Some Light Reading for Your Down-time (HA!)

We haven't been up to much lately, which has led to a lack of posting. And even when we have been up to something, I haven't photographed it because my memory card is full and I'm still working on the backup before I delete everything. Plus, not much of it has been interesting.

We took a drive up to Pocatello, ID last week when Alan's cousin got married. Whitney had lived down here for a while to go to aestetician school, so we got to know her pretty well then. We wish her all the best, and Mason was a trooper through the drive. Plus he was a dancing fool and a ladies man all in one at the reception. I kind of wished for my camera during that, but my saying it will have to suffice. Oh, and my kid is totally the one who YELLED, as the bride was walking down the aisle with her dad that "I don't need to be quiet now, not at the start!!" I had an aisle-side seat and could not escape with said loud toddler in time, but Dad did a timely dash in my stead.

Otherwise, we've just been spring cleaning and getting ready for this baby. The room is coming along, but not at a place where I can brag about it by posting pictures (because by "coming along", I mean "almost clean enough to paint if I could decide exactly what I'm doing").

Also, I realized I haven't said much about being pregnant while we've been expecting the newbie. It hasn't been too bad for me so far. I'm getting to the part where I have to remind myself that it's a marathon, not a sprint; I'm one of the lucky ones because I get tired but otherwise manage to make it through okay. I'm grateful for that. I did get the special treat of failing my first glucose test, and thus sitting through the three hour long version to learn that I don't have gestational diabetes. I sincerely hope none of my friends/loved ones have to go through that thing and a word of advice if you do: don't drink the fruit punch flavored one. Some people think it tastes like a melted popsicle. I vote for undiluted Hawaiian punch, which in my book means it tastes like crap.

Anyway, on to what I conjured up to post about (man, this is taking a long time for having nothing to say!)... Mason has recently acquired some books (thank you grandma!) that we love and I wanted to share the child book joy with you.

First is the classic The Little Engine That Could. Mason recently stumbled upon/begged for this book on a trip to Borders and Alan was happy to comply with him. In the subsequent reads, I've come to appreciate this one (first published in 1930) as a story that would not be published today. The "dolls" are not ethnically diverse, the "good food" is not low fat, organic, or sugar-free, and to be honest the clown is a bit creepy. That being said, it's message is simple and I love to listen to Mason read it to himself since he has the whole thing memorized.

Second is also a train book (wait, I'm sure we're shocked) that was a Valentines Day gift from grandma. Freight Train by Donald Crews is also an older book (I believe it was published in the late 1970s) and has received the Caldecott Medal for illustrations. The drawings and the narrative are simple and straight-forward, but stunning. Mason loves to pick out the colors and numbers, as well as name the different types of train cars. He also asks me to point out all the individual letters, so I'm glad the words are fairly simple! Alan mentioned this book was a favorite of his growing up, so I'm glad it's something they have been able to share as well.

Last but not least is Duck!Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. It was also a Valentines Day gift to Mason, and while he likes it, I think I'm the one who enjoys it more. This is probably for kids a little bit older as the concept is a bit abstract for him. I'm glad the cover art copied over so large because you can clearly see the ambiguous drawing. The book is two out-of-frame characters arguing over whether the drawing is that of a duck or a rabbit. Which do you see? I saw the rabbit and there is only one illustration in the book that allows me to see the duck. Also, it took me a few pages to catch on and I laughed and laughed when I finally did. Good times.

And the winner is....

So a big thanks and awww to Nicol @ Classy and Sophisticated for the award! I'm so honored to publish a blog that inspires her to do something. She said I've helped motivate her to work on her 72 hour kits, which is also true in reverse. I totally wouldn't be getting my own together if I didn't have someone who is so consistently on top of things doing it with me. Nicol and I have been friends for years, so I'm sure that helps with the motivational factor, too.



So, once an award is received, the rules are as follows:


1.Put the logo on your blog.
2.Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3.Nominate at least seven other blogs.
4.Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5.Leave a message for your nominee on their blogs.





Now I'm feeling some pressure as to who I should nominate, because I don't follow lots of blogs. Also, most of the blogs I look at outside of friends' are ones Nicol has recommended. In a lot of ways, my world is very small!



I'd like to pass an award on to Misty @ The Birch Family because, although she doesn't update lots, it's because her kids are so busy. They are both really good, happy kids and are the kind of family I hope we will have even when our kids are older.



Next would be Jill @ The Stewart Family. She's the one who got me into this in the first place. Plus, I like having a place I can keep an eye on the adventures of Parker, or should I say: Mason is his stunt double.



Also I want to include Sarah @ Enchantingly Simple for including excellent recipes and how-tos. I'm going to try making my own yogurt (once I procure a candy thermometer) thanks to her, and I'm sure Mason and I will love it as long as I follow the directions!



Speaking of recipes, I would be remiss if I didn't award my friend Joey @ Whatever Recipes. She always has the recipes I'm looking for. It may seem self-congratulatory because she has posted a couple of my recipes, but I have gotten way more out of that bargain. Her meatloaf is awesome, as are basically any of her baked goods. My favorite (not that it wasn't a tough choice) continues to be her fruit pizza.



Then there is Jo @ Justin, Jo and the Kids. I went to high school with Jo, and our husbands also went to high school together. It's been fun to celebrate the odd coincidence in that as well as catch up with them through her blog. Her two children are so cute, and she posts lots of picture that are absolutely adorable.



I need to mention Amber @ Built Ford Tough because I sucked her into the blogosphere and she doesn't disappoint. She is entertaining and so is her little boy!



Lastly, I would like to pass this on to Carolee @ The Jaynes Family because, although we fell out of touch for a while, reading about her beautiful family has been a great way to catch up. I love watching the slide shows and videos she has put together of their family time and she inspired me to do my own.

Yup, I removed a post...

Just in case anyone who checked my last update about going private was wondering where it went, everything is code four (there's some nerdy radio talk for you). I found out who the unfamiliar blog was and the whole thing is more than okay. I'm too lazy to "go private" without a cause for concern. I just deleted the whole post rather than make anyone who hadn't checked yet read through my paranoid rambling.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then so much is the better for me! Thanks for reading!

What's up chuck? Odds and ends from our week.

You know, even though I've joined up with this Twitter thing, there are so many small things I feel the need to post here, and they don't really have a specific subject, or really even enough to justify their own, full post. So here we go.

1. I had a Lia Sophia jewelry party this past weekend. I love their jewelry because I don't have the freakish allergic reactions to it that I have to other jewelry (even my wedding ring sometimes!). It's good, high quality stuff and they have a generous exchange policy, which is useful for me because Mason sometimes thinks my jewelry is a toy, though I try to watch him with it. But mostly, I host these parties periodically because it's an excuse for my friend Jill to come and visit. She is the consultant. She also lives far, far away and has a house full of her own. I'm not closing the party for a couple of days, so if you find something you like and want to order it, you can either contact me or contact Jill at the link above. Just make sure she knows I'm the one who referred you :)

2. Mason has been saying a wealth of funny things this week. I swear, ever hour there is something new.

• When my mom came to help me set up my LS party, she had a Shopko bag in her hand. Mason proceeded to point at each letter on the bag and tell her what sound it made. She turned to me and asked "How long has it been since I saw him again?" The answer was less than a week, but he's learning the alphabet so fast.
• Mom has been replaced for pre-naptime snuggles. By a stuffed turtle. This makes me sad.
• Every time Mason jumps, bumps, or falls, he looks at you expectantly and says "N'okay, buddy?" He will keep watching you until you ask if he is all right.
• He asks to see the pictures of Rio and Samson posted on our blog, even when they are laying, in person, at his feet.
• Mason asks that Rio be allowed to lay on his bed every night while we read his bed time story. (Yes, usually just the one. We are doing so much better with that.)
• My mom learned that Mason will ask for fresh batteries in the cars for his race track. He will also show you where we keep the batteries, where we keep the screwdriver--he can't reach it--and where on the cars the battery compartment is located.
• He has associated just about every errand with going to the "farn" (farm). No matter where we go, even when we go downtown, he asks to see the cows. "I will touch them," he vows.