2010 Wrap-Up

I love movies and with an infant in the house it is nice that watching movies is something I can share with my husband and still take care of the baby. So, I’m sure 2011 will bring more moving watching and less book reading. This year I’ve added reviews of some of my favorite movies- Only You, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, A Few Good Men, Four Weddings And a Funeral, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Romancing the Stone, Silence of the Lambs, Pride & Prejudice miniseries. The rest of my favorite 100 movies is here. It’s an ongoing project.

I also keep track of movies I see for the first time in my monthly 5 word reviews. This year I watched 63 movies and here are my favorite 10 with their 5 words…

Dreams. Orginal. Ending Greatly Debated.

Endearing Robot Saves 2805 Earth.

Quirky Charming Original Un-Love Story.

Politics Sure Hasn’t Changed Much.

War. Iraq. Bombs. Tense Thriller.

Funny. Bateman & Affleck are perfect.

Sweet Piggy Fairy Tale. Fun.

Crime Scene Cleanup Made Heartwarming.

Sweet Romantic Comedy. Minnesota Flavor.

Must see 3D. Visually stunning.

December 5 Word Movie Reviews

December 30, 2010April 8, 201710 Comments

If you’ve seen any of these movies leave me your 1-5 words in the comments and I’ll add them to the post. Or, if you are feeling ambitious and want to do this on your own blog leave me a link in the comments and I’ll add it to the bottom of the post. Of course, you can always just comment.

(2009. Cast- Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn) Grade B+

Crime Scene Cleanup Made Heartwarming.

Touching sister story. Interesting setting. (Nolatari)

Cute and quirky. Adams ‘shines.’ (Heather)

(2010. Cast- Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, James Franco, Mark Wahlberg, Common, Mila Kunis) Grade B+

I’ll Watch Tina in Anything.

Always bad idea swiping reservations (Kay)

Steve Carrell Perfectly Adorable Husband (Beth)

Crap your parents get into… (Heather)

(2010. Cast- Ben Stiller, Robert DeNiro, Teri Polo, Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand, Jessica Alba) Grade C-

Should Have Stopped At Two.

(2010. Cast- Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler) Grade C-

Unlikeable Chracters in So-So Story.

A bit sexist, no chemistry. (Heather)

His charm is his weapon. (Tony)

2010 Book Favorites

December 29, 2010December 29, 201024 Comments

I only read 80 books this year. I knew I’d been reading less, but I had no idea it was only 80 until I counted them up last night. At the beginning of the year I set my reading goal at 105 with 12 of those being fiction and I did read 10 non-fiction and I consider that a success considering how many fewer books I actually read. A few interesting stats…

I read 51 women authors and 29 men.

The state I most visited was California followed closely by New York.

I read 7 Brenda Joyce books, making her my most read author.

And now for the FAVORITE FIVE BOOKS I READ THIS YEAR (in order)…

I’m not much of a memoir reader so I am surprised to find this my very favorite read this year. Reviewed here.

A historical romance that will keep you reading far past when it’s time for bed. Reviewed here.

You chose it for me and I was surprised at how much I loved this novel set in Spain in the 1940’s. Reviewed here.

I had no idea I liked magical realism. An enchanting read. Reviewed here.

Little Cee Cee grew up not far from where I live in Ohio but it wasn’t until her move south that she blossomed. Reviewed here.

2010 Challenge Wrap Up

December 28, 2010December 28, 201010 Comments

I love participating in challenges. They help me focus and try books and authors I wouldn’t have otherwise. In 2009 I completed all 4 of my challenges. This year? Not so much. Having many months of morning sickness and then the arrival of little Gage 10 weeks ago have forced me to prioritize and I’m okay with that.

I only completed one challenge this year – The New Authors challenge where I committed to read 35 new to me authors. My favorite is Beth Hoffman, author of Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt, because not only did I love her debut novel, but she is a super nice person, an inspiring speaker and she actually interacts with the book blogging community. Three cheers for Beth.

I failed the A-Z Challenge this year and plan to try again in 2011. I also failed The RYOB Challenge where I had you all vote for 50 of the books I’d read this year. I have 14 left and will be reading them in 2011. You guys really picked some winners for me, you chose 4 of my top 5 reads this year! I failed the States challenge and Color challenge and will try again in 2011. I also failed the Short Story and 100 mile fitness challenges.

I’ll be a bit choosier in my 2011 challenges. Unless I can start counting board and cloth books 🙂

1. She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb – 12 votes (Mary, Marce, Jo-Jo, Amanda, Calico Critic, ‘Nise, Jo Ann, Allesandra, Piroska, Mom, Literary Feline, Melissa)

2. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving – 10 votes (Mary, BermudaOnion, Word Lily, Linda B, Em, Literate Housewife, Ms. Mazzola, Jessica, Mille, Margie)

3. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wells – 11 votes (Marce, Jo-Jo, Jenners, Bumbles, Sheral, Debby, Rebecca, Alita Reads, Soft Drink, Melissa, Angie)

4. Life of Pi by Yann Martel – 10 votes (Gofita, Carol, Staci, Ms. Mazzola, Heather, Kerri, Rebecca, Alita Reads, Julie H., Rhapsody)

5. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly – 8 votes (Mary, Linda B, Melody, Literate Housewife, ‘Nise, Sandee, Bonnie, Kathrin)

6. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan – 8 votes (Word Lily, Golda, Margot, Jackie, Staci, Jenners, Mom, Mystica)

7. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith – 7 votes (Word Lily, Jo-Jo, Sharon, Alita Reads, Bonnie, Sarah Emmerson, Literary Feline)

8. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote – 7 votes (BermudaOnion, Marie, Jo Ann, Bumbles, Sandee, Piroska, Literary Feline)

9. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley – 7 votes (Carol, Staci, FleurFisher, Vasilly, Ms. Mazzola, Angie, Amanda)

10. Persuasion by Jane Austen – 6 votes (Calico Critic, Melody, ‘Nise, Allesandra, Angie, Sarah Emmerson)

11. Emma by Jane Austen – 6 votes (Candice, Jennifer, Ms. Mazzola, Alita Reads, Kathrin, Literary Feline)

12. Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich – 6 votes (Candice, Jennifer, Margot, Heather, Colleen, Angie)

13. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen – 6 votes (Wrighty’s Reads, Mary, Amanda, Allesandra, Soft Drink, Bonnie, Melissa)

14. Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire – 5 votes (Shanyn, Jo-Jo, Calico Critic, Donna S, Lisa-Marie)

15. The History of Love by Nicole Kraus – 5 votes (Vasilly, Heather, Mille, Alita Reads, Literary Feline)

16. Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen – 5 votes (Kristie, Jessica, Sharon, Sue R., Jason)

17. Blood Memory by Greg Iles – 5 votes (Jennofer, Kristie, Carol, Jenners, Angie S.)

18. The Pact by Jodi Picoult – 5 votes (Sharyn, Em, Colleen, Sheral, Margie)

19. Roots by Alex Hailey – 5 votes (Cee-Cee, Staci, Literate Housewife, Sarah E., Angie S.)

20. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella – 4 votes (BermudaOnion, Kerri, Julie H., Kathrin)

21. The Lake House by James Patterson – 4 votes (Donna S., GMR, Mom, Sue R., Rebecca)

22. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes – 4 votes (Jo Ann, GMR, Piroska, Mystica)

23. Love Walked In by Maria de los Santos – 4 votes (Candice, Amanda, Colleen, Soft Drink)

24. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner – 4 votes (Shanyn, Wrighty’s Reads, Em, Mom)

25. Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher – 4 votes (Linda B., Margot, FleurFisher, Sandee)

26. Digital Fortress by Dan Brown – 4 votes (Melody, Bumbles, Virginie, Jason)

27. Women Who Loves Books Too Much – 3 votes (Amanda, Angie, Mystica)

28. Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg – 3 votes (Wrighty’s Reads, Bumbles, Sarah E.)

29. The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber – 3 votes (‘Nise, Mom, Bonnie)

30. See Jane Run by Joy Fielding – 3 votes (Kristie, GMR, Debby)

31. The Sleeping Doll by Jeffrey Deaver – 3 votes (Kristie, Margie, Jason)

32. The Husband by Dean Koontz – 3 votes (Wrighty’s Reads, Marce, Jason)

33. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – 3 votes (Jennifer, Calico Critic, Angie)

34. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz – 3 votes (Donna S., Sandee, Sharon)

35. Good Grief by Lolly Winston – 3 votes (Staci, Jenners, Margie)

36. Testimony by Anita Shreve – 3 votes (Marce, Allesandra, Mystica)

37. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner – 3 votes (Candice, Word Lily, Bumbles)

~~38. Remember When by Nora Roberts – 2 votes (Donna S., Debby)~~

39. The Bean Trees by Barabara Kingsolver – 2 votes (Golda, Amanda)

40. Three Junes by Julia Glass – 2 votes (Golda, Soft Drink)

41. The Sister by Poppy Adams – 2 votes (Literate Housewife, Sandee)

42. Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins – 2 votes (Carol, Mille)

~~43. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon – 2 votes (Vasilly, Allesandra)~~

44. The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve – 2 votes (Piroska, Wanda)

45. The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini – 2 votes (Gofita, Calico Critic)

46. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett – 2 votes (Golda, Heather)

47. Running Blind by Lee Child – 2 votes (‘Nise, Sheral)

48. White Fang by Jack London – 2 votes (GMR, Rhapsody)

49. The Human Stain by Philip Roth – 2 votes (Jackie, Mille)

50. A Room With a View by E.M. Forster – 2 votes (Candice, Jenny girl)

51. The Devil & Tom Walker by Washington Irving

52. Red Light by T.Jefferson Parker (Color Challenge)

53. Black Water by T.Jefferson Parker (Color Challenge)

54. The Blue Bedroom by Rosamunde Pilcher (Color Challenge)

55. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Titles

A As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

B Blood Memory by Greg Iles

C Caught by Harlan Coben

D Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

F Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards

G Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

H The Husband by Dean Koontz

I In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

J The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

L Lake Magic by Kimberly Fisk

M Murder List by Julie Garwood

N The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

O Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

P Persuasion by Jane Austen

R Red Light by T. Jefferson Parker

S Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

T The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini

U Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

W Women Who Love Books Too Much by Brenda Knight

AUTHORS

A The Sister by Poppy Adams

B Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

C Die Trying by Lee Child

D The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

E Inside Out by Barry Eisler

F Give + Take by Stona Fitch

G The Beach House by Jane Green

H Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen

I The Devil & Tom Walker by Washington Irving

J Deadly Love by Brenda Joyce

K The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

L White Fang by Jack London

M The Cougar Club by Susan McBride

N The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark

O Keeper of the Keys by Perri O’Shaughnessy

P The Blue Bedroom by Rosamunde Pilcher

Q Put on Your Crown by Queen Latifah

R Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

S This One is Mine by Maria Semple

T War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy

U Why We Buy by Paco Underhill

V Think of a Number by John Verdon

W The Proof is in the Pudding by Melinda Wells

Y The Shack by William P. Young

Z The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

1 Beth Hoffman – Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

2 Elle Newmark – The Book of Unholy Mischief

3 Sarah Addison Allen – Garden Spells

4 Sara Angelini – The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy

5 Poppy Adams – The Sister

6 Susan McBride – The Cougar Club

7 Helen Keller – The Story of My Life

8 Kimberly Fisk – Lake Magic

9 This One is Mine by Maria Semple

10 Washington Iving – The Devil & Tom Walker

11 Sophie Kinsella – Confessions of a Shopaholic

12 Leo Tolstoy – War & Peace

13 Give + Take by Stona Fitch

14 William P. Young – The Shack

15 Marisa de los Santos – Love Walked In

16 Laurie Viera Rigler – Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

17 Brenda Knight – Women Who Love Books Too Much

18 Fannie Flagg – Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!

19 Jennifer Donnelly – The Tea Rose

20 Eloisa James – Potent Pleasures

21 Frances Mayes – Under the Tuscan Sun

22 Jeannette Walls – The Glass Castle

23 Jane Green – The Beach House

24 Alexander McCall Smith – The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

25 William Faulkner – As I Lay Dying

26 Carol Burnett – This Time Together

27 Barbara Ehrenreich – Nickel and Dimed

28 Nicole Krauss – The History of Love

29 John Verdon – Think of a Number

30 Jennifer Weiner – Good in Bed

31 Amy Tan – The Joy Luck Club

32 Paco Underhill – Why We Buy

33 Heidi Murkoff – What to Expect When You’re Expecting

34 Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam – On Becoming Baby Wise

35 Perri O’Shaughnessy – Keeper of the Keys

Queen Latifah – Put on Your Crown, Carlos Ruiz Zafon – The Shadow of the Wind

1 The Blue Bedroom by Rosamunde Pilcher

2 Red Light by T. Jefferson Parker

3 Black Water by T. Jefferson Parker

4 White Fang by Jack London

1 The Devil & Tom Walker by Washington Irving

2 The Blue Bedroom by Rosamunde Pilcher

50 states of mind

Alabama The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Alaska

Arizona The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

Arkansas

California The Husband by Dean Koontz, The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini, The Proof is in the Pudding by Melinda Wells, This One is Mine by Maria Semple, Red Light by T. Jefferson Parker, Black Water by T. Jefferson Parker, Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz, The Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver, This Time Together by Carol Burnett, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, Keeper of the Keys by Perri O’Shaughnessy

Colorado The Shining by Stephen King, The Lake House by James Patterson

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards, Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen

Georgia Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois Limitations by Scott Turow, Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg, Murder List by Julie Garwood

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

Maryland Digital Fortress by Dan Brown, Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler, Remember When by Nora Roberts

Massachussetts The Beach House by Jane Green, See Jane Run by Joy Fielding

Michigan

Minnesota Storm Prey by John Sandford

Mississippi Blood Memory by Greg Iles, As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

Missouri The Cougar Club by Susan McBride, Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! by Fannie Flagg

Montana Die Trying by Lee Child

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire The Pact by Jodi Picoult

New Jersey Caught by Harlan Coben, Put on Your Crown by Queen Latifah

New Mexico

New York Deadly Love by Brenda Joyce, Deadly Pleasures by Brenda Joyce, Deadly Affairs by Brenda Joyce, Deadly Desire by Brenda Joyce, Deadly Caress by Brenda Joyce. Deadly Promise by Brenda Joyce, Deadly Kisses by Brenda Joyce, The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver, The History of Love by Nicole Krauss, Think of a Number by John Verdon

North Carolina Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon The Shack by William P Young

Pennsylvania Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos, Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington Lake Magic by Kimberly Fisk, The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

West Virginia The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Washington DC Inside Out by Barry Eisler

(England-Persuasion by Jane Austen, The Sister by Poppy Adams, Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophi Kinsella, The Blue Bedroom by Rosamunde Pilcher , Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler, The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly, Potent Pleasures by Eloisa James) Italy-The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark, Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes Russia- War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy Canada- White Fang by Jack London, Botswana- The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Angency by Alexander McCall Smith Scotland- Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher) Spain- The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Too many places – Give + Take by Stona Fitch, Women Who Love Books Too Much by Brenda Knight, Running Blind by Lee Child, Nickel & Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, Why We Buy by Paco Underhill

Jan-March = 100 miles 96 miles (as of 1-8-10) 94 miles to go (as of 1-15-10) 91 miles to go (as of 1-22-10)

Monday Movie Meme – Comic Books

December 27, 201014 Comments

Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME

This week’s movie topic is all about Comic Books…Share on your blog those comic book characters and collectors in film that you prefer, linking back here at The Bumbles.

I’ve never been into comic books, so my favorite movies based on comics are the basics. I first fell in love with I loved the first two movies.

And while I liked Michael Keaton’s Batman I didn’t love the movies until Christian Bale came on board. I like the darker side.

I also like and. And I did enjoy The Punisher for some reason. Any comic book readers out there? Did I miss a great one?

Sundays with Gage – 2010 Travels

December 26, 2010December 26, 201013 Comments

2010 opened quietly with Jason and I enjoying dinner out, going to the movies and planning trips but is closing a bit differently, with quick dinners in, Netflix, and no trips on the horizon. At the end of February, the evening before we left for San Francisco, we found out I was pregnant. It was a fun and scary trip. My mood went from excited to scared to happy and around again. Here I am in San Fran 6 weeks preggers with Gage .

Here’s my post about our trip.

Once back in Ohio we still weren’t telling anyone, not even parents, and we had to plan our trip to France. I’m so glad we started planning before we knew I was pregnant or we may not have done it. The trip was wonderful but Gage did make his presence known in the form of morning sickness and lots of it.

Here’s Gage in France and my two posts about our trip (post 1)(post 2). You can see that he is already showing himself 🙂 I was a little nervous about being in a foreign country during pregnancy, but no major problems and the trip was a huge success.

After France we had a relatively quiet summer and fall until he officially made an appearance.

I don’t know what our travel plans will be in 2011, but I’m sure traveling with an infant will be a bit more complicated!

Gage and Jason and I hope you had a very happy Christmas.

2010 Series Wrap Up

December 23, 2010December 22, 20107 Comments

I love a good series. I especially love a series that ends with me wanting more rather than me plodding through the same plot over and over again. I keep track of my series reading here, only adding a series once I’ve read the second book.

I continued with Jeffery Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme series (The Burning Wire) and John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport series (Storm Prey). I’ve read every book in both of these series, 29 in all, and highly recommend them. I caught up on the Melinda Wells’ Delilah Cooks mystery series and love that one as well. I also finished up the Merci Rayborn trilogy by T. Jefferson Parker and can’t recommend it enough to police procedural lovers.

I continued on with Lee Childs’ Jack Reacher series and it is a new favorite. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series and I have a lot of good reading to look forward to since I just finished #4 out of the 14 book series. I decided this was the year I would finally give up on Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum. This is one series that I used to love, but has been recycling the same story over and over again. Enough was enough for me and I didn’t read the latest.

I re-read a favorite series of mine, Brenda Joyce’s Deadly series. The first one in years is coming out in 2011. A great series for historical romance readers.

I read a few books that have sequels or are the beginning of a series and I plan to continue with…Love Walked in by Marisa de los Santos, The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, The Tea Room by Jennifer Donnelly, Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz, The Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler, and Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner. Wow, that’s more than I thought!

There are a few series that I read the first book of and am not interested enough to continue…The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber, Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, and Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards.

I’m hoping that I can catch up with the series that I’ve already started and read fewer new ones in 2011. I enjoy so much about series reading, it’s like catching up with old friends, but I need to keep in touch with the friends I already have before adding more to my list!

2010 Quiz Wrap Up

December 22, 20107 Comments

I love quizzes and polls and games and if I can’t play ’em or take ’em I like making ’em up. I loved making up games when I was younger and now thanks to all of you who like to play along I get to make up quizzes. So here’s a big THANK YOU to all of you who have participated in my quizzes this year. I appreciate each and every one of you. My Quizzes will return in January new and improved and I hope you’ll continue to play along with me and your fellow book lovers. If you have a great idea for a quiz I hope you’ll email me. I’m always open to ideas.

Round 4 of 2010 has a winner! Jennifer of Rayment’s Readings, Rants and Ramblings has won with 913.25 points!! Congratulations, Jennifer! And the randomly selected winner is Hannah of Word Lily (my mom chose 750 and her score was the closest)!! Both of these wonderfully bookish women will be receiving a fun surprise in the mail for their efforts. A total of 35 of you participated this round and I hope the newcomers will come back and play again. And tell your friends 😉

And now for the 2010 Quiz recap…Jennifer and Nise dominated the top spot this year, so congrats on a great year, ladies!

Jennifer of Rayment’s Readings Rants & Ramblings won the first round in the new format. Cee Cee of Book Splurge was my randomly chosen winner. Details here.

Nise of Under the Boardwalk won the second round and Jenny of Jenny Loves To Read was my randomly chosen winner. Details here.

Nise of Under the Boardwalk won the third round and Jo Jo of Jo-Jo Loves to Read was my randomly chosen winner. Details here.

Jennifer of Rayment’s Reading, Rants, and Ramblings won round four and Hannah of Word Lily was my randomly chosen winner.

A list of the 2010 Quizzes in case you missed one 🙂

Common Thread Quiz

Martin Luther King Quotes Quiz

Writers Lost in 2009 Quiz

First Ladies Quiz

What Book is That? Quiz (Quiz 1) (Quiz 2)

Star Crossed Lovers Quiz

Color Scattergories Quiz

Baby Movie Quiz

Drew Barrymore was in that? Quiz

French Scattergories Quiz

Notable Villian Quiz

Alternate Title Quiz

I Wish I Had a Mother Quiz

Party Quiz

Signed Book Quiz (Quiz 1) (Quiz 2)

Jane Austen Adaptation Quiz

Dr. Seuss Quiz

Detective Scattergories Quiz

Pregnancy in Literature Quiz

Pink and Blue Censored Cover Quiz

Common Denominator Quiz

Patriotic Movie Quiz

Best Paid Author Quiz

Pictured Title Quiz

Denzel Washington Was in That? Quiz

Better With Age Quiz

First Lines Quiz

Banned Book Quiz

Stephen King Adaptation Quiz

Gage Quiz

Birthday Movie Quiz

Scrambled Halloweenish Quiz

Celebrity Memoir Quiz

Wheel of Stacy Quiz

Robert Downey Jr. Was in That? Quiz

Sundays with Gage – Christmas in the House That Grandpa Built

December 20, 201031 Comments

We headed home this weekend to celebrate Christmas with my Grandma and the family. My Grandpa was the oldest of 12 and my Grandma the second oldest of 9 and they had 6 kids (and in-laws), 8 (then 10) grandchildren (and 8 in-laws), and with Gage 12 great-grandchildren. My Grandpa died in 1992, but the rest of the family he and my Grandma made still get together every year in the house that he built. It’s a favorite time for me because I grew up surrounded by a lot of family and it is a treat for me to travel home and be surrounded by the love of relatives. As an only child my extended family is important to me and I am thankful for them.

This year was special because Gage is the first baby in 7 years so he got lots of attention and as you can see by his picture he was worn out by the time we headed back today. And today marks two months that Gage has graced us with his presence and we are excited to celebrate his first Christmas next week even if the only part of his presents he showed any interest in yesterday was a ribbon (and I’m using interest in very lightly).

Hope this holiday season hasn’t worn you out as much as it has Gage 🙂

Stacy's Books

books, movies, and boy

Month: December 2010