Books are fun!

Okay, I love listening to book reviews! I would love to hear from everyone about their favorite books, whether they be for the kiddos or for yourself. I am in a great need for some new novels. I have Jane Austen memorized by now! Here are some of my faves:

Myself:

1. Anything Jane Austen. I am a Janeite, what can I say??? The real question is what is my favorite Austen novel? Today (it does change!) it would be Northanger Abbey. Cute story!
2. Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz. Very interesting with complex plot.
3. Anne of Green Gables series. I have read these so many times!
4. Till we have faces by C.S. Lewis
5. Modesty, Makeovers, and the Pursuit of Physical Beauty by Jeffrey Holland and Susan Tanner. Beautiful book that has greatly helped my self esteem. I recommend it to all women of all ages!!!! Best of all, it is short.

Kiddos:

1. Bed, Bed, Bed by They Might Be Giants. It is a funky fun little book!
2. The Way I Feel by Janan Cain.
3. The Boy Who Ate America by Nathan Smith Jones and Casey Nelson.
4. Anything from Eric Carle.
5. I Aint Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont

Tagged

Thanks Linda for tagging me! Fun, fun.

Five Weird or Interesting Facts about Amber

1. I love to dip medium cheddar cheese into my hot chocolate. Nothin better, except maybe sticking a knife full of peanut butter into a bag of Giradelli (sp) milk chocolate chips!
2. I can never remember how to spell Wednesday.
3. I talk to myself. A lot. Like, whenever I am by myself. I also talk in my sleep.
4. I also daydream all the time! They are usually very gothic stories and make me cry. I really am quite pathetic!
5. I always wanted to be an actress! I still daydream about this :)

Okay, so these aren't terribly weird but it is what I thought of just now! I tag whoever wants to do this! Satomi....let's hear from you!

Here is a nice, blurry picture of Alora's hair for the wedding. I got the idea from the She does hair link on the sidebar. This is fun and a quick enough do that Alora can sit still for....granted I have a lot of candy and a good show on!! I am sad that it is blurry because it was really really cute! She looked like a little Belle!

Wedding Time

Yesterday was my little sister's wedding. How weird that she is now married! It was a fantastic day for her, though. Everything went very nicely. I think everyone is just glad it is over! Though weddings are fun, they require a great deal of anticipation and anxiety! Well, I hope you enjoy some of my favorite pictures of the day. The only pictures Dan and I had of each other cut off all of Dan's face and gave a nice close up inside my nose. I will not include those. Sorry.

Daily Activities

It seems as though we are just starting to settle into daily activities since I've been home. Grayson sure loves playing on the Wii. Here he is "exercising" on the Wii Fit. Both kids love it! Alora works out next to Dan. She is really funny to watch. Grayson is actually getting better at doing some of the exercises! Dan has lost 12 pounds over the past two months. He looks great!

Alora is seen here busily working on her "O X C's" as she calls them. She loves to do anything that Grayson does. He had just finished writing his name and so she had to work on her alphabet, too! See how hard she concentrates? She doesn't sit this still long!!

Memories....(please sing to the tune of Babs!)

Here are the directions: 1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! 2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. :) If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Grayson's thoughts

Happy Birthday. (This is from Grayson....) I got golf club. I swing them to the golf course. I got a treasure map and we fight.
Grayson had a great birthday (even though it is only 11:30!) Last night my parents came over and he got a pirate chest full of pirate clothing! Cool beans. Then his uncle Bryan bought him and Alora their own cameras! What lucky kids.
Today he received his first golf club set from Dan and I. Dan took him to the golf course and he loved it. Apparently he is not used to how heavy the clubs are and he had a hard time swinging! I don't think Dan will mind taking him out to practice often. He recieved a bunch of games from Grandpa and Grandma Woodward. We played Hungry Hippos as a family and it is some great entertainment!
Of course, our camera decided to break yesterday. I will have to figure out what is wrong, so no pictures for now!

I never grew up

Everyone, please check out the site: I never grew up (on my great links sidebar). They are having a fantastic giveaway. They do this frequently. I love their book reviews! Evonne, I'll mention your name if you mention mine! :)

Here we go again!

As Baby Aiden's arrival draws closer, I just thought I would take a minute to jot down the things I am super excited for and those that I really wish did not accompany child birth!!!
Top Ten Things I Love About Infants!

1. The first sighting! There is such a strong spirit in the labor room when that infant finally comes. I have never felt so close to my Heavenly Father as when I delivered Grayson and Alora. I look forward to having a similar moment again.
2. Baby skin. Is there anything better than the first touch of an infant on your bare skin? There is just a tiny rush of emotion that comes over me when I feel that soft skin!
3. Dress up time. I sure love dressing up babies. Of course it does get a little old after the tenth time in a day because of blow outs.....that would be on the other list though!
4. Having a child who doesn't yell, "NO!!" at you and throw herself on the ground. (Guess what is happening right now....)
5. Baby bath time.
6. Watching them grow and learn. Each developmental stage is so unique and amazing. I especially love when they start to figure out that they can control their limbs.
7. Baby smell. Isn't funny how something that really stinks a LOT can also smell so good?
8. Nap time. Nothing can ever take this off the list.
9. Kissing the little dear.
10. Baby talk. I love being able to coo and speak in the age old language of babyese.

Top Ten Things I Do NOT Look Forward To......

1. Lots of diaper changes.
2. Getting up in the middle of the night. More than once. Yuck
3. Feeling like I accomplished something great when I get into the shower.
4. Baby spit up.
5. Excema. It stinks when your little one has it. I am betting that Aiden will have it.
6. Taking care of the umbilical cord. I always get a little nervous about this.
7. Taking care of the circumcision. Poor boys!!!
8. Watching Grayson and Alora's behaviors go to pot. Hopefully this won't happen....
9. Losing the baby weight. No more excuses for being a whale. I have about 40 pounds to go. Yikes.
10. Where did the time go? Though you accomplish nothing in the day it seems to go by so fast!

Fourth of July

I hope everyone had a fantastic fourth! We sure did. Dan went golfing with his brothers and the children and I went shopping. Is there anything better for both of us??? We all headed over to Dan's parents for dinner. I sure love his family! The children had so much fun with their cousins. It is fun to especially watch Alora with her cousins. She is at the age where she is just learning how to play with children other than Grayson. She actually can be very sweet and caring! There is a huge heart underneath her temper tantrums!!! :) I will have to send pictures after I get some from Pam. I was lazy and didn't take any. Sorry!
I just want to finish by saying how much I love this country. I love the founding fathers who risked so much to form such an amazing government. I honor and respect those who stand up for freedom at all costs! God bless America!!!