Karaoke Machine Fun...

A few minutes ago I dug a sealed kiddy Karaoke Machine out of my closet that I remember buying for about $5. at Petter's Warehouse Direct when I was pregnant with Connell. It looks pretty sharp, but is pretty basic and clearly only worth about the $5. that I paid. Anyway, the boys are having a blast with it -- getting the CDs to go in and out and then singing through the microphone which really amplified voices through a small speaker. I actually brought it out as a new toy for the boys to play with so that I can run out to the store for an hour or two, but I am afraid that they will have it broken before I even finish posting this.

Clare's Mini Book Reviews

Here are my quick reviews of the books I have been reading lately...


"All is Vanity" -- Christina Schwarz
11/23-11/26
4 stars
(different theme of consumerism and interesting characters -- enjoyed the lavish lifestyle, etc. although I would have changed the plot a little bit)

"Disobedience" -- Jane Hamilton
11/26-11/27
3 stars
(a little bit far fetched as far as characters go I think -- especially the sister and her role in bringing the family back together)

"The Mermaid Chair" -- Sue Monk Kidd
11/27-11/28
5 stars
(suspenseful with a bizarre story line -- enjoyed all of it -- liked the themes of Catholicism running throughout)

"Eden Close" -- Anita Shreve
11/29-11/30
4 stars
(a very disturbing story line that was unfolded slowly during the story - very good)

"Vinegar Hill" -- A. Manette Ansay
11/30
4 stars
(a lot of dysfunction, but well-written and kept my interest)

"Open House" -- Elizabeth Berg
11/30-12/1
3 stars
(very matter-of-factly written and a little too simplistic for me overall)

"The Lovely Bones" --- Alice Sebold
12/1 -- 12/2
4 stars
(had it not been for the last 40 or so pages, I would have given it a 5 star rating -- the "Ghost" movie scene was popping in my head in those last pages and a few things about the ending didn't sit right with me)

"While I Was Gone" --- Sue Miller
12/3
5 stars
(I believed the story could have happened -- loved the moral aspect of it)

"Black & Blue" --- Anna Quindlen
12/4
5 stars
(depressing with the abuse theme, but she did a nice job of really understanding the feelings and lives of abuse victims)

"Drowning Ruth" -- Christina Schwarz
12/4-12/5
2 stars
(I cheated on this one -- I read the first 140 pages and couldn't get into it -- then read the last 30 pages and figured everything out -- what was within those other 140 pages is beyond me since I pieced the whole thing together -- her style of writing is what really prevents the actual story from getting across properly in my opinion)

"Map of the World" -- Jane Hamilton
12/5-12/6
4 stars
(I read this one already knowing the entire story and it was worth the 390 pages -- lots of emotional twists and turns)

"Where the Heart Is" -- Billie Lett
12/6-12/8
5 stars
(I loved this book -- it was depressing, quirky, funny, heartfelt -- great combo of characters and emotions -- this author has quite the imagination, but it worked for me!)

"Midwives" -- Chris Bohjalian
12/8-12/10
4 stars
(It was a good original, thought-provoking story -- I thought that the book was foreshadowing the verdict of the trial the entire time and then it pulled a loop on me -- the fact that the tone of the book didn't totally match the outcome didn't sit well with me -- oh and the fact that there was so much repetition of details -- with the lawyers, during the trial, etc. etc. -- I liked it, but just thought there were a few things that didn't sit right with me after reading the ending)

"House of Sand and Fog" -- Andre Dumus III
12/10-12/11
5 stars
(I loved this book -- if I had the chance, I would have read it from cover to cover straight because the suspense was killing me! The theme really was a good one -- the tragedy of not giving in. Totally recommend this one if you can get through the graphic sexual scenes)

"Midnight Champagne" -- A. Manette Ansay
12/12
3 stars
(Not at all what I expected and I ended the book still wondering about things. I think I was going into it with different expectations than the book was offering. It had me hooked and I read it straight through in one afternoon/evening, but I really felt like I was disappointed in the ending.)

"One True Thing" -- Anna Quindlen
12/13
5 stars
(This was the most amazing book. It is a tear-jerker, but the emotional dilemmas and the relationships between the family members are just beautifully illustrated by the author. I couldn't put it down. This is the second I have read by Anna Quindlen and I know that the other 2 works of fiction by her are also on my list!)

"The Good Mother" -- Sue Miller
12/14 - ??
in process

Nothing Too Exciting Around Here!

I realized that it has been 4 days since I posted anything. That means it has been relatively quiet around here. Connell took his Ritz Crackers this morning and started to put them into groups of 3s, etc. and so I grabbed the camera. Of course Liam had to come over and get into the action and ended up eating one of the 6 after I snapped the photo. Connell wasn't too pleased.

Is it Christmas Yet?????

Connell had me bring the link/chain down from the mail corkboard to see if we were any nearer to Christmas. I made a purple and pink link for each day of Advent and Connell uses his scissors to cut off a link per day. We've only removed one (we'll cut off another tonight), but Connell is pretty anxious to cut them all off!

Living with kids...

As I was trying to clean up after lunch, I realized that the heat vent in the kitchen near the deck door was filling up with junk -- most likely the boys throwing things into it and food simply being swept accidentally into it. So I attempted to get some of it out. As the pile sat there, Connell says, "Yum! A fruit snack" and picked one out of the pile and ate it. Liam picked up a goldfish cracker and did the same.

First Sunday of Advent

Although Connell also got to witness it at Mass this morning, we had our own little Advent wreath lighting ceremony after supper tonight. We had some Bible readings and a story and prayed for "our family" (as chosen by Connell) as daddy lit the candle.

Snow, snow, snow!

We finally got a little snow -- about 4 inches. Connell begged and begged to go out sledding in the backyard (with the nice-sized hill that comes down from the townhomes behind us). So we bundled him up and I went out with him. He went down twice with me and then decided to go back in. So I ended up going down the hill by myself and having a great time. It honestly took more time to get him in snowpants and bundled than the actual time he spent outside.