Helping Daddy

As anyone that has been to our house knows, we have a lot of sidewalk to shovel. For those of you that have never seen our house, we have a large corner lot with a sidewalk along the front and down the whole side of the lot - it is a lot of sidewalk to do.

I am sure Adam can't wait until she is old enough to really help out.

Daddy's Workbench

Adam has been working hard at organizing some space for himself in the basement – so here is his new workbench with his helper.

Book Review - Icy Sparks

Icy Sparks is a book about a girl ‘Icy Sparks’, growing up in a small Kentucky town in the mid 1950’s. At the age of ten it happens for the first time. The sudden itching, the pressure squeezing her skull, and the "little invisible rubber bands" attached to her eyelids are all symptoms of Tourette's syndrome. At this point, of course, Icy doesn't yet have a name for these unsettling impulses. But whenever they become too much to resist, she runs down to her grandparents' root cellar, and there she gives in, croaking, jerking, cursing, and popping her eyes. Nicknamed the "frog child" by her classmates, Icy soon becomes "a little girl who had to keep all of her compulsions inside." Only a brief confinement at the Bluegrass State Hospital persuades her that there are actually children more "different" than she.

I really liked this book – it is a book club choice and did not think I would like it as much as I actually did. Part of the reason I love being in a book club, it makes me read books I would not normally pick up by myself, and I find I really liked the book.

On a rating out of 5 stars, I would give this one a 3 ½. Definitely worth the read, but not necessarily worthy of “YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW” status.

Books, Books, Books and more Books

I don’t know about any of you but I love to read. I have been an avid reader since the summer before grade 6 when I discovered the Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High series. (Did anyone else read those – or just me?)
I used to read those ferociously, not sure if that is why I love to read so much today, but I have never stopped, I have however progressed to slightly more mature books.

Just over a year ago I started keeping a list of all the books I read, I also have a list of books I want to read (you know when someone tells you about a great book, but for the life of you, you can’t remember what it was – well now I write all those down). Anyway, I have a lists – starting January of 2009 of all the book I have read, I also write down the month I finished it in.

Even though I did not have a list before this, I know last year was my best book reading year ever (with the exception of summer 1990, when Elizabeth and Jessica were my world), last year I read 42 books. I know, I can’t believe it either. Here is why I read so much – first I finally found a book club to join – okay I actually found 2, so now I read with 2 different book clubs, second I was on maternity leave – and nap time for the kids means – couch and book time for Mommy!

I find reading to be a wonderful relaxer for myself. I love getting lost in another world where the laundry does not need to be done, the house is not begging to be cleaned and dinner – well who cares if it is a little bit late tonight.

I am going to try and do more book review posts, I read some amazing books last year and would love to share them with you. If you have any good book recommendations, please share.