It's all good . . .

I Love to Read - 2011

As has become my tradition, I kept track of the books I have read over the past year. I have always loved reading, and this just happens to be a time in life where I actually have time to read. I do most of my reading once the kids are tucked into bed, or while sitting in the pick-up line at the school, and it is amazing how much you can read during those small pockets of time. 

I have also really  gotten into listening to audio books while I edit pictures, clean the hoouse, or drive aroound town.  This has really increased the amount of reading I get done, and I love it.  And once again, I also kept track of how many pages I read for the year - I know, I am weird. My average book was 307 pages and my total pages for the year was 41857 - pretty crazy :).

If you want to know what I thought about each book, go to www.goodreads.com and friend me, and you can read my reviews for them all.

* - a reread, which means I loved the book enough the first time to read it again

** - a book I read with Lily

^ - a book I read with Derek

136. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (531 pgs)*

135. Gordan Korman: The 39 Clues Book 8: The Emperor's Code (190 pgs)

134. Alan Bradley: I Am Half-Sick of Shadows: A Flavia de Luce Novel (297 pgs)

133. Immaculee Ilibagiza: Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust (215 pgs)

132. Virginia Sorensen: Miracles on Maple Hill (256 pgs)

131. Cornelia Funke: The Thief Lord (349 pgs)

130. Avi: The Christmas Rat (144 pgs)

129. Eoin Colfer: Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony (Book 5) (385 pgs)

128. Eoin Colfer: Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception (Book 4) (416 pgs)

127. Orson Scott Card: Rachel and Leah: Women of Genesis (368 pgs)

126. Peter Lerangis: The Viper's Nest (The 39 Clues, Book 7) (176 pgs)

125. Jude Watson: In Too Deep (The 39 Clues, Book 6) (206 pgs)

124. Orson Scott Card: Rebekah: Women of Genesis (416 pgs)

123. Timothy Zahn: Star Wars: Choices of One (416 pgs)

122. Tatiana de Rosnay: Sarah's Key (293 pgs)

121. Dave Barry: Peter and the Sword of Mercy (Starcatchers #4) (515 pgs)

120. Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson: Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (The Starcatchers #3) (480 pgs)

119. Sheri L. Dew: If Life Were Easy, It Wouldn't Be Hard: And Other Reassuring Truths (152 pgs)

118. Eoin Colfer: Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code (Book 3) (352 pgs)

117. Patricia C. Wrede: Across the Great Barrier (Frontier Magic, Book 2) (339 pgs)

116. Patrick Carman: The Black Circle (The 39 Clues, Book 5) (208 pgs)

115. Theodore Taylor: The Cay (144 pgs)

114. Roald Dahl: James and the Giant Peach (with Derek) (160 pgs)* ^

113. Maggie Stiefvater: Forever (Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 3) (390 pgs)

112. Jude Watson: Beyond the Grave (The 39 Clues, Book 4) (190 pgs)

111. Kate Klise: Regarding the Fountain (144 pgs)

110. Peter Lerangis: The Sword Thief (The 39 Clues, Book 3) (156 pgs)

109. Patricia C. Wrede: The Magician's Ward (288 pgs)

108. Patricia C. Wrede: Mairelon the Magician (288 pgs)

107. Dick King-Smith: Lady Lollipop (with Derek) (128 pgs)* ^

106. Zane Grey: The Border Legion (384 pgs)

105. Paul Fleischman: Bull Run (128 pgs)

104. Christopher Paul Curtis: Bud, Not Buddy (256 pgs)

103. Gordon Korman: The 39 Clues Book 2: One False Note (174 pgs)

102. Johanna Spyri: Heidi  (288 pgs)*

101. Clive Cussler: The Race (404 pgs)

100. Isabel Wolff: A Vintage Affair: A Novel (368 pgs)

99. Cynthia Lord: Rules (224 pgs)

98. Gail Carson Levine: A Tale of Two Castles (320 pgs)

97. Orson Scott Card: Sarah: Women of Genesis (352 pgs)

96. Christie Golden: Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Ascension (410 pgs)

95. Zane Grey: The Call of the Canyon (136 pgs)

94. Rick Riordan: The Maze of Bones (39 Clues, No. 1) (220 pgs)

93. Jeanne Birdsall: The Penderwicks at Point Mouette (320 pgs)

92. Lois Lowry: Number the Stars (137 pgs)

91. E.L. Konigsburg: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (176 pgs)**

90. Cassandra Clare: City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments, Book 4) (424 pgs)

89. Kristin Hannah: Winter Garden (394 pgs)

88. Gene Stratton-Porter: A Girl of the Limberlost (222 pgs)

87. Richard and Florence Atwater: Mr. Popper's Penguins (139 pgs)* ^

86. R. L. LaFevers: Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh (384 pgs)

85. Lois Lowry: Gathering Blue (215 pgs)

84. Anne Osterlund: Exile (304 pgs)

83. Neal Shusterman: Everfound (Skinjacker #3) (512 pgs)

82. R. L. LaFevers: The Unicorn's Tale (Nathaniel Fludd: Beastologist, Book 4) (160 pgs)

81. Cornelia Funke: Inkdeath (Inkheart #3) (663 pgs)

80. Julie Berry: Secondhand Charm (352 pgs)

79. A.A. Milne: Winnie-the-Pooh (161 pgs)* ^

78. Pittacus Lore: I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies) (440 pgs)

77. Andrew Clements: Things Not Seen (176 pgs)

76. Sandra Dallas: Prayers for Sale (305 pgs)

75. Rick Riordan: The Kane Chronicles, Book Two: The Throne of Fire (452 pgs)

74. Clare Vanderpool: Moon Over Manifest (368 pgs)

73. Chris Heimerdinger: Tennis Shoe Adventure Series #11: Sorcerers and Seers (491 pgs)

72. Cornelia Funke: Inkspell (Inkheart #2) (635 pgs)

71. Maryrose Wood: The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: #1) (288 pgs)

70. Karen Witemeyer: A Tailor-Made Bride (348 pgs)

69. Cornelia Funke: Dragon Rider (523 pgs)

68. Noel Streatfeild: Ballet Shoes (256 pgs)**

67. Rebecca Stead: When You Reach Me (199 pgs)

66. Alan Bradley: A Red Herring Without Mustard: A Flavia de Luce Novel (391 pgs)

65. Ann Rinaldi: The Letter Writer (224 pgs)

64. R. L. LaFevers: The Wyverns' Treasure (Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist, Book 3) (144 pgs)

63. Eva Ibbotson: The Reluctant Heiress (368 pgs)

62. Eoin Colfer: The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, Book 2) (277 pgs)

61. Aaron Allston: Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Conviction (320 pgs)

60. Pearl S. Buck: The Good Earth (385 pgs)

59. Megan Whalen Turner: Instead of Three Wishes: Magical Short Stories (160 pgs)

58. Rick Riordan: The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Book 1) (516 pgs)

57. R. L. LaFevers: The Basilisk's Lair (Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist, Book 2) (160 pgs)

56. Megan Whalen Turner: A Conspiracy of Kings (The Queen's Thief #4) (336 pgs)

55. C. S. Lewis: The Last Battle (The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 7) (224 pgs)

54. Deeanne Gist: The Measure of a Lady (320 pgs)

53. Megan Whalen Turner: The King of Attolia (The Queen's Thief, Book 3) (387 pgs)

52. Megan Whalen Turner: The Queen of Attolia (The Queen's Thief, Book 2) (362 pgs)

51. C. S. Lewis: The Last Battle (The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 7) (224 pgs)

50. Megan Whalen Turner: The Thief (The Queen's Thief, Book 1) (280 pgs)

49. Shannon Hale: Forest Born (Books of Bayern 4) (389 pgs)

48. C. S. Lewis: The Silver Chair (The Chronicles of Narnia Book 6) (243 pgs)

47. Shannon Hale: River Secrets (The Books of Bayern #3) (304 pgs)

46. R. L. LaFevers: Flight of the Phoenix (Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist, Book I) (138 pgs)**

45. Shannon Hale: Enna Burning (Books of Bayern 2) (317 pgs)

44. C. S. Lewis: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Narnia #5) (256 pgs)

43. Nancy Atherton: Introducing Aunt Dimity, Paranormal Detective: The First Two Books in the Beloved Series (464 pgs)

42. Dr. P. L. Travers: Mary Poppins Opens the Door (272 pgs)**

41. Alan Bradley: The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag: A Flavia de Luce Novel (364 pgs)

40. Anne Osterlund: Academy 7 (272 pgs)

39. Louisa May Alcott: Rose in Bloom (312 pgs)

38. Louisa May Alcott: Eight Cousins (224 pgs)

37. Mary Ann Shaffer: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (274 pgs)*

36. Robert Ludlum: The Bourne Identity: A Novel (576 pgs)

35. Dave Barry: Peter and the Shadow Thieves (The Starcatchers #2) (576 pgs)

34. C. S. Lewis: Prince Caspian (The Chronicles of Narnia #4) (240 pgs)

33. Deeanne Gist: A Bride in the Bargain (365 pgs)

32. Eva Ibbotson: The Dragonfly Pool (416 pgs)

31. C. S. Lewis: The Horse and His Boy (224 pgs)

30. Neal Shusterman: Everwild (Skinjacker Trilogy) (299 pgs)

29. Deeanne Gist: Maid to Match (363 pgs)

28. Sally Watson: Witch of the Glens (275 pgs)

27. Jessica Day George: Princess of Glass (257 pgs)

26. C. S. Lewis: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (206 pgs) *

25. Roald Dahl: The BFG (208 pgs)**

24. C. S. Lewis: The Magician's Nephew (272 pgs)

23. Clive Cussler: Crescent Dawn (Dirk Pitt Adventure) (544 pgs)

22. Ben Behunin: Becoming Isaac: The Next Potter of Niederbipp (Remembering Isaac, 3) (443 pgs)

21. Ben Behunin: Discovering Isaac - The Beloved Potter of Niederbipp (431 pgs)

20. Deeanne Gist: Deep in the Heart of Trouble (394 pgs)

19. Deeanne Gist: Courting Trouble (336 pgs)

18. Chris Heimerdinger: Kingdoms and Conquerors (Tennis Shoes Adventure Series # 10) (434 pgs)

17. Mitch Albom: For One More Day (197 pgs)

16. Chris Heimerdinger: Tower of Thunder (Tennis Shoes Series #9) (406 pgs)

15. Chris Heimerdinger: Warriors of Cumorah (Tennis Shoes Series #8) (394 pgs)

14. Robert Jordan: Towers of Midnight (Wheel of Time #13) (861 pgs)

13. Chris Heimerdinger : The Golden Crown (Tennis Shoes Adventure Series #7) (338 pgs)

12. Chris Heimerdinger: Tennis Shoes: The Lost Scrolls (Tennis Shoes Adventure Series #6) (279 pgs)

11. Chris Heimerdinger: Tennis Shoes and the Seven Churches (Tennis Shoes Series #5) (329 pgs)

10. Zane Grey: From Missouri (50 pgs)

9. Troy Denning: Vortex (Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi, Book 6) (400 pgs)

8. Elizabeth C. Bunce: StarCrossed (359 pgs)

7. Lewis Carroll: Through the Looking-Glass (240 pgs)

6.Lewis Carroll: Alice in Wonderland (132 pgs)

5. Ben Behunin: Remembering Isaac: The Wise and Joyful Potter of Niederbipp (454 pgs)

4. Louisa May Alcott: Little Women (449 pgs)

3. Eva Ibbotson: Which Witch (186 pgs)

2. Madeleine L'Engle: A Wrinkle in Time (211 pgs)

1. Dr. P. L. Travers: Mary Poppins Comes Back (With Lily) (336 pgs)**

Winter Getaway in the Rockies

This past weekend, we were very blessed to get to take part in another Marriage Retreat put on by  the chaplain.  It was in Keystone, which is right by Breckenridge, and since my best friend, Pamela, and her family were still there, we went up early to spend some time with them.

Kevin went skiing with her husband Cliff, while the kids and I played with Pamela and Wyatt.  They were staying in a condo right at the base of the ski runs.  (In fact, the above picture is from their balcony.  So gorgeous!)  Pamela was recovering from food poisoning, and so we spent most of the day talking and taking it easy, which I was perfectly happy to do.

When Lily and Derek had had enough of being inside, we got them bundled up and went over to where the boys were skiing. 

They tried to make snow angels in the very packed snow, which was pretty tricky.

And then they immediately started a snowball fight with each other :). Fun times.

I love Lily's hoard of tiny snow balls.

I was totally fascinated by the snow making machines.  Even though I grew up in the mountains, I had never seen one before.  They sure were loud :).

Kevin skied down to us.  He had such a fantastic day out there, and was pretty excited to finally get to use all the ski equipment he bought when we first moved to Colorado.  (Last winter he was gone at training and missed the whole ski season.)

Pamela snapped a quick picture of us all together, which is the proof that I was actually there for everything :).

When Kevin finished skiing, we said our goodbyes and headed to our resort in Keystone.  We had a pretty beautiful view from our room.  If it hadn't been freezing cold, we probably would have spent more time out on that balcony.

Our weekend was fantastic, full of taking it easy, classes with the chaplain, eating , and playing with the kids.  One really awesome thing, was that the hotel gave us $150 worth of  "mountain bucks" to spend anywhere at the resort. 

Kevin and I decided to combine it with a deal the spa was doing, and the two of us went and got massages, which was fantastic.  And because we did that, we were free to use their amazing facilities for the rest of the day.  Of course, that meant that we could take the kids swimming, which was great.

The only problem with that idea, was the fact that I completely forgot to pack their swim suits.  This led us to an adventure searching for new swimsuits for Lily and Derek at the outlet mall.  By some miracle, not only did we find a suit for each kid in December, but we found them in the right sizes :).

The pool was great, but it was outside, and even though it was well heated, the 10 degree weather was making my teeth chatter, and so we all moved to the hot tub.  It was especially fun watching Kevin's hair freeze while we were out there.  Then we took the kids to the steam room, but Lily thought she was going to suffocate in the air, and so we took them to the sauna instead, which was more up their ally :).

We spent the rest of the evening hanging out in our hotel room, reading, watching football, and just relaxing.  It was perfect.

The next morning we were going to go to church up in he mountains, but decided to head home while the roads were clear, and went to church at a later ward instead.

It was an amazing weekend, and the best part was getting to be together without the chaos of daily life.

I Love to Read - 2010

 So, once again, I kept track of the books I have read over the past year.  I have always loved reading, and this just happens to be a time in life where I actually have time to read.  I do most of my reading once the kids are tucked into bed, or while sitting in the pick-up line at the school, and it is amazing how much you can read during those small pockets of time.

And I also kept track of how many pages I read for the year - I know, I am weird.  My average book was 369 pages and my total pages for the year was 40,241 - pretty crazy :).  I think I was able to read a little extra this year, because of listening to audio books while driving across the country, unpacking our stuff, and editing pictures.

If you want to know what I thought about each book, go to www.goodreads.com and friend me, and you can read my reviews for each book.

* - a reread, which means I loved the book enough the first time to read it again    ** - a book I read with Lily

109. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ  (531 pgs)*

108. Tasha Alexander: Dangerous to Know: A Novel of Suspense (Lady Emily Mysteries) (306 pgs)

107. Tom Clancy: Dead or Alive (848 pgs)

106. Janet Evanovich: Three to Get Deadly (Stephanie Plum, No. 3) (321 pgs)

105. Janet Evanovich: Seven Up (Stephanie Plum, No. 7) (352 pgs)

104. Janet Evanovich: Hot Six (Stephanie Plum, No. 6) (352 pgs)

103. Nancy McKenzie: Queen of Camelot (640 pgs)

102. Janet Evanovich: High Five (Stephanie Plum, No. 5) (352 pgs)

101. Maggie Stiefvater: Linger (Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 2) (362 pgs)

100. Janet Evanovich: Four to Score (Stephanie Plum) (313 pgs)

99. Paul S. Kemp: Star Wars: Crosscurrent (320 pgs)

98. Janet Evanovich: Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum) (336 pgs)

97. Chris Heimerdinger: The Feathered Serpent: Part 2 (330 pgs)

96. Chris Heimerdinger: Feathered Serpent Part 1 (276 pgs)

95. Chris Heimerdinger: Gadiantons and the Silver Sword (314 pgs)

94. Elizabeth Moon: The Deed of Paksenarrion (1040 pgs)

93. Laura Ingalls Wilder: These Happy Golden Years (with Lily) (304 pgs)* **

92. Chris Heimerdinger: Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites (268 pgs)

91. Barbara Kingsolver: The Poisonwood Bible (546 pgs)

90. R. L. LaFevers: Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus (375 pgs)

89. David McCullough: 1776 (400 pgs)

88. James Herriot: All Creatures Great and Small (437 pgs)

87. Eleanor Estes: The Hundred Dresses (80 pgs)

86. R. L. LaFevers: Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris ( 352 pgs)

85. Eloise Jarvis McGraw: Mara, Daughter of the Nile (288 pgs)

84. Libba Bray: A Great and Terrible Beauty (403 pgs)

83. Diane Ackerman: The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story (368 pgs)

82. Andrew Clements: Lost and Found (176 pgs)

81. Sheila Kohler: Becoming Jane Eyre: A Novel (256 pgs)

80. Laura Ingalls Wilder: Little Town on the Prarie (With Lily) (320 pgs)* **

79. Lois Lowry: The Birthday Ball (192 pgs)

78. Clive Cussler: The Spy (Isaac Bell) (448 pgs)

77. Anne Osterlund: Aurelia (288 pgs)

76. R. L. LaFevers: Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (352 pgs)

75. Terry Goodkind: Blood Of The Fold: Book 3: The Sword of Truth Series (684 pgs)

74. Suzanne Collins: Mockingjay (390 pgs)

73. Dick Francis: Straight (323 pgs)

72. Lawana, Blackwell: The Maiden of Mayfair (Tales of London Series #1) (416 pgs)

71. Jessica Day George: Dragon Spear (256 pgs)

70. Eva Ibbotson: A Company of Swans (384 pgs)

69. Alan Bradley: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (374 pgs)

68. Margaret Peterson Haddix: Among the Betrayed (160 pgs)

67. Margaret Peterson Haddix: Among the Imposters (192 pgs)

66. Margaret Peterson Haddix: Among the Hidden (Shadow Children #1) (160 pgs)

65. Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Long Winter  (352 pgs)* **

64. Terry Goodkind: Stone of Tears (The Sword of Truth #2) (703 pgs)

63. Kathryn Stockett: The Help (451 pgs)

62. Christie Golden: Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Allies (256 pgs)

61. Dave Barry: Peter and the Starcatchers (451 pgs)

60. Terry Goodkind: Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth Series #1) (836 pgs)

59. Jessica Day George: Dragon Flight  (336 pgs)

58. Jacqueline Kelly: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (340 pgs)

57. Daphne du Maurier: The Scapegoat (352 pgs)

56. Meg Waite Clayton: The Wednesday Sisters: A Novel (320 pgs)

55. Maggie Stiefvater: Shiver (392 pgs)

54. Eva Ibbotson: Journey to the River Sea (304 pgs)

53. Neal Shusterman: Everlost (320 pgs)

52. Janet Evanovich: One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, No. 1) (352 pgs)

51. Elizabeth Aston: Mr. Darcy's Daughters: A Novel (368 pgs)

50. Jessica Day George: Dragon Slippers (352 pgs)

49. Deeanne Gist: Beguiled (336 pgs)

48. Emma Clayton: The Roar (496 pgs)

47. Richard Peck: Here Lies the Librarian (160 pgs)

46. Haven Kimmel: A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana (275 pgs)

45. Mark Dunn: Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters (208 pgs)

44. Laura Ingalls Wilder: Farmer Boy (384 pgs)* **

43. Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief  (375 pgs)

42. William Goldman: The Princess Bride (432 pgs)

41. Victor Hugo: Les Miserables (544 pgs)

40. Jeanne Birdsall: The Penderwicks on Gardam Street (320 pgs)

39. The Harvard Lampoon: Nightlight: A Parody (160 pgs)

38. Jeanne DuPrau: The People of Sparks (Books of Ember) (338 pgs)

37. Cassandra Clare: City of Glass (Mortal Instruments) (541 pgs)

36. Cassandra Clare: City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments) (453 pgs)

35. Cassandra Clare: City of Bones (Mortal Instruments) (485 pgs)

34. Baroness Orczy: El Dorado: Further Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (352 pgs)

33. Baroness Orczy: The Elusive Pimpernel (272 pgs)

32. Eoin Colfer: Artemis Fowl  (396 pgs)

31. Ben Mikaelsen: Touching Spirit Bear (320pgs)

30. Mette Harrison: Mira, Mirror (320 pgs)

29. Aaron Allston: Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Backlash (256 pgs)

28. Jeanne DuPrau: The City of Ember (270 pgs)

27. Laura Ingalls Wilder: By the Shores of Silver Lake (304 pgs)* **

26. Jeanne Birdsall: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy  (272 pgs)

25. Olive Ann Burns: Cold Sassy Tree (400 pgs)

24. Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist (197 pgs)

23. Louisa May Alcott: A Long Fatal Love Chase (356 pgs)

22. Sharon Creech: The Castle Corona 336 pgs)

21. Alexander McCall Smith: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (235 pgs)

20. George Selden: The Cricket in Times Square (176 pgs)

19. Deeanne Gist: A Bride Most Begrudging (347 pgs)

18. Clive Cussler: Sacred Stone (The Oregon Files) (416 pgs)

17. Daphne du Maurier: My Cousin Rachel (374 pgs)

16. Baroness Emmuska Orczy: The Scarlet Pimpernel (288 pgs)*

15. Kate DiCamillo: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (200 pgs)

14. Jessica Day George: Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow (336 pgs)

13. Khaled Hosseini: THE KITE RUNNER (372 pgs)

12. Ann Brashares: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (294 pgs)

11. Marianne Fredriksson: Hanna's Daughters: A Novel (352 pgs)

10. Susanna Clarke: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel (800 pgs)

9. Sophie Kinsella: Confessions of a Shopaholic (320 pgs)

8. The Doctrine and Covenants (294 pgs)*

7. Brandon Mull: Fablehaven(356 pgs)

6. Elizabeth C. Bunce: A Curse Dark as Gold (400 pgs)* 

5. Laura Ingalls Wilder: On the Banks of Plum Creek (352 pgs)* **

4. Pamela Aidan: These Three Remain: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman (464 pgs)

3. Pamela Aidan: Duty and Desire: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman (320 pgs)

2. Pamela Aidan: An Assembly Such as This: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman (288 pgs)

1.Clive Cussler: The Wrecker (Isaac Bell)(480 pgs) 

And I already have a stack of books ready to read for this next year, including the new book I got for Christmas :).  And somehow I need to get Little Women read by Wednesday for book club - he he!

 

Books 2009

For those of you who know me well, saying that I love reading is a huge understatement.  It has been a favorite pastime of mine since I was a little girl.  A few years ago, I noticed on someone's blog that they had kept track of all the books the had read that year, and I thought it was such a fun idea - not because all of you really care what I read, but because I wanted to remember it :).

As I kept track, I realized it was a lot of books, but I am in a great part of my life where my kids go to bed early and I have free time in the evening to read, so I have been taking full advantage.  And just in case you want to know what I thought of all these books, go to goodreads.com and add me as a friend :).

(And because I am a crazy person, I also kept track of how many pages each book was.  My average book was 425 pages and my total pages were 32,615.)

So, here they are, in number order of when I finished them during the year:

77. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (Official Edition) (779 pgs)*

76. Patricia C. Wrede: Thirteenth Child  (320 pgs)

75. Catherine Fisher: Day of the Scarab: Book Three of The Oracle Prophecies (416 pgs)

74. Catherine Fisher: The Sphere of Secrets: Book Two of The Oracle Prophecies (384 pgs)

73. Barbara Robinson: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever  (128 pgs)* **

72. Catherine Fisher: The Oracle Betrayed (332 pgs)

71. Eva Ibbotson: The Star of Kazan (416 pgs)

70. Benedict Freedman: Mrs. Mike (320 pgs)

69. Robert Jordan: The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time) (783 pgs)

68. Chris Wooding: Storm Thief  (320 pgs)

67. Laura Ingalls Wilder: Little House on the Prairie  (352 pgs)*  **

66. Orson Scott Card: Ender's Game  (384 pgs)

65. Eva Ibbotson: A Countess Below Stairs (400 pgs)

64. Nathaniel Hawthorne: The Scarlet Letter (288 pgs)

63. Chaim Potok: The Chosen (304 pgs)

62. Anne Perry: Tathea  (528 pgs)

61. Orson Scott Card: Enchantment (432 pgs)

60. Dan Brown: The Lost Symbol (509 pgs)

59. Julie Berry: The Amaranth Enchantment (308 pgs)

58. Hester Browne: The Little Lady Agency (416 pgs)

57. Mary Ann Shaffer: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (274 pgs)*

56. Kathleen Kent: The Heretic's Daughter (368 pgs)

55. Robert Jordan: Knife of Dreams (The Wheel of Time, Book 11) (860 pgs)*

54. Suzanne Collins: Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games) (391 pgs)

53. Clive Cussler: The Chase (352 pgs)

52. Gerald N. Lund: The Undaunted (816 pgs)

51. Jessica Day George: Princess of the Midnight Ball (280 pgs)

50. Chris Wooding: Poison (288 pgs)

49. Troy Denning: Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Abyss (256 pgs)

48. Victoria Forester: The Girl Who Could Fly (208 pgs)

47. Corrie ten Boom: The Hiding Place (272 pgs)

46. Tasha Alexander: A Fatal Waltz (304 pgs)

45. Tasha Alexander: A Poisoned Season (320 pgs)

44. Tasha Alexander: And Only to Deceive (336 pgs)

43. Nancy Turner: These is my Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 (384 pgs)

42. Catherine Fisher: Snow-walker (640 pgs)

41. Gennifer Choldenko: Al Capone Does My Shirts (240 pgs)

40. Shannon Hale: The Goose Girl (400 pgs)

39. Laura Ingalls Wilder: Little House in the Big Woods (256 pgs)*  **

38. Jim Stovall: The Ultimate Gift (156 pgs)

37. Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games (374 pgs)

36. Shannon Hale: The Actor and the Housewife: A Novel (352 pgs)

35. Clive Cussler: Golden Buddha (The Oregon Files) (432 pgs)

34. Richard Paul Evans: The Sunflower (352 pgs)

33. Diane Mott Davidson: Dying for Chocolate (Goldy Culinary Mysteries, Book 2) (384 pgs)

32. Christie Golden: Omen (Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi, Book 2) (256 pgs)

31. Robert Jordan: Crossroads of Twilight (Wheel of Time, Book 10) (704 pgs)*

30. Aaron Allston: Outcast (Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi, Book 1) (318 pgs)

29. Edith Pattou: East (516 pgs)

28. Betty MacDonald: Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle  (128 pgs)**

27. Stephanie Kallos: Broken for You (400 pgs)

26. Sean Williams: The Force Unleashed (Star Wars) (304 pgs)

25. Robert Jordan: Winter's Heart (The Wheel of Time, Book 9) (800 pgs)*

24. Robert Jordan: The Path of Daggers (The Wheel of Time, Book 8) (704 pgs)*

23. Phillip Done: 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching (304 pgs)

22. Greg Mortenson: Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time (331 pgs)

21. Dick King-Smith: Lady Lollipop  (128 pgs)**

20. Richard Peck: The River Between Us (176 pgs)

19. Nevil Shute: Town Like Alice, A (279 pgs)

18. Lois Lowry: The Willoughbys (288 pgs)

17. P. L. Travers: Mary Poppins (224 pgs)**

16. Mary Ann Shaffer: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (274 pgs)

15. Robin McKinley: Sunshine (405 pgs)

14. Catherine Marshall: Christy (576 pgs)

13. Robert Jordan: A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time, Book 7)  (896 pgs)*

12. Cornelia Funke: Inkheart  (534 pgs)

11. Monica Pradhan: The Hindi-Bindi Club (448 pgs)

10. Robert Jordan: Lord of Chaos (The Wheel of Time, Book 6)  (1024 pgs)*

9. Webb, Meckstroth, & Tolan: Guiding the Gifted Child, A Practical Source for Parents and Teachers (216 pgs)

8. Robert Jordan: The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5) (992 pgs)*

7. Bob Sehlinger: The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009 (864 pgs)

6. John Connolly: The Book of Lost Things: A Novel (470 pgs)

5. Robert Jordan: The Shadow Rising (The Wheel of Time, Book 4) (1008 pgs)*

4. Elizabeth C. Bunce: A Curse Dark as Gold (400 pgs)

3. Diane Mott Davidson: Catering to Nobody  (320 pgs)

2. Michael Buckley: The Sisters Grimm Book 2: The Unusual Suspects (290 pgs)

1. Robert Jordan: The Dragon Reborn: Book Three of 'The Wheel of Time' (624 pgs)*

 

** = Read Aloud with Lily

* = A Reread, because I liked it that much the first time!

I Dare You . . .

A few years ago I did a review of the book, The Daring Book for Girls, by Andrea Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz, which I loved!  So when I was offered the opportunity to review their second installment, I jumped at the chance.

The Double Daring Book for Girls, begins right where the first book left off.  It is a non-fiction book for girls, packed full of anything and everything you might want to know, from constellations to Calamity Jane.  Once again I found myself reliving my childhood as I read about slumber party games or how to use a hula-hoop.

One of my favorite sections was "How to Run Away and Join the Circus" (p. 121-123).  It gave tips on everything from walking the high wire to plate spinning.  My personal favorite was that it gives step-by-step instructions on how to juggle, something I have always wanted to learn.  (I can't tell you how many times my kids have actually asked me to juggle for them, and it sure would be nice to say yes.) 

I immediately pulled out some balls and started trying.  And though I must admit that I still haven't been able to add the second ball yet without dropping both of them, I will keep working on it.  And so, in the spirit of this book, I DARE each one of you to try to learn how to juggle too.    If you take my challenge, leave me a comment and let me know, and we'll see who gets it down first, me or you :).

I really loved this book, and I know you will too!

I Should Be Packing

I should be packing for our trip tomorrow, especially since we fly out at 5:45am - so early!  I also need to clean my house, fold the laundry, make treats for book club tonight, and finish paying bills - but instead, I decided to post :).  Procrastination - oh well. 

This morning I already had a Dr's appointment, Lily's piano lessons (since we will miss them on Saturday), and went to the grocery store.  I deserve a few minutes to sit down, right?  I am giving myself until 12:30, and then I have to get to work, so maybe I can finish in time :).

I just wanted to quickly get down all we have been up to the past few weeks, since I have gone off the radar a little. 

• I have started exercising consistently again, and I am starting to feel much better. 
• We Tye-died t-shirts for YW - what an adventure, but a lot of fun, and I only got my hand stained a little.
• I went out to dinner with my Visiting teachers to Carrabas - yum!  And we had a great time and it was nice to get out.
• Had Ariel (one of our awesome Laurels) and Marilyn over and we watched "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."  It brought back great memories.
• I went through a week long process of whitening my teeth, and am glad it is over.  I wish I had taken a before picture so I could see the difference.
• We went to our ward Pinewood Derby, and the kids had a blast!
• I baked all sorts of fun fancy stuff for refreshments for the General Young Women Broadcast, and almost got stuck eating my cheesecake, chocolate crescents, and fresh squeezed lemonade myself because of a bad storm, complete with tornado warnings.  (I promise to post the recipes when I am not so short on time.)
• Having the YW come over on Sunday to watch the broadcast instead (I had DVRed it).  My desserts were still fresh and they loved them :).  Oh, and the meeting was fantastic!!!!  I felt so wonderful and inspired afterward.
• Lily had a fever of 103 on Sunday, but after some rest, some medicine, and a blessing, it was completely normal on Monday morning and she was able to go to school.
• Lily and Derek made Kevin cards for our Family Home Evening activity on Monday, and they were so cute!  Now we are hoping he actually receives them in the mail :).
• New haircuts for both Lily and I.  I cut hers - just a trim, and my amazing friend Kristi cut mine.  After she was finished, the tow of us had a blast playing with photography stuff.
• We learned CPR for YW this week and I was reminded how I never want to have to perform it on my children - so scary.
• We found the teeny tiny turtle outside - for all the icky bugs here, there sure are some really fun wildlife.
• Last night, Ariel came over with some friends to play games.  It was a lot of fun, even though I lost every time.
• I am reading the most fantastic book right now, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  It is so fun to read, that I just want to curl up on the couch and finish it.  Maybe if I get off the computer and get all the stuff done I need to do, but atleast when I pick up Lily from school I will have 30 minutes of uninterupted reading :)..

Oops, it is 12:33 now.  I guess I was pretty close to being on time, and that was with a phone call from Kevin and Derek having me get him things :).  Hope you all have a great week and a fantastic Easter. 

Books for 2008

If you didn't already know this about me, I love to read - and always have.  if you haven't already noticed, I even have a klink to my ever growing book list on my sidebar.  So fun.  Well, last year I saw that a few of my friends made booklists on their blogs of all the books they read that year. 

I thought it was such a fun idea, however, since I hadn't written them down, there was no way on earth I was going to remember them all.  Enter Goodreads - a place where you can review and rate the books you read, and so now I have a nice record of my reading activity for 2008 (going backwards from December) . . .

1. Austenland by Shannon Hale

2. Book of a Thousand Days  by Shannon Hale

3. A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Time, Book 3)by Madeleine L'Engle

4. The Book of Mormon*

5. The Great Hunt (Wheel of Time, Book 2)  by Robert Jordan*

6. Wuthering Heights   by Emily Bronte

7. The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time, Book 1)  by Robert Jordan*

8. Star Wars: Trilogy - Episodes IV, V & VI by George Lucas

9. The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After by Patricia Wrede

10. The Sisters Grimm Book 1: The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley #

11. The Grand Tour by Patricia Wrede

12. The Last Lecture  by Randy Pausch

13. Star Wars: Millennium Falcon by James Luceno

14. No Doubt About It  by Sheri Dew

15. Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot  by Patricia Wrede

16. Crown Duel  by Sherwood Smith

17. The Spy Wore Red  by  Aline CountessRomanones

18. The Great Good Thing  By Roderick Townley

19. Warsaw Requiem By Bodie Thoene

20. Danzig Passage  By Bodie Thoene

21. The Spy Wore Silk   by  Aline CountessRomanones

22. The Tale of Despereaux  by Kate DiCamillo

23. Sign of the Crescent By Debbie Federici

24. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire  by Steve Perry*

25. Jerusalem Interlude (The Zion Covenant 4)  By Bodie Thoene

26. Practical Magic   By Alice Hoffman

27. Mothering With Spiritual Power by Debra Sanaing Woods

28. Breaking Dawn  by Stephanie Meyer

29. The Secret Garden by Frances Hogson Burnett*

30. The Outlaws of Sherwood  By Robin McKinley

31. The Changeling Sea  by Patricia A. McKillip

32. Angels & Demons  By Dan Brown

33. Munich Signature (Zion Covenant #3) by Bodie Thoene

34. The Book Thief  by Marcus Zusak

35. Prague Counterpoint (Zion Covenant 2)  by Bodie Thoene

36. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley*

37. The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 5)  by Holly Black

38. The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4)  by Holly Black

39. Lucinda's Secret (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 3)  by Holly Black

40. The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2)  by Holly Black

41. The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)  by Holly Black

42. The Man of the Forest  by Zane Grey*

43. The Host  by Stephanie Meyer

44. Star Wars: Legacy of the Force 9 - Invincible  by Troy Denning

45. Vienna Prelude (The Zion Covenant, Book 1)   by Bodie Thoene

46. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West   by Gregory Maguire

47. The Thirteenth Tale  by Diane Setterfield

48. Exodus, by Leon Uris

49. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil   by John Berendt

50. The Hero and the Crown   by Robin McKinnley*

51. Star Wars: Legacy of the Force 8 - Revelation   by Karen Traviss

52. The Invention of Hugo Cabret   by Brian Selznick

53. I, Jedi   by Michael A Stackpole

54. Northanger Abbey   by Jane Austin*

55. Majesty's Rancho   by Zane Grey*

56. The Dangerous Book for Boys   by Conn Igulden

57. Dragonhaven   by Robin McKinnley

58. Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail  by Malika Oufkir

59. Little House in the Big Woods  By Laura Ingalls Wilder*#

60. Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne #

* = reread, meaning it was the 2nd, 3rd, or 5th time I have read it :)

# = read with Lily

I think I may have even missed a few, but that gets most of them.  Some where amazing, some okay, and some great.  If you want to see my reviews, go to www.goodreads.com and add me as a friend :).  Happy reading!

 

The Daring Book for Girls

**This is my first book review for Mother Talk, and I am really excited about it, partly because I love what they are doing on their blog, but also because I was so excited to get to review this book in particular.

The Daring Book for Girls, by Andrea Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz, a self-help book for girls was inspired by The Dangerous Book for Boys (a fun guide to being a boy), and I am so glad that it came to be.  From the first paragraph of the introduction, I was sucked in. 

Being almost 30 and a mother of two, my childhood seems so far away, and yet still so close.  As I turned the pages of this book, I found myself reliving the girlhood I had left behind.  I was taken back to the days of exploring, playing Chinese jump rope, making friendship bracelets, and of course, slumber parties. 

I could picture myself back in the fifth grade out on the foursquare court playing with my friends, or how terrified I was playing "Light as Feather, Stiff as a Board" at my friend Kim's slumber party in the second grade.  In truth, it reminded me of things I had long forgotten and would love to share with my own daughter.

I was also very impressed with the complete wealth of information contained in the book.  It has everything from history, to finance, to how to change a tire.  One of my favorite parts, and unexpected delights in the book, were the history sections.  I learned things about ancient queens, woman spies and scientists, and my personal favorite - the section with letters between Abigail and John Adams before they were married.

Anyone who has, or was once, a little girl, will love this book.  It not only brought back my own memories, but it brings back the simplicity of days spent jumping rope and rollerskating to a fast paced generation in need of some serious slowing down.   I loved it, and I hope you do as well.