Computer Crash

Had a major computer crash this week. Power supply failed. So we got a new computer yesterday. Will update more when I get a chance later today.

Sunday Afternoon

It's a rainy day here today. I am trying to finish up my book Boo by Rene Gutteridge so I can start my RT books. Two deadlines this month. I also need to finish three other books this week on top of my 8 for RT. Impossible? Probably. Grrr. Why do I do this to myself?

I am starting on Shades of Gray by Jacquelin Thomas first. Hopefully I can make a lot of headway today. LeeRoy is watching the Seahawks, so he's occupied.

I am starting a bookbox for the bookbox yahoo group I belong to. I am trying to clear out some more books before the library sale starts a week from Friday. Some of these books have just been hanging around way too long.

This should be another busy week. Hopefully I can get done all I need to.
I am off to do some serious reading.

Movin' Right Along...

In the week (but doesn't that title just make you hum, or is it just me? Maybe I'm the only Muppet fan out there)

Got to go out to lunch today with my friend Misty, that was totally fun. It will be even more fun next year when the kids are in school all day and I don't have to feel guilty leaving Grace in day care. But she loves it and has been begging to go for the past couple of weeks. Besides, there is this boy that also asks every day if she's going to go...tee hee too funny.

Currently reading Revenge of the Paste Eaters by Cheryl Peck. So far not as funny as her first, but I am enjoying it anyway.

TV thoughts:
Amazing Race--Boring. That's pretty much all I can say. It's not challenging when everyone speaks your language and all you have to do to find something is look in a phone book at a gas station. If they aren't leaving the US they could make it more difficult! I can't wait for the next real one, which is sad since the family one had so much potential.

Lost--Oh, can I say addiction? I absolutely love this show. Can't say enough good things about it. My only complaint--last night they drop a bombshell about someone dying in the next episode and now it's not going to be on for three weeks! Grrrr. That darn baseball.

Ok, off to clean some more before I need to pick the kids up from school.

Yay Grace!

At gymnastics today the teacher kept pulling Grace aside. I was wondering what was up, but after class she told me that Grace is too good for the class she's in, she needs to be in a higher level! I knew she had been really improving, but didn't realize how much. So next week she'll be in a higher class!

Still reading the same book, I hope to finish today. Still listening to Vanishing Acts. It's ok but unless something exciting happens I am not going to rate this much higher than a C. It's just average, especially compared to My Sister's Keeper.

New review posted:

Don't Get Too Comfortable

Monday, Monday...

What a busy weekend! We took yesterday just to relax and regroup.

Friday I worked in Grace's classroom and it was pet day. So I had the dog with me. First thing in the morning Logan showed him for his sharing, and then Grace showed him at 11. After we quickly took the dog home, went by the bank, then to Taco Bell, then to church for the mom's group. Picked up Logan from school and hurried home. I made the rest of my Tastefully Simple items and did another clean-up of the house. Had my party, which was fun but really busy. Watched The Longest Yard after, it was pretty funny.

Saturday we went to a Safeway grand opening ($1.38 Diet Coke 12 packs!) then to the fire station open house, then out to lunch with my parents and aunt for Logan's birthday. My mom, aunt, and I went to pick up Logan's Star Wars birthday cake, then we came home to open presents. Before we knew it, it was time for Logan's birthday party at the Hoppin' House. That was really fun, when we got home we watched Speak, which was really moving.

Sunday was a day of vegging after church. I read my book, LeeRoy napped, and Logan had Jacob over. Grace went to Katie's. It was just a long, lazy day.

Not really sure I'm enjoying Desperate Housewives this season. Nothing is really happening. On the other hand, I am loving Grey's Anatomy even more. The story lines are great and I was just bawling when Burke held Cristina while she cried.

Currently reading Everyone Else's Girl by Megan Crane. The cool thing...when I opened up the book there were a couple of pages with quotes from reviews about her last book and my review was quoted! Not using my name, but using Bookloons. Here's a link to that review if you're interested:
English as a Second Language

I have a new review posted:
Hannah's Hope

I hope I'll have a little time to write up some reviews today. I am going to force myself, I'm three books behind.

Logan's Birthday

Today my little boy is seven! I can't believe time has gone by so quickly. People always say it does, and when he was colicky and crying all the time I never believed it. But it has. It is so amazing to see him growing and changing every day, becoming more of his own person.

I'm currently reading She's All That by Kristen Billerbeck. I have four books I have to get through before Monday because I've got to start on my next round of RT books. Two deadlines in one month are not fun. She's All That is a Christian chick lit book, first in the spa girls series. It's decent so far, but nothing spectacular. I'm only on page 30 though.

My wonderful husband took the kids to church last night so I could stay home and get some things done. It was so nice of him. I got cupcakes made and frosted, Logan's presents sorted and wrapped.

I'm going to get on the treadmill, I've got 2 hours until I am going to pick up Grace from school.

Yipes!

After a walk around the block with Grace, I have handed her off to her "adopted" grandma who is going to walk another round with her.

Life is crazy, I think that should be my catch phrase.

Logan's birthday is Thursday, so I am busily preparing for his party on Saturday. I have Bible study tomorrow, so I spent this morning preparing my notes for that. I'm having a Tastefully Simple party on Friday, so much cleaning is necessary. Today I've been cleaning and getting things ready, it just never seems like there are enough hours in the day.

Currently reading Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner. It's a decent book so far, although I'm not sure it will measure up to her previous book (Little Earthquakes) in my mind. I guess I'd classify it as a chick lit mystery. I've only got about a week until I have to start on my RT books again. Two deadlines in a month will about send me over the edge. And my family too, LeeRoy especially dislikes the deadline weekends.

Started a new study at church --Know Fear. We're attending a new small group which isn't too bad. Different than I'm used to, we're one of the youngest people there. I don't feel very connected to the people, but maybe it's just too early for that. I've been feeling very disillusioned with our church lately, I'm not connecting with God like I used to, and I'm not sure what the cause is. We've been contemplating trying other churches, but we can't find something that would work for both of us. I like contemporary music, but I like some structure. I don't care for three hour long church services that may or may not include a sermon, depending on what's happening. But I also don't like these time crunched, non-Spirit led services I've been experiencing lately. I really need to pray about what to do.

I'm a little overwhelmed with life in general...I need to figure out what to cut out because I can't keep up with the pace I'm trying to right now.

Clutter

I've been thinking a lot lately about the clutter in my life. I've been doing the Beth Moore study "Living Beyond Yourself" and God has been speaking to me. The video this week talked about clearing things out through confession and bringing concerns to God before you can be filled with the Holy Spirit. She also talked about actions and how every action has its root in something internal. For example, I have a big problem with just totally losing it with my kids--yelling and getting so angry. Even bringing it to Jesus and trying my hardest to turn from it isn't working.

So I got to thinking, what is the real root cause of this? What is setting me off? And I came back to the thing that has been plaguing me my whole life--perfectionism. I expect too much from myself, my family, and even my home. I have these perfection expectations that just can't be met, no matter how hard anyone tries. And most of the time, when I lose it with the kids, it's because I'm failing at something I think I should be getting perfect--like my house clean, or being on time for things, etc.

Just something I am definitely working on with God. But now that I have really acknowledged the root of the problem I can get to work on it.

On another note, I am now reading The Wedding Day by Catherine Alliott.

I am so wishing for a date night with my husband but we really haven't found a babysitter. All of the teenagers we know are going to football games, it's frustrating. And Alicia is in Hawaii (lucky her!)

Have been diligently working on the physical clutter in my home today. I've cleaned out Grace's room and have a big garbage bag ready for Goodwill (I can't freecycle this stuff because she doesn't really know what's in there and I dont' want to keep it around any longer than necessary) and another big bag of Logan's stuff. I actually need to get rid of more of his stuff because his birthday is this week, which means more will be arriving. I'm trying to get him to part with some Rescue Hero items because he has thousands and he doesn't really play with them anymore. His is mostly really into Legos and Star Wars right now.

This is long enough, back to cleaning!

New Reviews Posted

The Judge Who Stole Christmas

Saturday Morning

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough

Another breakneck week

I can't believe it's Thursday already. Kids have two days off school for the ASCI conference, so we're back to summer mode again. Logan has an eye appointment this morning, so I need to get in the shower very soon.

I'm reading Don't Get Too Comfortable by David Rakoff. It's a very funny set of essays about over-indulgent Americans. I'm enjoying it. Still listening to Vanishing Acts, it's definitely good, I hope I'm not disappointed.

Kimber is driving to Ashland and back today to see a play. Pray if you think of it, that's a scary drive at night through the mountains.

I'll probably post some more later when I have more time. I think I'll have some reviews posted today.
Oh, here's one:
The Railway Children

I Hate Thinking of Titles

Same thing with subjects of e-mail. My titles are all boring because I just can't think of anything to write. I should just date them and leave it at that.

Weekend was a little busy but not too bad. Logan's spend the night friend went well. We took my father-in-law out for dinner on Saturday night to celebrate his birthday (well, my m-i-l came too) then we all watched The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I remember reading the book in the 6th or 7th grade, it's probably where I developed my off-the-wall sense of humor when it comes to entertainment. HGTTG was better than I was expecting.

Sunday we went and bought Logan's birthday party invites and other stuff and Grace's Halloween costume. I spent most of the weekend reading like a fiend trying to get through the RT books.

Currently reading Saturday Morning by Lauraine Snelling (finally finishing it up) and listening to Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult.

Lots to do around here and only an hour to do them in!