Fablehaven #3 Book Review

Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This series just keeps getting better. I really enjoyed this installment of the Fablehaven series. There were more plot twists and new exciting creatures to discover. I still feel that Mull's character development needs a little work but with each new book he seems to flesh out his main characters a little better. I would have liked to see the Grandparents become less wooden and predictable - I want to know more of what they are feeling and thinking and see them surprise Kendra and Seth more as they did in the first book. Stronger supporting characters can make the book that much more interesting. Seth still drives me nuts but that is probably because he reminds me strongly of someone near and dear to my heart who drives me nuts too! Mull seems to enjoy bringing new wild and amazing creatures into the books which is fun and there were times that his descriptions made me feel like I was seeing and feeling exactly what the main characters saw and felt. All in all I am excited to read #4. I gave this one 4 stars for pure fantasy fun.


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Eight is great -- for everyone but Mom and Dad

Ever have one of those "Where has the time gone?" moments? That was us Sunday Night. We went to an official "Eight is Great" meeting with JJ. All the primary kids turning eight this year (and their parents) were invited to attend. It was kind of a shock, two weeks ago when we realized JJ fell into that category, but I don't think it got to us too much.

Then Sunday night, before the meeting got started, we were looking at the program. I looked down, saw who one of the presenters were, and leaned over to Sara to say, "Did you realize JJ starts Cub Scouts this year?" Sara's reaction summed it all up. "HOLY CRAP!"

She probably won't appreciate me sharing that, but it was just one of those moments ... JJ, for his part, is extremely excited both to get baptized this year (put November 7th down on the calendar), as well as to start scouts. They grow up so fast.

These Is My Words Book Review

These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me thinking about the stories I know of my pioneer ancestors. They were an amazingly tough bunch. I hope that I am never called on to endure the kind of heartache they had to endure. This certainly made me feel a bit guilty for complaining about any of the inconveniences I have- they are NOTHING compared to the physical hardships they survived. This book made grateful for husband and children and gave me a desire to make each day I have with them more full of love and happiness. I love that the author didn't make Sarah Prine out to be a saint. She had many moments of anger and frustration but despite that she was a good person and wanted to work on being better. It was also interesting to me to be reminded that so much of the problems we have today existed even back then. I could really relate to the main character even though she would have lived a hundred years before me. I loved her passion for life and learning and her fierce desire to stand up for what she felt was right. So many of us are much to afraid to do just that. I loved her relationship with Jack. It was great to take a peek into the past and feel like I am seeing it through the eyes of someone really living there.


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Happy 5th birthday to my sweet little girl. She has been my lifesaver in so many ways. On my hardest days she brightens things up just by saying something funny or being loving. Don't get me wrong she isn't perfect! There are times when she makes me want to pull my hair out! Here are 5 things that I love about her:

1. She is ALL girl. A truly girly girl. I LOVE this - probably because I am too and because she lets me dress her up and fix her hair. I love that we share a love of dolls too! She is my little shopping buddy. I love that she will compliment her friends on their outfits at church and school.

2. She is the family peacemaker. For as long as she has been big enough to be aware of what was going on around her she has tried to make everyone happy. Often she will be the first one to find a compromise when she is arguing with someone.

3. She cheers others on. Whether it be at during a family board game or watching one of her family members playing a sport or just during one of the many impromptu music or dance performances that seem to happen regularly at our house, she always cheers everyone on in what ever they are doing. It doesn't matter whether the person is really doing a good job or not she makes sure we all know that she is watching and wanting each of us to succeed.

4. She is grateful. She never really expects a lot and therefore anytime someone remembers to get her anything she is thrilled. Her way of expressing herself is so animated it is hilarious at times. She gets excited when my mom brings her a bag of Lucky Charms cereal.

5. I love her flair. This girl has style! She is an amazing dancer. She is a born performer. She is totally unique and I wouldn't change a thing about her.

As Lance mentioned in a previous post we have lots of snow. As do many of you I am sure. When the plows dig out our street they pile up the snow at the end of our culdesac. The kids have had fun climbing around on the pile.



These photos are from Hannah's various birthday activities! Hannah asked for and got an American Girl doll. It is Mia "a girl of 2008". I am not convinced that she was quite old enough for this doll but of course I loved it too so I had to get it! She got some ice skates for the doll and another outfit for it too. She loved all the gifts from friends and family. I think she got a little dazed by all the attention. Normally others in our family demand the spotlight so for once Hannah got to have some attention. Asher pretty much opened all her presents but she didn't get mad - she even encouraged him.

This photo is from Hannah's birthday dinner at one of our favorite restaurants - Brick Oven. She got a lollipop sundae and they sang Happy Birthday to her.
Hannah kept wanting to have "surprise" birthday party. So we blind folded her and took her to a movie with some of her friends. We saw The Tale of Desperaux- it was a really cute movie - I highly recommend it.

Freakin' buuurrrrr!!!

Okay, so for some of you to the north, you will say "what's the big deal?", but I think 7 degrees (and yes, Fahrenheit) on the drive in was a bit much. Granted, I hadn't driven my car or cleared the windows since Friday, but the ice was literally a quarter of an inch thick on my windshield this morning. This Cali kid isn't looking forward to MORE SNOW TODAY! Sheezz (course, Sara grew up here, and she was complaining about it more than I was coming out of church yesteray. There was NO heat in Gospel Doctrine (one way to keep my class awake), and the parking lot was an ice rink).

On another note, isn't the new look to the blog great? Sara was being driven kind of crazy getting it to fit right, but it is a super new look for what is hoping to be a super new year. Best to all!