2 out of 12

February Update:

Make sure you check out Derek's YouTube channel for his hiking updates:

https://www.youtube.com/user/RUTired

Valentines was super

ARK #1

I've now seen Andrea more in 2 weeks than I have in any other year.
Guess that's what happens when you live far away from extended family...

 Game Night
Angie took down her husband.
Derek made a new friend.

Ragnar broke her squeaky toy record.
29hrs from store to complete destruction.
This is the halfway point where she decided to take a nap.

Super warm temps = lots of hiking.

 Ogden Valley

Watched RSL kick butt in the Desert Diamond Cup

Field trip to the Natural History Museum.

Aunt Chell birthday date: Took the Brynners to the Tree House Museum
That kid was running around like crazy! She had so much!

Ragnar got some serious lovin'.
Thalia "loves her so much"!

"Parents & Pastries" PTA event at the Clegg's elementary.

I invited myself.  There was doughnuts.

I read The Stinky Cheeseman to them.

 Jordan is a reading machine!

21.35%

Dr. Seuss is celebrated during the month of March (it's a great month), so when I was scanning some quotes for the classroom I came across this gem.

And the first book on this update is rather full of nonsense :)

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka

Pg. 51

Read this to Jordan & Madison at their elementary school's lil PTA thingy.
So it counts.
This book is just plain awesomeness.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/407429.The_Stinky_Cheese_Man?ac=1
*****

The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #2) by Michael Scott

Pg. 464

This book just seemed like everyone was tripping over themselves mixed in with some action.  And that action felt desperate at times too.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2402971.The_Magician
***

The Sorceress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #3) by Michael Scott
Pg. 502

This one is the best in the series thus far.  The author brought in more mythological creatures and peoples with his own spin to it, making things feel believable in a sense.  The action wasn't desperate all the time like the last book.  It also back tracks just enough that if you were to start off by just reading this book, you'll be all set and not annoyed with all the redundant details (but there are times that it feels as such).
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4588949-the-sorceress
****

Demon's Vow (Asylum Tales #3.2) by Jocelynn Drake
Pg. 96

The author is inspired by one of my "fantasy" favorite authors, Kim Harrison.
In this installment of book 3 part 2, you could really tell.  I did enjoy the story and how it led up to something bigger.  Still don't agree that it needed to be split up in 3 parts.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20957430-demon-s-vow
***

Tempted (House of Night #6) by P.C. Cast

Pg. 319

Stab me in the eye with a wooden spoon.
I tap out. I can't handle the 6 books that are left in the series. 
6 BOOKS!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6262365-tempted
*

Moth (The Moth Saga #1) by Daniel Arenson
Pg. 352

It was free.  A staff said that he really enjoyed the saga and that it's not "fantasy" but still not typical ordinary settings.  Half the world in light only, the other half in darkness.  War started by a religious zealot.  It felt like torture trying to read this book.  I went back and forth on how I felt about characters which is fine, but all the stuff in between just made me not a fan.  Most likely won't finish the saga. Unless I need something to read while I'm waiting for a library book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18748012-moth

**

Gregor The Overlander (The Underland Chonricles) by Susan Collins

Pgs. 326

I've read this a few years ago with the students, and now again with a totally new group of students. Very creative idea to get away from the pastoral feelings of most settings. And then the author went on to write The Hunger Games...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/262430.Gregor_the_Overlander

***

Maus, II: And Here My Troubles Began (Maus #2) by Art Spiegelman

Pgs. 136

Reading this book with the students in their history classes as a way for the teacher to go over the holocaust with them.  It still teaches the horrors of the holocaust but without all the heart wrenching photos they'd be exposed to with textbooks and videos.  Our students already have had exposure to those horrors from our 11 million steps project. I'm still not a fan of graphic novels.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15197.Maus_II

****

4,160 + 2,246= 6,406 Total Pages/ 30,000
12 + 8 = 20 Total Books
21.35% Complete

13.86%

The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno
pg.  231

At first I totally thought that this was going to be a story about a radiation. True story.
I was WAY off! This girl gets depressed/sad for who knows why, the author doesn't really let you know other than she had a bad day.   So the girl creates this alter ego that comes out and takes over her life right when she's about to kill herself.
Super depressing. Reminded me a lot of 13 Reasons Why.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18698816-the-half-life-of-molly-pierce
***

The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Famel) by Michael Scott
pgs. 400

Second time I've read this book, the first time being a few years back with the students for English.  I remembered enjoying the book and meaning to read the rest of the series.  So now I am! Just hoping the rest of the series doesn't get all teenagery on me.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17402605-the-alchemyst
****

Dead Man's Deal (The Asylum Tales) by Jocelynn Drake

Pgs. 371

For most of the book I was like "geeze Gage, keep it in your pants!" There was so much going on it seemed a little scattered brained. It wasn't the sequel I was wanting, and it didn't get really interesting until the end.  The next book holds promise but since they're published in e-book format only, I'm waiting until it goes on sale or free like the first two books. This series isn't worth paying full price, esp if the author writes the next book like this one.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16065783-dead-man-s-deal

***

Demon's Fury (Asylum Tales 3.1) by Jocelynn Drake
pg. 100

So the story actually gets interesting and the author ends it.  
What a marketing suck trap! 
Well, parts 2 & 3 are just going to have to wait until the prices comes down. 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20650475-demon-s-fury

***

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo

Pgs. 471

Waited a year for this book to come out.
Was not disappointed.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14061957-ruin-and-rising

****

The Revenge of Seven (Lorien Legacies #5) by Pittacus Lore

Pgs. 371

I was anxiously waiting for this book to come out, and when it finally did I had several books waiting in line ahead of it. FINALLY got around to it and I was kinda disappointed. I wasn't at the edge of my seat like the others before it. In fact it didn't get interesting until the end of the book! What I was hoping to get exciting turned out to be a dud, then the very end the author threw in a twist and now I can't wait for #6 to be published! 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18606243-the-revenge-of-seven

***

2,216 + 1,944 = 4,160 Total Pages/ 30,000

6+ 6 = 12 Total Books

13.86% Complete

1 out of 12

 It's February-Holy Cow! Here is January summed up:

Personal Concert by Sonja & Bryn

An out of this World date!

 It's close enough to astronaut food...

 Gross. Don't fall for it. Get the real deal!

Supported one of my hurdle girls who is also a cheerleader.

Brought these two with me.

Any team with purple on their uniforms were their "favorite".

 My first & ONLY cheer comp I'll ever go to.

Demetri Martin.

Jokes with guitar.

It's a big deal.

Took my Dad and the Clegg kids to their first Utah Grizzlies Game.

Trust me, as soon as the game started and they saw how aggressive hockey is...

They were on the edge of their seats!

They couldn't believe the ref didn't stop the fight!

Fire & Ice date night.

Holy Smokes & Ice Skating

Video gaming.

Ragnar was not pleased to have to share her seat with Derek.

She slowly pushed him off. It was pretty funny.

My mom has possession of this.

Tyler is jealous.

I am pleased. 

7.38% in Month #1

Son (Giver #4) Lois Lowery

Pg. 393

The worst of the quartet series of The Giver. In my opinion of course.  Yes it brings everything to a close, but it seemed as if the "bad guy" was finished off too easily and yet there was a lot of extra information in the middle that was not really needed, just repetitive. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13324841-son

**

Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassin #3) by Robin LaFevers

Pg. 444

Not as good as the first two books in the trilogy, but the longest indeed.  It was a nice little ending to all three story lines, although predictable. It's been a while since I read book one that I found myself wanting to re-read after reading book 3 here.  Guess that's what happens when you have to wait a year in between books.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20522640-mortal-heart

***

Red Rising (Red Rising #1) by Pierce Brown

Pg. 382

It's like Ender's Game and Hunger Games combined! Lots of gaming here guys.

I suggest this book be added to your reading lists.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15839976-red-rising

*****

Michael Vey #1-3 by Richard Paul Evens

#1: Pgs. 326

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11337912-the-prisoner-of-cell-25

****

#2: Pgs. 335

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12988089-rise-of-the-elgen

***

#3: Pgs. 336

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16074409-battle-of-the-ampere

**

Kids are electrical.  They get caught.  They escape. Bad guy continues on to catch them again.  They escape again.  Oh oh! Captured again, escaped again.  The first book I really enjoyed enough to go to book 2.  Since book 2 was read, well you know how I can't not finish a series once book 2 is read.  Book 3 got all teenager-y lovey-dovey one me, so hopefully book 4 is more interesting ans switches it up.

2,216 out of 30,000 Total pages

7.38% complete

6 Books Total

2015: Sequential Dates No More

2014 was a very adventurous year for us.

Activities happened that brought us closer together,
 Strengthened our love for each other,
Strengthened our testimonies,
Unforgettable memories!

With such an amazing year behind us, we can't help but look forward to the year ahead of us.
15 things we're excited about in 2015:

Spiritual
1) Temple every month
2) Idaho Temple trips
3) 15 A.R.K.'s (Evan Almighty reference) 

 Adventures
4) Zions
5) Yellowstone
7) CANADA!!!! ??????
8) Moab/Canyonlands

Derek
9) Hike across Utah (the start of)
10) Not die doing homework
11a) Finish the flooring in the front room
12) "Gun Stuff" or "Take over the World" (He hasn't decided yet)

Michelle
13) Run a Half injury free
14) Read over 30,000 pages
11b) Finishing painting the front room

Ragnar
15) Be as cute as possible!

Yea... that's going to be SO hard for her...

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/last-sequential-date-century-121314-fun-math-lovers-180953413/?no-ist