"A Wink and a Smile"

There is no swim meet (it was an off weekend for USA Swimming and the high school meet was cancelled). There are no basketball games ... CANCELLED due to the icy roads. Except for dropping my 10 year off at a sleepover party later today, there is nothing major to do! I *could* do ... laundry bathroom cleaning re-organizing of my closet "help" the girls with their mess in the playroom BUT ... My husband has dared me to sit and relax today. He told me to read and put my feet up. So ... I may just have to do that! Speaking of books, did you know that the Pioneer Woman has a children's book coming out? I knew about her Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - A Love Story book ... which I may just have to buy because I'm curious. Reading and watching these girls today. Sounds like a plan!

FIRST, I would just like to remind those EDUCATORS out there that THIS IS THE TIME to go to BARNES & NOBLE for their 25% discount  ... January 16-24th. Then I would highly recommend that if you have ANY children who still love to be read to ... GET THIS BOOK ! I'm only a few chapters into this book, but the 4 and 7 year old  ... as well as myself, have been laughing out loud (LOL)! I love that the main character in it is a bit of a trouble maker, but not in a mean spirited way.  She pays attention to a lot of different things ... just not the "important" stuff.  Her name is Clementine and she likes to call her brother Spinach or Broccoli.  She just doesn't think it is fair that her parents named her a fruit and  her brother a so called "normal" name.  The only thing worse than a fruit name is a vegetable name ... hence the names she prefers to refer to her brother as. So far, I find this character endearing ... with good intentions and un...

I read her blog and knew that she was coming into town for her book signing and I thought about going, but I also knew it was the day that I was getting my braces off (MONDAY 11/9). On Sunday night before, my husband made a quick trip to Walmart and brought home a flyer saying how Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) was coming the next day. I'm not sure if my husband was more excited about me getting my braces off the next day or having me MEET THE PIONEER WOMAN. I guess I really did want to go, but now I HAD TO GO! Monday was a crazy day ... jitters in the am 4.6 mile run to make me feel relaxed (it was also my longest run yet) drop the 12 year old at her homeschool art class quick trip to Walmart (to see if there were Pioneer Woman cookbooks ... no luck, but my husband picked me up a few ... I'm gifting some for Christmas). home to throw a pot roast in the crockpot braces removal at 11:30am dentist visit at 1pm usual afterschool chaos of swim team home for a 30 minute rest wa...

with someone making First Holy Communion. My {m} made her Communion already , but we didn't start to read this book until last week. I broke the book into little daily lessons ... it doesn't read like a story, so we could do that. The book tells the history of the Eucharist in a very understandable way. The pictures are also quite beautiful!

Living far from my Mom who is STILL grieving my Dad can be hard.  I wish that I could take her to a support group because I do think that is what she needs to help her deal with some of her feelings.  I lost my Dad, but my Mom lost her husband who was just about everything to her. My Mom does not use a computer ... she has one (now), but can't see to get it running.  I wish she would be computer knowledgeable because there is potential support out there without having to leave her home. I have never seen my Mom read a book (other than a child's book when I was very young).  She does read the newspaper on occasion, but I do believe that she may have a learning disability or I feel like she would have had books in her home (for her) when I was growing up. So I guess I am looking for an inspiring, EASY read book that may provide examples of others who have gone through loss.  I think if the book could be on CD that may even be better. Mother's Day is approaching and this is ...