Books Read Analysis

I started tracking my books read on this blog in 2008.  Five years later, I decided to do some minor analysis.

I read the following books per year:
2008 - 62 (average 5.17)
2009 - 48 (average 4.00)
2010 - 78  (average 6.50)
2011 - 57 (average 4.75)
2012 - 74 (average 6.17)

I read the following books, on average, per month:
January - 4
February - 4
March - 3.8
April - 4
May - 7.8
June - 4.6
July - 6.8
August - 7.4
September - 7.2
October - 4.8
November - 4
December - 5.4

The months in which I read the most varies from July, September, December, October, and August through the last five years.  Of course, these numbers are skewed a bit due to speed reading a few series - some of which were shorter stories.  Also, this month's book club book is a bit longer than usual so it's going to take me all of the month and then some to read it so I have logged nothing for December and may have very little next January as well.

I know people with children say they don't have time to read, but I make time - and I have no real time-consuming hobbies.  I read during lunch and after Little Miss falls asleep (which is no later than 9PM).  I read the most during the week between 9PM and midnight.  I read the least when new tv is on.  Interesting to see if there are any trends.

This coincides with my attempt to get back on track with Good Reads (goodreads.com/princessapr).  I hope to be more active than last time which shouldn't be difficult.  I have included the books I've listed on this blog, but I think it'll be nicer to be able to go somewhere with more uniform and correct links. 

Who is Sleeping in My Bed?

Little Miss never slept in our bed - not as an infant and not now.  Exceptions for me are when Husband is out of town, I let her crawl in with me, but she'll start in her room.  Exceptions for Husband are when Little Miss wakes up close to morning.  This morning, it was not close to morning, but he let it slide - probably because she actually didn't overcrowd him.  When asked why she crawled into our bed, she just said, "I just needed to be with my mommy and daddy."  Husband looked at me and said he couldn't argue with that logic.

She's clever, too.  She climbs into our bed at the foot and goes straight up the middle so as not to disrupt us.  I don't even wake up most times or, if I do, it's because she slips between the covers clumsily.  In the summer, if the covers are off, I won't even notice.  She's like a bed ninja.

Santa's Message

Starting last year, we did this video for Little Miss.  The personalized video is only available for a short time, but it's worth it (the basic video is free).  Little Miss really enjoyed it last year, but this year, she was spellbound.  When it concluded, she looked at me and just thanked me.  I asked her again what she thought and she lit up and said, "It was WONDERFUL!  Thank you for playing it for me." 

The Rumors Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Little Miss has been around a lot of babies lately.  Despite previously not wanting a sibling, she's back on the sibling bandwagon - not enough to ask for one but enough that she'll mention it in casual conversation.  She got to hold a baby last weekend and was very maternal to all the babies at The Picture People.  

Last night, Husband asked if she wanted a brother or sister, feeling her out as we do every so often.  She said she only wanted a sister.  Then, she proceeded to explain all the things she would teach her new sister as if she was coming for Christmas.  The talk was eventually replaced with her desire for candy, but I'm really afraid she's going to tell people she's getting a baby sister.  And she's not.  Or definitely not right now.  This could yield very awkward conversations.

Newtown, Connecticut

Husband and I were caught up in the memorials and stories emerging from the Newtown, Connecticut shooting last Friday.  We mostly read online and kept it off of the television.  We took turns wiping our eyes and hugging Little Miss just a little tighter.  We mostly shielded the event from Little Miss as much as we could.  Then, during Sunday Night Football, we were silent along with the stadium in respect for the victims.  Little Miss was not and would not listen to us.  So, I tried talking to her to no effect.  Then, we booted her to bed.

When she got to bed, she looked up at me wide-eyed.  I just told her we were being quiet because something sad happened.  She wanted to know what happened.  "I'm ready to listen.  You can tell me now," she said.  She was so earnest and interested.  I hesitated.  Maybe if she was older or if she caught some footage on television, I would tell her.  I don't want to lie, but I also want to keep her protected from the world just a little longer.  She did press me a few more times in a very solemn way, in a way I've never seen her before, but I held off telling her the entire truth.  I told her there was just something very sad on television.  She just nodded, and I was grateful that was all she needed to know before lying down to bed.

I know there will come a time where she'll be exposed to a situation on television or in school, and we'll have to have a conversation with her, but we haven't gotten there yet.  This jump between 4 and 5 is traumatic enough for us.  She's grown up and matured overnight, it seems, but then in some ways, she's still our little girl.  I feel somewhat cowardly for not coming clean, but she'll grow up soon enough. Meanwhile, she can stay our little girl for one day more.

UPDATE:  In the meantime, Husband sent me an article where a woman told her children, aged 3 and 6.  I do understand telling small children especially if there is an older sibling.  I also think I would tell Little Miss if she was in kindergarten already or in public school where the lock downs are happening more often and where news is spreading quickly that it would help her deal with all the adult panic.  So, ultimately, we may change our course of action, but we haven't yet and, if we do, I want us both to be there for her

FURTHER UPDATE:  Husband did tell me later in the day that he agreed with everything I said and thought.  It's always nice to know that we're on the same page for big decisions.  It's only the television and menu that causes bickering.

Mulan

According to Little Miss, all Asian women look "just like Mulan".  I'm trying to figure out where this lies on the racism scale.  We saw a painting of a Japanese woman pouring tea.  She points and says, "That looks just like Mulan."  So, then I explained that they both came from the same part of the world, but that woman is Japanese and Mulan is Chinese.  The woman in front of us laughed at us.  Little Miss does know that I'm Korean and she is half Korean, but I don't think nationality means much to her at this age.  As with everything, there is a learning curve.  The long kimono did resemble Mulan's outfit when she saw the Matchmaker so in her world, I suppose they were similar.  Maybe her next gift will be a globe or world map...

Weekend Update - The Longest Day

Friday, as events unfolded, I, like everyone else, wanted to be home with my little one. However, I had my office holiday party. So, I settled for calling Little Miss at which point she informed me that she was busy playing on the computer and couldn't talk to me. The holiday party was fun and, when I got home, I cuddled her. She was sleeping so I got in a full 10 seconds in before she rolled over in her sleep.

On Saturday, we had the longest day in history. We woke up a little late and rushed to head to the US Botannical Gardens. Husband drove us which helped tremendously. We met Brother-in-law, Sister-in-Law and Nephew as well as another family. The last time we went to the Botannical Gardens, Little Miss was about 6 weeks old. So, I recreated that first picture down to the same pair of pants.

After we toured the train exhibit and the Botannical Gardens, we all went to lunch and then Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law were nice enough to drop us home.  Nephew boosted our ego by objecting loudly when we had to leave.  During lunch, there was a baby and Little Miss asked to hold her.  She's become very maternal.  It's super sweet. 

Within the hour, we had to head to Brother-in-Law and Nephew to celebrate Hanukkah.  Little Miss had a desire to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, but she didn't tell us until the day of so obviously I had nothing planned.  When I told Brother-in-Law, he suggested we do something for Hanukkah.  There was latkes and apple sauce and doughnuts.  Little Miss had a doughnut, but she was difficult about trying the latkes. I think she would have liked them though.  She did enjoy playing dreidel though (or, rather, she liked the chocolate).  When she got home, she declared that she "won Hanukkah".

Afterwards, we went to the mall for holiday portraits. We waited forever it seemed. After probably a half hour, the kids had their photo taken.  Then, we waited literally forever.  I bought the kids treats.  Then, they went to a couple of stores and we still hadn't even seen their photos.  Finally, they got to leave the mall and go back to Brother-in-Law's house to hang out.  The photo at least turned out cute even if they look like such big kids!  They had a late dinner and then Little Miss and I went home.

On Sunday, it was a lazy day.  I had a massage which was glorious.  My back doesn't ache anymore and I feel good, but it was a rough massage!  So, I think I have little bruises on my shoulders and neck which kind of do hurt.  I may have to ask for a lighter touch next time!  Also, it's not relaxing if you're ticklish.  Strangely, my feet weren't as ticklish as my sides and arms.  So embarrassing.  Little Miss stayed up way too late last night, but she was up this morning with minimal issues.  She is Mary in the procession in school today because, as the teacher put it, her "deep reverence to God".  It makes me giggle.  She told us she wanted to go to church, but we didn't.  Then, last night, she said we were supposed to go to church.  I told her we'd be going next week for Christmas and she seemed happy about that.  I may have to just get up and take her after Christmas.  We'll see how she is that first Sunday I wake her up.  She may change her tune.

Maine Vacation

This is a new feature. I made this Photo Book on Shutterfly from our vacation in Maine. I usually do one for our Wildwood trip, but I didn't have nearly the same amount or quality of photos. So, I just bought prints to frame instead. Some of these photos made the blog already, but here they are all in one place.  OK, I don't think the link to the widget works, but you can click here to see it.

Click here to view this photo book larger

The new way to make a photo album: photo books by Shutterfly.

12/12/12 12:12

Just a tidbit.  I'm tickled that it is 12/12/12 and the last of the sequential dates I'll ever see.  

As one who was married on 10/10, these things amuse me to no end - though in no way make it easier to remember things as I have forgotten our anniversary date many years in a row now.

Orzo with Parmesan and Basil

Here is what we made last weekend. It is a dense recipe. A little goes a long way. I also think it needs the basil though I'd go light on the salt. We didn't add any herbs or seasonings and it was kind of boring which is just what Little Miss wanted. I don't think it needs any salt with all the cheese though.  

Orzo with Parmesan and Basil 
Ingredients: 

• 3 Tablespoons Butter 
• 1 1/2 cup Orzo 
• 3 cups Chicken Or Vegetable Stock 
• 6 Tablespoons Fresh Chopped Basil 
• 1 cup Parmesan Cheese 
• 1/2 teaspoons Salt 
• 1/4 teaspoons Pepper  

Directions: 
Melt the butter over medium heat. Add the orzo and saute for a few minutes, until the orzo starts to get golden brown. Add the broth and cover and simmer for 20 minutes, until all the broth has been absorbed. Remove from the heat, add the basil and Parmesan and salt and pepper to taste.

Weekend Update - Change of Plans

What was going to be a somewhat busy weekend (though not nearly as busy as last week) turned out to be a relaxing one.

My office moved last Friday so I worked from home.  This means that I got the chance to pick up Little Miss from school which excited her to no end.  Then, we went to the library and to the grocery store.  We picked 3 winning books from the library, too.  I won't miss them when they are returned.  We've read them a zillion times in the 3 days since we've borrowed them.

On Saturday, we were going to hang out with Brother-in-Law and Nephew to celebrate Hanukkah, but Nephew got sick.  Poor little guy.  So, Little Miss and I did our big grocery trip and then took a pretty lengthy nap.  

Little Miss spied Pinterest over my shoulder and requested we try an Orzo dish.  She actually quite liked it though she didn't eat a lot of it.  She literally gave it a thumbs up.  Sometimes, she needs easy things to try to encourage her to try riskier items.  She's still stinging from the sweet potato.  

So, on Sunday, I had to go to work to set up my new cube.  It's going to take some time to adjust to the new commute and new cube.  I will miss the storage from my old cube, but this office is brighter which I like.  I'm trying to think on the positive side of things.  When I got home, Husband's friend was over to watch football.  I coaxed Little Miss into a quick little nap while I made some snacks and cooked lunch for the week.  Then, Little Miss woke up and ate the longest lunch in history.  It basically went straight into dinner.  

I have to say that Little Miss has been very good lately.  She's super excited about Christmas.  She's trying to be good.  She isn't perfect, of course, but we can't complain.  She accepts punishment and knows when she's done something wrong and, last weekend, even apologized without prompting and showed actual remorse (though she may have been more upset that she got caught than sorry for her actions).  It's sometimes still weird to be like we are raising a human and not sucking at it as much as we thought.

The One where the College Basketball Team Scored a Touchdown

Last night, Husband and Little Miss were talking about a College Basketball game.  Husband was explaining which team he supported.  Then, he went into the other room to make dinner while she continued to watch.  She gave a really cute play-by-play and let him know whenever his team scored.  Then, one team had 7 points and she told him it made the extra point after the touchdown. 

Though it was incorrect, I was very impressed that she knew that a touchdown plus field goal equaled 7 points.  She's more than a decade more advanced than I was as a young girl. 

Books Read in November 2012

1. Never Enough by Lauren Dane (NOTE: This is the third book of the Brown siblings about the Brown siblings and their friends. The order of which can be found here.)
2. Inside Out by Lauren Dane (NOTE: This is the fourth book (a novella) of the Brown siblings about the Brown siblings and their friends. The order of which can be found here.)
3. The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts (NOTE: This is part of the Inn Boonsboro trilogy. The order of which is The Next Always, The Last Boyfriend, and The Perfect Hope.)
4. Rescue My Heart by Jill Shalvis (NOTE: This book is the third book in the Animal series. The order in which to read can be found here.)
5. Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb (NOTE: This is #35 in the In Death series. You can find the order in which to read here.)

I’ve had some issues with my attention span this month, but the books I did read, I enjoyed quite a bit. Strangely, the Lauren Dane novella took me the longest to read and it was only 80 pages. Two of the books were conclusions of trilogies. Though I liked both trilogies, the last books were not my favorite. I was pleasantly surprised by the lastest J.D. Robb book though. High body count, good character development even after 35 books – good stuff indeed.

Movies Watched in November 2012

1. Argo
2. Katy Perry
3. Quantum of Solace
4. Skyfall
5. Silver Linings Playbook

This month started slow. I saw Argo which I loved. Then, I rented the Katy Perry movie for Little Miss. I fast forwarded through much of it. It’s not that it was totally inappropriate, but she’s just interested in her personal life. She only wanted to hear her favorite songs which opened and closed the movie so it worked out. I rented Quantum of Solace on Instant Play so I could catch up before Skyfall and just squeezed in Silver Linings Playbook last weekend. Good solid films this month.

Weekend Update - It's Beginning to Look a Little Like Christmas

Last Friday, I met a friend for manicures and then a movie. It was a relaxing time after a rough week and an even rougher Friday. On the way home, I went grocery shopping. On Saturday, Little Miss and I woke up and hung out. Then, we tidied the apartment, cleaned and got ready to go. Husband got up, and we all got in the car to go to storage to grab all the Christmas decorations and get a tree. There were a lot some mishaps along the way. We got to storage and Husband couldn't find the key to the lock. This is after he went back to the apartment specifically to get the key so he knew he had it. It turns out that it slipped out of his pocket, but it still resulted in going back home and then back to storage. By this time, we were all a bit cranky. At one point of the grumbling, Little Miss just said, "Come on, guys. This is nothing to fight over. You all just need to CALM DOWN." I giggled. Husband did calm down and he even had a smirk. We later laughed out loud especially after imagining how well our dads would have taken to the chastising. We then went out to the tree farm which is a good distance away. Only to find out that it is no longer in operation. So, most of our day was gone at this point. We got off the exit where I work and drove to see what else we could find. We were going to stop off at Home Depot if we couldn't find anything else. We found a small nursery and stopped in there. We picked up the perfect size tree, a small pointsettia, and tree bags and watering thingy.

When we got home, I did all the decorating excluding the tree and undecorated Halloween and Thanksgiving. The Inlaws came over to help Husband put the tree in the stand (because I'm useless there) while I switched our plates from regular to snowmen. Then, Husband cooked dinner. Earlier, Little Miss and I made brownies with M&M's.

On Sunday, the three of us went to Breakfast with Santa. Then, we hit the grocery store for a couple of items and dropped Husband home. Little Miss and I then met Sister-in-Law and nephew for Christmas portraits. Nephew is 2 1/2 so it's a difficult time. Little Miss was the same way at that age. Still, we yielded a couple of nice ones so that was our only goal. Lucky for me (sarcasm), I get to go through this all again next week when Little Miss poses with the other nephew. Kill me now. I can't wait. The four of us went to lunch and then Little Miss and I walked the mall for a little bit before heading home where we both took a very long nap.

Busy weekend and they are only going to get busier until the new year.  

Sounds of the Husband

Today, Little Miss had to eat dinner and take a bath.  She was given a choice of which she'd like to do first.  So, Husband laid out her options.  A couple of times.  I think he was trying to convince her to do things once way, and she wanted the opposite.  If she took her bath first, he could keep working on the Christmas tree versus losing time by fixing her dinner and then doing the bath.  She countered that she wanted dinner first and then bath which is the usual routine.

So, finally, she threw up her arms and just said, "We'll, fine, you just do whatever you want."  Then, she walked away.  Two seconds later, she needed her stool and Husband went to get it for her.  He was borrowing it to decorate the tree.  She met him halfway and took it, "I've got it from here."  

Between the words and attitude, this is all something Husband would totally do down to the tone and inflection.  It drives me crazy so I'm glad he got it back in his face.

Discipline

Most likely due to her sickness, Little Miss has been extra sensitive and cranky (read this as a giant pain in our backsides).  She was either bratty or super sensitive.  So, Husband was at the end of his rope.  He was tired of her crying constantly over mundane tasks.  So, in order to save both of their mental well-being, I told Little Miss that if she works at being a good girl and works at her listening skills, she can have 3 books each night before bed.  She generally gets 2 so this is a slight treat.  However, if she wasn't listening or acting up, we take away a book until she gets nothing.  The first night was a giant success, and the threat of taking a book away this morning was enough to change her behavior.  I'd like to move to a reward system, but this system is working on a short-term basis for quick, focused behavior change.

Weekend Update - Thanksgiving

As it turns out, Little Miss was napping because of all the activity at the water park. She was coming down with a mini flu. Late Monday night or Tuesday morning, she woke up all congested and was sick to her stomach, mostly due to the congestion. She stayed home with Husband on Tuesday. On Wednesday, school was a half day, and she really wanted to go and had no fever. However, by the time she came home Wednesday evening, her fever was back up high and she was listless. So, we were definitely playing Thanksgiving by ear. Thursday, her fever was much lower, but she was still exhausted. Morning was her best time and she was in high spirits. When we got to Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law's apartment, she was so happy to see Nephew and the rest of the family. We watched the video of her Thanksgiving show, and she performed it live along side of her digital self while Nephew gave her a round of applause after each number. Then, later in the afternoon, the poor thing just curled up in a ball on the couch. She slept through dinner.

Nephew was perfectly content playing with my iPad and watching his favorite show. He felt the strain of entertaining the entire family and went to bed after giving up on the New York Jets. On Friday, Little Miss still wasn't 100%, but she begged to go for a walk. Instead, she took a 3-hour nap, but she wanted to take a walk afterwards. So, I took her out. She asked to go to Macy's so we did and picked her up a Christmas outfit. 15 minutes into our walk, she said she was really tired and wanted to go home. Saturday was very similar except she really wanted to go to the Inlaws' apartment so we dropped her off for a sleepover. Saturday was the first day that she didn't have a fever though she was still exhausted. Husband and I met friends out at a local bar to watch a football game. Little Miss was still worn down on Sunday but kept the fever off at least. We kept her home on Monday, but she's back at school this week. Her cough finally let up a little, but the fatigue is taking awhile to disappear. I think she'll be good after this weekend. She's had trouble sleeping and this is the first week after 2 partial weeks so it takes a bit of time to get back into a routine.

Weekend Update - Great Wolf Lodge

The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Little Miss and I met my parents, Sister and Nephew and head down to Williamsburg to Great Wolf Lodge. We had the KidCabin Suite which meant that the kids slept in bunk beds in a separate "room" with Sister while my parents got a comfortable bed and I got the most uncomfortable sofa bed ever. Still, the pros far outweighed not the cons. If you have not visited, Great Wolf is a resort. It's a gigantic hotel with arcade, interactive features, people dressed as animals, mini golf, and a water park, the majority of which is indoors. Little Miss had a blast. She is so brave going down the slides but especially liked the slide she got to go down with me and then the other slide that she rode with Sister and Nephew. She's much braver than I was as a kid. I thought it was unusual that she took a decent nap each day, but it was a lot of activity.

She and Nephew played so well together. They hid out for a long time on the top bunk just talking and playing. They ran all over together in the water park, played on the big water structure and in the wave pool. It was just adorable. Funny coincidence that friends of ours were also there so we got to see some familiar faces 3 hours away from home.

Weekend Update - Girls' Weekend

The weekend before Thanksgiving, we had a lovely Girls' Day. On Saturday, Little Miss and I painted pottery with her class. Little Miss painted an "L".  It was really pretty - and then she kept painting.  I painted a Christmas ornament.  Then, afterwards, we went to the mall to spend a birthday gift certificate. We had limited funds that particular day (or, rather, Husband told me not to spend a lot of money), but we were very succesful. First, we went to Godiva where I get a free piece every month. Then, we went to the Disney Store. We spent $2.51 after the gift card was used. Then, we went to Pinkberry where I had a gift card. I was plenty full, but Little Miss deemed frozen yogurt and a truffle a snack and asked as soon as we were leaving what was for lunch. We had a fantastic day together though.

The next day, we met up with my parents, sister and Nephew and went to Great Wolf Lodge. More on that in the next post.

Thanksgiving Show

I'll say it right now. Nothing is cuter than Little Miss's Thanksgiving show at preschool. The kids were adorable. It was quite the show, too - singing, dialogue, dancing. The kids remembered everything and did so well. I brought in a "turkey" for the reception afterwards. It's basically a cantaloupe, pear, red pepper, grapes, cheese and raisins. And it looks like a turkey. Husband, Mother-in-Law and my parents all came to support Little Miss. She even had a solo in one of the songs. We were all so proud.

Work Thanksgiving

Work Thanksgiving is always fun.  It's so much food.  I love that it's pot luck because we really great a great variety of fantastic food.  Some of it is even warm.  Actually, a lot of it is warm, but it's just difficult to heat up all of those dishes and keep them all warm for the entire office to sample.  As with one of the years past, I made cranberry sauce.  Most people dislike cranberry sauce or, at the very least, are indifferent.  I love it, but it has to be whole berry. 

Here is my recipe:

Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

12 ounces fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 teaspoons orange zest
2 tablespoons Cointreau liqueur

Directions:

1. Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. 
2. Bring to a boil; add cranberries, return to a boil. 
3. Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  (Cover so the cranberries don't spit at you while they pop.)
4. Remove from heat. Add orange zest and Cointreau (or Grand Marnier) and stir. 
5. Let cool at room temperature. 
6. Refrigerate until cold, or serve at room temperature.  The longer it sits or chills, the more it turns to jelly which is nice.

Weekend Update - Lazy Weekend

The second weekend of November brought another birthday party. Including Little Miss's birthday, we had 5 birthdays in 6 weeks. It was a little crazy. This particular birthday was a bowling party. It was controlled chaos as every child birthday is. Afterwards, Little Miss had a sleepover with the Inlaws. She fell asleep in the 2 mile drive from the bowling alley to my Inlaws. It was cute. She came home for dinner the next day, and Husband and I enjoyed sleeping late and being lazy.

Weekend Update - Party On, Little Miss

I'm so behind on my blogs, but here goes my effort to catch up. In the first weekend of November (yes, I'm that behind), we had Little Miss's last soccer practice of the season. It was very, very cold. She was a trooper, but it was just very, very cold. After, we ate a quick lunch and drove to a birthday party. Little Miss had a blast. She would have done karaoke non-stop if you let her. Afterwards, because we were so close, we went to Ikea. By now, it was dinner time so I picked up some food and we bought new bedding for Little Miss. She has a bed from Ikea which only Ikea sheets fit. Then, as we were on our way out, she discovered the play area. I didn't realize that you left your kid there for a half hour. So, I had a half hour to kill while she attacked the ball pit. She absolutely loved it. On the way home, she fell asleep which was good because she was jumping on my last nerve.

On Sunday, we went out to my parents' house because my grandparents were in town. Little Miss really enjoyed her time with her cousin, but she was having some trouble keeping up with the big boys. Later, after Sister and Nephew left, she really enjoyed having her great-grandparents' attention all to herself.

Sexy Friday

Robert Downey Jr. gets better with age. Seriously, who knew he'd still be around this long? I mean, there was no question he could act, but his career had a little quiet spot right there in the middle, and now he's a superhero! He's always guaranteed to make me laugh as Tony Stark even if I'm not a huge fan of the franchise. I told Husband that Tony Stark was a rich, egotistical, pompous dick and that he reminded me of him except he wasn't rich. He looked a little offended. *g*

Sexy Friday

I'll admit it. Arrow is my new guilty pleasure - or it would be if I felt guilty for watching it. It is in no small part to Stephen Amell. He's been in many shows that I've watched - though I've abandoned the shows before he made an appearance. An interview has him discussing his issue with nudity in his guest-appearances in Hung so I may have to find that later.  Either way, very pretty.

Tidbid

Last night, while I was reclining on the couch, Husband took the lead with Little Miss.  She took out her crayons and paper to draw.  Husband wanted to tell her something.  Without looking up, she says to him, "Not right now, Daddy, I'm working."  

Further tidbit, she was working on a family of 12 ghosts.  So cute.  She's been quite the little artist lately and really starting to draw things that look like objects.  Her work from school is very impressive.  Tomorrow is our parent/teacher conference so I'm really interested in what the teacher has to share.

Show and Tell

Show and Tell is usually on Friday.  We generally forget.  This week, because there is no school Thursday and Friday, Show and Tell was moved up.  I told Little Miss to remind me last night so we could get it all together.  Then, I wasn't feeling well.  And, well, we forgot.  We pull into the school parking lot, and she goes, "Mommy, we don't have Show and Tell."

So, I figure I must have something in my bag, but I check the trunk first.  We decide a reusable shopping BAG starts with "B", but then I find a discarded, broken set of beads so she takes that instead.  While walking inside, I also remembered that she had a book in her backpack so I also convince her that BOOK and BACKPACK also start with "B" so she was more than set.

I felt a great sense of accomplishment in the last moment before being handed the Worst Mother in the World trophy.

Jokes

Over the last year, Little Miss has been mastering the art of joke telling.  Now, toddlers learning to tell jokes is probably the funniest thing ever.  They're very literal.  Plus, they find themselves hilarious.  It took Little Miss about 6 months to figure out the Interrupting Cow joke.

In case you didn't know it, it goes like this:
#1:  Knock, knock.
#2:  Who's there?
#1:  Interrupting cow.
#2:  Interrup - 
#1:  MOOOOOOO!

So, the other day in the car, Little Miss says a classmate came up to her and said, "Tangerine!"  She just started laughing and laughing.  Tears-in-her-eyes-laughing.  She goes, "Get it, Mommy?  TANGERINE!"  

I didn't, of course, but I laughed along with her.

Spilling Secrets

Little Miss made me promise not to tell anyone this, but since then, I've told like everyone I know.  So, Little Miss told me that her cousins are like her brothers, that she loves being a "sister".  It was so flippin' cute.  She told me she wanted a sister.  I did my usual nodding and smiling.  Yesterday, I asked what she'd like to name her sister (this response changes often which is why I like to ask).  So, she said "Sophia".  Husband's last name starts with an "S" so I asked her if she thought that sounded silly to have an alliterative name.  She said that wouldn't be her name.  So, I asked what her name would be.  She answered, "Sophia Tulip".  

It does seem like family tradition to have a name after a flower as my grandmothers are and were Violet and Fern.  Tulip seems too much, but what do I know.

Halloween

On Halloween, Little Miss and I met a classmate and his family at the mall for trick or treating while Nephew went around my parents' neighborhood. Little Miss declared it too cold to trick or treat outside. It worked out because she got far less candy that way and had a blast with her little friend. We all met back at the house for the all-important candy swapping and pictures.

Last Friday, Little Miss had a Halloween parade at school. Earlier in the week, I sent in cookies and goody bags for her birthday, too. We told her that we couldn't make it because we had to work, but we would make it to her Thanksgiving show. She was ok with that, but Husband surprised her at the parade at the last minute which made her so happy.

Above is photographic proof that she lives in her Snow White costume. I came home from a night out with a friend last Friday, and this is what greeted me when I went into Little Miss's room. I had to take a picture!

Reading!

Little Miss is doing a great job as an early reader.  She's not independently reading, but she recognizes so many words and is reading many simple books - namely Mo Willems's Elephant & Piggy books.  She has quite a bit of them.  Last weekend, she went so far as to read her birthday cards to my grandparents.  She's so proud of herself.  It's really adorable.  She loves books.  As much as she loves tv, she does love games, arts and crafts and books.  Mostly, she watches tv when it's most convenient for us.  

I'll try to get her on video reading soon.  I keep forgetting because I don't want to get her self-conscious or have her get too showy for the camera.

Sandy

Just to put it out there, we weathered Sandy just fine.  We made the mistake of telling Little Miss that, if she was scared, she could come sleep in our room.  The first night, we plunked her back in her bed.  The second night, when Sandy was actually supposed to hit, we blew up her air mattress.  So, she went straight there and slept on the floor instead of with us which meant we all got a good night's sleep.  None of us had to report to work or school Monday and Tuesday so we just hung out.  Husband and I had some light work to do.  Little Miss played with her new toys, and we did some arts and crafts.  On Tuesday, after the worst of the storm blew through, we took a walk to rid ourselves of cabin fever.  We had lunch and walked around the neighborhood.  

We did lose water for half the day on Monday.  We lost power for an hour or so while they tried to repair our water.  Overall, it was an adventure.  We snacked without the power.  Little Miss liked the flashlights and candles.  Then, just when the novelty was about to wear off, everything came back up.  I think she had the most issue with the fact we couldn't flush.  Then again, we all had a little issue with that.  Still, all in all, we can't complain when others suffered (and still suffer from) so much damage.

Weekend Update - Birthday Girl!

Two weekends ago, Little Miss turned 5. 5! My parents came out to watch Little Miss play soccer and then were a big help getting ready for the party. There was a very small amount of time between the two. We had chicken tenders, finger foods and those Mummy Dogs. There were 2 beautiful cakes made by my father-in-law. There was a movie playing as well as arts and crafts, a bean bag toss, decorate your own pumpkin (gourd) and ring toss. Mostly, the kids liked the run around though.

On Sunday, it was Little Miss's actual birthday which she declared would hold another party. She wanted decorations, cake, and basically an entire party. We told her she could have a party if she napped. So, while she napped, I hung up streamers and blew up balloons. She got to blow out the candles again on leftover cake. Husband made her her very favorite dinner.

 

Little Miss received many nice things for her birthday. She's played with a lot of things which is different from the past. She's declared dolls from her favorite show and a trunk full of dress up clothes were her favorite. As a matter of fact, she's worn her Snow White costume almost every day. I've had to hand wash it three times in the last week. She's even gone so far as sleep in it. I think the party was a success and much tamer than last year. 

Movies Watched in October 2012

1. Battlestar Gallatica
2. The Avengers

The new tv season always slows my DVD/streaming viewing. This month was no exception. Also, I’ve just been busy with various things. I’m kind of getting into BSG and can see why so many enjoy it. I haven’t made it through the miniseries yet, but I look forward to jumping into the tv show portion. I had no doubt that I would enjoy The Avengers, and it did not disappoint. I would like to see the sequel in the theater, but I said that about this one. Sometimes, things just don’t work out.

Movies Watched in September 2012

1. Finding Nemo
2. Scandal

I saw next to nothing this month - again. The kid and I did go see Finding Nemo 3D. We actually watched it on DVD first to see if she’d like it. Then, we saw it on the big screen the next day. She napped a bit, but she liked it. It’s such a colorful movie. I think she prefers the musicals, but there aren’t as many. So far, The Lorax is the only movie which kept her attention and awake the entire time, but she does like going to the theater. It’s a nice escape for me, too. I have only seen the beginning of Scandal. If I ever complete Season 1, I did record Season 2 on the DVR so I can continue watching if I get hooked.

Books Read in October 2012

1. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
2. A Fool’s Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery (NOTE: This is the first of the Fool’s Gold series. The order of which can be found here.)
3. My Liege of Dark Haven by Cherise Sinclair (NOTE: This is part of the Mountain Masters/Dark Haven series. The order of which can be found here.)
4. Coming Undone by Lauren Dane (NOTE: This is the second book of the Brown siblings about the Brown siblings and their friends. The order of which can be found here.)
5. Inside Out by Lauren Dane (NOTE: This is the third book of the Brown siblings about the Brown siblings and their friends. The order of which can be found here.)


Gone Girl is the book that took me about 3 weeks to read.  That said, I sat down with it 3 times and each time read about 100 pages.  The last day, I just read half the book until I finish.  It will consume you and you'll want someone with whom to discuss it.  I thought Fool's Gold Christmas was very sweet and a nice conclusion to this portion of the series.  I haven't read many of the Dark Haven books because they are mostly short stories, but I may go back to catch up (which is rarely done with me).  I was more invested in this story than the previous books I had read, but I also liked that past characters made appearance.  Still, it isn't my favorite series of hers.  Lauren Dane is a recommended authors and, so far, I really enjoy her books.  I'm finding these last two were great, and I'm really liking the current book.  Her books haven't clicked with me in the past, but I'm glad I gave her another shot.

Books Read in September 2012

1. Changing the Game by Jaci Burton (NOTE: This is the first of the Play-by-Play series. The order of which can be found here.)
2. Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton (NOTE: This is the first of the Play-by-Play series. The order of which can be found here.)
3. Playing to Win by Jaci Burton (NOTE: This is the first of the Play-by-Play series. The order of which can be found here.)
4. Laid Bare by Lauren Dane (NOTE: This is the first book of the Brown siblings about the Brown siblings and their friends. The order of which can be found here.)


Not a lot of books this month. At the end of the month, I started a book that took me a very long time to get through. You’ll see that one listed in the next post. I loved it, but I got busy and the book was really good so it was slow-going for me.

Sexy Friday

I can't admit honestly that I'm a huge fan of Zac Efron. That said, I'll admit that I no longer see him as a kid. I don't see him quite as an adult though. One of my many issues with The Lucky One is that I kept viewing him as a kid mixed in with all the adults. Still, if I was a little younger, I'd find him completely dreamy.

Roared Their Terrible Roars...

I saw a little boy who looked just like this picture. He was SOOOOOO cute. I wouldn't stop gushing over him. This is humorous because I've gotten over a bout of baby fever, too. Either way, he was adorable. Also, if I ever have a baby boy, he's totally going to be Max one day. More on Halloween at a later time - once I've loaded all my photos. Perhaps tonight.

Halloween Mummy Dogs

I made these for Little Miss's birthday Halloween party last weekend. You can find the "recipe" here. Mom did most of it. I was in a hurry so the hot dogs were too hot to hold the eyes, but they were very cute and went very quickly. We did 2 packages and they were the first food to disappear. Next year, I'll have to do more. They also cook up really fast which is nice especially because I had very limited time to make them between soccer and the party. 

 I also made jack o'lantern tangerines/clementines for the goody bags. I just drew on tangerines with a Sharpie. They were simple and cute (and tasty). More on the rest of the party in the weekend update. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of pictures, but I do have a few at least.

Cute Tidbit

I drop Little Miss off at school every morning where I have some - though limited, contact with her classmates.  One little boy comes up to Little Miss every day.  She finds him utterly amusing.  He's been talking to me more and more.  He always calls me "Little Miss's Mom" which is kind of cute (and he's not the first kid to do so).  Earlier in the week, we had a conversation that went like this:

Little boy:  Little Miss's Mom!
Me:  Yes?
Little boy:  You look a lot like Little Miss.

I don't know what prompted him to say it that day versus others.  Maybe it's because I was wearing flats so we weren't so difference in height.  Or maybe it's because I wasn't wearing make up.  Either way, I'm taking it as a compliment.

I like Pina Coladas...

Mom and I were talking about Escape (the Pina Colada song) earlier this month.  I said I liked it, but the couple bothers me.  I mean, they are basically a bunch of cheaters.  So, she wanted to know what I meant.  I explained the song and then played the song to her.  Still, I suppose it shouldn't surprise me that she only liked the catchy chorus and had no idea what the song is about at all. 

Sexy Friday

I could have sworn Idris Elba was already a recipient of Sexy Friday, but I've checked my notes and he has not. I watched him (on and off) in The Wire and started watching him in Luther. I think he's great, and I love that he can do drama and comedy. Plus, come on, he's all sexy and British.

Weekend Update - Cleaning House

It was a nice weekend. On Friday, we caught up on some television on the DVR. On Saturday, soccer was cancelled because the storms needed to recover after the storms through the night. So, I slept late and hoped Little Miss didn't burn the house down. She didn't. In the afternoon, we walked to Clarendon for Little Miss's school fair. She had fun. We then had a mother-daughter lunch at The Silver Diner. Then, we hit the library and walked back home. I took a nap later that evening, and it was glorious. Then, I rented a movie and went back to bed. 

On Sunday, it was my goal to clean house. I admit that I wanted to do it before last Sunday, but we're down to the wire before Little Miss's birthday party. So, Sunday, I slept a little late, but then I set to work. I started in our walk-in closet and just started tossing. I played my iPod and just got down to work. Husband came in to tell me that Little Miss took a CD out and put it in her CD player and actually cleaned her room. I guess it does help to lead by example! I cleaned our entire bedroom not including Husband's stuff. Tomorrow, I plan on doing the kitchen and the odds and ends that I've been collecting from the other rooms. I'm on good pace to leave cooking and goody bag assembly for Friday evening. Then, Saturday is the controlled chaos called a 5th birthday.

Where the Wild Things Are

It is not news that I love Where the Wild Things Are.  Last night, I read the classic to Little Miss.  She gets to pick a book and I get to pick a book at bedtime.  She usually picks old favorites.  She doesn't read the same book all the time, but they are the same handful.  So, I try to sneak in a new one every so often - at the very least for my own sanity.  She noticed that this copy was from Nanny and Papa (because my mom writes the date in every book she gives), and I said it was my book from when I turned 5.  Well.  That just made it the perfect book according to Little Miss who is going to be 5 - just like I was.  

Also, when we got to the last page, she asked me to read it again because it really made her laugh for some reason.  "And it was still hot." 

Weekend Update - Pumpkin Time!

Last week was our 13th wedding anniversary so we celebrated by going to Atlantic City Wednesday through Friday. We did not win big if that's what you're wondering. When we got back, we ran a bunch of errands and had a nice evening with Little Miss.

On Saturday, we went to soccer practice and then met Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law and Nephew at the pumpkin patch. Little Miss had a lot of fun sliding and playing and climbing and riding a pony. Then, we picked out pumpkins, went to dinner and went straight to bed - it was a long day! That didn't even count the what seemed like hours we spent in the corn maze.  We ate all our snacks and drank all our water.  Truth is, we probably spent 15 minutes or so, but it's so frustrating!  Never again.  *g*

On Sunday, I took Little Miss to book club brunch at Cheff Geoff's. She was very good and really liked being with all the grown-ups. Afterwards, we both took a little nap. That evening, I met friends in the city for dinner. We got so carried away that we barely caught the last Metro train back to Virginia! It was a lot of fun, but I was very tired this morning. Good friends, great food and wine will do that to a person, I guess! It was well worth the loss of sleep.