This is a total middle school book, I have two groups that wanted to read it during their literature circle time when they come to the library, so I got some and read it ahead of them so that I could develop questions for them. Anyway, Dad builds a nuclear compound to save his family from nuclear attack. The whole place is amazing. Dad plans for almost everything that they will need to the 15 years of nuclear winter that will follow an attack. The attack happens, they run to the shelter and lock it down, only to find out that one of his twin boys and the grandma are not with them. Six years later, surviving twin Eli realizes that things are just not adding up and making sense. Some of Dad's explaination are not making sense. Is the world really gone?

More Books....

I finished Fireproof yesterday. It hit hard. It has really made me stop and think before I speak and to think about if what I'm getting ready to say really needs to be said. I think I'll see if I can get Brad to watch the movie with me.

I finished this earlier in the week. Picoult always writes controversial novels and this is another one. This one deals with the death penalty and the ability of the convict to choose to donate his organs. The catch is he wants to donate his heart to the sister of his victim.

Valentine's Day

Thursday afternoon, I came home and Makinsi was waiting for me. She ran in the house and came out with a big box of red roses. I asked her who those were for and she said "YOU!" I asked her if she go them for me and she said "No, Brad". Then she grabbed my hand and pulled me in the house and lead me to another dozen pink roses. I asked her who those were for and she said "ME!". They were actually for me but they had Dora balloons on them that were for her.

Brad told her to show me what else they had got, so she opened the fridge and pulled out a box of chocolate covered strawberries! Yum!

Brad has also gotten Makinsi a big cupcake! She was being so patient with me, letting me get her picture before she dug in.

The rest of the night she was Bailey's buddy! She spread her blanket and pillow on the floor insisting that Bailey lay down with her and watch Dora. Bailey obliged her as much as possible! She's so good with Kinsi. Lets her roll all over her.

Finished another book...

Did you know that if you have a bone marrow transplant that you now have two sets of DNA? Your bone marrow creates DNA and when it's transplanted then you create DNA from the new marrow. It matches the donors DNA. Your tissue and cells still have your original DNA. I learned something from this book.

My Sweet Kinsi...

Kinsi has been so sweet this week! She's finally talking and most importantly has learned my name and is calling me HeHe. She has been saying Brad and Bailey forever now, but would never say my name. Lauren got her saying it the other night and recorded it on her cell phone so I could hear it. I picked her up Wed. afternoon from Lauren at work and as soon as she saw me she ran to me hollering "HeHe" and fell into my arms giving me the biggest hug.

Here she's helping me carry groceries in. She only got one bag in before she found the snow and had a seat. Lauren taught her how to make snow angels last week so she had to make one for us.

We forgot Bailey's birthday this year. Oops! So I found this dog cake at Wal-Mart and we made it for Bailey. I had to get cupcakes for Kinsi of course and that's her new word. "Cuttakes!"

She's also gotten over her hate for the camera. I guess I ruined her for a while, but she's back to saying "cheese!"

Hearing her finally holler "HeHe" and giggle is the sweetest sound in the world! Her hugs and kisses make tears come to my eyes. She kisses your forehead, then each cheek, then your nose, chin, both eyes and then your lips. It takes 10 minutes for her to tell you goodbye! Such a sweetheart!

Wicked

Valentine's Day came early this year. Brad got me tickets to see "Wicked" at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. He wanted to go on Valentine's Day, but it was only running through Feb. 1st, so we went early on Jan. 30th. He took me out to dinner at Outback before the show. The show was completely amazing. If you don't know the story, "Wicked" is the story of witches before Dorthy landed in Oz. Gilinda and Elphaba (the Wicked Witched of the West) actually went to school together and were roommates at school. Elphaba was born with green skin and always made fun of. Gilinda was Miss Rich girl and always got her way. She reminded me so much of the blonde chick in "Legally Blonde". So when they are stuck as roommates of course things get crazy. Elphaba is very gifted in the abilities that she has and also learns that she can read the spell book that no one else can. Once she gets to meet the Wizard of Oz, she realizes what she has to do.

The cast and stage settings were wonderful. The flying monkeys were my favorite. The flew around all over the place and had amazing costumes! The music was awesome, I'm still humming some of the songs. I'll never think about the Wizard of Oz the same again. There's a whole other story than "Follow the Yellow Brick Road"!

Several other new posts below.

Otter Creek Park

Otter Creek Park has always been a part of my life. My parents were married at the little church next to the park. My Great-Grandmother lived at the edge of the park forever. My Grandma Margie would camp there all the time. We have spent many days and nights at the park. I even when rappelling for the first time at the park. My dad has worked out there for the last year or so part-time, so it renewed our love for the park. Then we learned of it's closing because the City of Louisville couldn't afford to keep it up. We were all heart broken. My dad arranged a cabin at the park for us after Christmas. One last camping weekend before the park closed for our entire family. We had a great time hiking, playing cards, making s'mores in the campfire, and just enjoying our family and nature.

Christmas Pics

Finally got some pictures from Christmas. I didn't use my camera at all this Christmas. Teaque had all these on her camera. I'm sure my mom has a lot on her's also from Christmas at her house. I'll get those eventually.

My aunt Cece and I.

Teaque and I finally got a picture together. We never seem to get a good one.

Cade and Makinsi. She is so stubborn about pictures right now.

Aunt Cece and Uncle Hil