Bravo Tate Taylor!

I am not usually an advocate for books turned into movies....but Mr. Taylor, You Sir, have done a fantastic job!

Almost 2 years ago, the book The Help was released....after a recommendation from a fellow preschool mom, I put my name on the waiting list at the Mukilteo Library....I was number 364. I put my name on the list the end of April and I finally received the book the last week in June. I had that book read in 5 days....I LOVED THAT BOOK! I also was on a bit of a time crunch as we were moving in 3 weeks....so, I did have some motivation, but none the less that book got read and got read fast!

Last year when I heard the book was being turned into a movie, I was devastated. I am an avid reader and I cannot think of a book turned movie that I have actually enjoyed. I typically flip the movie off, completely disgusted with what they have done to my beloved books. You see, when I read a book, it is turned into a movie in my mind as I read...so for me the movie has already been done, and if that movie does not match the real movie I am terribly disappointed. As a result, I rarely watch the movie when it comes out.

So, last summer when the movie The Help was released a little part of me wanted to run out and see it...the larger part of me wanted to just leave it be. Well, as life would have it...I simply was too busy to ever make it to the movie. No part of me was sad...but this week when it was released in RedBox, I decided to give it a try...after all I would only be out a buck if I had to turn it off in the middle, right?

So, this morning after dropping the boys off at school, I came home with movie in hand and watched it....I laughed, I cried...I loved that movie....but, did I love it as much as the book....YOU BET I DID! I still whole-heartedly feel you should read the book first......or, if you have already seen the movie and haven't read the book..you should.

I doubt this will ever happen again.....me liking a movie as well as the book....but, it did happen once...so I guess anything is possible. Again, Thank You Mr. Taylor, you did a great job adapting a beautifully written book into a beautiful screenplay. I hope to see more from you sir! And to you, my faithful readers...I promise to not do anymore movie or book reviews for a while....I'll get back to my cute kiddo posts very soon!

Oops!

It has been brought to my attention that in an earlier post, I had forgotten about some very important people! When we attended the K-State game earlier this month, I inadvertently left out that we spent the evening with Seth, Ang, Penner and Rig. I also neglected the fact that Ang had a warm & delicious dinner waiting for us when we returned from the game...the warm part being very difficult because the game went on FOREVER! I am very sorry to have forgotten to add this to the original blog...it was not unappreciated....I'm just a ding dong! Please accept my apology!

Life!

Well as we come to the busiest time of the year....let me get you filled in!

Gabe has started wrestling again. He is learning lots of great moves....so hopefully he will have a great season! He is doing very well in school....I am continually amazed by him! He is still playing the trumpet...and getting better every day! He has his first performance on Tuesday, December 20 at 10:00....he is getting very excited about that!

Grady decided to try something different this year...basketball! He is doing very well...especially now that he has fancy new basketball shoes! He has some trouble with lay ups, but does very well when he is just dribbling and shooting. His coach is very impressed with his mad left-handed dribbling skills...when do you think I should fill him in that he is left-handed?! He is also doing very well in school! He is reading chapter books....Junie B. books are his current favorite! It is soooo awesome when your kiddo really learns to read...I mean just spouting out words, no sounding out...Just awesome! He also has a music performance this month...Thursday, December 15 at 6:30! We are so proud of the both of the boys....how did we ever get so lucky?!

Shawn is staying busy at work and home! He just returned from week long trip to Washington a couple of weeks ago. The rest of us were VERY jealous! He is still working in his wood shop on some top secret projects and is also coaching wrestling! He has gotten a little hunting in...we are currently feasting on the deer he shot a month ago and he was able to get some duck hunting in with his brothers over the Thanksgiving weekend!

As for me...I am staying busy as usual! I have a couple of exciting bits of information to share though! As some of you may know or have noticed, I was on a crazy weight loss regime the last few months...well, I'm just gonna toot my own horn....I made it to my goal weight!! I am very excited, now just to maintain over the holidays! I am very proud of myself...for any of you who know me very well, you know self-discipline is not a strong suit for me...but I hung in there, and I am so happy I did! I couldn't have done it without my 3 guys though...they were my biggest cheerleaders...they also know how to make a girl feel guilty(one too many cookies kind of guilt)...not a bad thing in my case! I love you guys...thanks for hanging in there with me! I have also made the very difficult decision of returning to school! I have been praying about this for almost a year.....Shy of knocking me in the head, God has given me the answer! I will be starting in January....just 2 classes to start off with...and maybe adding another mid semester depending how it all goes! I am VERY nervous....again, without my guys, I would not have had the courage to take this step.

Well, there you go, all caught up!

Happy Hunting!

Last week...when it was wonderfully beautiful...our family headed out in search of our Christmas tree! At Windy Knoll, they allow you to pick out your tree, mark it and come back for it when you are ready to decorate it! That way you can pick it out on a beautiful day, without wind, rain or cold and you actually get a fantastic tree that hasn't been picked over yet! It actually took us a lot longer to pick out a tree this year though....there were lots that looked "perfect"...maybe looking over the picked over ones is easier! But alas we found it....now it is just waiting for us to come make it pretty! Bring on the holiday season...we're ready!

EMAW!!

Last weekend we headed to the Kansas State vs. Texas A&M game...thanks to Mom and Dad Fox! For Grady and I this was our first K-State football game...and what a great one to start out with! It was a super exciting game....4 overtimes..final score 53-50!!! The people we sat around were a lot of fun...totally into the game..I think that helped out with the overall experience! The super nachos and kettle corn didn't hurt either! The boys had a blast....they still haven't stopped talking about it! GO K-STATE!!

Before the game!!

We made this sign in an attempt to get on T.V.! It didn't work....bummer!

A Couple of Crazy Kids!

13 years ago today, these two crazy kids were married....but, actually the story begins 2 years earlier at a homecoming party. I have never been so happy for anyone to over hear me talking about them...now for those of you who know me...you know I cannot whisper to save my life. Well, it turns out God made me this way for just this very night....because as I was not whispering to my friend April, a certain someone heard me say how cute he was...that same person then handed his number to me and told me, "the next move is yours." After 5 days and many pep talks from friends, I worked up the courage to call him back....as they say the rest is history. A history that has been filled with many laughs, a few tears, a couple of disagreements, two very precious boys, and enough memories to fill thousands of pages. The best part is we have so many more years to make history....I can't wait to see what that future holds for these two crazy kids....I love you, Shawn....I am so happy you didn't run the other direction when a giggly teenage girl was talking about you!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from one scary pirate and an Army Commander!

Football Finale!

He is on the far left hand side....You can only see his arm...sorry this is the only picture I took...the rest of the time I am videoing!

Saturday was Gabe's last football game of the season! He was one of the team captains for this game as well! The team had a pretty good game...ending the season with a win! Gabe had quite a bit of play time, playing on special teams, defense and offense! He had his name called on the first play of the game getting a tackle on the kick-off team!! He has drastically improved this year over last....you could tell everything was really clicking this year! We were much happier with the experience this year than last....he is still not sure if he will be playing again next year....but he has a whole year to think about it...right now, he is in full wrestling mode...he can't wait for camp to start next week!

Hiking and Laura Ingalls Wilder!

Laura's House in Independence!

Overlooking Elk City Lake!

On Friday the boys were out of school, Shawn was still off work, so we decided to head out for an adventure! A few months ago, the boys and I read a Little House on the Prairie book...both boys were really into it, which got me to thinking they needed to see the Little House exhibit in Independence! The book we read was actually about their time in Independence, so it was perfect! The boys were amazed at the size of their house...and that the school house was actually a whole lot bigger than the Ingalls' home! After checking that out we headed over to Elk City Lake for a picnic and some hiking! We started out on a pretty small trail...about a mile...we knocked that out before lunch! After lunch, came the long one....longer than we had initially anticipated! When we were halfway through (2 miles and 1 hour in) and hadn't started turning back around....it was decided that Shawn would turn back grab the Army and pick us up at the end of the trail....approximately 1 more mile! Well, in a perfect world I could read a map and I would have sense enough to listen to a 6 year old....but in a perfect world I do not reside! Gabe, Grady and I ended up getting lost! We did make it to the end of the trail....more than a mile we had gone I am sure...and somehow we did beat Shawn to our meeting point by a mere 5 minutes or so! Even so, it was a perfect day....even if I did spend a good 40 minutes wondering in the wilderness!

Roughin' It!

Last week, Shawn took the week off to go hunting! He ended up getting one deer...a small doe! On Wednesday afternoon he traveled back home to pick up Gabe and taking him out to "rough it" as well! They had a great time....didn't come back with a deer, but had a good time being boys! They did pick up a bobcat on the side of the road...I guess as far as bobcats go, it was huge. Don't really know anything about that...just know I am not one for picking up roadkill no matter how large it appears! Boys will be boys!

Gabe and the roadkill bobcat! Can you believe how old Gabe looks in this picture??!!

All dressed up and ready to go sit and wait for the deer!