More Young Adult Reads

Earlier on, I mentioned that I read a Young Adult series, The Percy Jackson series, and that I really enjoyed it.  Several friends mentioned other YA books for me to read, so I started reading a  few.

The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson (yes, that James Patterson.)



I started liking the series but by the end of book 2, beginning of book 3, I was really not interested in it anymore.  It was a little too YA for me.  Meaning, I'm an old fart.  After a while, the plot lines were the same and some of the things that happened to them didn't make sense.  They kept getting themselves into situations that just got them caught, over and over (let's post a blog with our whereabouts The bad guys will never find us that way.)   Again, I am an old fart, but these would be great for a Tween or Teen who doesn't get jammed up with plot devices.  :)

The Pendragon Series by D.J. MacHale  is another one I tried.





I purchased a three-book boxed set for Jacob several years ago and thought I'd give them a try.  They're written in journal fashion and I liked the voice of Bobby Pendragon.  The problem I had was this is this:  So far, in the first 3 books, the bad guy is the same guy.  The protagonists show up, fight the bad guy, endure trials, eke out a last-minute save where the bad guy shakes his fist ("I'll get you yet!!") and disappears,  and they all move on to a new world to do it all over again.  I stopped at book 3, mainly because we only own the first 3, and I have piles of books waiting for me to read already.  I just don't know if I will continue the series.  I can't really see myself reading the same formula 10+ more times.

I started reading Brandon Mull's "Fablehaven" and really enjoyed it.  I am waiting to see if I can get the next books from Paperback Swap.  The story is set in a haven for fae; imps, fairies, trolls, etc.  The haven is run by Kendra and Seth's grandparents, and when the kids go for a summer visit, they get into more trouble than any kid could dream of.

Finally, I delved into an old favorite.  The Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery.

I read these so long ago, and only ready the first 3 books.  I'm already done with book 4 of the series and have book 5 waiting on my dresser.  This was written back in the early 1900's and deals with a sweet people in the town of Prince Edwards Island in the late 1870's,  and a little orphan girl who accidentally gets adopted and has the wonderful opportunity to live in PEI, in a house called Green Gables.  If you don't know the story, you should pick up a copy.  It's so sweet and takes you to a place where happiness and laughter feels contagious.  Yes, I am a hokey lady.  I love this sweet simple series.  My daughter is currently reading an abridged easy-reader version and I am waiting on the wonderful tv mini-series from Netflix, so I can watch it with her.



I'm currently reading book 1 in another YA series, but I'll let you know about that one when I'm done.

Painting with Paint

Isabel's been working with MS Paint program to create some really fun pictures.  Here are just 3 of the ones she has created.

This is Isabel's new cousin Ava, my sister Vicky's daughter born in July.

This is Kaitlyn Rose.  Isabel's cousin on her dad's side.

Tyra, my mom's Chihuahua.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

  42!

Yikes, where does the time go?

David and Isabel made & brought me breakfast in bed.  I spent most of the morning in P.J.'s. and then went o get my "hair did."  I really can't go to the beauty parlor often for hair coloring.  I go maybe once or twice a year. All other times, I do it myself at home, but nothing looks as good as a professional color.

My new hair color. We had to go darker because I had too many different
 shades in my hair. That's what happens when you home color.  :)

After the hair do, we headed off to The Melting Pot.  I love this place, but geezum Pete, they are expensive!!  Thank goodness for a $100 birthday gift card from one of my bosses, or else we would not have gone there.  We have not been in 5 years, and probably won't go back for another 5.  Ha!  It's great fun, truly, but it just breaks the bank.

Tonight we're playing Rock Band and Rock Band 2.  David got them for me used, along with a microphone so I can do the singing while they do the guitar playing.

Kelli-Kelli got me HP & the Deathly Hallows pt. 1 on Blu-Ray for my birthday, so I might pop that in tonight too.

Off to eat some carrot cake!  Nope, I did not make my own birthday cake.

Remember New York?

Remember how Jacob went to sing in New York with a choir of kids and adults from all around Florida?

Read here.

Also here.  Here and here too.  I'll wait for you to catch up.

Since I did not get to go, we've been waiting and waiting since June for someone, anyone, to post videos.

Finally they have!  Yay!  Jacob can be found in the front row, right near the piano, with his longish, shaggy hair.  Jacob just told me that, looking back through the program, Jacob was only one of two high school basses; of all the high school students, only two were bass singers, and Jacob was one of them.  The rest were adult or professional singers; 13 in all, only 2 from high school.

Yes, there are a lot of videos.  I am a mom.  I want to see them all.  But take your time.  :)  Jacob's favorite is the 6th one down, "All Works of Love," by Joan Szymko, with lyrics by Mother Teresa.  


Also check out the 9th, and final, one: "Musical Risotto."  Cracks me up!















Of this this one below., "Johnny-O & Sally Anne," Jacob said "Psssshh.  This one was hard!"


This one is a favorite of mine.



The closing number makes me laugh. But oh!  They did not film the tv screens, so you can't see why it's funny.  BUMMER!  There are tv screens off to the side "Musical Risotto," by Jonathan Willcocks.



If you want to see why people are chuckling, you can see their May practice performance I posted on this post here: Practice for New York.  The first video shows the tv screens.

2011-2012 All-County Choir

Some time in September (I am pretty much lost on dates with all the traveling for work I've been doing), I took Jacob on a Saturday to audition again for the 2011-2012 All County Choir.  Kids from choirs in all the high schools audition to try to get in to this choir.  There's also a middle school/Jr. High choir as well.

As you know, Jacob made it for the 2009-2010 choir, as well as the 2010-2011 one.   He was pretty positive (i.e. a bit cocky, tee hee) that he would get in.

Jacob on the right, singing bass.

Sure enough, he made it again this year.  Go Jacob!!

(P.S.  He can't shave.  He's playing Hamlet in a production of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" and was asked to grow a beard by the director.)

So Busy

Argh! Two trips to Panama in September.  Two!  One of them on my 9th Anniversary no less!

Sorry for the non-"postage."  I'll get some in soon!

Lego Harry Potter

So, I've been playing Lego Harry Potter, years 1-4.  If you know me, you know I am not a fan of video games, and yet I live in a house with two video game nuts (Isabel and David) and one video gamer who isn't quite as obsessed as the other 2 (Jacob.)



I can't play them.  I don't have the hand-eye thing going, and I also cannot for the life of me remember what button does what, but this game is SO darned cute and so well-made, I had to try.

Congratulate me as I have finished Year 1!   Of course, I had help (usually Isabel doing things for me without my asking, and David telling her to get off already) but it was fun.

Isabel also is a fan of real Legos, having received some hand-me-downs from Jacob.  She's been asking for Harry Potter Legos, so I got her a $10 set.  The big ones run from $60-$100; Yikes!  Her set came with Dobby, Harry and Lucius Malfoy.

Isabel will ask me to play Lego Harry Potter, and when I tell her I don't want to play video games, she'll reply "Noooo, real Lego Harry Potter."  We'll recreate scenes from the books/movies with the new & old Lego pieces we own.  Recently, we recreated a scene from "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

Hermione's been petrified!  What is petrifying the students?  Was it the monster in the Chamber of Secrets?

We don't have a Hermione doll, so we're using Lucius Malfoy's hair,
 and a faceless Lego person created by Isabel.

Hiding under the invisibility cloak, Harry & Ron hear Hagrid say to "follow the spiders."  Isabel speaks for Ron: "Why couldn't it have been 'follow the butterflies?'"

Yea, no Ron Lego either.
That's Ron behind Harry, with a red brick for hair. 

The Spider trail leads to...Aragog!  The giant Spider-friend of Hagrid.

"My sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid, on my command.
But I cannot deny them fresh meat, when it wanders so willingly into our midst.
Good-bye, friend of Hagrid."

After much screaming and wand waving (with many "pew pew" sounds too), Ron's Ford Anglia comes to the rescue!

:)

Last night we reenacted HP & The Goblet of Fire.  I *wish* I had taken pictures; it was so funny!!  We recreated the first two challenges (a butterfly from her room was the dragon) and the Yule ball.  You should have seen Cedric and Cho.  Maybe we'll reenact it again for your viewing pleasure.

For now, though, I leave you with......

Hagrid.