New New Moon Trailer

Every time I think I couldn't be any more excited for this movie, they go and prove me wrong.

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Gaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

Just Finished...

Couldn't put it down. If you haven't read it, you must do so, without further delay. But first, you have to read



Because it's the first book in the series. Can I just say how much I love these books? They are the kind of books where you tell yourself you'll stop after this chapter, but then you can't because the chapter ends with some shocking new development and you absolutely have to read on to find out what the heck is going to happen?! Almost every single chapter is that way.

The characters are amazing. The main character, Katniss Everdeen, is maybe my favorite female character I've ever read. She is real, she is strong, she is brave, and not in the way that Stephenie Meyer claims that Bella is, but for real. She doesn't annoy me in any way, which is saying a lot.

The two male characters are both gorgeous, amazing guys that seriously have me equally rooting for both of them. I don't know how it could end that would make me happy, unless she ends up with both of them.

Speaking of ends, I do have to say that this is where I feel the books' weaknesses lie. Love the books, hate the endings. Both of them so far have me checking to make sure there isn't another chapter back there hiding somewhere. It's only acceptable knowing there will be a sequel, the story isn't over.

I will be anxiously waiting (a loooong time) for the third installment of The Hunger Games series.

Early to Rise, Healthy and Wise? Lies, I Say, Lies!!

It's 7:20 am, and I am the only one awake in a quiet house. This is something I've experienced maybe twice in my life. I am showered, dressed, and make-upped. (Yes, I know that's not a word.)

I've always wanted to do this, to wake up early before everyone else and get things done that I wouldn't normally have time for during the day.

Turns out I have nothing to do.

Waking up early is ridiculously overrated.

I could be in bed, getting some precious, much-needed sleep, curled up against my warm husband.

But I'm not.

Because the sleep gods hate me and have decided to punish me by making it impossible for me to sleep well past 4:30.

At 4:30 almost on the dot, I'm awake. (I should sue the sleeping pill company for all they're worth.) My body aches, I'm flipping and flopping all over the bed trying to get comfortable.

Then the dog starts barking.

No, not my dog. I don't have a dog. Because I hate them. Because they bark.

I don't know which of my neighbors this dog belongs to, but believe me, when I find out, (insert nasty threat here.)

Every morning. Dog barking.

So I put in my ear plugs.

Sent straight from heaven.

The dog continues to bark, but now it's faint, in the background. Manageable.

And then the sun starts to come up.

Out comes the black sleep mask.

Instant darkness.

Also heaven-sent.

No light, no sound.

Just an achy body flip-flopping around trying to get comfortable, now with foam plugs shoved in its ears and a stretchy mask strapped to its head.

At 6:00 I surrender. I fought the good fight, and I lost. I'm not afraid to admit defeat.

I get up, take a shower, start my day, with hours to spare.

Now what?

I Finally Did It!

So it only took me 7 months, but I finally completed my first Jessica Sprague lesson, and as a result my first digital layout! Thanks to the recent acquisition of my Grandma's computer (which is at least five years newer than our dinosaur and actually works) I am finally able to use Adobe and take my classes that my sweet husband gifted me last March. Any of you who have taken the Up & Running class will recognize this layout, but for this novice digiscrapper, I'm pretty excited about it. Not to mention the fact that I already took some creative liberties and "made it my own." Fellow Jessica Sprague students, can you spot the difference? Non fellow Jessica Sprague students, what do you think?

Back To School, Back To School, To Prove To Dad That I'm Not a Fool

I can't believe that summer is over, and school is back in session. NEVER has a summer flown by so quickly for me. It was a summer of exciting accomplishments for us, with both my kids learning to ride their bikes without training wheels (on the same day...thanks Grandma!) and Payson learning to swim with no swimmies in the deep end. Why do they grow so fast? Which leads me to...

Macy's first day of 3rd grade

(The sun is bright in her face, and a million degrees. She insisted on wearing her new school clothes, even though it meant being covered in thick fabric from head to toe. I remember doing the EXACT same thing as a kid. She came home miserable, announcing she will be wearing her old summer clothes tomorrow.)


Payson's first day of Kindergarten
(What??!!)

(He was all too happy to wear old summer clothes. I had to drag him to get new school clothes. He begged to wear shorts, so at least I had one comfortable kid at school today. This picture makes it look like he has a hole in the head.)

I wanted a picture of him walking out with his class. I ran over just in time to capture this precious moment. Mrs. W. had no idea I was watching as she kissed his swirl goodbye. My heart was full.


Hot, exhausted, and bursting with first day excitement,
my two scholars.

The Journey Continues

A year ago I added that scale to my sidebar.
So you could all track my weight loss and celebrate
with me as I shrunk down to the person I wanted to be.
I lost just over twenty pounds.
I'm sure you've noticed the scale hasn't changed in a while.
Like, half a year.
But the good news is,
I'm still there.
I haven't gained it back.
(Well, maybe like 3 lbs, but who's counting?)
But I'm not done.
I have not met my goal,
and I still can't wear skinny jeans.

So....
my sister and I are starting our very own weight loss group.
(See details here.)
EVERYONE is invited.
This means you.
All it is is a group of people who have one thing in common:
They want to lose weight.
We will meet weekly,
motivate each other,
give tips, advice, praise,
weigh in in private if we so choose
(this is the only thing that works for me)
but best of all,
we will lose weight.
Together.
It's free.
It works.
I've done it.
You can too.

Hope to see you there!!

Come Again?

The other day in the car, listening to Viva La Vida:
Macy: Mommy, who's St. Peter?
Me: He was one of Jesus' apostles.
Macy: Oh.
A minute later...
Payson: Was he on American Idol?


Payson, after witnessing Julia break her arm at the reunion: Mommy! Julia loosed her arm!
Me: Julia didn't lose her arm, sweetie, she broke it.
Later, after realizing he must have thought that breaking her arm meant breaking her arm off...
Me: Payson, did you think Julia's arm came off?
Payson, oh so nonchalantly: Yeah, I thought it was laying around somewhere.
Um...why were you not freaking out more???!!!

I knew I had kids for a reason...free entertainment.