Reading List from 2009

Many of you know I am a book worm. I love books, I love to read and I love finding new great books and becoming open to books I would never have chosen to read on my own. I love my book club. They are an amazing group of ladies and we always end up reading some terrific books. I was able to sneak in a few books that were not book club books this year.

So to start something new this year, I'm going to have a post instead of a running total of the books I've read and actually talk a little about each one and what I liked or didn't like about it. Call it my own book review.

5 Star rating system
***** Loved it!!!
**** Really liked it.
*** Good, Okay
** Didn't like it.
* Hated it.

****The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I couldn't put it down. I never chose non-fiction on my own and was pleasantly surprised by this one. I love learning about new cultures and people.

***The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
I did like this book, but it never really grabbed me like his others have. It was a bit predictable and very much in Dan Brown fashion. I was hoping for more...

****Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
Even though this was fairly predictable, it sucked me in and I couldn't wait to find out what happened.

***1/2 Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
I liked this, it was a fun genre, werewolves and vampires. It was an easy, engaging read.

*****The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The was by far the best book I read this year! I would recommend it to anyone. It haunted me for weeks after I read it.

*****Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Amazing...can't wait for number 3

*****City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
This one sucked me in from the beginning. I loved the twist on the typical fantasy world.

*****The Lost City of Z by David Grann
I must admit, I didn't read this one, I listened to it. It was fantastic, very interesting history, non-fiction again. I've always loved archeology and this made me glad I didn't change my major, the grim and grit of the archeology world.

****The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
I love historical fiction. This was a re-read for me and I liked it better the first time than the second.

****The Work and The Glory, Like a Fire is Burning by Gerald N. Lund
****The Work and The Glory, Pillar of Light by Gerald N. Lund

**Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
I was disappointed by this book. I was expecting so much more than it gave me. It's the first in a series and I have no desire to read more.

****The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
I loved the mystery in this one. It kept me guessing to the end.

***Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Interesting book but not her best work. I still love her and will read her. I guess if I hadn't read any of her other works, I would have liked this one more.

*****Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
I found this book fascinating. I've never read a Christian novel before. Sure my church fiction but not one from the general christian world. I really enjoyed seeing this book develop. I couldn't put it down.

**Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella
I really like Sophie Kinsella but this book wasn't great. There was some humor and interesting parts but I would never read it again.

****River Secrets by Shannon Hale
I fell in love with the Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. This is a continuation of that story. I didn't like it as much as the first one, but it's still a great read.

****Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
I love fantasy. This was such a fun children's fantasy novel. I have the second one, I just need time to read it.

*The Frog Prince by Jane Porter
This was a light read but so predictable it was boring. This story has been told time and time again and there was nothing original brought to it by the author. It had promise but failed to achieve anything original. Don't waste your time.

**The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
I was expecting more. It was well written and it made me cry but I never really liked or got the characters in the book. I have no desire to read more about them.

*****Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Relin
I loved this book! Again another non-fiction I fell in love with. Though I must say I probably loved it so much because I was able to attend a lecture given by the author David Relin. He was a powerful speaker and really made the book and the characters come alive. I couldn't put the book down after listening to him.

*****Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
*****Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
*****New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
*****Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Do I even need to review these?

So I hope you liked my simple reviews of the book, I didn't want to get into detail about what they were about, you can go to Barnes and Noble for a better summary than I could write, I just wanted to give my brief feelings on the books.

25 Books this year...not bad. So now to start a new list for the new year...

Leah's Birthday

Again the pictures are all out of order. Really what's going on blogger?

We had Leah's birthday party at the BX on McChord Airforce Base. They have this awesome playland, similar to a McDonald's playland that you can reserve. It was the perfect option for a bunch of 3-5 year olds. Mostly because I didn't want them all in my house, way too many kids. But the kids had a blast playing, no need to organize games, etc.

She's such a ham, she must get it from her dad.

mmm...cake, or maybe I should say....mmm....frosting. That's all the kids eat anyway.

Blowing out her candles.

So happy.

The princess birthday cake. I had Leah help me look online for a birthday cake. We found a bunch of great princess ones, but she picked a design that was similar to what I made. I knew I was making a princess cake, but she kept changing her mind every other day. Once day she wanted princesses, next transformers, scooby doo, and birds...birds...really? That one threw me. She's never taked much about birds.

Some of the birthday crew.

Halloween

Halloween morning Leah had preschool, so it was just Charlie and me. We went to a MOMS Club activity at the local Senior Living Center to trick or treat and have a Halloween Costume Parade for the residents. Again this year I made costumes for both of the kids. Charlie is a puppy and Leah is Bell from Beauty and the Beast. In the picture above, Charlie is watching the fish in their fish tank. He loves fish, especially Nemo.

Running away.

Trick or Treat

Costume Parade

Leah on the playground at Lisa's Halloween party.

Family picture at the party. And surpise of all suprises, I won the tacky costume award. I wasn't trying to win, but I guess I got... lucky? You really can't tell from the picture but I had best frizzy hair ever, it was aweful.

Cutest kids ever.

Trick or Treating downtown. We went with a bunch of friends and trick or treated the local businesses in the afternoon. Leah is clearly upset in the photo, one of the kids was mean to her right before we took it and I didn't know it happened until after the picture was snapped.

She proceeded to have a rough afternoon, poor kid.

You'd think all that candy would have cheered her up.

Charlie's Birthday Party

Well the pictures are all out of order and for some reason I can't move them around, oh, well, you still get the idea. We got really lucky on his birthday to have beautiful sunny weather so his party could be held at the park. We invited a few friends, mostly Leah's friends, but since Charlies always around, I guess they can be considered his friends too.

Charlie was very excited to get his pack of cars. He refused to put it down.

The kid's obsessed, what can I say?

Opening presents, he got lots of help from his friends and especially his sister.

Proud of his cars.

Blowing out his two candles.

Charlie has his fork and is ready to dive in right there. Who needs to cut the cake?

Happy 2nd Birthday Charlie!!!

Fueling your obsession.

Leah playing on the spinning thing at the park.

I'd puke if I rode it and she can't get enough.

Welcome Home Daddy!

So excited!
Charlie and Daddy

First hug

Derek with his Company

Me and the kids not so patiently waiting.

Trying to run off energy and stay entertained. I was lucky to be sitting with people who would help watch Leah so I could take Charlie outside for a bit.

Cheese Ball

Playing in the dark Gym. Leah got all the kids out on the floor dancing to the music.

Crazy boy

Such a Ham

So glad to have Derek back home with us. It's been nice to be a family again.

how bout some pictures?

I still have pictures from July to share, but they are on Merridy's computer in Reno. I'm working on that...

Derek at his Change of Command Ceremony in May

Happy Eight Year Anniversary to me. My surprise roses from Iraq.
Me and the kids at Pacific Beach for our June 'Moms Only' and you can bring your kids vacation.

The Dunes. The wind was so strong it made these huge sand dunes. The kids had a blast playing on them. Not so much fun to walk up and down, but then again, walking on sand isn't always fun.

This was actually our last day at the beach. It was super windy and about 60 degrees. We didn't bring the kids suits because we thought they'd never want to get in the freezing cold ocean. So Leah started the strip down and before we knew it, all the kids were in their undies playing in the water and having a blast.

Charlie was the only one with any sense.

He always kept his distance. The waves scared him a little.

We tried a mini photo shoot with Charlie on the hill by the cottages. He didn't like it much.

Last day at the beach, playing on the dunes.

Had I known the kids would love flying kites so much and it would be so easy I would have forked out the money for the good nylon butterfly kite Leah wanted. Instead I bought the 3 dollar kite and got in about 30 minutes of kite flying before the wind tore it apart.

It was super cold this day, but there was a little pool of water left over from the tide that was really warm. The kids played in the puddle all morning and left the ocean alone.

"heavy"

Sand Castle Fun

People at been out clamming earlier in the morning and there were holes all over the beach. I don't remember why Leah was so excited about the holes.

Ready for some beach fun!

A group picture of everyone who came to the beach. We had two beach houses between us. So much fun, we could have stayed a month. I only wish it had been warmer than 65 degrees while we were there. I guess that's Washington for you in early June.

Charlie was terrified of the waves. This picture cracks me up because he's holding on to me so tight. He cried if I walked with him into the water. I'm such a mean mom.

My favorite picture of the beach. I only wish I'd gotten a good one of me and Leah. She wouldn't sit still long enough to take one, way to many friends to play with and beaches and ocean to see.