I Wish . . . .

Sometimes I wish churches were full of Jesus, instead of people . . . . .

Great Prizes!

Aren't these Chic Buds just the cutest thing?! If you would like to win a pair, go to Helping Mommys Win and enter! If you have a daughter that is wanting excessive jewelry on their head (ie nose rings, tongue rings, many, many ear piercings - then buy them these instead! All the bling, no pain, and no holes!)

If you'd like to win "It's Not About Me" by Michelle Sutton you can go to Teen Lit Review to enter and read a review.

Good Luck!

AWESOME!

WOW! I'm speechless! Thanks to my partner Shawna, for getting us listed on 5 Minutes for Mom blog - which is like, the best blog on the internet, well besides Teen Lit Review! Please, go by and read the interview, and stop by Teen Lit Review and check out our latest book reviews!

Photo Contest From 5 Minutes For Mom and Prego!

Fun and Food always go hand in hand with my youngest son. He is the only one of my 3 kids who would smush food all over him, and get all messy! This picture shows him after eating some of his birthday cake - chocolate naturally!

Go here if you'd like to enter the contest - hurry - ends 11/14 at 3pm est! Visit 5 Minutes For Mom fast!

Thanks Prego!

Book Giveaway

We are giving this book away on the Teen Lit Review blog - go here to enter!
Title: Outcasts of Skagaray
Author: Andrew Clarke
Primary Audience/age group: 13+
Genre: Fantasy
Recommend? Yes!

Description: The world of Skagaray is dark and bleak but there is the possibility of beauty and goodness too. The people of Skagaray respect strength, and hardness, and make gods in their own image to please themselves. They reject those they consider weak, or unworthy, and make outcasts of them. But one among them rejects their cruelty, and will not take part in the brutality they call their Proving. This is Australian Andrew Clarke’s first novel.

You can read the full review at Teen Lit Review!

Harris Teeter Triple Coupons!

Today through Saturday is Triple Coupons at Harris Teeter. Triple Coupons are essential events for couponers! That is when you stock up/build your stock pile. Here is a good article about the importance of Triple Coupons.

I have only been couponing for about 5 weeks - already I have saved over $250!

On my first trip to Harris Teeter today (you can only use 20 coupons per visit) I bought $58 worth of groceries for $24! A 50% savings! All the stuff are items I need (paper towels, toliet paper, kleenex, pickles, Shout, bread, spagetti sauce, peanut butter, evaporated milk, brownies, gravy mix, frozen green beans.) I'll be going at least 1 more time today, one time tomorrow, and probably 2 times Saturday!

Earlier this week, I made $2.00 buying 2 tubes of toothpaste at CVS!

If you have any coupon hints, please share them!

History: I recently took a class that costs $15 from a lady at church who taught me how to coupon. In my first month of couponing I more than paid for that class, the notebook I keep my coupons in, and the 2 Sunday newspapers I get every weekend. I never used to coupon before. I had all sorts of excuses - mainly that couponing took too much time and I am not a very organized person. Well, it does take about 1 - 2 hours a week, which I do while I'm watching TV (clip and file coupons, look on internet coupon websites for that week's deals). Are my 1 - 2 hours a week worth approx. $60 a week? YOU BETCHA!

What Number Were You?

What number voter were you today?

I was number 35.

Yes, I got up early and was in line to vote at 6:20. Our polls opened at 6:30. I was home by 6:55. One of the ladies working the polls said she didn't expect it to be real busy because so many from our precinct voted early.

Tell me what number voter you were (if where you vote the machine doesn't tell you that - just tell me how long you waited in line). I will pick one winner (randomly) and send them a FREE book! (Book will be - A Hero for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad)

Drawing will be Thursday, November 6th at noon!

Don't Forget to Vote!

You may have heard that Obama is going to win.
You may feel like there is no reason to vote.
BUT,
Your vote does count. Don't listen to the polls.
Don't listen to the news.
Vote!

Not sure how to vote? Get a voter guide HERE!

One Vote . . . .

You have ONE VOTE. And it counts.
Don't stay home thinking it doesn't matter.

Don't stay home thinking it won't make a difference.

Don't stay home thinking your canidate will win without it.

Don't stay home.

VOTE!

Not convinced? Watch This!

Hello Out There!! Anybody Still Reading?

Well, I haven't been around much lately, have I! Work has been busy. Home has been busy. Sometimes life just really moves fast. I can't believe it's only 75 days until Chirstmas! Between now and then our family has 2 birthdays - mine at the end of October and youngest on Dec. 4.
We are signing the contract today to do a big addition to our house - I'm very excited about that. I'll take some pictures this weekend - so that in March when we're done I can show you a "before" and "after"!
I also have another job - this one is "part time" - but it pays well - about $30 an hour! Know what - you can do it too! I have really gotten into couponing. I have to pay for the higher mortgage payment - and reducing my grocery/drug store bill by half is a start! I'll do another post about couponing next week - don't have time right now - Lowe's Foods is having TRIPLE COUPONS until Friday - and that is THE time to stock up on some stuff! Last night I got $51 of groceries for $6! (You can only use 20 coupons per visit.) I'm going back tonight to get some more stuff! I'm lovin' it!
Be sure to check out my Fall Reading Challenge List at Teen Lit Review!

Fall Into Reading 2008

Katrina at Callipider Days is hosting a Fall Into Reading 2008 challenge.

Over at Teen Lit Review we have a very ambitious list of books we'll be reading and reviewing between now and December 20th - and lots of book giveaways coming up as well!

Be sure to visit me there! I may not be here much - because in every spare minute I have I will be reading!!!!

Our Last Summer Vacation

These are some pictures of our last "vacation" of the summer (Went with my Mom and sister and her 3 kids). We visited the mountains of North Carolina. Even though I've lived in NC all my life - I had never been to Linville Caverns or Grandfather Mountain. I enjoyed both places a lot and glad we got to visit.

Linville Caverns in Linville, NC

On top of Grandfather Mountain in NC

Playing in the creek at the camp ground.

In Jail at Tweetsie Railroad.

Now that summer is "over" we are getting back into the swing of things. I really miss seeing my kids everyday. There was a time in my life when I would not of said that. It may of been due to their ages, my lack of patience, my wish for "freedom", or many other things. But, I've been praying for God to change my heart and make the truth that "Children are a gift from the Lord" - true in my heart. God answers prayer.

New Energy For America!

This is the CHANGE that American needs.

The anger that built in me from Thursday night's lie/bash fest was relieved today.

I actually cheered when I heard the news.

I actually clapped and cheered when I heard her speech.

She LIVES the words she speaks. She's the real deal.

She is the CHANGE to give our country ENERGY.

I am finally excited about this election!

MIA . . . .

Well, my kids all started school today - 1st grade, 5th grade, and 8th grade. They seemed equal parts of excited and disappointed that summer is over. I am the same. I dislike having to make lunches every night, trying to make it healthy and still something they will eat. I dislike having to stay on top of my 5th grader to get her homework done (she takes 2 hours to do what most can do in 20 minutes!) But, I'm glad they are learning, getting to see their friends a bit, and away from TV, computer and Wii (we have a "no electronics" rule during the school week - no electronics until Friday after school - through Sunday evening. This takes away temptation to rush through homework, devotions, and dinner.)

I haven't been around the blogosphere much this summer. I've been working hard since my Dad isn't on vacation - trying to take care of some of his duties while he takes the summer off. I've also been traveling a bit to meetings within the associations we belong to - which happen to take place at various beaches. So, we've been very busy.

Youngest wanted to play football this year. Well, I never allowed my eldest to play football - but I guess with the third, I've relaxed a bit - and given into his pleas. I did insist he'd have to play flag football this first year (he's only 6) - to learn rules, strategies, etc. - so that next year during tackle - perhaps he can avoid getting tackled too much and enjoy the game.

After the 2nd practice I asked him how he likes football. His reply, with a very serious face was: "Well, it's not exactly what I thought it would be. I thought the flags would be at each end of the field and we would be trying to get to that flag. I didn't know the flags would be moving (attached to people)! But yeah, I like it - it's just a lot of work." Too funny!

Here are some of my favorite beach photos from this summer:

My favorite moments from the summer were times when the whole family was together. It's rare HWH has time at the beach meetings to hang out with us - I make him go to all the meetings and golf while I play with the kids. But, when he does - the kids (and I) love it.

What was the highlight of your summer?

Book Giveaway!

There are a few days left until the drawing at Teen Lit Review for the book Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. Go here to enter!

Middle Child's Bedtime Ritual

Middle child sleeps in a loft bed, so I can't lay with her at all when I tuck her into bed. But I do climb the steps each night, cover her with her blankets, kiss her and remind her to say her prayers.
She loves to go to sleep to music or stories. Her favorite, since Christmas - is the Adventures in Odyssey Series on CD. She got a box set for Christmas and has listened through the whole set at least 3 times. She loves them - I'll be getting her more for her birthday.
If you're not familiar with the Adventures In Odyssey series - it is from a group called Focus on the Family. They have DVDs - which my children love as well. On the CD's there are audio drama episodes with emphasis on integrity and morals. The episodes have a Bible basis and each story of faith comes to life in a new way, helping kids to understand the Bible better than ever. You can go here to click and hear a sample.

Now, you may ask - does this keep her awake? I don't know for sure - but I do know she asks me to start at different points on the CD each night - so I do think she is falling asleep during the stories. My kids tend to crash at bedtime - and are very sleepy - even though I still put them all to bed (even the 13 yr. old) around 8pm on weeknights (usually 7pm on Sunday nights - because they are so worn out from the busy weekend!)


What is your kid's betime ritual?

Check This Out!

Teresa is giving away a cupcake scented gift set by Embrace Bath & Body, over at her personal blog. The contest is for USA and Canada only.

New Addition to the Family! Meet Aztec . . .

When I picked up middle child from her horseback riding lesson, she was holding a little kitten, about 4 weeks old. My daughter LOVES animals and looked at me with pleading eyes saying "Mommy, can we keep it? Please? Please?" And what can I say, I'm a softie. I replied "We'll have to ask your Dad." Yeah, put it on him - that way (in my world anyway) - it won't be "my" cat - just like the dogs are "his" dogs - and I don't have to take care of them. Well, Daddy said OK, just keep the kitten away from the dogs - it would make a great "snack" to them. The dogs stay outside during the day - and come inside only to sleep - in the laundry room. So, it shouldn't be too difficult.
However, I am allergic to cats and dogs. The dogs aren't really an issue since they stay outside. However - cats tend to roam around your house - claiming it as their own. Plopping down on your bed and pillow - meowing outside closed doors - yeah, that's why I am not a cat person. So, right now - we are crating the kitten at night and when we aren't home. When we are home - it stays in the kitchen/dining room area. I figure this is better than it staying a stray at the horse barn - and he seems fine with the arrangement - for now. We'll see as he gets older - I'm already leaning towards not crating him when we're gone during the day - I'm just hesitant. Mainly because I know the damage cats can do to furniture - he already tries to climb up the legs of my wood table.
Anyways - my daughter is happy to have a kitten and is learning responsibility by cleaning the litter box, cage and keeping it fed/watered. And the kitten is just SO cute!

Movie Review Monday - Journey to the Center of the Earth

Movie Review #15
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem
Rated: Rated PG for intense adventure action and some scary moments
Type of Movie: 3-D, Science Fictioin, Action, Adventure
Theater or DVD: Theater
Description: Professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) teaches earth sciences at the university and heads the Center of Volcanic Activity. Max Anderson, Trevor's brother, built the monitoring system and placed the units around the world 10 years earlier. For some unknown reason, Max did not return, leaving behind a wife and son, Sean (Josh Hutcherson). Sean's mother leaves the teenager at Trevor's house to get some quality time with his uncle. They look at Max's copy of Journey to the Center of the Earth (Enriched Classic) by Jules Verne and find a secret code. Back at the monitoring center Trevor compares the volcanic activity numbers and finds that they are exactly the same as the ones in the book. Trevor and Sean fly to Iceland to check one of the units and to see if they can find some information about where Max went. Trevor hires a beautiful mountain guide, Hannah (Anita Briem), to take them up the volcano. During an electrical storm on the volcano, they get trapped in an abandoned mine. They search for a way out of the mine and discover a wall filled with large diamonds. Unfortunately, the floor they are standing on can't hold their weight, and they fall down a volcano tube for miles and miles until they reach the center of the earth. Once there, they encounter prehistoric glow birds, flying piranha, man-eating plants, and T-Rex dinosaurs that have been extinct for millions of years. They find that they are seeing the same things that were printed in the Jules Verne book. This gave them hope that someone was able to escape from the center of the earth and return to the surface.
OK for Kids? YES! Great Family Movie
Opinion: First off - given the choice to view this movie in 3-D or no 3-D - definetly go see it in 3-D! It was probably the best 3D movie I've seen. The 3-D effects weren't just thrown in there in a few parts as they do at the IMAX for some movies - the whole movie appears to have been made to show and enjoy in 3-D. My eldest son saw it both ways and said he enjoyed the 3-D much more!
That being said - also know the movie is very different than the Journey to the Center of the Earth book! The movie follows the son and brother of Max (aka Harry/Alex in the book) who in the book, went into the center of the earth with Professor Lindenbrock. In the movie - Max never made it out of the center of the earth. His son, Sean, and brother, Trevor find his copy of the book with lots of notes and clues in it. They follow the clues and end up taking a journey similar to the one in the book.

Differences aside - the movie was very enjoyable. No bad language, no sex, lots of action and adventure - 3-D fun - you can't ask for more out of a movie fun for the whole family!

I've seen reviews where people knock the "science" of the film (and the book for that matter) - but you must keep in mind - the book was written in the early 1900's when science didn't know a lot of what it does now. Verne was "guessing" and "making up" theories and science fiction that was as far-out to the people of that era as some of the science fiction from movies like Minority Report. Don't analyze it too much - just enjoy a night out with the kids!

(Four out of Five!)
You can go here and here for more reviews of the movie.

Visit here for a review of the book!

Winner!

Jennifer won the drawing for the The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling (The Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 6) book! It was a fun book - I highly suggest the whole series - Yada Yada Prayer Group Set Vols 1-6 (Prayer Group/Gets Down/Gets Real/Gets Tough/Gets Caught/Gets Rolling)! Congrats Jennifer - please email me your address so I can mail you the book!

BOOK GIVEAWAY! - Scroll Down for New Posts!

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling (The Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 6) is a great summer read! I really relate to the narrator of the story, her thoughts and feelings so resemble my own! I love the diverse group of women and how they come together and worship Jesus. This is the 6th book in a series of 7 and I highly suggest the whole series. If you don't win - you can buy The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling (The Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 6) here for $4.99.

To enter - leave a comment here with a book you have read this summer and suggest that I check out. Good Luck!

Drawing will be on July 14th.

Can or Bottle?

OK - time to move on from the posts about the fire - I think I'm done with that - well, except for an occassional update on the rebuilding of her house.

Every morning I go to the drink machine and put in my 35 cents (our soda's are cheap - subsidized by the company), and get my Diet Coke (I'm not a coffee drinker). Luckily, they come out in a can. I DO NOT LIKE sodas out of bottle. The small bottles or 2 liters - don't like them. In a can, they get nice and COLD. And they fizz - but in a good way - not like in the small plastic bottles.

My favorite soda is DIET COKE PLUS. Hey, if you're going to drink soda - may as well get it as healthy as you can! DIET COKE PLUS has essential nutrients - 15% RDI of Niacin and Vitamins B6 & B12, plus 10% RDI of Zinc and Magnesium. It's also flavored with Green Tea - and though I don't like Green Tea by itself - I like the little zing it gives DIET COKE PLUS. Try it!

So, what about you - are you a can or bottle soda drinker?

What Is Your Teen Reading This Summer?

I don't know about you - but I keep a close eye on what my kids watch on TV/Movies.
To preview Movies my kids want to watch I go to one of the following review websites:
Plugged In
Christian Spotlight on Entertainment

But, besides either trusting the back cover of a book or reading a book before my kids - I have no way to really tell if the book is appropriate/acceptable for my child to read. My kids tend to read more hours a day than they watch TV or movies and with two reading tween/teen books I just can not pre-read every book they want to read. So, another blogger lady and I started a website where parents can go and read reviews of books from the perspective of a Christian parent.

The last few reviews I posted are for:
Inkheart
Trion Rising
The A-List
The Clique

The favorite teen book I've read so far and one I highly recommend is:
Dragonspell

I encourage you to take a look and cruise around Teen Lit Review - and find some great summer reading for your teens!

Heroes . . .

Here are the heroes that saved my Mom's life . . . .

I have a new found respect for firemen. We have visited them several times since the fire. The two men on each side of my Mom (John and Dan) are the ones who carried her out. They found her on the floor at the bottom of her bed, face down, unconscious. They carried her out and "bagged her" to improve her breathing. Within 2 minutes of carrying her out - the ceiling in her room fell down. The firemen have photos and a video of the fire they gave us a copy of. John told me when they respond to these calls usually they find the people are able to walk out on their own, or dead. To find and "rescue" someone was rewarding and makes his career worthwhile - even if he never saves another person. The guys are all so nice and concerned about others. I try to remember to pray for them and firemen (and ladies) everyday - for their safety. Their service to others is awesome, I pray they are serving the ultimate hero - Jesus Christ as well. Thank you Station 16!

After The Fire . . . .

Here are photo's of how Mom's house looks after the fire. Demolition begins this week - rebuild should take about 5 months. Mom actually will get to rent a unit across from this one - so she'll be able to keep an eye on the building process - she's excited about that!

Fire Photos

Click photo to make larger:

Here are some photo's a neighbor took of my Mom's House while it was on fire.
I will post some photos later this weekend of what it looks like now.
Thanks to all my blogging buddies who have emailed or left comments - ya'll are so sweet! Thanks for your prayers too!

You Never Think . . . .

You never think those bad things you see on the news will happen to you. They always happen to someone else. I'll watch the news and view the sadness, sad for the victums - but glad it wasn't me or my family. . .

5AM on Saturday morning, bad news entered my world. HWH received a call on his cell phone, while he was listening on his cell our land line rang. My Mom's next door neighbor was on the other line. "Angi, your Mom's house has burned down. They've taken your Mom to the hospital". Paul was receiving the same news from my uncle (my cousin was staying with my Mom and had just gotten home to the chaos at about 4:45am).

I call my sister to deliver the news. She and I are in panic mode. HWH tells me to calm down - calm down so I can drive. I dress, grab some breakfast and a book and head to the hospital. Sister and I arrive at the same time. We go in and are taken back to see her. She's sedated, with a tube down her throat, soot all over her. We talk to the doctors and nurses. Find out she was recesitated at the scene. They tell us there is significant carbon monoxide poisioning and probable lung damage. The first step is to transfer her to Duke for several treatments in the hyperbaric chamber. Those treatments will remove the carbon monoxide from her body so there won't be any brain or body damage. After that they will evaluate her lungs. Mericasouly, there is not one single burn on her body!

She is transfered to Duke at about 7am and in the camber by 9am. We wait. Then she's taken to ICU, we wait. Doctors check her out and evaluate her condition. The news is very optomistic. She is progressing nicely - indicating no bad damage to the lungs or airways. Two more hyperbaric camber treatments, the removal of the tubes, and she was sent to a regular room Sunday afternoon. Monday afternoon she was discharged at about 3pm. (She was on the same hall on Senator Kennedy!)

Her first request was to go by her house. Once there, the tears came. It was a total loss. We were able to salvage her mother's china and some other items that were stored away in closets (old pictures and photo albums). Other than that it is all gone. Thankfully, she doesn't seem to upset by the loss of the stuff. She seems to just be happy to be alive. To have survived such a bad fire, with as little injury as she had.

The 911 call was made by the neighbors. Their dog woke them up barking. (My mom will never curse that yapping dog again!) It appears my Mom never woke (she has insomnia and takes sleeping pills at night). When the firemen got there they looked at the fire and were not expecting anyone to be alive inside. They went in, and within two minutes of getting her out of her bedroom, the ceiling collapsed.

In my mind - I see her guardian angels holding that ceiling up until she was drug out. I see them holding the flames to the front part of the house until she was safe. I imagine them waking the dog and her neighbors. I see them keeping the roads clear, the hero firemen availble and fast. I see those angels doing the work of God.

Thank you God, for my mother's safety. I pray you use this experience to draw us all closer to you.

Check back later this week for pictures . . . . .

Recent Reads . . . .

Catch a Rising Star (Drama Queens Series #1)
by Tracey Bateman

When thirty-something Tabby Brockman has the opportunity to reclaim her role as a killed-off character on the nation's #1 daytime soap opera, she figures this must be God's reward. But back on the set, she's faced with the same hateful head writer who killed off her character in the first place, kids who drive her crazy, a stage dad who rubs her completely wrong, and and an unwanted boyfriend who can?t seem to get the message. Faced with this dizzying rollercoaster of challenges, Tabby has to wonder: is she finally a star on the rise or just on the brink of another spectacular fall?

This was a lighthearted, fun read. Great for summer reading! This was the first book I've read by Tracey Bateman and I'll definetly be reading more!

Breach of Promise

James Scott Bell

From the Back Cover: How far will a father go to get back his only daughter? And how will he survive in a legal system that crushes those who can't afford to fight back? Mark Gillen has the storybook life other men dream of, complete with a beautiful wife and an adoring five-year-old daughter. Then his wife announces shes leaving him. And taking their daughter with her. The other man is a famous film director with unlimited funds and the keys to stardom and wealth for Paula. How can Mark begin to compete? But the most bitter blow comes when he is kept from seeing his daughter because of false charges . . . and a legal system ill-suited for finding the truth. Forged in the darkest valley Mark has ever walked through, his faith in God may ultimately cost him everything in the eyes of the family law system. But it is the one thing that can keep him sane and give him the strength to fight against all odds for what matters most.

Another first for me, I'd never read James Scott Bell before, but had heard/read great things about him. I did like his writing style and the book was good, realistic, and hard hitting. It reminded me of the story of Job. One.bad.thing.after.another kept happening to Mark, it got to the point where I was like, alright already! But I liked the message of the story.The ending is more "real" than "storybook" and I guess I've grown so accustomed to "fairytale" endings that I was a bit disappointed.

Go here for a review I posted of a new tween book - Trion Rising

And here and here for some warnings/reviews of books to keep your teens/tweens away from!

When Is My Day?

This past Mother's Day - we were on our way home from lunch, and youngest asked:

"When is MY Day?"

HWH explained that everyday is his day.

How very true!

Best, Worst, Maybe Tomorrow . . . . .

Every night when I tuck my 6 year old into bed, I lay with him and we talk about his day. We each do something we call Best, Worst, Maybe Tomorrow.

We each tell the best thing about our day.

Then the worst thing about our day.

Lastly, what we wish for Tomorrow.

Example: last night youngest said:

My best part of the day was getting to watch brother and his friend play volleyball when Dad and I went to pick them up.

My worst was when we had to drop off brother's friend, I wanted to play with him more.

Maybe Tomorrow it will be warmer outside.

This is a special time for youngest and me, a lot of times I am very surprised at what the best part of his day was! I encourage you to try this! I know some people do it at the dinner table - and involve the whole family. We've done that before, but with our busy schedule - bedtime works best.

Finally! April 26th!

I have waited a long time for this! Finally, on Saturday, April 26th the Season Premier of Robin Hood will come on! Robin Hood is a BBC America show that I really enjoy. There is no bad language, but things can get a bit steamy with Robin and Marian, so I'd say to watch it before you decide to let your teens view. And if you didn't watch Season 1 - I'm sure Netflix or Blockbuster online have it. Enjoy!

Monday Movie Review - August Rush

Movie Review #15 - August Rush
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams
Rated: PG for mild violence and language
Type of Movie: Drama
Theater or DVD: DVD
Description: There’s music in the wind and sky. Can you hear it? And there’s hope. Can you feel it? The boy called August Rush can. The music mysteriously draws him, penniless and alone, to New York City in a quest to find – somehow, someway – the parents separated from him years earlier. And along the way he may also find the musical genius hidden within him. Experience the magic of this rhapsodic epic of the heart starring Freddie Highmore (as August), Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard and Robin Williams. "I believe in music the way some people believe in fairy tales," August says. Open your heart and listen. You’ll believe, too.
OK for Kids? 16 and older perhaps
Opinion: I liked this movie, but it is a modern day fairy tale. My problem with fairy tales is that I watched so many of them as a child/teen that when I got to be an "adult" I kind of thought that was how life is really supposed to be - and I was disappointed to find out otherwise. There are a few curse words - He**, pi**, dam*, and the Lord's name in vain. All very unnecessary - and one of the adult figures gets a bit angry towards a child. The movie starts out with premarital sex - implied - not shown. It was a light, fun tale - not realistic at all - but heart-warming just the same. The music is very enjoyable and you'll be clapping at the end. Overall, I'd say OK for you and your hubby to watch - but definetly no kids under 16.
3 stars out of 5

Blog So Much You Die????

This week there was a NY Times article about several bloggers who have recently "blogged till they dropped".
Guess Blogger needs a warning "Blogging may be dangerous for your health"!
OK, blogging friends - take it easy - I haven't even met any of you yet - you can't go dying now!
Now, maybe I have an excuse for not blogging as often as I wish I did - I stayed away for my health!

Great Contest!

Over at The Pumpkin Patch there is a contest for a blog makeover. I so need that! I desperately want a makeover, but choose to use my spare money to buy books to read, review and giveaway here and at Teen Lit Review. So, I'm hoping I win this makeover!

Our Little Getaway . . . . .

After getting home from Great Wolf Lodge, I was tired. HWH could not go with us - so it was just the kids and me. While the two oldest would go off and play on the water slides, I would play with the 6yr. old who wanted to play in the wave pool, the lazy river, kiddie pool land, and the small slides. We drove 4 hours there - played about 5 hours, had dinner, showers and bed.

Our luck, we were on a hall with about 2 bus loads of people who knew each other. Apparently they thought it was a good idea to meet in the hallway and talk and laugh and run and pound and . . . .

About 10pm I complained to the front desk and it got better, for about 10 minutes. I finally fell asleep around 11:30 - was woke up around 3am by the same group - still out in the hall.

I just don't get it!!!! They had no concern or thought for others!? I mean, I would NEVER sit out in a hall talking and laughing. I am always very paranoid to keep my kids quiet when we are in hotel hallways - no matter what time of day. I remember the days of me trying to get babies to nap/sleep in hotel rooms - and try to think of that as we pass through the halls.

Anyways - besides that we had a fabulous time! The kids were good (mostly) and the place was amazing. The perfect cold weather getaway. After we woke up, we played another 5 hours, changed and headed home.

After being together all this time - the drive home was not as peaceful as I had hoped it was. I guess they didn't enjoy the movie they were watching very much because they kept poking and touching each other. Yeah, I took the car, not the SUV - so they were all sitting right next to each other. Learned my lesson!

I was so ready to get home!

But when I got home there were bags to unpack, laundry to do. Kids to bathe. Housework waiting for me. I was just plain old GRUMPY!

As a result I was not nice to HWH.

As I went to sleep that night I was crying. Crying because I did not want to be grumpy. Crying because I felt like a terrible mom and wife for being grumpy. Guilty for feeling grumpy, for not being nice.

I try hard to be nice, positive, up and "on" all the time. Sometimes though I fall apart and what I term "the real me" pops through. I don't know - it's confusing. I don't think I'm nearly as nice as I act - but then again, I am. Being nice doesn't come as naturally to me as I wish it did. If it was easier I'd be way nicer. Though, I think - if you asked most people they would say that I am a nice person.

Anyways - enough rambling. About noon the day after we got back, I was back to normal me. In the groove and doing my thing.

Why You Haven't Seen Any Book Reviews/Giveaways Lately!

I've been reading Teen Lit lately - so I haven't had time to read any of the grown-up books I have to review/give-away!
To tide you over - you can check out some of my recent reviews - and check here and there over the next week for some upcoming give-aways! Happy Reading!

In The Hall of The Dragon King by Stephen R. Lawhead









Bad Connection by Melody Carlson