The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows

I listened to this book, which I thought was a nice to help the reader keep track of all the different characters.  

I honestly didn't like this book until about 3/4 of the way through. I kept thinking, "how can anyone give this book 5 stars when it is so boring!" I hated the telegrams. I thought the longer letters were better and didn't chop up the story so much.

In the end, I really liked the book and I am very glad I read it. I would recommend reading this book, but maybe not as an audible. It went a little too slow for me.  

Very clean, no swearing and no sex scenes.

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

By: Ayana Mathis
This book was on display at the library and I decided to pick it up.  This is a very rare occurrence so I must have been really intrigued by the book summary.  I usually only pick up books by recommendations.

I am glad I did. This is a very interesting story told from a different point of view. I like it when authors do a little something different. This was one of those cases. 

The story of Hattie is told from each of her children's points of view. It was a little hard to keep track of how much time was passing between the stories of each child, but otherwise a very different way of telling the story of a mother.

This book will make you laugh and cry. You will hold on the the edge of the book waiting for more.

There are some sexual references. A little swearing particularly from one son's part of the story. Otherwise clean. Highly recommend.

More Miss Celeste

This little girl is really close to being able to walk, but is not quite there.  Considering she can't walk I am amazed that she can climb up a slide!  Look at that little turkey! 

She can also climb up the big slide on our swing set.  It blows my mind just watching her do it!

First Day of School

I am so far behind in my posts.  I have been so busy.  Since school started I applied for a job with Idaho State University as an assistant professor.  I didn't get it and I am actually really glad.  I have tried to saturate myself in the Gospel.  I want to be better about living the Gospel.  I have tried to dedicate more of my time to eternal things rather than worldly things.  A few thins I have started doing include family history work and increase my temple attendance.  I have tried to be a better visiting teacher, a better friend, and a better neighbor.  I try and find lots of opportunities to serve others.  I tried to be a better mom and play with my kids more.  These are the things that really matter and I have tried to give these things a higher priority.

Grant was so excited to start first grade.  He really wanted a teacher named Mrs. Parker and was sad to find out he got Mrs. Shade.  However, when we went to meet Mrs. Shade and he saw that she loves super heroes and Star Wars he was excited! 

He was so excited to have three recesses and to eat lunch at school.  Since he has been in school for more than a month now he has adjusted really well.  He loves school and has done really well at school so far!

I really miss this boy!  I don't like him being gone all day.  He is such a sweet heart and is so much fun to be around.  I try really hard to spend lots of time with him during the evenings and weekends.  He is such a great boy!  I love him to pieces!

State Fair

I have a love/hate relationship with the Fair.  I love how excited me kids get when they can pet all the different animals.  I love looking at all the fun booths.  I also love some of the fair food that you don't get any other time of year.  

Celeste LOVED the animals!  She was all giggles and smiles.

She loved the goat licking her fingers.

She loved petting the sheep.

She couldn't stop laughing when the baby goats poked their heads out of the fence at her.

Grant thought it was so cool that he got to milk a cow.  I was jealous they wouldn't let adults do it.  I wanted to try my hand at milking a cow.

Grant liked feeding the animals, but not nearly as much as Celeste did.  

The kids got to ride a pony!  Celeste LOVED it!  She is at such a fun stage because animals are so fascinating to her.  Grant thought it was cool, but it wasn't his favorite part.

We had a great time at the fair for about an hour, but then Grant wanted to go home.  He was hot and tired.  Celeste started getting fussy.   This is when my love turns to hate.  Why do kids always get so grumpy when you try to do something fun?  Grant was ticked we wouldn't let him ride any of the rides.  We told him they were too expensive and we had already been to Lagoon this year.   Why does the fair have to be so expensive?  I think it is lame.  Hence the reason I love/hate the fair.  Until next year...

Swinging!

This summer my kids of played on the swing set constantly!  Celeste loves to be pushed in the swing and Grant loves to do all kinds of tricks on the swings.  One day I was in the house cleaning up breakfast when I hear, "MOM" yelled at the top of Grant's lungs.  I come running out to make sure he wasn't hurt.  He wasn't!  He just wanted me to see this awesome new trick he learned.  I had to go back in the house and grab my camera for a picture.   Grant was so proud of himself because he flipped himself up there.

He also wants you to notice his new green and blue shoes.  He loves his shoes!  (They are his new school shoes.)

Miss Mischief

Celeste is my little Miss Mischief.  She is into EVERYTHING!  

Celeste is my little explorer.  She is so curious!  She also is a little fearless and isn't afraid to do dangerous things.  She has already given me quite a scare, but that is for another post.  

One of her favorite past times is playing in the cupboard under the sink.  Don't ask me why, but her favorite thing is the jumbo bottle of Dawn.  She loves trekking that thing all around the house.  Yes, I have had to mop up Dawn.  No, it isn't easy to mop.  The bubbles never end!

Any way, as you can see in the picture this bottle is almost gone.  We recently had to open a full bottle.  It ruined Celeste's day!  She can't heft that big full bottle around and it bugs her!  I think it is funny!