More Books!

Have I mentioned how much I love the Audible app?  (Just kidding, I know I have. It's practically all I talk about.) It's my desert island pick if I could somehow also bring along headphones and an iphone with an infinitesimal charge. It's the one app I can't live without. Ok, so that's a pretty strong statement, but honestly, it has been a game changer.

(Audible, feel free to start paying me for these endorsements aaaannnnyyyy time ;)

Anyway, of the six books below only one did I actually read a physical hardbound copy. The rest I listened to while driving, folding laundry and applying my morning makeup. It's the only way to get my book fix while having three children and a full time job. I gotta say, it's pretty nice to have someone read ME a story for a change ;)

First up, Maze Runner! Dystopian YA lit, so of course I liked it. I can be pretty predictable as it turns out. This is the first of a trilogy (aren't they all?) so I'll have to get to the other two here eventually. I didn't love it like I loved Hunger Games or even the Divergent books which is why I'm not rushing out to get the next two, but I'm certainly not opposed to finishing the series. 

 

This is the one book of the lot I actually read the hardbound version of. This is written by a blogger I like, Natalie Holbrook and it's her first crack at a bonafide book. It's written a lot like her blog and from her usual pov which I obviously like. But I have to say I was a little disappointed that it was more a collection of small essays (some of which were taken right from her blog so I'd read them already) and lists of things like "what every nest needs..."  than a cohesive book. I guess I was just expecting deeper, or different, or at least longer, more substantial essays?  I dunno, I wanted to like it but it fell a little flat for me.

Now this is a trilogy I can get down with! The audio version came HIGHLY recommended to me and I have to say Jennifer Ikeda's reading of it was as big a part of my enjoyment as the writing itself. She absolutely killed it switching between characters and accents. So, SO good! I'll admit I was a little leery at the beginning since it's not the type of writing I typically lean to - witches! vampires! forbidden love! But by the end of book three I was a believer. These books are long, but even so I didn't want them to end. If you can allow for a heavy dose of suspension of disbelief and a few minor plot holes than these books can be highly enjoyable and really fun reading (or listening as the case may be). Sucked me right in.

This was another really good one, This is a memoir/coming of age story written by a woman who grew up in the mill town of Mexico, Maine. In the book she recounts her childhood, the sudden loss of her father and the way her family of women came together to cope with the tragedy and forge ahead on their own. It's also quite a lovely time capsule for what life was like in the suburban 60s. I really liked this one.

 

 

What have you guys been reading lately? I just started this mammoth beast and I'm pretty excited about it. As always, suggestions welcome in the comments below!

Life Lately

 

Wes and I had a one on one day Saturday. He asked to go bowling and he really, really loved it. I bought us the two hour unlimited game pass and he completely ran down the clock. After we played a few games he even asked if he could take all my turns since "You probably bowled a lot when you were a kid, mom, and this is only like my third time bowling, ever!" How can you say no to that logic? So I just sat back and watched him wear himself out, haha.

^^^ also, can someone please tell me when he became a teenager?! ^^^

Last week for Oren's birthday we got him a bat habitat for the house because if there's one thing this kid loves more than sharks right now, it's bats. He really wants one for a pet but since that's not exactly feasible, we thought this would be the next best thing. We mounted it right outside his bedroom window so he can watch the bats coming and going from his bed at night. We still need to get a little light to shine on it to attract bugs (which attract bats!) and to help him see them when it's dark out but we can't wait to get our first little visitors.

Also, we had our first picnic over the weekend! It was all Wes's idea actually --- I was making lunch when he asked if we could eat outside. I said yes and had to laugh when he said he set up a "picnic" for us when it was really just a twin sized fitted sheet thrown on the front lawn. Oh well, it's the thought that counts, right? ;)

And last but not least, we all know mother's day is right around the corner, right? (cough-cough, hint-hint). I thought my mom could use an officially framed photo of her first granddaughter and mother's day seemed like the perfect occasion. So I tried out a new online photo framing company, Pictli. You can upload any photo you want or just choose one directly from your facebook or instagram. You select one of their fifteen frame/mat combinations (which it lets you preview with your image) and you're done. Then they ship it out to whomever you choose in a pretty little package tied up with string and a complimentary message attached if you feel so inclined. It could not be any easier and it's SUPER affordable.

 

 

Pictli is kindly offering I Am Emme readers 20% off now through the end of May! Just enter discount code EC1504 when you're checking out.

 

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Shark Week(end)!

My baby boy turned four yesterday. He and Wes have been doing this sweet thing where they have "sleepovers" in each other's beds on weekend nights and the night before Ori's birthday they camped out in his room. At about 6am yesterday morning I was lying in bed asleep when the sound of singing woke me up. It was Wes, in Oren's bed with him singing him Happy Birthday. Oren was quietly giggling as Wes serenaded him. The song ended and everything got quiet while I lay there, eyes closed, smile plastered across my face. A few minutes later I tiptoed in to check on them and they'd fallen back asleep together in a little heap. 

And now I ask you, how could I love anything more?

As always, each new birthday is bittersweet around here, but watching their excitement on the big day definitely helps make up for the heartbreak. This year Oren wanted a shark party, hammerhead to be specific. He's been way in to sharks for the last few months and even more so since our date to the aquarium so this party is all he's been talking about for the past few weeks. Also, this is the first year he's really been old enough to invite friends and having a few of his little buddies here made it all the more exciting for him.

Cheryl nailed this cake. With friends like her around I have no reason to ever make another cake myself as long as I live (which is just the way I like it). Look at those little hammerheads!

Abby and I made "shark fin" shaped peanut brown butter rice crispy treats and apple and berry hand pies. And by "Abby and I" I mean I come up with an idea and she does all the actual work. I have the best sister.

And how about these adorable cupcakes though? I asked Cheryl to fill them with strawberry jam so when you bit in to them it looked like blood! Mwahahahaha

^^^just a punch bowl full of blue gatorade y'all^^^

These pictures absolutely melt me. The infamous Miss Lori and Miss Tammi, everyone! How lucky he is to be loved by these two ladies.

and who doesn't need a little personal cherry pie to round out the day?

Mostly I'm just really, really thankful for everyone who helped with this party or took time out of their day to celebrate with us. And we owe a big (huge!) thank you to everyone for the cards, phone calls and messages we received yesterday letting our little guy know just how special he is and how many people are out there thinking about him. 

Here's to FOUR!

xoxo

(all the well executed photos by victor, all the average and sub par photos by me. thanks victor!)