What I am reading...

So, it's been a while since I last posted. I thought I was on a roll... Oh, well. I have been trying to get into reading again - in spite of everything else that I have going on. I have been going back and forth from non-fiction to fiction and looking for writers that keep me interested. What I find particularly interesting are the writer's personal websites. Knowing more about the writer's history and what they are motivated by gives me inspiration to dig a little deeper into myself and what it is that I have to say, to contribute.

I will try to figure out how to put this in a separate spot on this blog, but I haven't gotten that far yet. So, a short synopsis of where I am at now:

An Inconvenient Book - Glenn Beck


~Still haven't finished it. Brad read it start to finish and I think that is the first book that he has read cover to cover. That says a lot, regardless of what you think about him! (Glenn Beck, not Brad) It is a very funny book and he makes humorous ventures into the political correctness of being a liberal. I am anxious to finish it.

I Am America and So Can You! - Stephen Colbert


~I thought that if Brad finished the Beck book, then he would really like this one too. I am not sure if he has read it all or not. I started it too, but can't seem to get past the first chapter. Not that it's not funny, it is. But almost like he is trying too hard to be funny. This is on my list of things that I want to finish, but not terribly pressing.

Love and Other Impossible Pursuits - Ayelet Waldman


~I checked this out at the library when I was looking for another book by Jennifer Weiner. (W's are together!) She had several titles there and apparently writes a series called the Mommy Tracks, more on that in a bit. So, I read this whole thing and about 90% of it in one sitting. Great book! I can't remember a time when I have read a book in which the protagonist isn't exactly too likeable. You grow to like her, but it's not instant. Actually, I was quite frustrated with her in the beginning. As the story unfolds, you can see how realistic her character is and what an awesome writer Waldman is.
Part of the trouble that I have when reading is that I am always thinking about the author and HOW they have written the story - character, plot, dialogue, etc.
Roughly one-third of a way into the book, I forgot about that stuff and got into the book. Another mark of a great writer, that she made me forget.

Oh, so I didn't even say what the book is about. The majority of the book is about Emilia's relationship with her five year old stepson. He is a real number. The other factors are her new marriage and the death of her daughter by SIDS. How all of this comes together is what makes the story. A very intriguing read.

Death Gets a Time-Out - Ayelet Waldman


~This is one of the books in the Mommy Track series. I liked the title, so I checked it out. It's about a stay-at-home mom that starts to investigate murders and do a little PI work. I am a few chapters into this one and I do like it. I will post more after I finish it.

So, that's where I am at right now. I checked out Waldman's website and found out that her husband is a Pulitzer Prize winning author, Michael Chabon. I may try to read some of his work as well. If you have any great books that you think I should check out, let me know! Because I do have all this free time on my hands! Hee, Hee, Hee!

Kids are sick

Anderson
Annaliese

So... The kids aren't feeling well. It started with Annaliese on Saturday night, thought she was better on Sunday and then Sunday night she got sick again. Anderson hasn't been sleeping well either. Then yesterday, Jackson got sick and now I am hoping the rest of us don't get it. Hailey is feeling fine so far. I am so run down with lack of sleep at this point, I don't think I could handle getting sick. Of course, maybe if I did, Brad could stay home and take care of me ~ wouldn't that be nice?! These pics I took of Annaliese and Anderson when they were finally sleeping for a nap yesterday. They are always so sweet when they are asleep.

End Result...

Okay - He's up now and here is the end result of our haircut adventure. He wouldn't sit long enough for me to take a pic of him by himself, so I had to let him play on the computer so I could get the shot. He loves anything electronic that he isn't supposed to be playing with.

Haircut for the Little Man

So everyone has been giving me a hard time about Anderson's hair, that it's too long in back. Does anyone offer to take him to get it cut? NO!!! They make me do it and get embarassed at the salon. He SCREAMED the entire time! Just like his first haircut. I had all the kids with me and they tried to help as much as three kids can when the fourth is screaming his head off. Anderson is sleeping now so I will get a picture of him when he wakes up with his new "do". It's not the best cut because he was moving around so much, but it's better than it was. Truthfully, it sounded like he was at the doctor getting shots. I am not kidding - just ask the kids. I vote for Brad to take him next time. He does look like a Little Man now - and still really cute! His isn't as hard to cut as Jackson's was. Jackson had all those curls and they never grew back. Anderson's is just straight as can be. (Oh - I forgot to mention the gal cutting his hair cut her finger because he was squirming so much. I consider that an "occupational hazard") I'm just sayin'....

Michelle

Michelle wasn't able to make it up for Jackson's birthday but she usually comes a couple of times a month from Minneapolis to visit. She was back at Thanksgiving and helped us go to get our Christmas tree. We go to the Kris Kringle Christmas tree farm off HWY 218. This pic of her and Hailey was really good. I wanted to get up a picture of her too, so this is the one that I chose. Her and Hailey are two peas in a pod. I have her to thank for Hailey's fashion sense and love of shopping.

Grandma Hazel and Grandpa Ron

I didn't have time yesterday to get these photos up with my parents and the kids. These were also taken at Jackson's birthday party. My dad has his Retired Army hat on. I think the "Nitro" hat finally got too worn out! He is usually the one that has the smarties for the kids.

Grandma Bev and Grandpa Wayne

The "kids" love all their grandparents. Wayne and Bev are Brad's parents. You can really tell by Annaliese's smile how happy she is to be with Grandma. As soon as they see them walk in the door, they go crazy and then start asking for the candy. I got some great pictures from Jackson's birthday with each grandparent holding Annaliese and Anderson. Jackson and Hailey were too "busy" to sit and have their photo taken.

Jack's Birthday

Back Row - Caeden Janssen, Jackson, Carter Janssen
Front Row - Blake Gleason, Devin Myhr



We finally had snow for Jackson's birthday this year. He turned 5 on December 17th. We had his friends over and some family as well. They snowmobiled in the back yard and had a blast!

Too Cute!

Annaliese is so photogenic. This picture was taken this fall with the other pictures, but I love it so much, her character really comes through - and I love that smile! This is one that I am going to try to get enlarged and put in a frame.

Anything that moves...

The kids like to be on anything that moves. Jackson, in particular, has a love for going fast. I have no idea where he gets it from (Brad, Wayne, Les - who knows!) These pictures were taken this fall, but I wanted to get them up on this blog because they show what we are all about. We all love to be outside and go, go, go.