on my bookshelf : late fall/winter

Get ready for some good ones, folks.  These first two books rank VERY high for me.

The Secret Keeper : : Kate Morton

Finally Kate Morton's new book is out!  And the awesome thing about reading on my Kindle app is that I don't have to lug around a hardback book.  Score!  So, we all know how much I love Kate Morton's books.  This one didn't disappoint.  She keeps you guessing until the very end, which I absolutely love (and, my guessing how it would end was right, for the record).  Switching back and forth from present day to 1941, this book is the story of a woman trying to unravel a mystery from her own childhood and the mysterious background of her mother.
Favorite quote:
"The landscape of one's childhood was more vibrant than any other.  It didn't matter where it as or what it looked like, the sights and sounds imprinted differently from those encountered later.  They became a part of a person, inescapable."

 Winter of the World : : Ken Follett

Gaaaaa....I wish this book had never ended.  This book is the 2nd in Follett's Century Trilogy.  (Speaking of, did I ever write about the first book, Fall of Giants? I don't think so -- read it first for SURE!)  This book picks up right were the first left off, with the same characters and their children too.  That's a lot of people to keep up with (in a very good way)!  At the same time fascinating and terrifying, the way most WWII books are, it was hard to put it down.  When I say terrifying, I mean that I really couldn't read some pages.  It's like a scary movie, where you can't watch the screen.  Ack.  But, as always, Follett's characters are way more smart, brave, and heroic than the average person.  Over the top?  Maybe.  But boring characters make boring stories...
Favorite quote:
“Why was it, Lloyd wondered, that the people who wanted to destroy everything good about their country were the quickest to wave the national flag?” 

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter : : Carson McCullers

Speaking of interesting characters, each one in this story will break your heart.  So slightly hard (depressing) to read, but still worth reading.
Favorite Quote:
"Why was it that in cases of real love the one who is left does not more often follow the beloved by suicide?...p\Perhaps, when there is love, the widowed must stay for the resurrection of the beloved--so that the one who has gone is not really dead, but grows and is created for a second time in the soul of the living?

Change of Heart : : Jodi Picoult 

 This one was recommended to me by my auntie Carrie, and it is just as interesting as she said it would be!  A death row inmate wants to donate his heart to the sister of the girl he murdered...could this plot be any more complicated?  I'm still reading this one, so don't tell me what happens. :)
Favorite Quote:
"In the space between yes and no, there's a lifetime.  It's the difference between the path you walk and one you leave behind; it's the gap between who you thought you could be and who you really are; it's the legroom for the lies you'll tell yourself in the future.

Not sure what's up next...any suggestions out there?

christmas!

We celebrated Henry's first Christmas at Grandma Mary's!  Aside from missing the other half of our family - Jamie's half - we had a great time. 

But before we left, Henry got to open two huge boxes from Grandma Carolyn & Grandpa Tom...

 Henry was super happy with his new toys.

 Snow at Grandma Mary's!

 Snowman Building

 Card Playing

 Story Reading

 Presents! Of course the paper, boxes, and bows were the best.

 I gave Henry the finished Quiet Book (remember this?)! Opal got more enjoyment out of it than Henry, but he did really like the shoelace page (shoelaces and drawstrings are almost as amazing as wrapping paper and bows).

 Other than that it was a whole lot of playing, eating, and general hanging-out...

These two girls had lots of cousin fun.

Merry Christmas!

gettin' crafty for christmas

 My Etsy to-do list may be blank at the moment, but that only leaves more space for - what else at this time of year? - Christmas crafting! Just a few teaser pics here...don't want to spoil any surprises!

 Plus lots of wrapping has been happening.  I bought a couple of fancy Martha Stewart punches to embellish my presents this year! I couldn't get the Martha Stewart Circle Doily Punch out of my head ever since seeing it here:

 

I actually bought this one first but wasn't satisfied:

The good news is that I love both of them! And who doesn't love striped baker's twine for tying things up?

 

 There now.  I think I'm finally ready for the big day!

december diva dinner

The "WD Divas" got together for some Christmas/Hanukkah merriment last weekend. 

 Dianna put together a gorgeous holiday table.

 Jen was in charge of Hanukkah Flair.

 I was in charge of (what else) dessert.

 Sara made DELISH tenderloin. Yum!

 What event would be complete without some crafting?  I had to bust out my new Martha Stewart Circle Doily Punch.  Yep, I shopped at HSN for the first (and probably last) time.  Nikki demonstrates her punching abilities.

 Jen looking fabulous as usual. 

Um, Sara? How did I not get a pic of you?  Thanks for a fun night, ladies!

slowing down

Whew!  It was quite the holiday season here in my little studio!  Yesterday might have been my happiest day since November, because I sent off my last batch of orders.

 It feels sooooo wonderful to get everything crossed off the to-do list. ....well, off the Etsy to-do list anyway.  My personal to-do list is quite long of course, including finishing Christmas shopping and wrapping.   And - obviously - some just-for-fun crafting is in order for my break time. YAY!

a visit to mr. claus

Henry got to meet Santa on Saturday!  He was a very good boy and didn't cry on Santa's lap.  He knows on which side his bread is buttered.

 Henry can't talk, but if he could I think he would have asked Santa to bring him his two bottom teeth.

 Oliver and Opal put in their requests too.

 Candy canes all around!

If you have kids and want to meet up with Santa yourselves, I would highly recommend going to see him at Swanson's Nursery like we did.  While you're waiting to see the big guy, you can visit the real reindeer and the Curly the Camel, get your picture taken in a sleigh, and pick up a poinsettia on the way out the door!

6 months!

Our little man turned 6 months old today!  I can't really believe it, but the calendar doesn't lie.

He's gaining on the teddy bear...17 lbs 7 ounces at the doctor's the other day!

Other news: Just started solid food, almost sitting completely independently...still no teeth though!

  And continuing to work on his jumping abilities.  I see a real future here.