I Can’t Believe I’m 35!!

In honor of my birthday, I have decided to post a ‘Getting to Know Tawni’ quiz.  If you would like to post your answers in the comments section, I’d love to read them.

1.  What is my favorite color?

2.  What is my favorite restaurant?

3.  What is my favorite flower?

4.  What is my lucky number?

5.  What is my favorite book?

6.  What is my lucky number?

7.  What was the make, model and year of my first car?

8.  What is my favorite car (though I will never be able to afford one)?

9.  How many bones have I broken?

10.  How many surgeries have I had (include giving birth, though not necessarily a surgery, it counts)?

11.  What is my favorite NHL team?

12.  What is my favorite soda?

13.  What is my highest bowling score?

14.  How many countries have I been to?

Check back for the answers!

I’ve Missed My Camera

My camera has been gone almost a month getting the auto focus mechanism fixed, and I have missed it so much!  I am so happy I have my camera back and excited to begin taking pictures again.  Here are some things that were missed…

We finally got something up on the wall in our kitchen.  I got a killer deal on these mirrors, $12.50 each!

Dylan now spends time preparing our supply of Nerf guns whenever his friends are coming over.  He makes sure each one is loaded and arranged for everyone to choose which gun they want to use.

And, my family is still just as cute and wonderful as ever!

4 more makes 10

These Is My Words.  This book began REALLY slow.  The first 100 to 150 pages dragged on and on, and on, and on…, but picked up after that.  I ended up liking the book and the end was predictable, but brought things full circle, but I don’t know that I would recommend it.  If I did, I’d tell the person to start half way through the book!

The Lost Hours.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  From the very beginning I thought it was an intriguing story that kept me captivated through the end.  The characters were strong and I felt like I was right there in Savannah with them.  I look forward to reading more of White’s books.

A Thousand Splendid Suns.  So I had heard this was more difficult to read than Hosseini’s first book.  I don’t agree with that.  It still discusses difficult topics, but they are real and not as heart-wrenching as those found in ‘The Kite Runner.’  I would recommend this book to anyone and think they would appreciate the strength of the characters, the joy and sorrow they experience and that you are privileged to experience with them.

The Scent of Rain and Lightning.  This was one of the Reader’s Choice books at the library.  I thought it was a good story, took a long time to tell, and used a lot of unnecessary bad language.  It has some good life lessons in it and a “surprise” ending, but I honestly wouldn’t recommend it.

January Books

I decided that instead of posting each time I finished a book, I would post every time I have finished four books.  My new goal now is to finish a book a week, so 52 in a year.  I have shared with you two already, so with this post I am at six.  I imagine many people have already read these books, but I’m new to this whole reading for pleasure idea, so be patient with me.  In the order I read them…

The Associate.  I enjoyed this so much more than The Confession.  This book was more what I remember John Grisham’s books being like when I read others years ago.

The Invisible Bridge.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  There is a wonderful love story and many interesting characters you meet and come to love or hate along the way.  It was easy reading, dragged a little at times, but overall an interesting story.  I would highly recommend this book.

Confessions of a Shopaholic.  I can’t say I was really impressed with this book.  It was funny at first, but then I just thought it became ridiculous and found myself hoping it would be over soon.  I’ve never seen the movie, but I hope it is better than the book.

The Kite Runner.  This is an amazing book.  I don’t think it is for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.  It is a heart-wrenching story, which stirred a wide array of emotions and covered many sensitive subjects.  I would highly recommend the book, but would caution some due to the subject matter.

Six Years Later

Today Nathan and I celebrate six years of marriage.  It has gone by quickly, has had the usual ups and downs, and has been the best six years of my life. 

In those six years…

Nine family vacations

Eight states visited

Two graduations (UTI and BMW STEP)

Two kids

Two moves

One truck sold

One new home

And an eternity to look forward to…

Happy Anniversary, Nathan!  I Love You!!!

I Have Found the Problem

The problem I have with reading is… I have to know what happens.  I have to know how the story ends and so I must keep reading.  I’m not one of those “stay up until all hours of the night to finish a book” kind of people (my sleep is far more important), but I do feel highly motivated to finish a book once I start it.  I can’t just pick a book up, read 15 or so pages and then set it down until the next day.  So, I’m all read out, for the moment, as I just finished another book. 

I enjoyed the book.  I can’t say it was one of my favorite of his, but it was easy reading and had a good story.  At one point I actually put it down and walked away because I was frustrated with the story.  But, alas, I had to know what happened, so I finished reading.  I still think ‘The Testament’ has been Grisham’s best.  Thanks for the suggestions on good books, keep them coming!

2011 New Year Resolution

I have a few “resolutions” this year, but one I would like to share.  For those who know me well, you know I hate (yes, that’s a very strong, yet accurate, word) to read.  However, I felt it was something I needed to do more of and thus challenged myself to read one book a month.  For my first book, my sister-in-law, Jennie, recommended ‘The Help’.

I started the book on January 1, and finished it earlier today.  It was really easy reading (after a small adjustment to the language) and very entertaining.  It made me laugh a lot and even cry.  It also made me think, which I enjoy, but without making my brain hurt.  I would definitely recommend this book.

So, I need some more recommendations, as one book a month might have been starting off small.  Let me know a book you would recommend.  I will be starting on another soon.  Thanks so much!