A quick update

I've got kids clamoring for breakfast, so I'll make this quick.

Family camp was fun this past weekend. Lots of work to get ready to go and lots of work to clean up afterward. Last night we went to a bbq for the worship team at church. Tonight we have a bbq for the kids' school. Tomorrow we're having a going-away bbq for Kimber with my in-laws. Lots of bbq going on here! And the weather yesterday was cool and rainy. Go figure, after almost 50 days with no rain!

Tomorrow the kids start school. Thursday we leave to take Kimber to school in CA. So I'll probably update after we return this weekend. It's just so crazy busy that I haven't had much time on the computer.

I'm reading my RT books, still have six left, so I need to get moving.

New review posted:
The Mile-High Hair Club

Hopefully I can get a few more written before we leave, but I'm not counting on it. After I get caught up writing my reviews and meet my RT deadline I will be working on my Bible study notes and my Mom's group presentation on hospitality. Why do I do this to myself?

Not much time

I need to start dinner. It's been a very busy day. Started the day on the phone making hair appointments, dog grooming, etc. Went to the library and post office and Target. Came home and had lunch, then went out again to get Logan's hair cut and then to the grocery store to buy stuff for camping. The kids were awful and absolutely would not listen to me. It was really frustrating.

The one good note, I started SAHM I Am by Meredith Efken and it is totally my life! It's about stay-at-home moms who are on an e-mail loop, trying to make sense of their lives and relationships with each other, their husbands, and God. Great book so far, I am hating to put it down but I really need to get some reviews written up before the weekend. Fortunately I did get two done this afternoon. Just three more to go!

I am so looking forward to school starting, I know I'm sounding like a broken record. Not that I will have a whole lot more time to myself, but I will have a little. I am so happy to start my Starbucks Mondays back up again!

Gotta go make the spaghetti. It's too hot but that's what LeeRoy wants to eat.

Reviews posted

Forgot to post the links for my new reviews:

Pocketful of Pearls

Unforgotten

Feelin' down

I'm a bit depressed. I know why, but that doesn't help make it better. I'm really tired of my life and how little control I feel about everything. The more I try to give it up to God the worse off I feel. That's unusual. Usually, I feel so freed by giving up my worries to Him. Maybe it's a sign I'm not completely giving it all up...I don't know. My mind just terribilizes everything that's going on and I project in the future what might possibly happen--and what might happen I can't come up with an adequate reaction on my part. I know, this makes no sense, but it makes total sense to me! As I am sure it does to God, although most of my talking to Him the past few weeks has been totally unfocused.

I wish Kimber was more excited about starting school. I know she's upset about having to leave her boyfriend, but there's so much more to life than a boyfriend at 19. I know, you couldnt' have convinced me of that when I was 19, but it's totally true! I just want her to get her college degree before deciding to settle for staying around here. And I want her to date more people before deciding this is the love of her life.

We're looking at some property here in town to build a house in about five years. Have been on the phone a ton trying to connect with realtors and sellers and lenders and etc. Lots of work. And lots of decisions. Maybe tonight we'll go up there with hiking boots and long pants so we can really look closely at all three pieces we're considering in order to make a more informed decision.

Currently reading Upgrading by Simon Brooke, but as soon as I finish I'll start on my RT books. Maybe I can actually finish them before we leave for CA, that would make Labor Day weekend be so much less stressful!

So...if you think about it, send up a prayer for me and my down feelings. I am hoping so much that things will improve over the next couple of weeks.

Feeling Better!

Antibiotics are wonderful! My eye is much better!

Busy weekend. We had a going away party for Kimber on Saturday. It was nice to see all of the family and have them come to say goodbye.

Started some new books. Got a note from DHL that my RT books are on their way tomorrow morning, so I need to finish Chopstick by Sandra Byrd (I will, it's YA and a quick read) so I can start on those books when they arrive. Also started a new book on CD, finally finished Innocent by Coben (very good, as are all of his books) Now I'm listening to The Girl Next Door by Patricia MacDonald. I'm waiting for Vanish by Tess Gerritsen to be released, so this will hold me until that time.

All right, back to reading! We watched The Upside of Anger last night. It wasn't too bad. Drug in places, but overall ok.

Pink Eye!

Now I have pink eye. Ick. Had to go to the Dr. and get a prescription today because it is just getting worse, not better. The allergy eye drops I have didn't do a thing.

Cleaning the house for Kimber's party tomorrow. It doesn't stay clean long due to the tornado children.

I have got to finish up the Coben book on CD that I'm listening to. I'm almost done but it's wayyyyy overdue. I am going to have to pay bigtime, but I'm so close to the end. It's really good.

Currently reading The Stranger House by Reginald Hill. It's my First Look book this month. I am not sure what I think of it. It's an interesting British book, maybe a mystery, but I am not even sure about that yet. I'm almost 200 pages in, so I wish I could figure out what's up and where it's going. I really want to finish it today, but that's not going to happen unless I really take some time to read this afternoon. I still have to go to the pharmacy and to Target.

I'm off...I also have a bunch of reviews to write up, I really need to do that too before I sit down to read.

Things are looking up

I am definitely feeling better today. Grace on the other hand is about to drive me insane. She's screaming about everything. I think she's tired, but who knows. She's just cranky. Her shoes aren't tied right, it's too sunny, etc.

Went shopping all day in Vancouver for clothes for the kids. They are not fun to shop with, let me tell you. Logan was actually really easy, but Grace was picky and whiny until she got food, then she was ok for awhile, then whiny again.

I have two new reviews posted:
A Little Change of Face
Romantic Fiction

I finished Necklace of Kisses--it was very unusual, but I really liked it. I am not sure what's up next on the pile, probably my First Look book. Then I got a book from Ballantine to review yesterday also. Hopefully I will have my RT books before we head to California so I can read in the car. Yes, hopefully! The reviews are due on the 5th and we're leaving on the 1st!

Found out that Logan doesn't have the teacher I had wanted for him. I am a little bummed. I have no doubts he'll be find anywhere, but it's still disappointing. And then they asked if Grace could be in PM kindergarten which I said NO. That would throw me totally off, plus she's already signed up for gymnastics in the afternoon. She melts down in the afternoon (I should have them come observe her today, then they'd get a clue)

Gotta go think of something for dinner!

Still sick

I have almost completely lost my voice. It's very irritating, especially since I can't even call for the kids. They aren't being very understanding either. I feel awful, and tonight we have to get our picture taken for the church directory. My right eye is very swollen and red. I just took an antihistimine so hopefully it will clear up a little. I'm going to dose with Visine right before we leave also. If things don't seem to be improving in a half hour, I'm going to take benadryl and have Kimber drive us there. It doesn't make me that tired, and it's not that far away, but I won't take the chance.

Finished the hair book finally, haven't felt much like reading. Started on Necklace of Kisses by Francesca Lia Block. It's a little strange, but fairly good. I feel like I've missed out on a lot though, because it's like the 5th book in a series that's been going for years, and I haven't read any of the others. But it's good nonetheless.

Gotta go put my stuffed shells in the oven so they'll be done in time for us to go to the picture. Grace has already bathed (had to get the popsicle and ravioli out of her hair) but now she's outside again. Hopefully she won't get too dirty!

Grrr--what's the deal?

If it isn't enough that I have to deal with spam in my e-mail box, now I have to deal with spam comments on my blog. Come on, how stupid is that?

Still reading the same book. I feel awful, I've almost completely lost my voice now. The kids are probably happy, I can't really yell at them.

I have a new addiction. It's www.paperbackswap.com
It's a book trading site where you exchange books with others. I've traded quite a few so far, it's really fun. If you decide to sign up, make sure you put down my e-mail (parcelhome@adelphia.net) as a referral so I can get some extra credits :) I've been listing books this evening. It is in conjunction with selling my books--I am really trying to declutter my book room. I also listed a bunch more rubber stamps on ebay to try to get that room cleared out some more. I just have way too much stuff in general.

We're Back!

It wasn't too bad weather-wise, although LeeRoy would claim differently. I had a nice time with my sister and the kids loved visiting with their cousins. Spent a lot of time in the pool. It's hot here too, I am very anxious for summer to end, let me tell you!

Went school clothes shopping for Kimber today. I got a couple of outfits for myself, but I cant' wear them until the weather cools down.

Have had a few reviews posted:
Always Green
Miranda Blue Calling
The Girl She Left Behind
The Victory Club
Seven Minutes to Noon

I finished a couple of books while I was in Vegas, now I'm reading
The Mile High Hair Club by Naomi Neale. I was totally thrilled when I opened it up and saw my review of Neale's first book, Calendar Girl, quoted inside the front cover. Even though my name wasn't with it, it made me so excited to see my words!

I'm feeling rotten, allergies, a cold, or something. I'm going to go lie down for awhile before I write up the reviews I need to work on. Or maybe I'll wait until tomorrow.

Verrrrry slow and hot...

It is so hot today. Ugh. I was so productive this morning. I got up early, balanced the checkbook, paid bills, figured out all of our bookkeeping stuff, etc. Started on my RT reviews.

Went to the library and then stopped by school to pay Logan's tuition and Grace's first month. Gasp, that was a lot of money! Thank goodness for our tax return!

Have spent most of the last two hours trying to get Kimber's Netgear set back up. I finally figured it out and I'm so proud of myself. (big pats on the back for me)

Now both kids have friends over, and although Logan and his friend are really hot and bored (they've done everything and are still bored) I am going to spend the next hour working on my RT reviews. Jenny and I are going to dinner and to see Must Love Dogs tonight, so I don't need to cook dinner for myself. I need to figure out what to make for the rest of them though.

Off to concentrate on these reviews. They are not going to write themselves and I have to pack tomorrow so not much time then.

Went to the fair...

It was free to get in between 10 and 4 today, so we went at 10. Stayed until about 2:30. Very, very, very hot when we left. Kids had a lot of fun and enjoyed looking at the animals and all of the other exhibits. We didn't ride any rides, the lines were forever long and we just went to Disneyland for goodness sake! LeeRoy is working there at 5, Kimber is going to the demolition derby after she gets off work...but I don't think we're going to go back unless it cools off significantly.

I am going to start working on my RT reviews. I have put it off long enough and am going to run out of time before we leave with the wedding and everything on Friday and Saturday.

Please tell me school starts tomorrow!

I am so bummed that it doesn't. All my kids do is fight. And all I do is yell. I am so tired of this, give me the structure of school!

Went college-stuff shopping with Kimber last night. She got a comforter, towels, and all of the hundreds of dollars of stuff one needs to go 470 miles away to school for a year. She did say that she wouldn't mind having a going away party...so maybe on the 20th or 21st, our only free weekend before she leaves. Could do it the 14th I guess, but that seems a little early. It's nice to see her getting excited about going. I know she's probably really nervous since she doesn't know anyone, but I remember how much I grew up and learned about myself and how I fit into life when I went away to school.

Now if I can only make it 12 more years until the little ones are off to college, I'll have it made.

New Reviews Posted

Still reading Always Green, but I should finish it today.
Here are the new reviews I have posted:

Nice Girls Finish First

Dixieland Sushi

Everybody Into the Pool:True Tales

Back to writing up reviews!

Depressing day...

I am having a down day today. I have done a lot, gotten a lot accomplished, but it doesn't feel like it. I feel really blah and down.

Went to Cannon Beach yesterday which was so fun. The weather was gorgeous, it was awesome.

Finished my RT books, now I just have a major task ahead writing them up. I have this huge pile of books that I've read but not reviewed yet. I did 1 1/2 reviews today, so I guess that's progress. But I have to get them done before we leave for Vegas.

Right now I'm reading Always Green by Patti Hill. It's fairly good, but a little depressing. Maybe that's contributing to my mood. I don't know. Life just gets that way sometimes.

Off to work on dinner.