worked got a decent (well decent for Salem) amount so we drove there and touched it, I barely took my eyes from the window as we drove around town. I knew it would be gone. I love the snow. So I am thankful I have a husband that is willing to drive around just so I can see me some snow.

Makes me grumpy

I wanted to post the picture I talked about below for Kim. So I tried to download it but there was some problem with 4 pictures and they were deleted by my computer! I cannot find them anywhere. I am so upset because the picture of the kids Christmas morning was SO good. I was so happy about it. Now I am grumpy. Even after seeing some snow fall. Still grumpy.

Christmas week recap

Christmas is over. The Christmas tree is now outside ready to be chopped up and thrown in the yard debris can. The decorations are in the process of being packed away for another 11 months. It was a really great week with the kids and family. One of my highlights was just getting a picture of my two kids in their Christmas jammies, under the tree, Christmas morning. Usually Alicia runs away when a camera emerges but she was in such a good mood having her Nana and Grandpa (my parents) here that she let me. Best of all- -she smiled.

Now one more week off of school before New Years. I am not a big New Years person. I could care less about this holiday. It does force me to stop and think a bit about the last year and what I want out of 2010 though. I wish I had some great ideas for it but at this point I have nothing for you.

Anyways, back to Christmas. The kids got some great things and seem very happy with their gifts. One of the most used gifts so far is the nerf dart guns I got Ben and Ethan. We have had some great family fights the last couple of days. It has been a lot of fun. And while the kids are sleeping Ben is playing on Ethan's Nintendo DS. So that too seems to be a popular gift. :)I have a couple of games I want to play on their DS' as well, so I may be "borrowing" it too.

Merry Christmas

As I run around my house this morning trying to finish food, for tonight and tomorrow, cleaning, wrapping gifts, etc., I thought I should take a break to wish you a

And if you are reading this Becky I am praying for your mom right now! God will have his hand on her surgery.

Let the Fun Begin!

So the kids had their Christmas party today. What fun. I got to be there for part of the morning. Roths came in and made a gingerbread house and then the kids got to decorate gingerbread men. We did crafts and ate treats. In a few minutes some friends are coming over for a few hours. They haven't played with these two girls much lately so it will be great fun for my two. I will then take them home and come back to clean out our van for the next part of our evening. For when Ben gets home we will pick up Papa and Grammy and head to pizza before we find a Starbucks for our mochas, and hot chocolates we annually take to the Keizer Lights. What a fun day this will be. And I know as I look towards the next 2 weeks making cookies with the kids, doing crafts, staying up later, watching Christmas movies, the kids convincing daddy to take them swimming, opening up presents, eating yummy goodies, etc., that the fun is just beginning.

"Lazy lazy jane."

This morning my sister-in-law mentioned it had been a few days since my last post. Then as I was getting my mail I got to thinking of a post.

There is a stack of cards sitting on my counter. They will be sent tomorrow. If you have not gotten a Christmas card yet, hold tight. They are coming. I have not forgotten you. I am not purposely forgetting you.

I am lazy.

The cards I have sent are ones that their addresses were in my computer. The ones that will be sent tomorrow morning are the ones that I actually had to go find my address book or look up. I know "LAZY."

On another note, I am almost all done with Christmas presents!!! I just need a few stocking stuffers for my dad. That's it. I love not having to worry about it next week. Next week I plan to spend time with my kids making Christmasy things and drinking hot cocoa. No shopping.

How is your shopping going? O, and do you have ideas for stocking stuffers for my dad?

This is what I want. . .

Doesn't mean we'll get it though





Snow. And when I say "snow" or think the word "snow" I actually am hearing the word sang like it is in White Christmas. I love that old movie.

Kids say the Darndest Things

Once a child can read I think you should give children the words to Christmas songs. Then maybe when a family is lying in bed talking about the nativity story they just watched on DVD at Grammy and Papa's house. And when the dad starts to sing "We Three Kings" and the daughter joins she won't sing:

"We three Kings of Oregon are."

I love my DUCKS

lookin forward to the game tonight!

I Smell Roses @ Yahoo! Video

Wii remote skins

So I am on the hunt for cheap skins for our wii remotes and nunchucks. I have seen some states have had wii skins at the dollar store so have any of you seen them in Oregon for a buck? I found a store online called DecalGirl.com that has SOOOOOOOOOOO many nice looking ones and shipping is really good but I would like to see if I can find them cheaper first.

Anyone know anything?

AND I WON the $25.00 to amazon gift card! YIPPEE

*****Help me win $25.00****

Today in sunshinerewards.com's forum they are having a contest. I got an item that was a good deal into the contest now people have to vote for their favorite. the most votes wins a $25.00 gift card to amazon.com!

If you are a member of sunshine already all you have to do is join the forum and then go here: http://www.sunshinerewardsforum.com/showthread.php?t=35051 and vote for the Disney Pink MP3 player! I would love to win me some more cash for Christmas!

Thanks guys
Dee

UPDATED: 8:35 AM- I am 1 vote ahead right now! 25 minutes to go.

Dreams

There is something I have wanted for about 3 years. We have discussed buying this "want" but it is expensive. I know if we bought it we would look back and know we enjoyed it and be happy BUT buying it puts other dreams on hold. We decided awhile ago that we would have to say no to this "want." I am okay with that. But I am not sure my subconscious understands. This morning I woke up from a dream where some friends of ours had bought said "want." I was so excited because it is something I can borrow or rent from them. In my dream, I felt it was a better fit for this family anyway. :)
Maybe I haven't really let go of this "want" yet.