Wednesday, December 31, 2014

What I've been Reading...

Well, I have been reading, but I decided to pick up an 800 page book, which took me some time. Now, I don't often pick up a book that is 800+, so I do have high expectations of the story. It's got to be good...my word it's 800 pages...must have lots of twist and turns and flips and flops...and I must say, Natchez Burning by Greg Iles does contain all these "requirements."


From Amazon:
Growing up in the rural Southern hamlet of Natchez, Mississippi, Penn Cage learned everything he knows about honor and duty from his father, Tom Cage. But now the beloved family doctor and pillar of the community is accused of murdering Viola Turner, the beautiful nurse with whom he worked in the dark days of the early 1960s. A fighter who has always stood for justice, Penn is determined to save his father, even though Tom, stubbornly evoking doctor-patient privilege, refuses to speak up in his own defense.
The quest for answers sends Penn deep into the past—into the heart of a conspiracy of greed and murder involving the Double Eagles, a vicious KKK crew headed by one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the state. With the aid of a local friend and reporter privy to some of Natchez's oldest and deadliest secrets, Penn follows a bloody trail that stretches back forty years, to one undeniable fact: no one—black or white, young or old, brave or not—is ever truly safe.
With everything on the line, including his own life, Penn must decide how far he will go to protect those he loves . . . and see justice done, once and for all.

When I first started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. It was that good. About half way through, I started to think this book could be just as good with less pages. Some scenes just go on and on and on! But I stuck with it, because I wanted to know how this one was going to play out. In the last "big" scene in the book, I looked at Jason and said, "My word. I just wish someone would get killed and get on with this story!"  I then finished it about 30 minutes later and wanted to take it out to our fire pit and burn it. THERE WAS NO ENDING! THERE WAS NO WRAP UP! 

Now, I have read books that have squeals and trilogies, but each book has wrapped up the story, but you know they could have a second or third book. But, you are left with an ending. Not here! One character is walking up a hill with a gun on two other characters...and that's it! UGH!!

So I immediately got on line and found out I wasn't the only one that felt the same...the book is just so long and could have had 200-300 pages cut out and still be an amazing story. Then I realized it was the first book in a trilogy. Oh. Hmmm...STILL DOESN'T"T MEAN YOU CAN"T WRAP UP THE FIRST BOOK!!!

Will I read the second book? I would love to, but if it 800 pages and has no ending, than no thank you!

The last time I felt this strongly disappointed about a book, was when I read A Song in Ordinary Times, an Oprah book club choice. It had NO ENDING!! I actually threw this book away. 

http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388192362l/5182.jpg

So, I am off to read a new book, which takes me about 2-3 days to decide what I am going to read next. 

I will let you know how my next book goes...is it s keeper or a burner!!


Monday, December 29, 2014

Phew!

Phew...what a couple of weeks!
 We have been on the go, go, go! 
So much so, that even Jason (who loves to be on the go) said no more to the go! 
Phew!
I have loads to share, that it is almost overwhelming, so I will give you a quick overview of the last two weeks (in no particular order!)

 I volunteered to photograph Jack's winter party at school.

The boys practiced their photo-bombing!
(I needed to get some sleep!)

We went to an ISU basketball game.

Watched movies in the basement.

Went to a new movie theater in our area!

 Moose and I took selfies!


Sam ROCKED his guitar solo in his recital!

Jack wore an ugly Christmas tee to school.

I walked out one evening and the boys were laying on the balcony looking down at the Christmas tree. They weren't saying a thing...just looking at the tree.

Had my Memory Bound Christmas party. The theme was from the movie  "National Lampoo's Christmas Vacation." Jason and I dressed up as the boss and the boss's wife!

 My sister thought my coat was the bomb! So does Sammy!!

Cousin Christmas...a favorite night of ours!!

Christmas Eve family photo!
 
Enjoying pepperoni sticks for dinner!

Enjoying juice from our Christmas Vacation Reindeer glasses!

Drank a lot of hot chocolate!

And finally...the boys seeing their gifts from Santa!!

PHEW!! 
Now to get this all in my December Daily album...someday!
 

Friday, December 19, 2014

The Look of Success...

Sam has been obsessed with the Rubik's Cube lately. A couple of kids at school can solve the cubes and this has intrigued Sam for sometime. How do they do that?

Well,  Sam was on a mission and started watching  you tube videos that showed step by step directions on how to solve the cube. He became determined to figure that thing our!  I would find him up early in the morning working on that cube before going to school, laying in his bed working on the cube and instead of reading at night, he was working on that cube!

This morning was no different. He was working on that cube even before he had eaten his breakfast. Notice the box sitting to the side.

I was taking a few pictures because he was SO intense!!
he actually "SHUSHED" me!  Oh!

I just happened to click this picture as he looked up and yelled. "AHHHH!! I DID IT!!"
He was over the moon about solving that cube! It was great and so much fun to see him so happy about his success! His next comment was, "My hands are totally sweating!"

He has since then written down step by step directions on paper on how to solve the Rubik's cube. He completes it as far as he can, until he needs to check his "cheat sheet." I am proud to say that he has solved it two times without looking at his cheat sheet once!! Yea, Sam!

He gets this from his mom! :)
I am talking about his detailed note taking!!

Thursday, December 18, 2014

More Henry Antics...

Henry has been one busy elf lately! 
The boys wake up, especially Jack, and cannot wait to find that mischievous little elf and he has not been disappointed~

What are those things all over our tree?
OH MY!
It's the boys' underwear!! EW!! 

Jack checking out the undies!




One morning he was hanging around like Spiderman!


In our cotton ball jar!

Playing a little pool with the dudes!

 Buzz Lighter...what a cheater!
  
Mr. Potato Head waiting his turn.


  
Woody patiently waiting his turn.

 Zip lining from the balcony to the tree!




Henry has been fun to have around this year!
Can't believe that he leaves in seven days!!
He deserves a long trip to someplace warm!

Friday, December 12, 2014

Still Together..

Just as the picture from yesterday showed, the boys have been pretty tight since they were little. I will be honest, there are times that they drive each other nuts and need to be separated!! 

When Sam was nine, Jack followed him around and the both loved to do the same things. I notice now that the age difference is a bit more difficult. Sam may not want to play hide and seek or legos, but usually, Jack can get Sam to hang out with him in some manner...after striking  deal of some sort. 

These pictures were taken in the last two weeks. I think it captures how they still are close, want to hang around each other and get along together! (without any deal making) Or maybe they're just video junkies. 



They do crack each other up.



(Jack has a freaky thing going on with his left hand!)



Thursday, December 11, 2014

Throw Back Thursday!

#TBT

No words today.
*love*