Simplicity...

Now a days we are all about the games that light up, make sounds, have awesome graphics and are portable. We can take them anywhere. We have some of those and they are really quite handy. Great, superb for long car rides.

But, lately we have found that the simplest of games are once again really fun.



One of Cameron's math games a few weeks ago was an old-fashioned game of War where you had to add together the two cards to see who won the war. It was great addition practice and also a way to learn a new game. It's something simple like War that has had Cameron and Molly playing for hours. They even got Papa Choo in on the fun. A 3 way War.




Back to the basics...and fun learning!

40 and 2 days...

I don't really feel any different at 40 and 2 days. Everything is pretty much about the same. I had a good weekend of birthday stuff. I got the tears out early on Saturday morning and enjoyed the rest of the day.

Here are a few highlights...

Flowers...



A friend of my family who still lives in Erie, PA was able to find my birth announcement from when I was 4 days old. Back in the day (how old does that make me sound!)they use to print in the newspaper when babies were born at local hospitals. If you look carefully you can see that a baby girl was born to Allan W. Hall and Pamela McMurray Hall. It was really neat to see this in print...




Mr. Shook took me to a really yummy dinner with great company. We had a wonderful time. Look what was on the menu...



I have a mani/pedi coming my way that I look forward to redeeming. I got the best hugs from my small people and lots of kisses. I am a lucky girl!

Crazy animals...

The other day I was rushing around (typical) and was trying not to be late to leave (double typical) and I needed everyone to get dressed. I had laid out all the kiddos clothes on our bed and they were getting changed. I was doing the same myself. I walked out of our bathroom with my shirt on but not my pants. Here's the conversation that took place:

Amanda - "Mommy, I like your zebra underwear."

Cameron - "Those aren't zebra underwear, their cheetah."

Time to go back to the basic beige.

Lists...part one...

I love lists. I love to compile ideas. And, I love blogs. It is a really, really small bloggy world out there. My Aunt got me hooked on a blog that is written by a college friend of someone my Aunt used to work with. I have followed it for quite a while. I have it as a link on my own blog. Then, a childhood/college friend of mine emailed me and said that he knew the author of the blog. Her name is Stacey and she is best friends and was maid of honor at his wedding. So, in other words, Stacey went to high school and is best friends with Red's wife. And even more ironic is that my Aunt knows Red also but we didn't know the connection until Red told me. And to think that Stacey and I were at the same wedding reception and we didn't even know each other. But, Mr. Shook and I were having fun with the Rogowski's and that might explain a lot...

Anywho, not at all the point of my post.

Stacey at www.anymommyouthere.blogspot.com compiled a list and I'm going to copy it. Anymommy stole the idea from another blog so I'm just doing the same...

It's about books.


Books I've read more than 3 times: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Author that blows me away with brilliance: Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns) Both of these books blew me away. Beautifully written and completely transported me into the story. Amazing.

Authors I choose time and time again: Jodi Picoult, Anita Shreve

I'm Currently Reading: Unbinding Your Heart by Martha Reese (Bonus points from Amy??)

Best books I've read this year: I honestly haven't read that much but I did have some serious thinking after reading Keeping Faith by Jodi Picout. I recommend for some faith searching.

Could not finish classic: I really struggled with The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Somebody please assure me that this one is worth sticking out.

Could not finish modern: The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Best book I've ever read: Wow. Hard to pick just one or two. I am a huge lover of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Unbelievable story from start to finish. I also loved Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. I love the sarcasm of British humor.

Guilty Pleasure: Jane Green. She writes chick books that are pretty fluffy but hold my attention.

Book that tons of people loved that I hated: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Hated it. Couldn't relate. Hate it even more that Oprah loved it.


Ok, your turn. I want to add to my must read list. Give me a suggestion, please. I know that I will find more time to do something that I absolutely love to do...READ!!

It's October...

and that means our girl is a "Calendar Girl" this month.

Remember this...







It's hard for us to believe that it's been a year since the Children's Hospital of Illinois calendar was unveiled and it's been 14 months since the picture was taken. Molly has been doing wonderful since then and she just looks so much healthier. I know it doesn't sound like a lot but Molly had lost 4 pounds by February 2009 and it took months and months to put it back on. Her color wasn't all that good and she seem to look really thin to us. She's still a skinny minny but that is more genetic than sickly now. She probably has only gained a pound since she gained back the weight but it's a healthy pound and we know it's her metabolism kicking in. Kindergarten has been wonderful and she is learning so much. We hope you celebrate with us the joy of the wonderful children featured in the calendar. It is an awesome fundraiser and we look forward to seeing the calendar for 2011.

Happy October!