Book Club Tuesday - Vanishing Acts & Yummy Yucky

Another great book by Jodi Picoult! This book is about the fact that there is more to the story than the story...

Eli's recommendation:

This book is the cutest book ever! It goes through different items saying if they are Yummy or if they are Yucky... it's hilarious! My Grandma is upset that she didn't think of writing this book first... while it is so simple and yes, Grandma, anyone could have written it.... the illustrations are hilarious and adorable! Spaghetti is yummy, Worms are yucky.... Sandwiches are yummy, Sand is Yucky.... Love it!

Let the Home Renovations Begin!

2009 Checklist:

1. New Roof
2. Patio
3. New Windows... waiting on a bid to see how many we can afford!
4. Paint Shutters
5. Paint Exterior Doors
6. Paint Garage Door
7. Pretty-up the yard and landscaping...
8. Prime & Paint the stairway
9. Paint outside railing
10. Prime & Paint Basement
11. Prime & Paint our bedroom
12. Blinds ordered & installed in our bedroom
13. New light fixture in our bedroom
14. New light fixture in stairway
15. Blinds ordered & installed in Living Room & Dining Room
16. Blinds ordered & installed in Kitchen
Etc., Etc., Etc.

$33m Painting!

Lucian Freud's 'Benefits Supervisor Sleeping'

Wowsers! I need to get painting! If $33m was pocket change for me, I would buy this... I think it would be a great conversation piece!

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article3928558.ece

An Egg-cellent Easter!

Eli had his second roadtrip to Willmar for Easter! He is so excited for trips to Willmar in the summer when he can play at the Lake! (So is Mama!)

Saturday, Eli and I hung out with my Mom and Sister.... running around town, getting things for dinner that night, etc. Nick got to Willmar that afternoon. My Grandma & Grandpa McLaughlin joined us for dinner...so Eli got some nice one-on-one time with them.

Sunday we went to my Aunt Ruth & Uncle Roger's where Eli got to meet the rest of the crazy Belgiums! This is my mother's family that I spent much time with growing up.... my Aunts are like an extra set of mothers/sisters... They are a very important part of my life. While most of my Aunts have already met Eli a couple times, my cousins had not... so it was a great opportunity for Eli to meet all my younger cousins who are very dear to me. Of course, it was also a treat for my Grandpa to have time with his Great-Grandson as well.

Eli is so blessed to be surrounded by so many family and friends that adore him. It means so much to Nick and I that Eli is loved and adorded so much by so many!

Book Club Tuesday - Lucky, Jane Eyre & Good Night Moon

This is the third book of Alice Sebold's that I have read (I believe she just has the three). Anyhow.... It was good, but not my favorite of hers.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. I have read it before (more than 10 years ago) and decided it would be a good re-read. I love revisiting books I have enjoyed in the past, and this book is a perfect example. It is a gothic Cinderella story; and while it is a Cinderella story… it isn’t focused on marriage and living happily ever after. Rather, it is about the evolution of an orphaned girl who flourishes into an independent woman. No wonder this book was such a sensation 120+ years ago!

Eli's recommendation:

Eli LOVES this book...actually, he LOVES all of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd's books.

Book Club Tuesday - My Sister's Keeper & Toot Toot Beep Beep

Very thought provoking! I like how the author wrote from the view point of each character. I think that helped with relating to them... making it more of a challenge to know where one might stand if they were in this situation.

Eli's recommendation:

This book is so great! Right now books are all about great illustrations, and stories that get Mama and Daddy to make silly noises.... this book covers all those very important factors!

3-Day Update

Holy Cow, people! I am feeling the love!

Because of all my AWESOME Friends, Family and Co-workers; I have raised $1,080! That is OUTSTANDING!

I can't tell you all how grateful I am for the amazing generosity!

I am almost halfway to my goal of $2,300! (The minimum to participate in the 3-Day).

To see how my fundraising is going and/or to make a donation, please visit:http://www.the3day.org/goto/randisundsmo

Much Love,
Randi