WinterFeast

We attended the annual WinterFeast this last weekend. I have to admire my husband who is willing to not only dress up in costume with me, but in a kilt! The night was great fun. We had a beautiful dinner of roasted vegetables, potatoes, Chicken Wellington, and prime rib plus dessert. It was more food than I could eat. I had never had Chicken Wellington before. I enjoyed it. The entertainment was fun. A juggler, a magician and a group of singers. I have included some pictures for you to enjoy. Melanie was on a choir trip to Minneapolis but she was able to show up for the last 1/2 hour. Now our Renfest season gets underway. We have trainings, performances and meetings right up until our festival the first weekend in June.

Reading...avid or addicted?

As an avid reader, (I say avid, Paul says addicted), I am always looking for a good book. When I finish a series, I always feel a panic sweep over me wondering what I will read next. So, I am all for sharing. Many of my friends and relatives belong to Goodreads.com which allows us to share what we are reading and what we have read. It also allows one to rate and review. It is a great resource for finding what to read next. I just finished one of the best series I have ever read...The Nine Kingdoms Series. I read all three is 6 days. Please share your favorite books with me!

Latest news from here...

Here is the latest from South Dakota...
It is cold!
Steph will be home this Saturday. I am so excited.
Melanie went to winter formal last night. Her friends all came to dinner here...there were 12-13 of them. They all wore black but one so I teased them about going to a funeral. We had spent the day at the temple on a youth baptism trip so it was a big, long, day.
Sam and his best friend went to church in Brandon and then drove to church in Sioux Falls and went to the last 1 1/2 of 2nd ward...teens wanting more church???? I will leave the reasons up to your imagination!
We are headed to the Devotional tonight and then over to our friends to see the finale of Amazing Race.

Wow...yeah...Wow!

Well, I finished all the Twilight books, including the online draft of Midnight Sun and saw the movie in 9 days. I have to say, that was the most powerful series I have ever read and I am having a little trouble getting back to reality. Part of me wants to stay engrossed in the obsessive Cullen world. I now understand...

I really shouldn't have read these books...

So while I am shopping Monday night, I decide to pick up a copy of "Twilight". I got tired of waiting for one of Mel's friends to drop it off. I took it home and started reading a bit that evening...It is now Friday morning and I have finished "Twilight" and "New Moon" and am going to have to brave Black Friday before going in to work to pick up "Eclipse". Mel, Nate and I went to see the movie Wednesday night after church was over. I enjoyed the movie but as any reader knows...
I did not enjoy reading "New Moon". I found it so difficult to read through her pain. I was so thankful that Mel had already told me a bit about their future or I might not have made it through. Even so, it was difficult to read through my own tears. I really do get caught up in books too easy.

Facebook

I love facebook. I have connected with people I knew in grade school, both high schools, other towns that I have lived in, relatives on every side, and so many others. It is such an easy way to communicate. It has saved me from having to make at least one phone call a day. Case in point...our primary pres was sick yesterday and so I conducted. Later in the afternoon she was on so we chatted for about 2 min and I got her all the info she needed. I also can see what is going on in others lives without having to call them up and I can see the pictures they post. It is like blogging at times...except that many of my friends on facebook are men and they aren't really into the blogging thing like this. I reconnected with a friend from middle/high school whom I haven't talked to in 22 years. She is now an art teacher in the school system. I found another friend from grade school who used to tease me something fierce about being a member of the church and wouldn't you know...he joined 4 years ago. Paul is on it too. He has connected with friends from school and from his mission and we both are friends with our children's friends. Sometimes I find out more from facebook than I do from people. Not sure that is good. I know I sound like a commercial. I am just amazed at technology. I never thought I would talk to many of these people again in my life and it has been so fun to do so!

Life Today.

I know I should be blogging about the amazing things I heard on Glenn Beck this morning or the terrible service we have experienced at restaurants this last few weeks but I would rather talk about my family. Ben earned a Book It award for Pizza Hut so we went tonight...then we spent over two hours on homework! Mel and Sam worked. Mel is off to her friends house where they are getting geared up to see the midnight showing of "Twilight". I know, it is a school night but... and Paul, Nate and Sam are off moving a stove for one of the rentals in the freezing cold. It is supposed to get to 5F. That is mighty chilly. The popcorn sales are in so now I get to stare at it until Thanksgiving...which we are not being traditional this year. I have to work the day before and the two after so we are settling for pizza, popcorn, pop and football. Doesn't get much better than that. I am also on a countdown for Steph to get home. I am thinking of beginning the "Twilight" books tomorrow.