Books I Read in 2011

It's always interesting to look back on the passing year. Since I'm such an avid book lover, I wanted to keep a list of what I'd read through the year. 51 books would average out to be a book a week, but in reality I go in spurts. I'll find a series I love and completely ignore my household duties (and occasionally my family) to finish it. And periods where I don't pick up a book for a while or am battling my way through one.

My uncle wondered what were my favorite books of the year...

1st place would go to "The Book of Mormon". As I re-read those pages, I learn so much more. I have a feeling that it might win first place every year.

2nd place this year would have to go to "The Miracle of Forgiveness" it found me in a deep and painful place, but pulled me back out. Something I will read again and again simply for the insights it gives to the repentance process, both large and small.
3rd place this year goes to "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" not a book for everyone (contains some sexual material not appropriate for younger readers) but it is so beautifully written, so descriptive I felt like I was there.
1st place in the category of book series goes hands down to "The Work and the Glory" nine book adventure. I learned so much about church history and cried when I finished the last book knowing I wouldn't see the Steeds again....until I re-read the series (it will have a be awhile or my husband might give them away).

2nd place in the category of book series goes to "The Hunger Games" trilogy. I couldn't put the first 2 down and about died waiting for the third from the library. Those will be added to my personal library at some time.

So here is the whole list...

*Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
*Penny Saving Household Helper by Rebecca DeLiberto
*An Emotional First Aid Kit for Mothers by Linda J. Eyre & others
*The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
*The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards
*Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquirel
*The Locket by Richard Paul Evans
*All Is Well (TWATG) by Gerald N. Lund
*So Great a Cause (TWATG) by Gerald N. Lund
*No Unhallowed Hand (TWATG) by Gerald N. Lund
*Praise to the Man (TWATG) by Gerald N. Lund
*The Book of Mormon
*A Season of Joy (TWATG) by Gerald N. Lund
*Thy Gold to Refine (TWATG) by Gerald N. Lund

*Truth Will Prevail (TWATG) by Gerald N. Lund
*Like a Fire Is Burning (TWATG) by Gerald N. Lund
*The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
*Pillar of Light (The Work and the Glory) by Gerald N. Lund
*Wicked by Gregory Maguire
*Awakened by P.C. & Kristin Cast
*Burned by P.C. & Kristin Cast
*Tempted by P.C. & Kristin Cast
*Hunted by P.C. & Kristin Cast
*Untamed by P.C. & Kristin Cast
*Chosen by P.C. & Kristin Cast
*Betrayed by P.C. & Kristin Cast
*Marked by P.C. & Kristin Cast
*Clutter's Last Stand by Don Aslett
*Seraph on the Suwanee by Zora Neale Hurston
*Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

*Food Storage for the Clueless by Clark & Kathryn Kidd
*PreserveIt! by Lynda Brown
*Eating Well on a Budget by Lucy Beale & Jessica Partridge
*Common Sense Economics by James Gwartney and others
*How to Hug a Porcupine by Julie A. Ross
*The Language of Love and Respect by Emerson Eggrichs
*The Host by Stephenie Meyer
*The Water and the Blood by Nancy E. Turner
*The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
*The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
*The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
*The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
*The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
*Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
*Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
*The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
*The Star Garden by Nancy E. Turner
*Sarah's Quilt by Nancy E. Turner
*New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
*Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
*Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph

Disclaimer: I am in no way telling you to read any of these books (okay, The Book of Mormon would be an exception to that rule...please read it today). In fact a few of them I look back and wonder why I wasted my time on them. But each and everyone served some need I had at that point...deep thoughts, spiritual nourishment, parenting advice, brain-candy entertainment. This list also doesn't include the hundreds of books read to my children.

Twin Falls Trip

Back in September, my best friend Tamera proposed a trip out to the Twin Falls temple during Christmas break. (Since the Boise temple is currently closed for renovations that is the one closest to us.) We figured it would be fun for the adults to do an endowment session and the teenagers could do baptisms. Due to the fact that it's a 2 hour drive each way we figured it would be fun to make it an over-night trip and get hotel rooms. Party time!

So I got online and booked us a room at the La Quinta (where Steven and I stayed on our little trip in June) and got excited. Steven and I got a few working hours in that morning and headed out...getting there about the same time as the McEntires. We got all checked into the hotel and moved luggage in. I quickly got changed to head over to the temple for our 4pm endowment session.

While I was gone (Steven decided to stay behind and watch all the kids), here are the pics obtained: Logan hanging out with his great buddy Quinn probably playing his DS and Alex reading.


Here is Owen and Evan wrestling with Gus. Such a cute little bundle of boys!


Once the adults returned, it was time for dinner and swimming. Notice the pizza sauce on Evan's pizza...and yes, Grandma they love their new trunks!


After some fun swimming, it as time to hit the sack. We decided to hit the temple with the kids the next morning at 5:30am to get in and out quickly. The plan worked like a charm. We got there shortly after 5am and got in the car to head back to the hotel before 6:30. It was Quinn and Kim's first time doing baptisms. Here are the rather cheerful kids in front of the temple doors....don't forget to ask Kim about the 3 times she slipped getting to and from the temple. She'd love to tell you all about it....


When Kim and I got back to the hotel, Logan was still sleeping and the little boys were still tired, so we laid back down for some rest before heading down for breakfast. Once we were ready to eat we headed down to the complimentary breakfast of waffles, eggs, potatoes, juice, hot chocolate and pastries....oh, so yummy.

After breakfast, the McEntires decided to head home. I wanting to make the most of our hotel room, promptly decided to get back into bed and take a nap. With check-out time looming, I drug myself out of bed (did I mention I'd gotten woken up at 3:30am by a climbing Evan) and got everything all packed up and out to the car (with some help from my wonderful hubby).

We took the kids over to see the temple. Here they are in front of the sign.


Here they are pointing up to Angel Moroni.


And here I am with my wonderful hubby.


After the temple we hit up some KFC for lunch and went to see "Santa Snork saves the Seasons" over at the CSI planetarium. (Which I highly recommend checking out if you're ever in Twin Falls looking for something to do.) The kids all got to pick a toy from the gift shop and we headed home...

A wonderful little mini-vacation. Full of spiritual renewal and relaxation. Doesn't get much better than that!

Children Picture Outtakes

I know how you enjoyed my last blog with the family outtakes, so I figured you would enjoy the children just as much, if not more.... (and yes, I'm aware that my flash sucks and killed a lot of pics...next year we will plan ahead and take outdoor pics in September before it gets too cold.)


Kim....even though she is hitting that awkward pre-teen age, she still photographs beautifully...well, when she is looking at the camera. I'm still trying to figure out how an average looking woman (such as myself) and her odd-looking father (yep, he is) could create such a gorgeous looking girl...

Ok...this one looks a little goofy. I think Steven was making her laugh.

This one is my favorite...It's from the ill-fated park shoot. She thought her hair was too poofy curled like this, so it wasn't re-curled for photo shoot two.


Logan....He is hit and miss. Such an adorable smile, but he gets too into saying "cheese" so he looks odd sometimes....

Totally saying cheese here...

What no teeth?

I love the immense joy in this pic...

Owen...difficult in real life....difficult to get a good shot...

Blinking

Best of the bunch

Total Cheese.

Being a little beast

Evan, my baby....he is getting too big...He didn't want to cooperate at either photo shoot....

Trying to get the M&Ms we were bribing him with....

Chewing an M&M

Attacking my tree....

You can see the M&M in this one...if you look close enough.

This one is my favorite...also from the ill-fated photo shoot. Doesn't he just look so innocent? Or maybe he's just plotting his next evil plan....

There you go...my children in all their wonderful photo-riffic glory!

Christmas Picture Outtakes....

To all who have received our Christmas card and are wondering why we have a mini-Gene Simmons in our family...I have decided to let you behind the scenes of our picture taking...

Do you know how hard it is to get 6 people, 3 of which are ages 5 and under to look at a camera and smile? Do you....really?

And don't worry, this was the 2nd attempt to get family pictures....the first attempt was worse.

Exhibit A: Notice none of the little children are appropriately smiling, plus the mother looks a little out-of-sorts....

Exhibit B: Not too bad, except for Evan is trying desperately to get off the lap of his mother...this probably would have been the winner, but Evan was cut out of pic on most pre-decorated cards available at Costco (because I needed cheap and easy and there was a coupon)

Exhibit C: No one is ready at all...In fact dad is probably wasting precious time taking random pics instead of helping to poke children into smiling.

Exhibit D: Evan is not cooperating at all, hence forced smile on mother's face...and Logan is way too cheesy.

Exhibit E: Evan not looking at camera and partially out of frame. Owen is a little squinty.

Exhibit F: Um, what isn't wrong with this picture?

Exhibit G: Both Logan and Owen took the "get closer to mom" phrase literally.

Exhibit H: Not sure what Evan is chewing on...and what is up with Owen? Maybe pinching was too hard...

So now, you probably understand why this picture was in the mail....Merry Christmas to you all!