2017 by the books

1. Linda Sue Park - A Long Walk to Water *****
2. Ken Ilgunas - Walden on Wheels *****
3. Alan Bradley - Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd *****
4. Gary Taubes - The Case Against Sugar *****
5. Gretchen Ruben - Better than Before *****
6. Tom Foreman - My Year of Running Dangerously *****
7. Haruki Murakami - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running ***
8. Chris Cleave - Everyone Brave is Forgiven *****
9. Joshua Fields Millburn - Everything That Remains *****
10. Maria Semple - Where'd You Go Bernadette *****
11. Xavier Amador - I'm not sick I don't need help ****
12. Sylvia Boorstein - Happiness is an inside job ****

13. Kazuo Ishiguro - The buried giant **

14. Brene Brown - Daring greatly *
15. Malcom Gladwell - Outliers ****
16. Elan Mastai - All Our Wrong Todays ***
17. Ryan Holiday - The Obstacle is the Way ***

18. Mark Manson - the Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck *****
19. Helen Russell - The Year of Living Danishly *****
20. Dallas Hartwig - It Starts with Food *****
21. Melissa Hartwig - Food Freedom Forever *****

22. JD Vance - Hillbilly Elegy *****
23. Garth Stein - The Art of Racing in the Rain *****
24. Andie Mitchell - It was Me All Along *****
25. Lodro Rinzler - The Buddha Walks Into a Bar ****
26. Rob Bell - How to Be Here *****
27. Kim Payne - Simplicity Parenting ****
28. Joshua Becker - The More of Less *****
29. Larry Olmsted - Real Food, Fake Food *****
30. Andy Andrews - The Traveler's Gift *****
31. Angie Thomas - The Hate U Give *****
32. Ann Brashares - The Whole Thing Together *****
33. Charlotte Cho - The Little Book Of Skin Care *****
34.  Joan Chittister - Following the Path *****
35. Joe Biden - Promises to Keep *****
36. Hillary Clinton - What Happened *****
37. Cheryl Strayed - Brave Enough *****
38. Liz Wolfe - Eat the Yolks *****

2016 By the Book

2016's list of books.  This is probably the least number of books I've accomplished in a year, but to be fair I did read my way through all of the Game of Thrones books which is no small feat.  I also fell in love with quite a few podcasts over the year.  Some of my favorites are Spartan Up, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Stuff Mom Never Told You, and Human Race.



1. Bryan Stevenson - Just Mercy *****

2. Adriana Trigiani - All the Stars in the Heavens *****
3. Paula Hawkins - The Girl on the Train *****
4. George RR Martin - A Game of Thrones *****
5. Pope Francis - The Name of God is Mercy ****

6. Ben Goldacre - Bad Science ***
7. Suzie Favor Hamilton - Fast Girl *****

8. Augusten Burroughs - Possible Side Effects *

9. Yann Martel - The High Mountains of Portugal ***
10. George RR Martin - A Clash of Kings *****
11. George RR Martin - A Storm of Swords *****
12. Paul Kalanithi - When Breath Becomes Air *****

13. Bill Bryson - the Road to Little Dribbling ****

14. Marie Kondo - Spark Joy *****

15. Anita Renfroe - Don't Say I didn't warn you **

16. Diana Abu-Jaber - life without a recipe **
17. Christopher McDougall- Natural Born Heroes ****
18. George RR Martin - A Feast for Crows *****
19. Drema Hall Berkheimer - Running on Red Dog Road *****
20. Erik Larson - The Devil in the White City **

21. Phil Knight - Shoe dog *****

22. Annie Proulx - Brokeback Mountain ****
23. Ryan Holiday - The Obstacle is the Way *****
24. John Parker - Racing the Rain ***
25. Brigid Pasulka - A long, long time ago and essentially true *****
25. Jojo Moyes - Me Before You *****

26. Ron Fournier - Love That Boy *****
27. George RR Martin - A Dance With Dragons *****
28. Shauna Niequist - Present Over Perfect *****
29. Mary Mann Hamilton - Trials of the Earth ***
30.Hope Jahren - Lab Girl ****
31. Rich Roll - Finding Ultra *****
32. Amy Robach - Better *****
33. Jojo Moyes - After You *****
34. Anna Kendrick - Scrappy Little Nobody *****

So what have you been enjoying lately?

Last year's list: here

first days

Time for another school year to begin.  This mama is actually looking forward to getting back into a weekly routine with regular bedtimes.  

The girlchild is starting her last year at elementary school.  She's got a fantastic teacher and they will be learning Nevada History this year.

Burrito got the teacher he wished for but none of his best buddies.  The good news is there is still recess and a chance to make new friends too.  p.s. don't let Bob's face fool you...he's wicked excited about school.  Just thinks he's too cool to smile for mama.

As for me, I'm patiently waiting to hear how the first day went and hoping the kids love their first day of school presents I left on their beds this morning!

2014 By the Books

Currently there are 8 library books sitting on my bedside table.  I just need a free weekend to catch up on my stack.

This year, a lot of non-fiction cycled through my hands.  The Remedy, The Meat Racket, Adrift, Dethroning the King, Everybody's Got Something....all come with my highest recommendations.

The star rankings are my own, I didn't get much book reviewing done this year but you can tell from the 1-5 scale how I felt about each book.

Which leads me to the natural question....Have you read any good books lately?


1. Pittacus Lore - The Rise of Nine *****
2. Cassandra Clare - City of Fallen Angels *****
3. Cassandra Clare - City of Lost Souls *****
4. Jeannette Walls - Silver Star *****
5. Ernest Hemingway - The Old Man and the Sea***
6. Cassandra Clare - Clockwork Angel ****
7. Veronica Roth - Divergent *****
8. Cassandra Clare - Clockwork Prince ****
9. Cassandra Clare - Clockwork Princess ****
10. Ron Rash - Serena *****
11. Orson Scott Card - Rebekah *****
12. JRR Tolkien - The Silmarillion Vol 1 ***
13. Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale *****
14. Robert Hicks - A Separate Country ****
15. Veronica Roth - Insurgent ***
16. Veronica Roth - Allegiant ***
17. Jeff Olson - The Slight Edge *****
18. Malcolm Gladwell - Outliers ****
19. Kirby Larson - Hattie Big Sky *****
20. JRR Tolkien - The Silmarillion Vol 2 ***
21. Ernest Hemingway - To Have and Have Not **
22. Daniel James Brown - The Boys in the Boat ***
23. Brunonia Barry - The Lace Reader *****
24. Ernest Hemingway - For Whom the Bell Tolls *
25. Matthew Quick - The Good Luck of Right Now **
26. Julie Macintosh - Dethroning the King *****
27. Daniel Gilbert - Stumbling on  Happiness ***
28. Robert Edsel - The Monuments Men ****
29. Robin Roberts - From the Heart *****
30. Alan Bradley - The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches *****
31. Ali Wentworth - Ali in Wonderland ***
32. Christopher Moore - The Stupidest Angel *
33. B. J. Novak - One More Thing *
34. Jim Gaffigan - Dad is Fat *****
35. Paulo Coelho - Manuscript found in Accra ****
36. Ruth Ozeki - A Tale for the Time Being *
37. Ransom Riggs - Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children ****
38. Mary Karr - The Liars' Club **
39. Rob Lowe - Stories I only Tell My Friends **
40. Juliet Schor - The Overspent American ***
41. Napoleon Hill - Think and Grow Rich ***
42. Dave Bruno - The 100 Thing Challenge *****
43. Rachel Joyce - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry *****
44. Shawn Achor - The Happiness Advantage *****
45. Elizabeth Smart - My Story *****
46. Helene Wecker - The Golem and the Jinni ***
47. Michael Morpurgo - War Horse ****
48. Gabriel Garcia Marquez - Love in the Time of Cholera ***
49. Leif Enger - Peace Like a River ****
50. Lauren Graham - Someday, Someday, Maybe ****
51. Ridley Pearson - Kingdom Keepers ***
52. Ben Haas - Look Away, Look Away ***
53. Maggie Stiefvater - Sinner *****
54. Justin Halpern - I Suck at Girls ****
55. Joe de Sena - Spartan Up *****
56. Tom Ryan - Following Atticus *****
57. Terry McMillan - Who Asked You? *****
58. Brian Jacques - Redwall ****
59. Solomon Northup - Twelve Years a Slave ****
60. Thomas Goetz - The Remedy *****
61. Thomas Stanley - The Millionaire Next Door *****
62. David Roberts - Alone on the Ice **
63. Lev Grossman - The Magicians ***
64. Tara Conklin - The House Girl ****
65. Cassandra Clare - City of Heavenly Fire ****
66. Amy Bloom - Lucky Us *****
67. E. Lockhart - We Were Liars *****
68. Steven Callahan - Adrift *****
69. Robin Roberts - Everybody's Got Something *****
70. Jacqueline Winspear - The Care and Management of Lies *****
71. Paulo Coelho - Adultery **
72. Robert Kurson - Shadow Divers *****
72. Adam Corolla - Not Taco Bell Material **
73. Lucinda Vardey - Mother Teresa A Simple Path *****
74. Nancy Horan - Under the Wide and Starry Sky *****
75. Jordan Belfort - Wolf of Wall Street **
76. Sue Monk Kidd - The Invention of Wings *****
77. Ben Sherwood - The Survivor's Club *****
78. Christopher Leonard - The Meat Racket *****
79. Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale ****
80. Beth Macy - Factory Man ****
81. Amy Poehler - Yes Please *****
82. Bill Nye - Undeniable **
83. James Herriot - Favorite Dog Stories *****
84. Ernest Hemingway - A Moveable Feast **

Last year's reading list

A New Year

4-H end of the year awards banquet

Changing some things up this year, hoping for a strong and productive year as the leader of the Dog club and the girlchild has signed up for rabbit club.  First item on the agenda, find a baby rabbit.

This will be a learning experience for all of us!

chugging away

Now that all the clocks have been turned back for winter, I find myself out of daylight to run sprints after work.  You will find me bright and early on Sunday mornings at the track...still chipping away at my new year's resolutions.

Four seconds and 7 weeks to get my mile time under 7 minutes....

Happy Weekend

I am absolutely in love with this race picture from the Color Me Rad run last weekend.  

That Boy

That backward glance

Those hands clasped tightly together

My world right there

First Communion

Emma, Will, and Grandma Cathy (that's my wedding veil on her head, yay!)

Hard to believe we have arrived at first communion already!

She was so excited.

We studied.

Memorized prayers.

Made crafts (Emma's teacher is amazing).

Did first confession.

And had a long talk about not making sour faces after tasting the communion wine.

Welcome to the table little one!

Scenes from this week

watching the winter olympics

 

"Hey mom, can we cheer for Canada?"

 

"Hey mom, how come we can't have a ski jump into the swimming pool?"

 

"Hey mom, did you see that?  That was a level 10 trick"

 

"Hey mom, can we make more popcorn?"

 

 

 



Working on it

The kids are working on their bravery

and the mama is working on letting them be brave without a giant plastic bubble

off the cuff

I made a pair of really cute, felted slippers for my sister for Christmas.  And then I went and gave them to her without taking one single picture of the finished project.

Doh!

I liked them so much I decided I need my own pair, so I guess there is still a chance for redemption.

After pouting, stomping about, and declaring I don't even love him, Bob said I could make it up to him by knitting him a hat that looks like Magna Charge (for those of us not in the know, here's a picture)

Ummm...clearly he has a lot more faith in my skills than I do.

And I could find nothing that looked like a pattern to follow online.

Here is what I came up with.  The hat was made on one of those circular looms (only because I was trying to teach Emma how to use it).
The eyeball is crochet AND glow in the dark....you really should be doubled impressed here!
And the magnet through the head is I-cord with pipe cleaners stuffed inside it.

Not too bad for having no idea what I was doing, I'd say!

Progress

The boy has been taking advantage of these warm January days and making a lot of progress on the greenhouse.
 

We have big plans for it this spring.
 

And a certain girlchild has big plans for the playhouse that's going to be on the second story.

Our Favorite Nightmare in the Daytime

I found this hastily taken picture from last fall on the boy's phone when I killing time waiting for a new life on candy crush (did I just put that in writing....eeek!)

 

I just love the look on Bob's face.

Today in a Snapshot

The Sister-in-Law brought daffodil bulbs for the girlchild to plant last weekend.

They bring happy, growing energy to a cold January day.

And a whisper of warmer days ahead.

2013 - By the Books

Figures, the year I decide not to care whether I make it to 100 books is the year I very nearly do.

In Short:
I really enjoy Alexandra Fuller's writing style.  I read three of her books this year and have more waiting on my to read list.  Anyone who enjoyed Jeanette Walls' The Glass Castle would enjoy Alexandra Fuller's books. 

I am not really a big Steve Jobs fan but Walter Isaacson's biography was an enjoyable, easy read.  Einstein's biography however was a different story.  I think I might be less of an Einstein fan after having read it.

I read The Spectacular Now simply so I could see the movie.  And then I didn't love the book ending and now I'm afraid to watch the movie.

Anyone who is a Downton Abbey follower would enjoy Kate Morton's The House at Riverton.

I'm nearly caught up on the Orsen Scott Card Books.  I think I might have enjoyed the Shadow series a lot more than the Ender series on that one.

I'm surprised that the interwebs claim Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises as his best literary works.  I just didn't get it. (Typical of me and "classics" I think).  But I did love Farewell to Arms.

Nora Ephron it turns out is my kind of funny.  I Feel Bad About my Neck would be a good gag gift for any over 30 girl in your life.

1. Mitch Albom - The Timekeeper****
2. John Case - The Genesis Code****
3. Justin Cronin - The Passage****
4. Geraldine Brooks - Year of Wonders*****
5. Alexandra Fuller - Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight*****
6. Walter Isaacson - Steve Jobs Biography*****
7. Jaycee Dugard - A Stolen Life****
8. Anne Tyler - The Beginner's Goodbye***
9. Scott Turow - Reversible Errors***
10. Helen Simonson- Major Pettigrew's Last Stand ***
11. Orsen Scott Card - Shadow of the Hegemon *****
12. Animals in Translation - Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson****
13. Alan Bradley - Speaking from Among the Bones****
14. Paula Deen - It Ain't All About the Cookin****
15. Ann Patchett - State of Wonder*****
16. Robb Wolf - The Paleo Solution*****
17. Cecelia Ahern - The Book of Tomorrow***
18. Nancy Turner - These is My Words*****
19. Orsen Scott Card - Shadow Puppets*****
20. Cassandra Clare - City of Bones****
21. Gabrielle Hamilton - Blood, Bones, and Butter*****
22. Nicholas Sparks - Safe Haven*****
23. Heather Gudenkauf - These Things Hidden**
24. Loren Cordain - The Paleo Diet****
25. Ken Jennings - Because I Said So*****
26. Orsen Scott Card - Shadow of the Giant****
27. Orsen Scott Card - A War of Gifts***
28. Betsy Carter - The Orange Blossom Special***
29. Orsen Scott Card - Ender in Exile***
30. Robin Sloan - Mr. Penembra's 24-hour Library*****
31. Barbara Kingsolver - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle****
32. Orsen Scott Card - Shadows in flight***
33. Justin Cronin - The Twelve****
34. Walter Isaacson - Einstein**
35. Jim Bishop - The Day Lincoln was Shot**
36. Paula Szuchman and Jenny Anderson - Spousonomics****
37. Bill Bryson - The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid***
38. John Green - Looking for Alaska****
39. Joseph Marshall III - The Journey of Crazy Horse**
40. Julian Barnes - The Sense of an Ending**

41. Alexandra Fuller - Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness*****

42. Sarah Dunn - The Secrets of Happiness*

43. Marian Keyes - This Charming Man*
44. Barbara Kingsolver - Flight Behavior****
45. Orsen Scott Card - Earth Unaware***
46. Mark Haddon - The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night-time****
47. Ann Patchett - What now?*****
48. Alice Kuipers - Life on the Refrigerator Door****
49. Janet Chadwick - Busy Person's Guide to Preserving Food***

50. Sarah Blake - The Postmistress ***

51. Emily Giffin - Love the One You're With**
52. Vanessa Diffenbaugh - The Language of Flowers***
53. Khaled Hosseini - And the Mountains Echoed***
54. Haruki Murakami - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running**

55. Daniel Charles - Lords of the Harvest*****
56. Bill Lambercht - Dinner at the New Gene Cafe****
57. Jen Lancaster - If You Were Here**
58. Dan Brown - Inferno**
59. Betty Smith - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn*****

60. Tim Tharp - The Spectacular Now****
61. Pam Reed - The Extra Mile****
62. Kim Edwards - The Memory Keeper's Daughter****
63. Jhumpa Lahiri - Unaccustomed Earth***
64. Will Schwalbe - The End of Your Life Book Club****
65. Blake Mycoskie - Start Something That Matters*****
66. Kenneth Davis - Don't know much about the Civil War***
67. Nora Ephron - I Feel Bad about my Neck*****
68. L. Frank Baum - The Wizard of Oz****
69. Joshua Foer - Moonwalking with Einstein**
70. Don Miguel Ruiz - The Four Agreements***
71. David McCullough - 1776**
72. Sarah Vowell - Unfamiliar Fishes**
73. Nora Ephron - I Remember Nothing*****
74. Lucy M Montgomery - Anne of Green Gables***
75. Cheryl Strayed - Wild****
76. William Kamkwamba- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind****
77. Kate Morton - The House at Riverton*****
78. Gillian Flynn - Gone Girl*****
79. Pittacus Lore - I am number four****
80. Mardi Jo Link - Bootstrapper***
81. Alexandra Fuller - Scribbling the Cat*****
82. Elizabeth von Arnim - The Enchanted April**
83. Cassandra Clare - City of Ashes****
84. David Denedictus - Return to the Hundred Acre Woods**
85. Kenneth Davis - America's Hidden History**
86. Erin Bried - How to Sew a Button**
87. Jeff Quinn - The last Gunfight***
88. Cassandra Clare - City of Glass****
89. Jim Fergus - One Thousand White Women****
90. Karen Thompson Walker - The Age of Miracles**
91. Paula McClain - The Paris Wife****
92. Pittacus Lore - The Power of Nine***
93. Mitch Albom - The First Phone Call from Heaven****
94. Ernest Hemingway - The Sun Also Rises**

Last Year's list of Books

 

Magnetic Yoga Mats

There's something about the yoga mat

that pulls the children and the animals

out of their hiding places....

A Spunky Six

Fresh off a birthday for this little guy.  Hard to believe the "baby" is six.   Good thing his favorite thing to do still is snuggle with his mama!

How can you not love that girl

I probably have the only seven year old around that asked Santa for a big pack of meat.

Pictures from the weekend

As the only boy who participated in the annual Newman family cookie making day, Bob spent his time making snow angels in the yard and building forts in the living room.

He's such a trooper!

Plus I'm pretty sure he didn't mind being the official cookie taste tester.

I can't believe he'll be 6 in a week.

Ready or not

BoBo: Mom, you should keep my first tooth.  I know you are really sad about me growing up and all.

Me: But what about the tooth fairy?  Do you want to write her a note and ask if you can keep the tooth?

BoBo: No, cause what if she takes it.  I don't care about the money mama.  I want you to keep my tooth forever.



That really happened.