YA Author Event

A few nights ago, Shannon and I got to see some of our favorite YA authors read and sign books at the library! 
We got to see Rainbow Rowell again.  I have read every single one of her books.  They are so, so good. 

And Stephanie Perkins was there.  I just recently read her two novels.  Also really, really good.

(Stephanie on the left, Gayle on the right)
And Gayle Foreman.  I'm reading one of her books now, and I am totally into it. 
Shannon and I have met Rainbow lots of times, because she's from Omaha!  She does lots of events, and I have all of my books signed by her. 

And we got to meet Stephanie Perkins for the first time.  She's really cute and nice and I really liked her!

 

The Book of Mormon

 

Last night, Mike and I got to go and see The Book of Mormon!  We never get to go to musicals, so this was a real treat for us.  We were a little worried that we might not like it, since we aren't very church-y or anything.  And Google had a tough time telling me what this musical was actually about.  But, it was so, so good!  And funny!  It was a really good show.  (Did I say that already?)  It makes me want to take the kids to more musicals and expose them to the performing arts more.  We already have plans to go see Elf when that comes in December.  AND, I discovered last night that vodka cranberries, which I have hated in the past aren't all that bad after all!  I only had one, so it wasn't the vodka talking either. 

 



The Book of Mormon = fab date night!

Out With The Old

We are getting a new shed!  Since we moved into this house seven years ago, we have had put up with this old shed in the backyard. 

Good looking, right? 

Since we were hit by a major hailstorm last spring, we were able to finally get a new shed!!  But first, dismantling the old shed.  And that thing was built to last!  It did not want to be taken apart. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a LOT of pulling, it finally came down. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The girls had no interest in helping after that.  It was all up to Mike and I to tear that thing apart and haul it away.  It was a lot of heavy lifting.  And a lot of spiders and spider webs.  And there was a rabbit skeleton.  Yuck. 

 

But we got rid of it!!  Now we just have to assemble the new shed that's sitting in a pile in my driveway.  Hopefully we'll get that done this weekend.  I have a whole shed's worth of inventory scattered in my backyard right now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The girls were really productive on their Rainbow Looms while Mike and I were working on the shed.   

Cozumel, Mexico

Hola, Amigos!  We just spent the last week in Mexico!  The girls first time out of the country!  It was very fun and relaxing.  We did nothing but sit by the pool and sip drinks for six days straight.  It was awesome. 

Girls outside of our room

Girls and I

Flamingos!  Saw them every single day.

Briana and MacKenzie

Swam all day, every day.

Sydney, MacKenzie, Briana & Maddy at lunch

Turtles!

Look at that giant iguana.  I think it's called a king iguana.  They were everywhere.

Mike & Mike.  Beers in the pool.  In the back of the pool there's a swim up bar.  And its always open.  Drinks all day, every day.  Had to pace myself.

Girls & iguana

He was brave and let me get quite close.  I did not have the nerve to try to touch him though.

My & my girl!  Kids can swim up to the bar and get drinks too.  Without alcohol.  We think.  The bartenders don't speak English. 

Crabs!  They just crawl around everywhere!  You have to watch for them so you don't step on one.

My lovely & I on the beach.  Mike was carrying Briana into the ocean in the background.

Girlies on the beach

Me & my lovely again at dinner.

They have shows every night.  This one was a strip show!  The girls first strip show!

Another day, another drink in the pool.

Dinner at the Rock Café.

At dinner.  Sydney grew me out of her head!

Sombrero

Those two lumps in the ocean are Mike & Briana snorkeling!

Mike and I at the beach bar.

On the pier

Our last night there we skipped dinner to see the sunset.  Do you see the sunset?  It's behind the clouds.  Sunset or not, I'd go back! 

Buenos dias!

Love

A conversation with Briana the other day.

Briana:  If I died and all you had left to remember me by was a jar filled with my toot air, would you keep it and open it and smell my toot air every day?

Me:  Of course.

Briana:  If you died and all I had to remember you by was a pair of smelly socks that you wore for five weeks straight, I would keep them and smell them every day.  That's how much I love you.

Me:  :)

Happy Halloween!

My nerd.

 My 80's Girl

 Cute pumpkins

 Zombies (thanks to Savannah for the idea :)

 Briana made the cutest rice krispie treat pumpkins!

Briana and her friends getting ready to trick or treat

My costume!  I dressed up as Mike.

 Sydney and her friends trick or treating  

Ellie the shark.

Scary Music

Last night, Briana got to perform with the Millard Orchestra at Vala's Pumpkin Patch for their annual Scary Music Night.  She did a great job, as always.

Briana with her friends Katie and Addison just before the show.

(The girl sitting behind them looks super happy!)

Here they are during the show.

(girl sitting behind them still a bit if-y :)

After the show, the girls were free to spend the rest of the evening seeing the sights at Vala's.  In the dark.  Trying to keep up with Briana, her three friends (we picked up another friend along the way), and Sydney was enough to drive me to drink.  But, alas, we didn't lose anyone and the girls had a blast together. 

Sydney even managed to have a good time, despite being without a friend of her own. 

In related falltime news, I went outside today to discover that fall has officially arrived on Elm Street.

Isn't it pretty!