What shall I read next?

I just read two books from my local library this past week. The first one was The Red Tent. This was something totally not me, but it wasn't that bad. It kept my interest. It was kinda weird, and I kept waiting for something major to happen, which never really did. But it was all in all ok, and interesting.

The second book was by my all time favorite author, Wally Lamb. I always say She's Come Undone in my favorite book. It's perfection. I read it during a huge transition in my life, (right before leaving for college), and a lot happend that summer that I could relate to within this book. I have re- read that sucker many times,and will always love it. Anyways, the book I just read by him was called "Wishing and Hoping" It's a Christmas story, and set back in the 60's. It was cute, and a quick uplifting read. Totally not as good as "She's Come Undone" but hey. Speaking of which, I have heard for years that they are making a movie out of that book, and I hope they do, and it better not let me down! I actually have a postcard from Wally Lamb, as I wrote him a fan letter cause I am a big geek like that. Hey, I thought I was pretty hot stuff to get a personal post card from him that he took the time to write and sign for me.

It's mainly PMS driven

The husband, bless his heart, has one weekend off a month, The poor guy probably feels pulled in a million directions, as when he's off he's usually hit with a million things to do, or places to go. I also know he needs some rest and relaxation, and time to do manly guy things with his friends and family such as fish or golf. He went fishing last weekend, and I am not going to lie, I want to spend some time as a family for my own selfish needs, and get some things done around the house. I was excited that Dave is home again this coming Saturday, so I was going to have half a weekend at least. This means with out fail some other plans will suddenly arise.... On cue this morning Dave mentions he was asked to go up to his grandparents place (who are deceased) and rake some leaves. Said area is 3 hours away, so this would take up the entire day. I am going to be brutally honest. Personally, I want my husband home, and I don't want us to make a family day of it, because 1. it's long drive and not exactly an exciting area and add three kids in the mix and we are talking this is torture 2. we have enough to do around here such as get our own leaves up, and 3. I think it's weird they have not sold the house or divided things up yet. They will go over so many months to check up on it, but that's all thats been done. I understand not wanting to let go, but after so long it gets to be weird, and I rather not be aiding in the process. It's not exactly a vacation spot by any means so it seems a bit wasteful, and sad that what will probably happen is the place will be broken in to, etc, or just slowly waste away.

When my granny was no longer able to stay in her home my family did move fast with renting her house out and dividing her things up between family. It made things easier, and her valuable items have been well cared for, cherished, etc. We didn't leave it as a museum so things could get musty and waste away. In all seriousness, my husband mentioned he wanted to get some gun that belonged to his grandad and fix them up, that were just layingn around in a basement, and another family member head started rotating exorcist style. He ended up sneaking the sucker out behind her back. So sad.

So have I shared my thoughts with Dave about not wanting to go? You betcha. He totally understands and shares my exact thoughts on the entire situation and thinks it's weird. But he hasn't said yet if he is going or not. For the love of Jesus, let me have one freaking day at home with my husband on a weekend to take care of our own house that we live in.... WORD.

How I wish weekends were longer...

Saturday morning my mom and I ventured over to Virginia Beach to go to the awesome Tjmaxx/Homegood store. It was night to get out and do some shopping after being stuck inside for a few days thanks to a major Nor'easter in our area... This is hands down the best TJ in the area... They always have the best brands and other goodies. The above dress I scored for Miss Emily to wear on Christmas Day. See? I am sticking to not dressing all three girls alike! I thought this dress was adorable and had a bit of a Santa feel to it too. Now all girls have a pretty Christmas dresses...that coordinate but aren't identical... it's progress.

I did not get to run over to Walmart yet to get the white tree I want for my tropical theme Christmas tree. I am actually wondering if I should wait another year. Emily is into everything right now, and I can just see her now attacking it.... Our normal family tree (when we get it up) is usually elevated so that I can water it easier and can stack presents under it. The elevation is a bonus of her not reaching many ornaments... The pink tree in the playroom I can control by keeping an eye on her.... but the white tree would be somewhere else down stairs, and trust me- she would find a way to attack it, and my ornaments for this tree are not cheap.... Oh well... gives me more time to plot I guess.

I went ahead and drug out most other Christmas decorations...The other things I have not done require my husbands help, and I am sure he wont be rushing to get his part done until after Thanksgiving! Yes, it's crazy early for me to have my stuff up but I figure I get to enjoy the holiday spirit a little longer.

Christmas sneaks into the house...

I know we just freaking celebrated Halloween, and Thanksgiving isn't here yet... but Christmas is slowly sneaking into the house... The pink tree is now up in the girls playroom. They had a blast helping put the decorations on it. I wont lie, I love this tree probably more then the girls. I love the pink color, I love the girly ornaments, it's just really cute.

Last year I decieded I wanted to do a tropical tree in addition to the pink tree and family tree. I have been stalking bargain stores for a white tree.... Big lots had one but it was only 4' tall... Target had one, but it was $200, and that's nuts. I think I am going to go with a 6.5' one from Walmart for $40, and I hope to pick it up tonight...per the website it's in stock just waiting on me to take it home... I can't wait to start working on it!

Easy Taco Soup

1 can Northern Beans undrained

1 can Mild Rotel undrained

1 can corn undrained

1 can veggie baked beans

1 medium onion chopped

1 envelope dry taco seanoning

1 envelope dry hidden valley ranch dressing

1 can chicken broth

1lb ground turkey

brown turkey then combine all in crockpot for 3 hours on high. So yummy with a little sour cream and cheese on top!

Tuesday Topics

Today in my email in-box I got my local libraries newsletter. I was glancing over some of events they were having, checking out when story times are etc, when I saw this : Nov. 10, Wii Celebrate Vets: In celebration of Veteran's Day, Pearl Bailey Library teens will show their appreciation by teaching local veterans how to play games on the Wii system. I couldn’t help but crack up. I love my Wii system, though truth be told I have not played it in a very long time as my batteries have been dead on the remote and I have been too busy to get around to replacing them. What a way to celebrate Veterans day though huh? In all honesty, I do know that Wii does have benefits for older folks who may not be able to get out to a bowling alley, but can bowl in their home, but the idea of a Vet celebration with it cracks me up. In all honesty I would like to just go and watch these men learn this.

P.S I am halfway through with Tori Spelling’s first book- sTori Telling. It’s been like reading a favorite gossip magazine, I like it even better then her second book that I read last week. I have to admit, I do like Tori now after reading her books, but the mama issues are crazy! What a cold person Tori makes her sound like. If anything the books have made me glad to have such a awesome mom.
Next on my list to check out from the library for myself is a book called The Red Tent. This one is going to be something kind of different for me, and it’s a biblical fiction. A lady I met at my girls gymnastic center was telling me about how her reading group had read it and how good it was. We shall see!

Monday Morning Reflections....

Emily was baptized this past Sunday. The pastor came over to meet us as agreed last Thursday, and that was pretty interesting… Rachel, (our 2 year old) kept saying over and over again "I don’t like that man." Then Laura (our oldest) said she wanted to show him her gun. (My dad bought her a pink .22 rifle for Christmas last year. Yes totally inappropriate but that’s my dad in a nut shell) I am quite sure this pastor will never forget our family.

As for the baptism, he would not allow for a private service, so we all headed to church Sunday. Emily just wanted to get down and walk, and being her christening dress was super long it was impossible, so Dave and I took turns trying to wrestle her in our arms, stepping in an out of church service until it was time for baptism. After she was baptized, Dave took her to the car and the poor thing was so wiped out, she took a nap while they waited for church to be over.
Sometime this week I am going to take her to have her portraits done in the gown, and hopefully she will be in a better mood! I am still proud of her.

Obviously we had a busy weekend. I did knock out some Santa shopping for the kids which I am pretty proud of. I got Emily’s main gift which I am was sure was going to impossible to find something for her, but I found the perfect item for her at Costco (gotta love it!). I got some great bargains at Target as two items Laura and Rachel wanted were on sale, and they were running coupons on the items, AND they gave me a gift card for spending over $50 on toys, so all in all I got an amazing deal. I need to get everything out and look and see what I have for them so if I can see if I am almost done Santa shopping…I think I am getting close though!
Tonight I plan on setting up the girls Christmas tree in the playroom. We do a real family Christmas tree so I have to wait until they are for sale. I also have been collecting some beachy ornaments to do a beach theme tree this year, but I don’t have a tree yet for that… I think I want to get a white tree for it. Guess I have to do some bargain hunting for that…