Pennyrile: January 2014

The End

It is with deep regret that I would like to announce the end of this blog (mostly). If we have a major update (like when we finally get our foster care license) I will try to do a quick mini post on here. I have been feeling for the last several months that blogging has been more of a chore than a joy for me and I'm not super interested in keeping up with my blog. So, the end of a year seems like a great time to wrap it up. My personality is such that I'd rather have a definite end then let the blog fizzle out. I am so glad I have this blog as a record of some aspects of the last 6+ years. Thanks for reading!

THE END

4th Quarter Book List

I did it, I read 50 books this year! I'm please that I reached my goal and really enjoyed reading a lot this year. Now if only I watched a little less TV, think how much more I could read! O well. I don't think I read anything phenomenol this quarter but everything was decent. Lots of 2 *'s.

I continued to rate the books on an * system that is as follows...

* - Not great and don't read it unless you're bored or it looks really really interesting to you personally and even then you might want to think twice.

** - Pretty good and if it looks interesting to you I would recommend it. I don't think it would be a waste of time. I generally enjoyed these books.

*** - Great book! Definitely read it (if it looks interesting) and you will like it.F is for fiction and NF is for non-fiction.

39. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis - (F)**
40. The Apothecary’s Daughter by Julie Klassen - (F)**
41. Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan - (NF)***
42. Instant Mom by Nia Vardalos - (NF)***
43. The Meeting Place by Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn - (F)**
44. Blue Like Play Dough: The Shape of Motherhood in the Grip of God by Tricia Goyer - (NF)**
45. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - (NF)**
46. 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter by Vicki Courtney - (NF)**
47. Shades of Mercy by Anita Lustrea and Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira - (F)**
48. How to Teach Your Child: Simple Tools for Homeschool Moms by Tamara L. Chilver and Marie Mosley - (NF)**
49. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - (F)**
50. Cold Tangerines by Shauna Neiquist - (NF)**

I've already finished one book this year and am starting on another (Insurgent and Alleigent by Veronica Roth) but I have some tentative reading goals for 2014. My plan right now is to read one homeschooling book and one thought provoking Christian book a month. And fill in other gaps from there. I'd like to keep up with my general pace of one book a week but if I'm reading 2 non fiction books a month that I want to glean some wisdom and inspiration from I might have a slower pace.

December Snow

We had a super fun snow in the middle of December that we were all able to enjoy. It was perfect because it snowed overnight on Friday and we woke up Saturday morning to a winter wonderland. The kids were excited to head outside right away and because the temperature was near freezing and not too cold we lasted a long time outside. Caleb was probably out for almost 2 hours and we think Grace spent 3.5 hours outside that day because she got to go play with the neighbors in the afternoon. But I think the highlight of the whole day was ten minutes after Matt spent a significant amount of time digging out the driveway the snowblower he ordered was dropped off by FedEx. He wasn't expecting it for several days so talk about hilarious timing. Although we've had two snows that have needed to snowblower since then so he's already getting use out of it!

Christmas Festivities

We had another great Christmas. Every year at Christmastime I'm continually reminded of how blessed we are. We have wonderful families that we love to spend time with, live in a warm and comfortable home, have a great church family and much more. I'll sum up our Christmas fun below (and sorry about the pictures I only took a few!)...

We started celebrating on Christmas Eve by attending our church service and then heading home to a meal of frozen pizza. When we got home the kids were greeted by a pair of Frozen pajamas and slippers to wear to bed. Grace hates changing into clothes in the morning and hates when hers are dirty so her other jammies have gotten little to no wear.

Elsa and Olaf

Christmas morning we woke up and opened presents and stockings together before eating breakfast and heading to Matt's parents' for a few days. We got on the road by 10 and enjoyed seeing Matt's extended family on Christmas day. The day after Christmas we got together with Matt's siblings and had another celebration with food and presents. The next day Friday we just hung around and relaxed before heading home.

Caleb playing with his new train set

Girl cousins playing dress up

The look on Grace's face says it all

Matt's parents with their grandkids

Family

We had a day to recover and do laundry before heading to my grandparents' for the day on the 29th where we celebrated with my extended family. Then because my sister and nephew weren't flying in from Texas until New Year's Eve we didn't get together with my immediate family until New Year's Day. And that was another fun day of food and presents!

My adorable nephew

Cousins

I really enjoyed having a spread out Christmas. I didn't feel stressed about our holiday week or traveling because we had down time. Now our decorations are down and new toys are being broken in so things are getting back to normal.