a day in the life of fifty capitals

My cousin's husband has just released a new CD. His name is Lamar Holley, and he teaches fourth grade while using his "spare" time to write educational family music. I love this family and his music is fun, so I thought I'd pass on the album info

The album is called Classroom Pop volume I: a day in the life of fifty Capitals and according to CD Baby:

"Lamar Holley blows the lid off children's and educational music with a Beatle-esque collection of original pop songs that teach a spectrum of topics. Whether you're a student, a teacher, a parent, or a pop-lover, these tunes are bound to make you smarter, because the catchy lyrics, memorable melodies, and rich arrangements make it hard to get the ideas out of your head. Plus, with 38 tunes (plus the same tunes in minus-track versions for sing-alongs)--almost eighty minutes of music!--this collection is definitely worth the money!

Lamar Holley writes radio-friendly pop music for all ages. He sounds like a combination of Brian Wilson, Ben Folds, and Randy Newman. He lives in Utah with his wife and four daughters."

I encourage all my friends to check it out at http://cdbaby.com/cd/lamarholley

Calvin and the Snowmen

It snowed last night, and reminded me of these. I just had to share! Almost makes me want to name our little boy Calvin . . .

Family Pictures

I'm not the best photographer . . . and trying to use a tripod and get family pictures with a 20 month old busy little boy who just wants to go put his hands in the pond wasn't easy. These are the ones that turned out. Oh and I know we got there a little late for the pretty colors. They aren't Fall pictures, they are "almost winter" pictures.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share . . .

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I finally finished this series. It's taken me a while because instead of buying them, I've been waiting to get them at the library. They've been so popular, that it was almost impossible to ever find them. So after about four years, I am finally at The End and I don't think I've ever been so unsatisfied with the end of a book series in my entire life.

The story-line had such potential! And the writing is good. I love how "Lemony Snicket" uses his story to also teach kids vocabulary, grammar, and even the meanings behind strange common phrases such as, "as the crow flies." He wrote a story that made you want to keep reading . . . raising so many questions that you want to find the answers to! I got to know the Baudelaire orphans, and so badly wanted things to turn out better for them. But true to the title, things just got worse and worse for these kids. And then it ends with more questions, and without any clue as to what happens to these orphans.

Why is it that authors these days feel they have to end their books on a poetic note? J.K. Rowling did that, and it made me pretty upset until all her interviews where she answered the questions that the books were no help on. (Of course this latest Dumbledore revelation was completely unnecessary, although it's gained her a lot of free publicity, like she needed it.)

So my question to all of you is this . . . can you please recommend some good books for me to read. Something not overly popular, so that I can actually find it at the library, but still a great story. Kids books, teen books, adult books, I don't care. I just need something new!

It's a . . .

BOY! Another one. We're absoulutely thrilled! He is measuring a week ahead just like Charlie always did, which makes me realize that I've got to prepare for another 9+ pound baby. Oh well

He was moving around so much that the technician was having a hard time getting any good pictures, but here is what we did get. The first is a video, and although he's just yawning, I think it looks a little creepy. Enjoy!

6 Facts/Habits/Random Things About Kirsten

Heather- This is for you.

1. I LOVE Halloween. I love dressing up in fun or spooky costumes. I love covering my house in cobwebs. I love carving pumpkins. I love making tacos and dry iced homemade rootbeer(which are both Halloween traditions at my house). I love answering the door and giving candy to all the cute dressed up kids. I love taking my son out to get candy, and eating half of it before we even get home. Mmmmm. Although this year, I have discovered something that I hate about halloween: All the college students in skanky versions of classic characters like Dorothy and Alice in Wonderland. It's one thing to wear it to a frat party, but to wear it passing out candy to kids at the mall? Seriously?

2. I am absolutely fascinated by my son. I watched him the other night working to figure out how to put a lid on a pen. He was concentrating SO hard on getting it just right. I could see his little brain working on those fine motor skills and then I watched him get excited as he got better and better at it. After ten minutes, he was so good at it that he started laughing at the popping sound it made every time he pulled the lid back off. I know it seems like such a little thing, but he was so proud of himself. I am fascinated by the way his little mind works!

3. I love children's books. All of them. I love the simple little board books, books with beautiful pictures, authors who sneak in little funny things for parents, authors who keep it classic, fairy tale books, artistic books, pop-up books, stories kids can relate to and any other type of children's book you can think of. I recently learned the joy of non-fiction children's literature. I love looking at my bookshelf filled with the colorful children's stories. It make me happy. The sad thing is that my son isn't allowed to touch most of the books. He might ruin them before he is old enough to enjoy them. I know it's silly of me to worry about it, but it's what I do. And maybe someday I'll grow out of it.

4. I am not exactly looking forward to moving. It's a fine place to live I guess and it will be nice to be closer to our families. But it hardly ever rains there and I love the rain. It snows too much. And the trees aren't big enough. (Sigh) On the other hand, it will be nice to not be in student mode anymore (and to be getting a bigger paycheck) :-)

5. I hate seafood in all it's varieties. It's gross and it smells bad. But at the same time, I know it's healthy, so I'm hoping my children learn to like some of it.

6. I make the best peanut butter chocolate chip cookies in the world. And I'm not bragging, because I actually got the recipe from my cousin Linsey, and I am fine giving her all the credit. They are like heaven, and are the reason I never was able to lose all my baby weight after Charlie. And because I'm such a giving person, here's the recipe:

Linsey’s Melt in your Mouth Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream together:
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
1 c. butter or margarine
1 c. peanut butter
2 eggs

In separate bowl combine:
2 ½ c. flour
1 ½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt


Mix dry and wet ingredients together.
Add 2 c. (1 package) milk chocolate chips.
Roll into 1 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar.
Bake at 350° for 9 to 12 minutes depending on whether you like them soft or crispy. I always take them out right at 9 minutes. They don't quite look done, but when they cool, they are the perfect consistency!

I'm supposed to tag more people to do this, but I'm not going to. Mindy has already done something like this. Katrina was just tagged to do something else. Heather tagged me . . . so if any of you blogging friends want to do this, it was fun and I'd love to see your interesting (or uninteresting) tidbits of info.

Halloween is saved!

I managed to whip out a simple but creative costume for Charlie, using old costumes of ours to complete the theme. This costume did not send Charlie running and whining and trying to claw his way out of it. Now if I could just have gotten him to keep the horn and tiny halo in his hair, it would have been perfect.