Weekend Update

Yesterday we went to Glacier National Park. Of course I have LOTS of pictures (yes, I actually remembered the camera) and I'll get them posted sometime soon. If you haven't been, you're missing out. It's BEAUTIFUL!!! This was our third time to go and we were just as amazed as the first time.

In case you're wondering what we're doing this long weekend...other than Glacier, we're working on finishing the girls triple bunk bed (L shaped beds on top, one bed on bottom). We might also go hiking in the mountains around here. Might. We've got a few this-n-that stuff to do like tar some unruly shingles, mow the yard, finish splitting the firewood, think about reworking another flower bed for next year, and of course just relaxing. Probably grill out. Wanna come?


Oh, don't forget to put your name in the hat for the book giveaway. Go here and leave a comment and you're entered. It ends Tuesday, September 2nd.

Pitiful Indeed

Isn't she pitiful? And what horrible person would take a picture of anyone in such an embarrassing state? As well as posting it on a blog which could very well humiliate her in front of her friends?

Me! Because she's a dog. And her only friends include 4 little people who have already seen her and pestered her in this condition. But at least I waited a day. She had it done yesterday.

If you'll remember in my list of exciting happenings last week was getting the dog spayed. Now it's done. Hallelujah!

I'm sure this dates me, but when I see her like this I can't help but think of that little girl with the ugly dog in that movie, One Crazy Summer. Please tell me I'm not the only one.

And even though I've fondly renamed her "Idiot-Dog" I do feel kinda sorry for her. She can be really sweet. Even if she is an idiot.

Poor thang!

Change is in the air

Alright. I've decided to do a little more changing on the blog. It's kind of like Mission Organization on HGTV.



Only not.



Because if I ever did Mission Organization it'd have to include the whole office...or house, car and dog pen, not just the blog.



Since my family/personal posts tend to get lost with the book tour posts, I started a new blog to organize things a little better. The new blog is solely for book tours and reviews, while this blog will mostly stick to my usual gray hair inducing Jessica stories bloggity stuff.



A few book tours will continue to make an appearance here, but they'll be few and have fun contests/giveaways included. And it may take a while to get completely switched over, so just be patient over the next few weeks while I continue posting book reviews here.



Please come by and visit That Book Addiction and check out all the new Christian fiction that will keep you locked in the bathroom hiding from the kids for hours on end.



I'll keep a link to it in my sidebar. You'll have to bring your own chocolate and/or coffee, though.

Wild Animals on the Loose

Yesterday I took the kids to the city nearest "large" town for a fun day. After hitting McDonalds and getting several kisses from Jake (you have to know that he rarely gives out kisses...he must have really appreciated Mickey-D's) we met up with some friends so the kids could play.

It was raining so we met at the Children's Museum (since this is an artsy-fartsy kind of town). The kids and I hadn't been there before and it was a fun kid place. But if you have a migraine, I wouldn't recommend it (thank goodness I took some meds before we got there!).

The kids could play, climb, slide, crawl, dress up, play with a water table, paint, play-doh, beat a headache inducing drum, dig for dinosaur bones, and stand inside a bubble using a bubble ring. There was a construction room and a kitchen room, and an area to paint their faces.

The girls looked through the idea book and picked out which faces they wanted. Rebecca chose a lion. After seeing Rebecca, Jessica chose the same thing. Mackenzie chose a butterfly:

It wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be...as long as I could look at a picture. This was my first face-painting gig. I didn't have my camera with me there (you're shocked, I know) so I took these when we got home. We went out for ice cream afterwards so there was some paint smudging around the mouth area.


Here the butterfly was looking pretty and the lions were growling:

We also went to the carousel, which was actually plan A but it was raining earlier. Several years back a guy said he'd build the old-fashioned carousel as long as no one ever tore it down. (No, I didn't take this picture. It came off of their website.)

I rode it once with Jake. He liked it at first but then he started to fall asleep and I think he bonked his head on the pole and then was ready to get off.


Right then.


The girls rode it a couple more times until I was sure they were sick to their stomach, but they weren't going to admit it.


It was a fun day!


Oh and I got a new vacuum!!! Never thought I'd be excited about a vacuum. I'm sure the girls will love it!

Exciting Stuff

Yeah, I know. I hear the crickets chirping too because I haven't posted in a while.

But so much exciting stuff has been happening, I just can't wait to tell you. I'm bursting at the seams (or is it seems?).

Ok, #1 - we got our septic tank pumped!! Wooo Hoooooo!!! I know. You're SO jealous. You wish that your septic would back up into your tub, shower, sinks, toilet (the day before overnight guests arrive) so that you too could get it pumped and shell out nearly $300 for that wonderful experience. We've lived here 3 years...and we've had to have it pumped 3 times. Fun stuff, I'm tellin' ya. Sorry I didn't take any pictures of this event to post for you. I know you're bummed.

#2 - made an appointment to get the dog spayed. Doing our animal control duty. We're such responsible people. Ok, so maybe it's so that there will be less idiot-dogs in the world. It's preservation, really. BUT, in true fried mommy brain form, I completely forgot to take her food away the night before so we had to reschedule for next week. Nice.

#3 - made an appointment for Mackenzie to see the orthodontist. Oh no! It's starting! The million dollar teeth. As long as it's not as bad as her mommy's 12-year stint in the orthodontist's chair, we'll be ok. I hope.

#4 - signed the girls up for soccer this fall (because this is the north, y'all...they do alota soccer here). All three of them. On three different teams. This is their first year of soccer, though, and I hope they like it. Oh, that reminds me...I need to get them shin guards.

So you see, it's not like nothin's happening here. It's happening. Thrilling things.




And in other news...

When the girls say, "Hey mom, you know what?"

Why do I desperately want to say, "Chicken butt. You know why? Chicken thigh." ????

Maybe because they say "Hey mom, you know what" at least 999 times a day, give or take a few, and I like seeing them lose their train of thought, replaced with a dumbfounded look on their face.

Is that so bad?

The Big 2 Year Old

Big boy Jake is a whopping 2 years old now! He was so funny. Of course he had no idea it was his birthday or what was going on. So we had all the kids sit in the floor in the living room. As soon as I walked in with the presents Jake pops up, raises his hand up high and yells, "Me! Me!"

Then after I set the presents down and we let him open them, he walked over and sat down on one of them. He didn't have a clue:




Daddy helped him figure it out though. Who wouldn't love some power tools?

Can't ever get enough John Deere. Fascinating!

Who put this blue stuff in here? He sure loved throwing the tissue paper out.

I think daddy is jealous of that '78 Bronco. It came with horses, but everything is a "PUPPY!!" to Jake.

No, I didn't make a character/animal/Spiderman cake for him. He doesn't care as long as he gets some. I just did a box mix, 2 layer cake...the one with sprinkles in it.

Oh yeah, good stuff!

Scar Face & Dare Devil

I forgot to share these pictures before. This was in July and you can see the results of Jessica's lovely bicycle accident on her face. Poor baby was scuffed head to toe, but she recovered really fast and didn't let it slow her down. She was riding down a big hill on a dirt road and busted.






Jake was having a big time jumping off of the Legos bucket onto the "tag-n-bag," as the girls call it (don't ask me why, they just always have). Funny little guy.

Finding Stephanie - Tour and Contest!

First of all, I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about Finding Stephanie when I first heard about it. I mean, I'm not generally into Hollywood "pretty-boy" characters. BUT...this is Susan May Warren we're talking about, so it has to be good! Of course my skepticism flew right out the window early in the book.

For such a page-turning romance story, the suspense and conflict had me guessing and waiting just as much. It was so full of depth and dealt with a variety of issues like stereotypes, insecurities, trust, forgiveness, coping problems, being haunted by the past, and realizing better dreams. We see some characters who seem to have it all together on the outside but are fighting a huge battle on the inside and how trusting God pulls them through further than they could have imagined. I found myself thinking about how I needed to learn some of the same lessons as the characters.

Susan did a great job with the characters and once again she did not disappoint. This is the third book in the Noble Legacy series. Finding Stephanie can definitely be read as a stand-alone book. However, if you don't want the endings of the previous two books spoiled you need to read them in order.



Like movies? Wanna win a gift certificate to see some? Then be sure to scroll down for the contest!




About the book: When she put her dreams on hold to help run the family ranch, she never imagined they would slip out of sight. Luckily for Stefanie, those dreams are about to come knocking at her door.

Lincoln Cash has gained fame and fortune on the big screen, but a crippling secret leaves him one last chance to make his mark on the movie industry. With dreams of hosting a new film festival, Lincoln intends to remodel a sprawling ranch in eastern Montana to make it the new Hollywood hot spot.

Unfortunately, a house fire threatens his plans. So does opposition from his new neighbor Stefanie Noble, who's not thrilled about his Tinseltown changes. What Lincoln and Stefanie don't know is that the fire won't be the last disaster to threaten Lincoln or his future. Someone is out for revenge... but who? And who is the real target?


Read an excerpt here!




About Susan: Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.



Go here to buy the book.


Be sure to check out Susan's website.






Now for the contest!!



Grab your magnifying glass and join me on a Fact-o-Find!

To play in this contest you'll need to check out the other blogs in the Finding Stephanie tour. You can find them here in the blog tour schedule. The tour lasts through the end of this week, so keep an eye out!


Answer these questions about the bloggers on the tour and be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to the movie theater of your choice (you know so you can see some of Cash's great movies *G*)! Email Amy your answers (amy@susanmaywarren.com)


Ready, get set, giddy-up!


1. Which blogger is adopting a girl from China?

2. This word 'featherbunkle' is found on which blog?

3. Which blogger is supporting the 'Pickens Plan'?

4. Which blog is "The Cutest Blog on the Block"?

5. Which blogger is a S@HM and also a wife, daughter, sister, friend, nursery director, and woman that is just trying to keep it all together?

6. Which blogger is taking the Southern Reading Challenge?

7. Which blog asks 'How may we serve you'?

8. Which blogger refers to her son as 'super good big guy'?

9. Which blogger is a self-proclaimed 'Starbucks Addict'?

10. Which blogger is a big Trekkie?

My Favorite Things - Summer Edition

I did a "favorite things" list back in January but realized it was mostly wintertime faves. I saw that Jenni and Shelly have posted their summertime lists, so I figure it's about time I did too. So here we go, in no particular order.

1. Ice cream! (I agree about the Skinny Cow chocolate ice cream sandwiches!!)

2. Shade! (I love that in Montana even if the sun is scorching, the temp is much cooler in the shade...unlike the southern states)

3. Flip flops

4. Reading

5. Trips to the library so the kids and I can check out books

6. Spray-on sunscreen...and those little sticks of sunscreen that look like large chap stick tubes...perfect for little noses and cheeks.

7. Hiking

8. Watching the kids swim

9. Cool mornings and sometimes needing to wear a jacket in July

10. Air conditioning in the bedrooms at night

11. Watching the snow slowly disappear from the mountain tops

12. Not having to wear layers of clothes

13. Being warm

14. My flower garden

15. Just being outside...since winter is so long you have to soak up the short months of summer when you've got it

There is no pedestal in motherhood

You just can't get on your high horse and be a mom at the same time. Because one (or all) of your kids will bring you bring you right back to earth before you can say "soap operas and bon-bons." (don't worry...I haven't watched a soap opera since college, and I don't really know what bon-bons are, but if they're chocolate then hand them over and you won't get hurt)


My most recent down to earth moments:


Courtesy of Jessica - She and I were sitting lounging on the couch together one evening. She looks down to my (ahem!) "little" pooch and says...

"When is your belly going to get bigger? Is there a baby in your belly?"

NO!

Gotta love 'em!



Courtesy of Rebecca - The other day Stan and I were chopping firewood while the kids stacked it. I'm by no means an expert wood splitter, but it is really cool to hear that wood CRACK right in two on the first swing. Not that I get it done in one swing all that often.

Anyway, this was the first time I split wood since spring, so I was a little rusty. I did what I always do...I scanned the pile of logs for one with the least amount of knots and preferably one that already has a crack in it! Gotta build that confidence up before trying a difficult one.

I swung. Thud. I swung again. Thud. And again. Thud. And again and again and again. I don't think I ever hit the same place twice. I was just about to really let it have it (or else pick up the log and throw it...but it was pretty heavy, so I decided not to since it'd only land on my toe anyway) when Rebecca says...

"Mom, are you trying to write your name in that?"

Oh, they kid. Or not. I looked at the top of the log and realized if I'd just swung a few at an angle I probably would have written my name in it after all.



Courtesy of Jake - Nothing shows you're a mom who has it all together like a screaming, hitting, beet-red toddler in a very crowded Wal-Mart.

I mean, really. People! You've all seen a screaming toddler before. Why do you feel the urge to stare, stare, bugger-bear at the mom with one in Wal-Mart? She's frazzled and embarrassed enough as it is. I know...you're just glad it's not you.

It'd be really wonderful if there were some kind of switch to turn on said toddler when we go in public that would make him be sweet and quiet the whole time. But there's not. *sigh*

Too bad I can't just do like Jessica and hide underneath the clothes racks when he does that.



Courtesy of Mackenzie - Well, Mackenzie is just at that pre-teen age where huffing and puffing and attitude and crying and complaining and pestering make you want to run through a wall. Those days of the cute cuddly baby with a mop of little blond ringlets all over her head are gone. When she would run her hand down my hair and say, "Oh, piddy!" (pretty)

Now it's smelly feet and PMS even though she's not in the PMS stage yet. (How far in advance does the "pre-" stand for anyway? Years? Ok, thanks...that's good to know.)




Alright...I just can't leave it at that. There is redemption.

I also have to say that the other day I was putting on make-up and the girls came in and asked why I had to wear it. I told them it was so that I'd look prettier.

They said, "But you already ARE prettier."

Yeah, I know. All together now...AWWWWWWWWW!!