Whatcha Reading

I just finished reading the final book in the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins! This series has been the the best series of books I've read in a really long time! My sister has now read them, and her best friend, and a gal at her office. We keep passing them around and everyone I know that has read them has loved them.

Heather and I were talking about the books a couple weekends ago when I had just finished book 2 and she had just finished book 1. We really wonder if this may be a series of books that is someday discussed in senior english classes much like 1984 and Of Mice and Men were required reading for us. They really are that good in my opinion.

Have any of you read them yet? I'd love to know what you all think?

Whatcha Reading

For my birthday Darby got me the book Shit My Dad Says! Oh my gosh it is funny! Seriously it is the funniest book I have ever read. It made me laugh so hard I cried at times. I will give the disclaimer that the language is strong and some of the topics are a bit inappropriate but boy is it funny. If you need a good laugh it is the book for you. Here are just a few of my favorite quotes from his Dad.

"I didn't say you were ugly. I said your girlfriend is better looking than you, and standing next to her, you look ugly."

"You are four years old. You have to shit in the toilet. This is not one of those negotiations where we’ll go back and forth and find a middle ground. This ends with you shitting in a toilet."

"Don’t focus on the one guy who hates you. You don’t go to the park and set your picnic down next to the only pile of dog shit."

So if you think you are up to a laugh workout then buy the book!

My Sister's Keeper

Have any of you read the book My Sister's Keeper or watched the movie? I read the book awhile back and loved it. It was a fabulous book and an intriguing story. Honestly, one of the best books I have read in awhile. The character development was fabulous. I actually felt like I knew the characters. And the story while emotional was told in a way that seemed very realistic. I just loved the book.

And then I watched the movie. Ugh the movie was so disappointing. My biggest problem with the movie was that it was nothing like the book. Major plot lines were changed. If the movie had a different title I would have said it was good. But the fact that it was supposed to be about the book and was oh so different left me feeling very let down. Anyone else watch it?

Jessie

Whatcha Reading

Right now I'm reading Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark. My sister got me this book for my birthday in JUNE! It has been in my book basket and I have finally had time to sit down and read it. And I'm thrilled. I started it a couple nights ago and I will probably finish it up tonight. I have never read anything by Mary Higgins Clark before and I'm really impressed. I particularly like that this story involves twins. Since Darby had her twin babies I'm very fascinated by the relationship between twins. The idea of twins being able to communicate or connect even when separated is very interesting to me.

So now I'm thinking the next time we visit the library I may have to check out something else by her. Any recommendations? I love crime stories. Anything with some suspense.

So what are you reading?

Clickin Mama

Whatcha Reading?

I finished reading The Shack quite awhile ago. And then I reread The Shack. And now I think I'm ready to discuss The Shack. My aunts were the ones that told me about this book originally. They said it was somewhat controversial. After reading it I can see why some people would find it controversial. But for me it really reinforced some views that I have about God, Jesus, and Christianity in general. Let me explain.

One of the more controversial aspects of the book are how God and Jesus are described. God is described as a large black woman with dreads and Jesus is a middle eastern man. It is explained in the book that God comes to the main character as a woman because that is how he will best accept God. I get that. While it is not a "traditional" view of God I know I believe that God can do all things, be all things, see all things. So if it would improve a relationship why wouldn't God come to a person as a woman or as a black person or as a shoe if it worked. So that wasn't that controversial to me. Also the idea of Jesus as a middle eastern man was refreshing to me. In fact when I was in confirmation classes at church as a 7th and 8th grader I argued this issue numerous times with our pastor. There is no way that Jesus had blonde hair and blues eyes and lived where he did when he did. It just wouldn't be. And eventually pastor agreed with me that it wasn't likely. So I was THRILLED that Jesus was middle eastern in the book.

I really didn't find anything else in the book that could be portrayed as controversial. I thought it was an okay book. Not a great book. I liked how the book really pushed the idea of faith as a relationship. That it wasn't something you just have. That real faith and a belief in something is about putting that into all your relationships. But really that can be said for any religion, not just Christianity. Anytime you believe in something and share that in a relationship with the ones you love you grow.

So if you have read the book what did you think? Did you feel like it was controversial?

Clickin Mama

The Shack?

Have any of you read The Shack by William P. Young? I have read it once and I am actually rereading it now. There were some things I missed the first time that I wanted clarified so a reread is in order. I have lots of thoughts about this book and would honestly like to discuss them with someone but haven't found anyone else that has read it yet. So have any of you? If so please let me know. After I finish rereading it I will post some of my thoughts about it. For being such a controversial book no one around here has gotten to into it. So hopefully some of you have and we can chat about it!

Clickin Mama

Whatcha Reading

Right now I'm reading the book Last Words by Mariah Stewart. I really enjoy her books. I've read quite a few. This one is a really quick read. I just started it last night and I'm guessing I'll finish it tonight or tomorrow. It's one of those books that once you start you have a hard time putting it down. I like mystery and suspense books. What can I say I like to read a book that creeps me out a bit. I don't like scary movies but I dig scary books.

I still haven't finished the Twilight series. I need to read book 4 but I needed to take a little break from it. Maybe I'll read book four after I finish Last Words.

So what are you reading?

Baby Whatcha Reading

The Hulk and I would like to take a moment to recommend our top books of the week! Of course we love all books. But we all know that books are not created equally. Some just happen to be a little better than others. And we have spent a lot of time finding the best and unfortunately the worst of children's books. So if we can save you time and money we will just share our tops picks with you!



We must share with you our love of all books written by Marianne Richmond! One of our favorites is I Love You so Much... The Hulk is showing it to you in the top picture. Trust us it's a book you can really sink your teeth into. :-) Seriously Marianne has a talent! Her books are wonderful. They show children of all colors, they depict a wide variety of families, they share positive messages about self esteem, unconditional love, and acceptance, and they are just down right fun!!! The Hulk and I read her books the most and he laughs and every time! Now I just hold up one of her books and he goes nuts! Buy one, buy two, buy them ALL!!!!!



Something I have noticed since having The Hulk is how "white" children's books can be. I'm not a big fan of that. So almost anytime I find a book that depicts any other race in a positive manner I grab it up and add it to our collection. I have quite a bit of luck finding some fun books that show how everyone is different but ultimately very much the same. If you have any suggestions of books we should check out let us know! Someone has a birthday coming up soon!



Right now The Hulk also really likes animals and any book that I can turn into a song or rhyme. Rhymes make him laugh. So we read lots of animal books! He also really likes the book My Spiritual Alphabet Book. It is a rhyming singing book of fun! Lots of laughs and a little Jesus in the heart to boot! Good times!

What books are you reading to your kids?

Clickin Mama

Baby Whatcha Reading

My little guy loves to read. Well he loves to be have me read to him! He also loves to play with his books and look at the pictures. In all honesty he spends more time playing and looking at books than he does any other toys. And I LOVE that! I always enjoyed reading with my mom and I still enjoy reading to this day. I hope and pray that this is just the beginning of a long love affair with reading for The Hulk!

So whatcha reading baby boy?

Right now Sandra Boynton books are a huge hit at our house. We have several of her books. And they never get old. What I love about her books is that they are actually kinda funny. I don't get bored reading them to him over and over again. And the illustrations are great. So The Hulk and I both recommend them for your kids or as gifts for kids!

The Hulk has three baskets filled with books that are accessible to him pretty much all the time. He loves to dump them out and sort through his books. He stacks them, he bangs them together, he turns the pages, and sometimes he even eats them. But boy does he love his books!

Do you have any kids books to recommend? What book did you love as a kid?

Ann Coulter

I swore I wasn't going to do this post. I started thinking about it weeks ago when Ann Coulter's new book came out and I swore I wouldn't do it. I didn't want her to get any more attention for her horrible views. But I just can't keep quiet now. She has pushed me over the edge. So I must do it. I must comment in defense of all of us single mothers out there. Because Ann you are so very mistaken.

If you don't know yet Ann Coulter is a very conservative often incredibly abrasive author. Her newest book is titled Guilty! Liberal Victims and Their Assault on America. In this book Ann makes some pretty outrageous claims. Some of her quotes are as follows.

• "Single motherhood is a recipe to create criminals, strippers, rapists, and murderers."
• "Single motherhood is like a farm team for future criminals and social outcasts."
• "Look at any societal problem, and it is a problem of single motherhood."
• "Single mothers pose an endless attack on the nuclear family."

Wow I had no idea that we single mothers were destroying society in such a way. I'm so busy making baby food, reading to my baby, going on walks, visiting art museums with him, teaching him sign language, and praying with him that I didn't have time to schedule his rapist class or murder 101.

Between the doctor's appointments, play dates, picture taking, owie kissing, bath giving, attachment parenting hoopla I missed out on my day to attack the nuclear family. I guess I didn't double check the schedule that all the other single mom's sent out. You know we are like a crazy little cult. We have secret single mother's destroy the world meetings. Don't you wish you could come. Unfortunately we haven't had one lately. We are so busy raising children that sometimes that interferes with our destructive side. It's hard to ride across America destroying values and spreading strippers about, even with your baby in a sling.

Oh Ann you are so mistaken in your claims that we are liberal victims and that our children are victims. We aren't victims we are the lucky ones. We are the incredibly blessed mothers of children that we love tremendously. We are some of the hardest working, god fearing woman you would ever meet. We are selfless and giving. We are strong and bold. We are the woman that can haul babies and bags, fix plumbing and put together toys. We are the woman that revel in our children and thank God we can be called mothers. See Ann being a mother is a blessing whether you are single or married and we never forget that.

And our children. Oh don't get me started on our children. We have some of the most amazing children there are. They are kind and creative. Loving and funny. They are open to the idea that all families are different and they are okay with that. They know that they are loved and understand that we will do anything for them. They play sports, go to church, excel in school, and one of them even grew up to be our president elect. Yes Obama's mama didn't do so bad as a single mom now did she. We aren't victims Ann, maybe you are though....

If only you were a little kinder we would have let you into our club.

Clickin Mama

Whatcha Reading Now Updated

Okay last night I totally couldn't sleep. So it's really shocking I know but I finished New Moon! Now I'm on to number three. Eclipse and I are making friends today. I do have to say that New Moon didn't impress me near as much as Twilight. I don't want to spoil it for people that haven't read it yet but there is someone important missing through a great deal of New Moon and that bothered me. So not as good. Still good but not squeal and giggle and wanna call all my 8th grade friends kind of good.

Now my favorite character in Twilight was Edward. How can you not love beautiful Edward. Seriously if I ran into a vampire and he was like Edward I would just beg him to bite me. I love me some Edward! Could they have made him sound any hotter in the book.

But in New Moon I was loving me some Jacob Black. It just goes to show that I always fall for the bad boys. Something about the dark side of Jacob got me. He seemed a little naughty and a little nice. I couldn't decide if I loved him or hated him. Which means that I must love him! So bye bye Edward hello Jacob! I wonder who I'm gonna be loving on in Eclipse.....

Clickin Mama

Whatcha Reading Now

Now I'm on to New Moon! Not quite as good as the first book in the series but still wonderfully fun. With each turn of the page I feel like a teenage girl again! Amazing how that works. I'll probably finish it up in the next couple of days and then I'll be on to book three. Have you all finished the series or what book are you on? And who is your favorite character?

Clickin Mama

Whatcha Reading?

Right now I'm reading the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer. Yes I know it's a young adult series and yes I'm aware that I'm no longer 16. But seriously these are some good books!

I've never liked vampire stories and I can't stand romance novels. So I'm not sure how it can be that I love these books. But I do! I just can't stop reading them. It's pretty much a guarantee that if I'm not taking care of the baby I'm reading. I'm plowing through them and pretty much the rest of the world is non existent while I do it.

Have you read them? What do you think of them???

Clickin Mama