Good Reads

I've been part of a book club for the last 4 years. It has been SO GOOD for me!! I love it! I love that once a month I get to spend a night with friends (kids-free) discussing books and talking about any and everything besides children's body functions. Book club is very rejuvenating for me and reminds me I'm also an individual. I love that it introduces me to books I might not have otherwise read. And the more I read, the more I want to read. Jeremy says I'm addicted. Not quite. I don't neglect responsibilities to read... well, maybe ONCE in a while. But I do love it.
Right now I'm reading (not for book club) "She Got Up Off the Couch" by Haven Kimmel. One night last week while reading it I was laughing so hard I was crying. How can you not love books like that? :) This author also wrote "A Girl Named Zippy" which we did read for book club and I loved that too. Some of the books I really like just because of how much they make me think or the strong emotions they are able to generate, not necessarily because I agree with them or like the characters, as in "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother."
So... if anyone is interested in some reading suggestions, here's a list of books we've read in the last 4 years. (I've read almost all of them. Stars are ones I really liked.)

Persuasion
**These Is My Words
*The Good Earth
Seven Sons & Seven Daughters
The House of Mirth
North and South
Little Women
False Witness
The Last Lecture
The Sugar Camp Quilt
Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant that ever Lived
Peace Like a River
The Pillars of the Earth (didn't finish - do not read this; it is crass and foul)
**A Girl Named Zippy
Life of Pi
The Marvelous Journey of Edward Tulane
Eat, Pray, Love
The Host
Queen of the Big Time
**The Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Eragon
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
*The Book Thief
*The Giver
Gods and Kings
The Glass Castle
**The Help
The Thirteenth Tale
*The Forgotten Garden
Shanghai Girls
The Luxe
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
*Last Dance at Jitterbug Lounge
Matched
*The Invisible Wall: A Love Story that Broke Barriers
*Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

Tell me some good books you've read. I'm always looking for new ones. :)

Bragging

That's what a blog is for, right? Well, this time I'll brag about people other than my kiddos.

This was a short write up in the company's monthly newsletter about Jeremy when he was given a president's award.This is only the 1 MILLIONth reason why Jeremy is freaking AWESOME. I am bursting with pride for him. This job hasn't been rewarding (in any sense of the word) but he always works hard and puts forth his best effort, which consistently surpasses coworkers expectations. Jeremy looks for ways to improve projects and increase efficiency (something pretty daunting in a government environment). The longer we're married the longer my list grows of reasons I love, admire, and respect my incredible husband!

Next up, my sister, Katherine. She is just amazing. Katherine just got back from a month of traveling. First she was in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco (which counted as a visit to Africa, thus leaving her only ONE continent she has yet to visit). That trip was with my dad and brother, and I heard it was fun. Then she flew from Spain to Guatemala to do work with a humanitarian group called SHe (Singular Humanitarian Experience). She was involved with teacher improvement training and also aided in a lot of translating. It has been fun to listen to her experiences and insights.

(Here she is in Guatemala. It represents her very well.)

Katherine has also visited India (last year), Australia (the year before), lived in Chile (during high school), did a study abroad/served a mission/and did an internship in Spain, graduated with her Masters (last December), has served as Relief Society president twice, is (obviously) bilingual, now teaches high school Spanish, and the list goes on and on and on. She whole-heartily puts herself into everything she does. And she has to be doing a lot, all the time because that's when she's at her best. It's just awesome.

Sometimes others comment, "Wow, you must be jealous." So I've thought about it and concluded that's not exactly true. While I would LOVE to travel like she does (and maybe someday I will), I am very happy with my life. Mostly I am thrilled that my sister is so amazing. Again, it is a feeling of pride in her and all she has accomplished. I feel cool because I know her. :) I know she'll be on another adventure again sooner or later but I'm glad she's home for now. I've missed talking to my friend!

(P.S.- If anyone knows any EXCEPTIONAL single men, I've got someone to set them up with.)

4th of July

We stayed true to our tradition of visiting my relatives in Idaho for the 4th of July. The stay was too short (as it always is) but we enjoyed our time and visits very much.

Crossing the field and blowing dandylion puffs

Meeting the only friendly barn kitten
Elise was very intrigued by the kitten...

...but a little unsure when it started squiggling

(her face cracks me up)

One of the most fun activities was when Grandpa Elison irrigated his lawn.

I loved this when I was a kid.

First the ditch had to fill up.

Then the grass flooded. Little air bubbles were all over the lawn.

Isis swinging around with Grandpa

Back at Grandpa Hatch's dairy.

She is one cute girl!

This one too. :)

Our family firework show. Isis spent the whole time with her ears plugged.

Elise spent most of the time hiding from the fireworks.

Isis was most excited about going on the tire swing. She remembered it from last year.

She would have swung on it all day if there had been someone to push her that long. :)

My Silly Baby

Elise reminds me everyday why I love her so much. She is full of personality and cracks me up.

Look What Isis Can Do!

One week she just decided to swim and now she can't get enough of it! I loved it when she told me, "I'm so proud of myself!" :)