Kindergarten Registration

I registered Ally for kindergarten this fall. My little baby. Here we are in April of 2001. This next picture is of the kids on Easter a couple weeks ago.



She has grown so quickly. It's really kind of bittersweet because she is so ready for school but she is my youngest so I'll never have these days with a little one home everyday, a preschooler, or do kindergarten again. Time goes too fast. You hear that all the time but it's never more apparent than when you have children. Sigh...

Books this year...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0425207846/sr=8-1/qid=1144005369/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-1883496-2552664?%5Fencoding=UTF8

I finished Your Big Break by Johanna Edwards this weekend. It was a fun read. Enjoyable characters, little plot twists, fun chick lit.

Spring is on it's way

but not nearly quick enough for me. The bulbs we planted last year are starting to pop up so I know it's coming but these 40 degree and windy days are making me stir crazy. It's better than 8 degrees that we had last month at this time but really IT IS time for Spring. I am not a cold weather gal. I need the sun and warmth. One of these days we will make our dream of moving to a warmer climate come true. Chicago weather is terrible and depressing.

Books I've read in the past and enjoyed

The following are books I've read in the past and enjoyed - some more than others. I'll add more to the list later.

Angry Housewives Eating BonBons
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345442822/sr=8-1/qid=1142973860/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8
One of my favorite fun books. I recommend it a lot.

The Next Big Thing
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0425200280/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_1/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

White Oleander
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316284955/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_2/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Jemima J Jane Green
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0767905180/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_3/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
I've read evey book by her and have liked most of them.


Confessions of a Shopaholic Sophie Kinsella
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0385335482/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_7/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
I've read all the books in the Shopaholic series as well as Can you Keep a Secret? and the Undomestic Goddess. I liked them all.

Little Earthquakes Jennifer Weiner
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743470095/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_11/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
I love Jennifer Weiner's books. Highly recommended.

Prep
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1400062314/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_14/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0385730586/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_1/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
I loved all three of these books. As an adult, I would love to read about their mothers. She should write those for adults!

Bridget Jones Diary
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0140298479/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_13/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
The first and the second book are great.

The Nanny Diaries
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312291639/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prod_6/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
Sometimes a bit much but an entertaining read.

Books I've read this year...

The Dive From Clausen's Pier
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0375412824/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-1931202-7891033#reader-link
Pretty good - the main character got a bit frustrating at times but I'm glad I read it.

The Mommy Club
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0345460111/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-1931202-7891033#reader-link
Ok book. I really had to push myself through it. The main character's obsession with a former boyfriend drove me crazy. Fun look at pregnancy.

Tales from the Crib
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0758209827/ref=pd_ys_ir_all_27/103-1931202-7891033?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
Fun and entertaining. Interesting situation. great ending.

The Nanny Diaries
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312291639/qid=1142972320/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-1931202-7891033?v=glance&s=books
At times really a bit much but entertaining. Not sure it's as great as everyone said a few years back but I found it at a Borders Outlet for $3.99. For that price it was definately worth my time.


Prep
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1400062314/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-1931202-7891033#reader-link
I really liked this book. It was interesting, fun, and sometimes frustrating.


The Ivy Chronicles
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0670033812/qid=1142972273/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/103-1931202-7891033?v=glance&s=books
I liked this book. It was entertaining and the main character really learned a lot about herself, others and what she was willing to give up to have the life she really wanted.

I'm going to have to work on the links later.

Story Coding

Found this interesting website today. It's supposed to give you recommendations based on how you rate books you read. I'm still playing with it right now but it is worth looking into.

Praise

I'm such a nut...really. I posted a couple lo's over at 2 Peas there other day. I looked at them today and I'm in shock. I got tons of praise on one of them. Well, I think it's tons. Anyway, for the most part, my scrapbooking is for me and for our family. I have tried submitting to magazines a few times with no luck which can get a bit sad. So this morning when I saw that there are people who really liked what I put together...well, I was so happy. It's silly but sometimes getting some validation from others is really inspiring.
So here they are... feel free to make my day again. heehee!

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=805203

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=805210

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=805219

I just realized that on the Halloween one the ribbon scrunched up in the scanner. The ribbon is supposed to run to the bottom. I have to scan that one again.

BELIEVE IT!!!!

With a couple Chicago White Sox fans in the house, the World Series this year was beyond exciting. Last night, the White Sox won the forth and final game of the World Series 1-0. We watched all 4 games and this one was the most intense, most stressful, and at the end the most gratifying. After the game, we went to Dick at 1130 PM and got Michael a World Series Champs shirt to wear to school today. He was so happy when he woke up this morning.




Here are some other pictures I plan to include in our scrapbook for 2005.

Ally's New Barbie Head

Ally has been wanting one of these FOREVER, really. Ok since about last Spring but when she tells me every few days it feels like forever. Anyway, we were at the store the other day and she sees it. She says she really, really wants it and she will SHARE it with me. How sweet is that? I had told her that I had wanted one when I was a little girl and my Mommy never got one for me. They were on sale 40% off at Kohl's for $14.99 plus I had a coupon for an additional 30% off. So, since it was a major bargin and she was going to share her dolly with me, we took her home.

She couldn't wait to start playing with her hair and putting on her glitter eye shadow and lip gloss. Then I had to do her hair just like Barbies. These are the good times.

Scarecrow Festival

This weekend was the Scarecrow Festival in St. Charles. The kids had a good time. We walked around and saw all the scarecrows. Some favorites were the Star Wars and the "couch pumpkin." We took the kids to Armand's for pizza afterward. Some pics of the day: