GallivatinSorensens

GallivatinSorensens

Friday, December 18, 2015

The Final 8.8%-ish


and a Bottle of RUM: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails by Wayne Curtis
Pgs. 294
An interesting way to look/learn some history. I really enjoyed the pirates parts and even got some ideas of other books to read about said pirates...
**

The Warrior Heir (Heir Chronicles #1) by Cinda Williams Chima
Pgs. 426
This series has been in my queue for a while now from when I used to do book club at the group home.  The one house was way into this stuff, but I never had a chance to read it with them, although they talked about it enough that I didn't really felt I had to in the end.  The Nike trip came around so it was the perfect chance to see what the hype was all about.  It was a fun take on things, but after reading The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, this series just didn't stack up.
***

The Wizard Heir (Heir Chronicles #2) by Cinda Williams Chima
Pgs. 458
I enjoyed how this book didn't pick up where the other book left off, but started on a different aspect to the overall story.  It didn't bring in characters from the first book until later on & combined them for a decent finale. Kinda gave a Harry Potter feeling to the story during this book. 
***

The Dragon Heir (Heir Chronicles #3) by Cinda Williams Chima
Pgs. 499
They take minor characters from book 2 and give them bigger roles in this book, while pushing the other ones towards the back some in all to fulfill developing plots to continue on the series.  Enjoyable read but not as exciting as book 1 (it doesn't get good until the last few chapters), more teenage "love" drama in this book. 
***

The Game (Game is Life #1) by Terry Schott
Pgs. 289
I kept thinking about Ready Player One the entire span of this book, and for that reason I couldn't really get into the book enough to care how things continue on in the next book. 
**

Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece & Rome by E.M. Bernes
Pgs. 334
Ok so, I had this dream where I was somehow transported back into Ancient Rome.  I have had this book on my nook for free thanks to Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/), so what better to read/ brush up on some myths & legends.  Some of the stories I haven't heard before, or was just a different spin from what I learned so it was pretty nice to read. 
***

The Martian by Andy Weir
Pgs. 369
Derek wanted to see the movie so we decided to read the book together before we saw the movie & planned out this whole "Mars" date to go along with it.  Derek read the book first & only warned me that there's a lot of numbers.. there's also some swearing... ok a lot which I felt was unnecessary at times (granted I'm sure I would swear too if I was going to die on a distant planet).
****

A Framework for Understand Poverty: A Cognitive Approach by Ruby K. Payne
Pgs. 239
I was required to read this book for Americorps. 
I did not enjoy it.  This Goodreads reader review sums it up perfectly for me:
"Payne's book is a perfect example of what is wrong with the conservative approach to education. In this book, sold to districts all over the country, Payne peddles soft racism and discredited social theory, based on her anecdotal observations, rather than real research."
And this one too:
"I would retitle it "Reinforcing Poverty, making stereotypes stick." I found it to be extremely troubling."
*

The Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux
Pgs. 192
I needed something to read & it was free.
It was fun trying to solve this mystery but at the same time the key evidence that solves the case at the end should have been obvious right from the beginning, but the author never gave up that information, thus holding out the mystery until the very end...
**

27,386 + 3,100 = 30,486 Total Pages/30,000
78 + 9 = 87 Total Books
Incomplete Books: 1
101.62%
Goal Completed.

Unless you look at my Goodreads year in review... which is missing a few books and pages somehow... or maybe I need to go back to elementary school and re-learn math.. :)
https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2015/29007946

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Shaun's Big Day

Friday November 27, 2015

Shaun came out to Utah to get her endowments taken out at the Logan Temple. A journey she started roughly 2 years ago all because I made her come hiking with me up at the Logan Wind Caves.  In doing so, we took mini detours to drive around the Ogden Temple (still being built), the Brigham City Temple, and the Logan Temple. I am so proud of her and was so honored (still am!) when she asked me to be her escort.  Her mom was totally ok with it all & it just so happened her mom was able to sit with us in the first row.  Shaun had amazing support with her & she was the most prepared for this day than any other person in the session.  She also made friends with everyone & several people commented on her personality and spirit afterwards in the Celestial room. That's just the kind of person Shaun is, leaving her mark everywhere she goes!


Friendship bracelets
 Firehouse for dinner, making goofy faces while we waited for everyone else to arrive...

 Mini photo shoot before going in...




Saturday November 28, 2015

We went down to Manti to be a part of Shaun's Mom's sealing to her current husband.  Their love story is so inspiring, Heather is like a Mom away from Mom for me so I was so happy I got to be there for this big moment.  Even better that Shaun was able to witness this firsthand & feel the spirit.  We did a session beforehand and doing that live session helped Shaun understand things so much better too.
 



I love these people. 

Friday, December 11, 2015

11 out of 12

The month of November...
Lots of photos...

This tree branch randomly fell down in my parents yard (no damage to the house).


 Ragnar was more than happy to help clean up all the sticks that fell down with it.

My running buddy Max sent me this medal that he made for me at school.


 Totally is the best medal eva. Hands down. 

Dad went with me to the "Gateway to the Stars" about meteors this month.





BXC Awards Night
The Seniors
 My Girls
 Me & "Trouble"... he may or may not be my favorite. 

Meteor Shower Fripp out to the Salt Flats:
Chili & cheese biscuits 


 Non-stop fetch playing with Ragnar & Frieda
 Lots & lots of coco!


 Our cookie dessert caught on fire (dutch oven glowing above), so we threw it on the fire for fuel.
 Ragnar trying to snag bits of the broken cookie. 
It was AMAZING! I wish I had something that could've captured how amazing the sky was!

Mini hiking in Farmington Canyon.  We had to move plans around that day so we only had so much time before we had to leave. 
 Found a deer leg...




The Nike Trip:

 Introduced the kids to "Three Amigos"






 Cathy Peterson (Dallin & Jessica's mom) was the other "Adult" on the trip (besides Me, Debbie, Guy, The Viewmont Coach, & The Spanish Fork Coach).


Room key.. 
 Bailee, Alex, Issac, Todd




 Baliee, Julia, Rosa
 Dallin, Jared, Denver, Joe, Tyler Coy


 The fire alarm went off at 4 am Sunday morning, for no reason other than to steal sleep away from us...
Such a great trip! Love these kids!

Babysitting the Clegg kids which included..
going to their pack meeting..




 treating Madi's facial wounds (She slipped running to the house & hit her face on the stairs.  Too much excitement to play minecraft).
 LOTS OF MINECRAFT
Snuggling with Ellie... and ALL her stuffed animals.