Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Best of 2013

I love looking back over my reading every year. My process for selecting the best books each year is unscientific - I look over the log of books I have read, and select those that I am still thinking about.  As of now, I have read roughly 200 books, somewhat less than other years, but still a good number for a mom with three kids who works outside the home.

My top 6 YA books:

See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

Counting by 7s by Deborah Sloan Goldberg

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LeFleur

How To Love by Katie Cotugno

My Top 5 Non-Fiction Selections:

The American Way of Eating by Tracie McMillan

Bootstrapper by Mardi Jo Link

Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink

Mother Daughter Me: A Memoir by Katie Hafner

Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward

My Top 10 Fiction Books of 2013:

The Smart One by Jennifer Close

The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham


Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan


The Lowlands by Jhumpa Lahiri

Silver Star by Jeannette Walls

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent


I'll Be Seeing You by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan


Even as I've looked back a few more times in my notebook over the titles I've read in 2013, I find myself thinking about several more that I could/should add to this list.  Instead of writing a blurb about each one, I have linked the titles to my original reviews from my blog.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Mud Season

Mud Season: How One Woman's Dream of Moving to Vermont, Raising Children, Chickens and Sheep, and Running the Old Country Store Pretty Much Led to One Calamity After Another by Ellen Stimson was a quick and entertaining read for me.

Stimson and her family leave their Midwest lives behind, heading to Vermont, to enjoy beautiful sunsets and a peaceful way of life in a small community. At least that's the dream they have. What they didn't foresee was their inability to fit in - not having been from Vermont, they were tagged as outsiders (and probably would always be considered such), and drew quite a bit of attention to themselves.  While I felt sorry for how difficult it was for them to fit in, I also laughed out loud as Stimson describes the many calamities that seemed to find them: imagine Stimson (who describes herself repeatedly as having a rather large derriere) running around in her swimming suit chasing a goat while cars stop to help her.  

Stimson and her family don't give up easily.  Despite the fact that many of the accidents that befall them could possibly have been prevented, (getting sprayed by a skunk, re-doing a run-down ramshackle historic home, buying a grocery store with big dreams and then losing the store in part because local residents boycotted buying things there after she moved the bread from its traditional location), Stimson pokes fun at herself in Mud Season, too.

And despite the struggles they encounter in trying to fit in to a small town, the Stimsons remain Vermonters some nine years later.  I'd love to hear how things turned around (I'm going out on a limb and assuming that they have gotten better), for this family; I'm betting there is still some pretty humorous material that could be included in a second installment.

I had pre-ordered this for my kindle and am happy to report that I found time to read this one on my kindle - something I am still struggling to do, much preferring the actual book to a virtual one.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Sunday Salon



The weather here yesterday reached 50 degrees- unheard of for winter in Iowa.  My kids enjoyed sledding with their cousins and my brother driving them all around on my mom's Kawasaki.  We didn't get our van washed or a snowman built, but we did have a great day of fun.




Today it is much colder and we have yet to venture outside.  Little Sister helped me make some beef stew. 

 Big Sister helped make some taco dip that I have been craving.  We had this same dip at my mom's house for Christmas, and finally my girls have started to appreciate this meal.  


My new Uggs are greatly appreciated- especially since it is so cold out now.  Can't believe I'm just getting my first pair now.....Over eight years ago I had purchased a pair of Uggs that were clearanced out for a huge discount. However, at that point they hadn't quite become the fashion statement they are today. My husband looked at them, and convinced me they were horribly ugly, and I returned them. I want to kick myself every time I think about it.



Middle Sister made me a birthday cake today- a few days late.  I think she and Little Sister were not so worried about me not having a cake, but about the fact that they wanted to eat one.


At our house we are certainly not in our regular routine.  I have had a chance to read a lot of books, sleep in, and try to get back into my exercise routine here at home.  

Tomorrow I am spending the day working at school and finishing off my day with massage.  Maybe then I will be able to tackle the stacks of papers and "stuff" cluttering up our kitchen and living room.  The windows for our kitchen addition should be here on January 2, which means we are getting closer to our present kitchen being a thing of the past.  There is a lot to pack up and throw away before that can happen!

However, I'd hate to be too ambitious, so I'm off to read a bit more in Quiet Dell.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Paperboy

Vince Vawter's coming of age novel is set in Memphis 1959.  An eleven year old boy, plagued by a stutter he cannot control, agrees to take over his best friend's paper route for a month.  Doing so will mean that he will need to talk to the different customers on the route. Despite the challenges this presents, he takes on this job, knowing that it will put him out of his comfort zone, but ready to confront his stutter head on.


The paper route puts him in contact with a retired marine who is both knowledgeable and wise, a sad housewife who drinks too much, and also the town junk man.  The paperboy has been warned about the junk man, having been told by his colored housekeeper to stay away from him.  But, when the junkman steals from him, he and his housekeeper put themselves in danger to get back what is his.

I loved this book - the setting, the time period, but especially the eleven year old boy who is willing to put himself out there, forcing himself to talk to strangers who might not understand his speech impediment and think him unintelligent.  When I realized this book is loosely autobiographical, I enjoyed it that much more.  Vince Vawter's Paperboy is a touching, heartwarming story that I am passing on to my daughter and will be ordering for my school library. 

Friday, December 27, 2013

Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday



Sixteen years ago today I got married - married on my 25th birthday, just like my dad did when he married my mom on his 25th birthday.
People always wonder why I chose to get married on my birthday. In my defense, there is no way my husband can forget either event. 
There are no big plans for today aside from going out to eat this evening for supper.  My mom surprised me with a pair of Uggs, and I have had several texts, phone calls, and facebook wishes.  Soon I will go fold several baskets of clothes while I watch Supersize Me with my girls (who have to fold clothes with me and will be forced to watch what I choose). 

The picture above is such poor quality, but my mom helped me out by emailing it to me.  Wrestling Man, me, my parents, my sister and my brother in this formal wedding picture that my mom dug out from December 27, 1997.  Don't we all look so much younger?!
 
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Thursday, December 26, 2013

The Year of Billy Miller

Winter break is a perfect time to attempt to catch up on some reading.  Although I will never truly catch up, I can at least devote a little more time each day to leisure reading.  

Yesterday was a truly lazy day, me lying around for part of it, reading.  As I was looking through my shelves, The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes grabbed my attention.  I pretty much love everything Henkes does and this book is no exception.

This book is perfect for readers looking for a good story about a second grade boy. Billy is worried that second grade will be too hard for him. His parents both reassure him as does his teacher, but Billy has to experience the challenges of second grade for himself before he sees that the adults were right, and he can be confident in his own ability.

Dealing with his little sister, Sal, reciting poetry from memory at school, making a diorama for a school project - all these things help make Billy's second grade year memorable and a little bit more grown up and responsible.

Henkes has managed to capture what it is like to be a second grade boy, and shares the experiences through Billy Miller.  

I loved reading this to myself, but can't wait to book talk it at school,and read it aloud to my girls at home.


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.



This week's pick:  You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Due out: February 25, 2014



Product Description taken from Amazon:
Grace Reinhart Sachs is living the only life she ever wanted for herself. Devoted to her husband, a pediatric oncologist at a major cancer hospital, their young son Henry, and the patients she sees in her therapy practice, her days are full of familiar things: she lives in the very New York apartment in which she was raised, and sends Henry to the school she herself once attended. Dismayed by the ways in which women delude themselves, Grace is also the author of a book You Already Know, in which she cautions women to really hear what men are trying to tell them. But weeks before the book is published a chasm opens in her own life: a violent death, a missing husband, and, in the place of a man Grace thought she knew, only an ongoing chain of terrible revelations. Left behind in the wake of a spreading and very public disaster, and horrified by the ways in which she has failed to heed her own advice, Grace must dismantle one life and create another for her child and herself.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Gift Books

My girls are pretty accustomed to opening books at Christmas.  I usually try to add to our Christmas book collection, but will also give books they are looking forward to reading, or know they will enjoy.

This year's Christmas books:


An Otis Christmas by Loren Long

Christmas from Heaven: The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber by Tom Brokaw

The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Holly Hobbie


I also am giving some non-holiday themed books to them:


The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer is the second in this series. Middle Sister has had her nose stuck in the first book for the past three days. Unfortunately she has asked repeatedly to go to Barnes and Noble to buy the second book and I have had to tell her we just haven't had time.  

This is something my middle daughter is definitely not expecting.  I just remember loving the Grandma's Attic series as a child and I hope she does, too.  


Kate Gosselin's Love Is In the Mix cookbook is for Big Sister. She used to hava bit of an obsession with John and Kate Plus 8 - loving the fact that they had 8 children. She still can be found watching old episodes on DVD and will watch pretty much any show featuring a large family.

Little Sister hasn't been as fortunate to receive Robert Sabuda pop-up books before.  When I saw he had done The Little Mermaid, coinciding nicely with the movie re-release, I couldn't help but pick it up for her to add to her collection.

I didn't put any one child's name on this map book - I just couldn't decide who would like it more - heck, I like looking at it, too.  So, this is one of those family books that will go in our shelves.

Are any of you giving books this holiday? I'd love to know what titles you have picked for others.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Merry Christmas To Me

Every single year the Christmas shopping I do for other people usually results in me finding a lot of things I would love for myself.  I thought I was doing so well this year, practicing self restraint. But, turns out, I still have several new presents to add to my closet:

Women's Under Armour Storm Fleece Pants
fleece on the inside, and so, so warm.  
A friend of mine used them to play in the snow with her daughter since they also happen to be waterproof.


Since I fell in love with the storm fleece pants, why not add this lovely Women's Under Armour 1/4" Tech Long Sleeve Shirt? Love it, too!


I just wore my new Eddie Bauer Oslo Women's Cardigan the other day to school with my off-white velveteen pants.  I thought it looked sort of festive without being all "ugly Christmas sweater-y"

I love my Danskos.  This new pair is a bit more noticeable than my pair of black and brown ones, which means my husband is bound to notice them. Can't wait to wear them to work in 2014! 

Come to think of it, maybe we could just call these my birthday presents.  See, I just saved my husband the time and effort of shopping for me! How considerate. 

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Sunday Salon: The Beginning of Christmas Break


Winter break is underway.  We have not been very motivated at all. Big Sister has been playing on the ipad, practicing piano, and reading.  I handed her Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LeFleur, last night.  She begrudgingly began reading it, but couldn't put it down once she began and finished it before she went to bed. Anyone with a tween-age girl should take note of that book. So, so good.



Middle Sister and Little Sister made cookies and a key lime pie at my mom's house.  While they were busy with her in the kitchen I devoured The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes.  

Now they are frosting away, and attempting not to make too big of a mess.





I should also note that both Middle and Little Sister have been reading up a storm, too. Middle Sister is half-way through Chris Colfer's first book in his Land of Stories series.

Little Sister is reading Junie B. Jones, excited to have entered the world of chapter books. I finished up Superfudge with her yesterday and we have already started Fudge-a-mania.  No matter how long ago these books were published (early 80s) kids are still enjoying them.

I am excited to have some days off.  Last week I managed to lose my cell phone for an entire day. I hate when that happens. My husband came home and found it over his lunch break, which was great. He called me in the afternoon to tell me he had found my phone.  Since he didn't call til later in the afternoon our entire staff was in the library at a meeting. My principal answered the phone and got to take the message.  I think he might have rolled his eyes a bit when he delivered it.  

I am still waiting for one package to arrive for Christmas. It is for my mom, so at least it is for someone who is not going to freak out if it isn't here, but it has been in the mail for a while, so I am hoping it shows up.

Tomorrow looks like a day of a few errands and more reading and relaxing.  My poor husband has to work, but he might find that more relaxing than being at home refereeing and entertaining kids.

So far I have no ideas for supper, and since everyone is complaining of hunger, I need to scavenge through the refrigerator and cupboards to find something to eat.