Books & TV

From time to time I like to share what I've been reading lately, so here goes!

I've never downloaded books on my iphone until just a few days ago.  I've downloaded several samples, and read those, but I'm honestly too cheap to download the book.  $9.99 still seems pricey to me, and when it's downloaded to my iphone or ipad, it makes it harder to share with others!  Plus, I get hand cramps trying to hold my phone for hours while I read.

I finally bit the bullet and downloaded a book I've been dying to read:

Kisses From Katie

Incase you haven't heard of Katie Davis, she is originally from Brentwood, TN, but now lives and serves the Lord in Uganda.  She followed God to Africa after her high school graduation.  Her deep faith and love for the Lord and His people are so encouraging.  I think she is around 22 or 23 now, and has adopted 14 orphans!  This book is a quick read, but speaks so deeply to me.

After that, I think I'm going to download and read What Women Fear by Angie Smith.  I've followed Angie's blog, Bring the Rain, for years and read her first book, I Will Carry You.  I love her style of writing and her love for the Lord.

What I'm watching on TV these days:

The Biggest Loser live finale is tomorrow night.  I'm so pumped.  I watch that show every season.  I really don't have a preference on who I'd like to win, but I will say that Conda has most definitely grown on me.

Have you heard of the new show Melissa and Tye?

It features Melissa Rycroft.  She was the Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, turned Bachelor (who was dumped on live television after being proposed to), turned Dancing with the Stars contestant.  She's now married to Tye Strickland.  There's only been two episodes, so you haven't missed much.  They are hilarious though, I'll definitely be watching this Friday night!  She also has a book coming out in June, My Reality.

Normally I don't read things like this, but I am really looking forward to this book coming out!

So what are you reading and watching?  What should I add to my lists?

(Just 3 more Mondays until summer vacation!)

Eli Videos

Eli loves to take pictures and make movies these days.  He's obsessed with our iphones.  He loves to scroll through pictures and take new ones of himself.  I dare say at 20 months old he is much more versed on the iphone and ipad than my grandparents are (not sure they've ever used either?).

Here's two really cute movies he's made recently.

The first one is what I got when I went to go get a haircut and run some errands; really just to have some solo "mommy" time.  However, the video made me come right home to my sweet little boy!  : )

The second video is one of Eli saying some of the many words he knows!  I think people who don't see us regularly don't think he can talk, haha.  He's a shy boy and doesn't talk around new people very much.  ...  I love that he signs 'more' when Wesley asks him to say more (watch his hands) and also I love the shape of his mouth when he says certain words, like "Lo Lo" (his little friend from school - London).

Here Ye, Here Ye!

Eli attended a royal birthday party this weekend!  His buddy, Abigail, turned one!

The girls got tiaras to wear at the party and the boys received crowns and swords.  There were also princesses to take pictures with and face painting!

Prince Charming

Eli and the birthday girl, Abigail

Eli and Levi (6 mths old)

Levi looks so little compared to Eli!  I don't ever remember Eli being so small.

Eli and Grace took turns driving the car.

The birthday princess wouldn't touch her cake without a spoon!  : )

Happy Birthday sweet Abigail!

Life Lately

*After this week, summer is only FIVE weeks away!  I'm always a little sad to say goodbye to my kiddos.  This year, I've had the best class I've ever had.  Every year at this time I start thinking, I wish I could loop!  Seriously, I have them all so well trained....

*I have 4 field trips that I'm taking my kids on.  Let me let you in on a little secret....I don't really care for field trips.  They stress me out.  I prefer to be on a ROUTINE and in the confines of my own little classroom.  I have not taken my class on one single field trip yet this year...

*We've been walking/running a lot around here (more walking than running...for me anyway).  My husband works out, like three times a day by the time he goes with me in the afternoons (he runs some days, does Insanity about five times a week, and then run/walks with me in the afternoons).  My goal at the beginning of April was 30 miles in 30 days, however today is the 16th and I've completed 28.6 miles.  I think I"ll go for 50 miles.  Now, to give my arms some attention....

I got some new hanging plants for the carport, new ferns for my urns by the front door, and new pillows for the rockers.  They make happy!

*I can't believe Eli is about to be 20 months old...ahh!  That sounds so old!  The boy is growing so quickly.  We had to get him new shoes last week.  We literally woke up one morning and his Nikes no longer fit!  We went to Hibbett that night.

*Only a few weeks left of soccer.  I'm anxious to have my husband back in the afternoons and evenings!

*I have The husband has become a spray painting machine here lately.  I'll post pictures as soon as I'm done with it all, but I've got a new door hanger and Eli has something new for his bedroom out of it all.

*I really thought I had more to say, but I guess not - which explains the lack of blogging lately.  I'm already looking forward to the weekend though.  It's going to be a busy one!  : )

Easter 2012

This is one longgg Easter post!  We had so many Easter activities this year.  This is such a fun age with Eli.  He's still baby enough, but he's also becoming independent and can do so much!

Eli helped me make a bunny cake this year...and I did the same thing I did last year - iced the whole thing white.  I meant to do the bow-tie blue, but by that point I was getting so tired of that bunny, so I cheated.  Then, I was so tired of the icing that I thought I could use gel for the mouth instead of dying another color (I made the cake and icing from scratch).  Big mistake!

This bunny looks like Dracula!  It's ok to go ahead and laugh - we all did.  At least it tasted great!

Thursday Eli's class had an egg hunt at school.  Eli was so excited about it!

Daddy went to school and took pictures and filmed the whole thing (which won't upload).

Eli quickly caught on to the concept of picking up eggs.

Friday night we dyed eggs together.  Little man had big fun!

He even took to blowing them off so that they dried quickly!

Since Eli's school was closed on Friday, he and Nana had a playdate.  Puddin' came up after work.

Saturday we got up and went to the River Walk and walked a little over 3 miles.

Saturday afternoon we hunted more eggs in the front yard with Nana and Puddin'!

Eli liked the hard-boiled eggs more than the plastic ones...until he smashed them and got egg everywhere!  "Uh-OHHH!"  : )

Nana and Eli love to play silly.

Easter attire was casual around here since we go to the Saturday night service.

Everyone agreed that little man could have mixed right in at the Masters!  I loved his sweet outfit.

(Can you tell that the rocking chairs are our standard "picture taking spot"??!)

The Taffs

Easter 2011

(And just for comparison, here's Easter 2011.)

Even though we celebrated at church on Saturday night, Eli still got his basket Sunday morning.  We aren't really going to "do" the Bunny - the basket is from Mommy and Daddy.  Eli got a new Buzz cup, 2 new Elmo books (Eli is big fans of Elmo and Buzz!), some new Under Armour dry-fit, and some Eli sized metal forks.

I also cooked our Easter meal this year and we celebrated just our little family of three.  I had planned on serving lunch on our wedding china, but then I didn't even think about it until my mom asked about it later.  Oh well, maybe another time!  : )

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 Peter 1:18-19

Spring Break Comes to an End

Friday was our last day in Edisto and we slept in, took naps, and had that last little bit of fun in the sun!

The sun was warm, but the wind was still whipping.

After a few hours on the beach, we finished up our afternoon by the pool!

Eli and Abigail sported their new Charleston t-shirts for the ride home.

Sunday we enjoyed our last day of Spring Break relaxing at home.  We even found a turtle in the yard!

Eli was sure to let that turtle know who was boss though.

Then he decided he wanted to touch the turtle, but Mommy wouldn't let the boy!  No salmonella for us.

It was a fantastic week, and I was said to see it end, however it left us feeling so rejuvenated and refreshed-which I needed going into the final prep week before testing!!