One thing I've really missed out here in Maryland are some friends to discuss books with. I had a friend at work who got me started on a number of great authors. I also had a couple of grad student/ grad student wives that I liked to talk about books with. I really wanted to start a book club blog, but it turns out that the website Good Reads already exists for just such a thing. Their privacy policy is excellent, they are easy to use, and it is so interesting to see what people think about books you have read.
I'm hoping some of you will join so that we can chat about books together. I even sent some of you an e-mail! As you can see from my little widget at the right, I tend to read quick little mysteries or chick lit (especially when I am super busy), but some of my favorite books have been from more established authors like Anita Shreve and Jodi Picoult. I tend to read books that I can easily check out from the library, so I rarely read new hardcover editions! Please sign up if this sounds fun.
Dec 28, 2007
Dec 26, 2007
Captivating
The whole family is captivated by this video I stumbled upon. I've listened to some of Yael Naim's other music, and it is great. Too bad the American dollar is so weak right now, making an import CD $40.
Dec 24, 2007
Christmas Tree
We had a great time cutting down our Christmas tree this year. We went just three days after it had snowed, so it was a muddy, slushy time. It was chilly, but not too cold, and we found an amazing tree!
Music Fun
Danny is doing a much better job of singing Jingle Bells this year (compared to this chant last year). He has learned some other fun songs, too.
This was an attempt to get Annelise to sing the ABC song (she gets about 10 of the letters), but she was much more interested in fussing with the camera.
This was an attempt to get Annelise to sing the ABC song (she gets about 10 of the letters), but she was much more interested in fussing with the camera.
First Snow
Our first snow came early this year. It lightly snowed the whole day of December 5th. By the end of the day we had a few inches covering the ground and trees. So beautiful and so much fun. While Annelise napped, Danny and I went outside and played. Danny got to wear his new snow boots and other fun wintry gear.
Dec 22, 2007
Homestead Gardens--- The Christmas Edition
The last weekend in November we went to Homestead to see their Christmas set up. They had a beautiful train system running through their gardens (just like Roger's!), and so many pretty trees all decorated! I have wanted to buy a crab ornament to symbolize our move to Maryland last year, and we finally found a pretty blue one here. Santa was also visiting Homestead, so Annelise and Danny had a nice chat with him! The holidays are SO MUCH fun with kids!
Homestead Gardens
I found these pictures from two separate October visits to Homestead Gardens. This is the closest nursery I have seen out here like Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach. Of course Roger's is minutes away from the amazing Pacific, and minutes away from the glorious Fashion Island. And Newport Beach does have the MOST AMAZING weather. BUT... all that aside, Homestead is a really cool nursery that had all kinds of fun things set up for Halloween. There were hay mazes, a hay climber, pumpkin patch, and farm animals to pet and feed. The indoor part is what reminds me of Roger's in that they have elaborate displays of ridiculously expensive seasonal decorations.
The kids of course wanted to be climbing and running outside!
The kids of course wanted to be climbing and running outside!
Thanksgiving
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The weather was amazing (in the 60's) almost the whole time Patti was here visiting. Much warmer than her November '06 and March '07 visits.
We did lots of fun things like go to the children's museum, the park, Annapolis (our new favorite place to take visitors), and just hang out. I cooked a simple Thanksgiving meal with some of our family favorites, and we had a nice visit with neighbors, too.
Randy did participate in black Friday by braving the line at Best Buy. He has done this before (with friends in CA), but here he was alone on a very windy night. He got into the line at about 7pm (the doors opened at 5am), and he was maybe the 30th person. Fortunately he took his tent, sleeping bag, book, ipod and flashlight. He actually got to sleep for a few hours. Randy's goal was to get a new desktop computer (emachines with flat screen monitor), since the disk drive of ours hasn't worked for about a year and it would be costly to fix. The advertised price was $200 with a new printer thrown in, too. At 3am when the Best Buy managers got there and started handing out the "vouchers" for items, Randy was THE LAST one to get the computer! He was so relieved that his night hadn't been totally wasted. So, with an early gift of cash from Patti and Randy's patience we got a wonderful Christmas present.
Some pictures from the week:
We did lots of fun things like go to the children's museum, the park, Annapolis (our new favorite place to take visitors), and just hang out. I cooked a simple Thanksgiving meal with some of our family favorites, and we had a nice visit with neighbors, too.
Randy did participate in black Friday by braving the line at Best Buy. He has done this before (with friends in CA), but here he was alone on a very windy night. He got into the line at about 7pm (the doors opened at 5am), and he was maybe the 30th person. Fortunately he took his tent, sleeping bag, book, ipod and flashlight. He actually got to sleep for a few hours. Randy's goal was to get a new desktop computer (emachines with flat screen monitor), since the disk drive of ours hasn't worked for about a year and it would be costly to fix. The advertised price was $200 with a new printer thrown in, too. At 3am when the Best Buy managers got there and started handing out the "vouchers" for items, Randy was THE LAST one to get the computer! He was so relieved that his night hadn't been totally wasted. So, with an early gift of cash from Patti and Randy's patience we got a wonderful Christmas present.
Some pictures from the week:
Annelise figured out she could hide in the cupboard.
Danny had to try it too.
The state house (Maryland capitol building in Annapolis)
Love, love, love those fall colors!
Park play
Danny had to try it too.
The state house (Maryland capitol building in Annapolis)
Love, love, love those fall colors!
Park play
I love Annelise's little strut here!
Yes, Crazy Times!
It has been busy here, but it is vacation! I have some adorable pictures/videos to post over the next couple of days, but I want to let you all know that we are doing very well.
If anybody needs a baking gift idea, I made these last night as a trial run for a few neighbor/friend gifts. They are sooooo yummy! Martha's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares are definitely gift worthy (not too pumpkiny either).
Found out yesterday that I passed the Praxis ESOL test. In true over-achiever style, I scored well above average. I guess you can't take that out of me... my high school friends that read this probably get a good laugh (or eye-roll) out of that!
Our home has been gift central. After Christmas (once family and friends have opened gifts), I will post pictures and links to some of the creating I did around here. I still want to knit Danny a scarf, but haven't quite started that, yet. Oops! Thick yarn, big needles and a skinny neck might help me accomplish this before Christmas... we'll see! It may be an "after-Christmas" gift.
Future updates will include our first snow, cutting down the Christmas tree, advent and Christmas decorations, job info, Thanksgiving happenings (including how much my husband loves me... and what I'm typing this post on RIGHT NOW), and some musical fun!
If anybody needs a baking gift idea, I made these last night as a trial run for a few neighbor/friend gifts. They are sooooo yummy! Martha's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares are definitely gift worthy (not too pumpkiny either).
Found out yesterday that I passed the Praxis ESOL test. In true over-achiever style, I scored well above average. I guess you can't take that out of me... my high school friends that read this probably get a good laugh (or eye-roll) out of that!
Our home has been gift central. After Christmas (once family and friends have opened gifts), I will post pictures and links to some of the creating I did around here. I still want to knit Danny a scarf, but haven't quite started that, yet. Oops! Thick yarn, big needles and a skinny neck might help me accomplish this before Christmas... we'll see! It may be an "after-Christmas" gift.
Future updates will include our first snow, cutting down the Christmas tree, advent and Christmas decorations, job info, Thanksgiving happenings (including how much my husband loves me... and what I'm typing this post on RIGHT NOW), and some musical fun!
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