Twilight Saga

Okay...
I just finished reading the third book today (not too bad...all three in a week's time. Would've been quicker if I didn't have responsibilities...). I LOVED them just like everyone told me I would. I was quite obsessed with them actually. I am definitely an Edward fan but can feel for Jacob's side. Most of his characteristics tend to represent the warmer, happier, more ideal notions. However, this is a book to take you out of reality so bring on the fantastic, the outrageously romantic and the relationship where you seem to get everything you want. Besides, Edward does truly love Bella.

There is only one downside to having finished the books that I can come up with...the disappearance of the hope and anticipation of reading another chapter. It's a let-down at the end when your whole world has revolved around these star-crossed lovers. I am so looking forward to August for #4! It's like my Harry Potter craze all over again.

For now I'll be turning back to the short story volumes I have previously been reading. I have also really enjoyed this genre as well. I am a big fan of short stories. A couple of my favorites to recommend:
-The Man by Mel Dinelli (tense)
-Marjorie Daw by Thomas Bailey Aldrich
-The Lady, Or The Tiger by Frank R. Stockton
-A Gala Dress by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
-The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
-Where Love Is, There God is Also by Leo Tolstoy
-A Jury Of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell
-Verlie I Say Unto You , and Roses, Rhododendron by Alice Adams
-Rappaccini's Daughter and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne

...and so many more...my list would get too long. Anyway...

I really enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's books. Thanks to everyone who recommended them to me! We'll talk more about them in August...too far away...

P.S.

For those fans who have been egging me on to read the book...

I am finally reading Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer, and yes I do like it so far. I'll give you my full editorial after I finish. Thanks for the suggestions!

Easter 2008

Our Easter celebrations started a week early...a little tramautic for me. It was the only time I could find to schedule the church (I'm primary prez) and it still seemed to be coinciding with many, many activities. We decided to push through anyway and it turned out pretty fun!

The Easter Bunny did make a visit again this year. We tease the kids that the eggs left all over the house are Easter Bunny droppings. We then yell, "OOoooh! Tyson and Timmy are touching Bunny poop" while the kids collect their eggs. I know, pretty lame, probably gross, parents. We made it to church and even into the chapel this Sunday. The song I enjoyed the most from the program was "God So Loved the World". I think it was close to the same arrangement that me and my mom sang in a stake choir. Pretty-pretty.

We had invited the Thorntons over for Easter dinner-the poor dears. Timmy wanted Turkey rather than ham and I forgot to stick it in the oven before church. They came over and eventually we ate Zac's rolls, but otherwise we had leftover chinese food, boiled eggs, a little Tilapia Zac whipped up and lots of chocolate eggs. After they left, it sounds so bad, and around 8pm we finally had our turkey dinner. It was still really nice being able to spend the time with the Thorntons. I truly consider them our family. I can't imagine screwing up on dinner invites like that and not giving myself a good house-elf head-whacking with anyone but the Thorntons. Hmmm...maybe I'm too comfortable around them. Sorry guys.

Anyway...
We finished the night off right with Zac reading out of the scriptures about the crucifixion and the resurrection. I truly am grateful for my Savior. He's made it possible for me to get past my flaws, repent, be forgiven. I'm glad we have had the chance to reflect on such a wonderful event!

Fun Friendship Week!!!

Our ward has a fun spring activity of trading names and doing fun, anonymous gifts or services during our Spring Friendship Week. We signed up this year and had a bunch of fun. We left some (hopefully) fun items that represented us to help the family figure out who we were. We made rolls of course, cheesecake, left some card games, crosswords and sudokus, articles about diving and scrapbooking, a frisbee for (cross your fingers) a springy day and, last but not least, MC-D's hot fudge Sundaes. We took the sundaes in person to reveal ourselves only to find out our family was having a much better treat on vacation in Mexico. We'll have to share later!
Anyway, we were delighted to have some fun, yummy treats and some wonderful tulips left on our doorstep as well! I am a great fan of Trader Joe's and so when the familiar brown bags showed up I was excited to see the yummy treats. Zac has now found a new favorite root beer as well.
The fun part was that two of the days I had been standing near the window as this cute little, blue-hooded stranger trod across the sidewalk leaving the fun packages and ringing the doorbell. I wasn't able to get a look at who it was either time. Tricky-tricky! The second time Tyson was sitting right there with me and was surprised to find only a sack when he opened the door. He said, "Mom! We've been ditched" doorbell ditched ya know. Anyone else remember junior high days...
Sunday we received our last package with a fun puzzle to figure out who it was...


Thanks Secret Pals!

Don't Pinch Me!

My holiday PROS!

The First Band Concert

Tim did it! What an awesome concert we went to. It started with the All-Town 4th Grade Band, then Tim's All-Town 5th Grade Band, the middle school's band and ending with the High School Band. It spanned from beginners to much more accomplished. Tim said he felt good that he didn't make any "squawks" like some of the younger group. He did awesome on the clarinet and listening and watching to the higher levels gave him something more to look forward to. Great job Tim!

Tim is Fiery!

You Are Cumin

You are warm, unique, and pretty dominant. It's also pretty likely that you smoke or like fire. You are energetic and intense. You definitely stimulate people.

What Spice Are You?

Spicy Zac!

Here are Zac's results...

You Are Cayenne Pepper

You are very over the top and a bit overwhelming. You have a fiery personality, and you can give anyone a good jolt. You can easily take things up a couple notches, no matter what crowd you're running with.

What Spice Are You?

Fighting the Fat

I literally am. A couple of weeks ago I tipped my scale up to what I weighed at the end of my pregnancy with Tim. DEPRESSING. I really do love New England, but for some reason I have felt unable to do the things that kept me active before. Don't get me wrong, there are millions of things to do, but so many of them cost money. As a poor college student family, we can't spend too much on activities. The ($$$) price on gas doesn't help either. These are still blah-blah-blah excuses. I can quit wussin' out and go for a walk in the cold if all else fails or pop in a workout tape, but it doesn't seem as easy as before. Before I had at least 2 nights a week at the pool for scuba plus lifting tanks back and forth for customers etc...and open water certifications at various places each month. I also used to go for walks and bike rides almost every morning. Now I'm a slug on the rug.

So.........time to make a change. Since the super scale performance, I have been trying to watch my calories and re-integrate myself into exercise. Wow! It is hard! I never thought I would let myself get this out of shape! I'm using sparkpeople.com to help monitor my calories and exercise. It's free and the website is very user friendly. The part that seems to have my punching gloves up the highest is calories. I had no clue I could pack so much away. My sweet tooth and my lovely ground beef recipes throw the calories through the roof. I have found, however, that apples are my new best friend.

Okay, okay. I'm going to do this! But, dang-it-all, it's not going to be easy!

Spicy Amy!

I'm having too much fun with quizzes and such! Hope you find them just as enjoyable!

You Are Oregano

You are charming, funny, witty, and smart. You love to party - and people love to party with you. You are always friendly and warm. You are able to help people get along.

What Spice Are You?

Trimble Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebs - Collage - Morph

Trimble Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Vintage photos - Family history

Another Tyson Tooth Bites the Dust

A couple days after losing a tooth, Tyson pulled out its neighbor. Check out what he had to say about it...