Catcher in the Rye

Most Recently Read Book:

Catcher in the Rye

By J.D. Salinger

I just finished this book for the second time.  As I mentioned in WAYRG, I read this book in high school and I wanted to reread it to see if I might have a different view of it now that I am an adult.  Basically, I can appreciate it a little more, but I can't say that I really like this book.  The author definitely is able to create a unique voice for a character such that you don't mind reading a book all about what is happening in his life.  My biggest problem is that I completely do not in any way relate to the character and the author doesn't really help me connect with the character.  I'm not sure I blame the author, he definitely does a good job of presenting the character but there is no way he can be sure every reader will identify with a character.  I guess I just can't even connect with the character at all just because it's hard for me to sympathize or empathize with him.  I think this is mainly because of the way the story is told.  I'm not sure I'm making sense!

Let's just say that Holden Caulfield is just not a character who I can identify with and, for the second time, I feel like it was just annoying to read all about this kid's life when in the end, it really doesn't help me grow as a reader.  

Please, if you are a Holden fan or a Catcher fan, tell me why you are and help me see the light!  I really want to like this book, I think I just need some help.  Let this be a good example that books are not one size fits all.  

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

Most Recently Read Book: 

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

By James Patterson

I love this series!  I think this is such a fun series with great characters.  Max, the main character, is really funny and is always making me laugh.  This is the third book in the series about a group of kids who are part bird and who are trying to escape from and bring down the mad scientists who created them in order to save the world.  I liked this book as much as the others.  There was lots of action, a little more drama...and definitely more romance, which I love.  Not too much gushy romance, just a little, but it made the book more interesting to me.  There were a few twists and turns along the way.  I think this is a must read...after you read the first two in the series, that is.  

King Dork

Most Recently Read Book:

King Dork

By Frank Portman

I found this book at the library randomly and just finished listening to it yesterday.  This book was really a funny book after I got into it.  It's basically a year (or so) in the life of a sophomore boy in high school.  He's pretty much a dork and doesn't really have too many friends in school.  It's a totally different perspective from what I have read before.  There are some mature ideas in this book so I would definitely recommend this for at least high school students.  A perfect book for any boy who's into music, too.  

5 Fall Favorites!

5 Fall Favorites!

1. The beautiful color-changing leaves!  I love that we live in a part of the country that has four season, especially in the fall, when the leaves change to yellows and reds and oranges.  I love it.  I remember as a kid we used to drive around in Lake Forest to see all the trees.  When I lived in DeKalb, I remember going home and seeing the leaves and realizing how even from DeKalb to Lake Forest, the scenery could be so different even.  It's not fall without changing leaves!

2. The cool sweater-wearing weather.  I love being able to go out in a sweater but not needing a coat just yet.  I love being able to wear my vest, too.  

3. Halloween!  That includes dressing up, trick-or-treating, and carving pumpkins.  This year we have had so much fun with Jordan.  He loves pumpkins.  Everywhere we go he looks for pumpkins. 

4. Pumpkins...in food!  I love carving pumpkins, but I love eating pumpkins in food just as much!  Pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkins pie, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin coffee...it's pumpkinlicious!

5. Apples...crunch!  I love the apple season, too.  We love to go to the apple orchard.  Edward's has the best apple donuts.  Mmm...freshly baked, they are so yummy.  I love caramel apples and apple cobbler.  

Playhouse Disney 2008

Mickey!!!  We were so excited to go see Mickey on the 18th.  Playhouse Disney came bringing Mickey and his friends, the Little Einsteins, Pooh, Tigger, and Darby, and Handy Manny.  Jordan went with his cousin, Alex, and his friend, Chloe.  We were up high but we were in the first row so it was super easy to see the stage.  Jordan sat in the comfy theater chair at first and then he stood up and danced for part of the show.  It was his first ever theater experience.  

I know this might be sad, but I was just as happy to see Mickey as Jordan was.  I can't help it, I love that mouse.  I have told Chad before that I am still sad that our Disney vacation is over with.  Seriously, it can easily bring tears to my eyes just thinking of the fact that we are not in Disney World any more.  I can't really explain it...Disney World is a real getaway where you just forget about everything in the real world and things like bills and taking out the trash, plus everyone is so nice, there are fun things to do around every corner, and cool places to eat.  It's just fun.  I guess that's what Walt Disney set out to do, but I'm not sure everyone loves it as much as I do.  I kind of think my sadness is probably a little on the weird side...but I can't help it!  Mickey, you are the mouse!

We tried to take a picture of all three kids...and you can see how it turned out.  Chloe was still kind of sick, Alex was watching Mickey, and Jordan was...well, I'm not sure what he was doing.  But, here they are anyway.  

Mickey and his friends!

Jordan and Alex were so excited to be right in the front row where they could see. 

Jordan, Mom, and Mickey.

Chad, Mickey, and Jordan.  

Adrian Peterson Fall Festival 2008

On Columbus Day, Chad was so excited to take us to Adrian Peterson's Fall Festival.  Adrian Peterson is a football player for the Chicago Bears.  We were able to meet tons of Bears, Jordan was able to play and eats lots of food.  I think my pictures are out of order, but they're all here!

Chad, Jordan, and Tommie Harris

Jordan playing in the mini-ball pit. Yes, we do let him play in germ-infested ball pits.    

Jordan and I riding the train.  Choo choo!

Kevin Jones, running bac.k

Jordan, me, and Matt Forte, our rookie running back. 

Matt Forte signing the ball Chad chose for all the players in the backfield to sign.

Me, Jordan, and Rashied Davis, a wide received... and one of my favorite players!

Roberto Garza, Jordan, and me. 

Chad, Jordan, and Desmond Clark.  

Me, Chad, Jordan, and Jason Beekman, an offensive lineman.

Jason McKie, the fullback for the Bears.

Garrett Wolfe!!!!  Another Vincent household favorite!

Adrian Peterson, this is the player who hosted the entire event to raise money for a charity he supports.  

Mall Rats

Mall Mondays!!!  Here we are at the mall!  We have been meeting up with Maddy, Kathy, and Marc (Kathy works with Chad), and Alex, Silvia, and Rob (Silvia is my cousin) to play at the mall.  The kid have a great time...although now they are starting to realize there is way more to the mall than playing inside the play area.  Jordan was waiting for his friends to come on this day and playing on the frog.  

For dinner, we usually get chicken nuggies Happy Meals from McDonald's for the kids.  Jordan and Maddy were dancing under this mall sign because it played music. 

 I tried to capture their dancing but Maddy was more interested in seeing the picture.  I love how they dance!  

Country Bumpkin!

We found a gem this fall at the Country Bumpkin, a cute little pumpkin patch near our house that is just Jordan's size!  It is seriously less than 5 minutes from our house.  For $5 we bought a wristband for Jordan and he was able to jump in the jumpy inflatables, pan for gold, go through the hay maze, see some farm animals, and ride a giant tractor.  Everything was perfect for him and he had a blast running around with all the other kids!

This was the first time Jordan really had fun jumping in one of these things.  He was laughing like crazy and running around in this thing.  Chad and I were cracking up watching him!

You can kind of see the smile on his face!
We were able to watch through these windows in the sides and Jordan would come up and try and say hi to us.  Too, cute.  
Here's Jordan panning for gold.  He loved to put his hands in the water and push the rocks around.
Here he is with all the other kids.  I love how he is not afraid to get in there with other kids, even big kids.  He loves to be where the action is!
Jordan and dad driving the big tractor!
Jordan and I riding the barrel train!  This was an extra cost but we had a coupon for a free ride!  We were pulled through a pretty long trail by a four wheeler.  Jordan kept saying, "Choo, choo!"  It was adorable!
Jordan loves climbing up into big chairs.  And he loves pumpkins!  He tries to pick them up and we taught him to just go and pet the pumpkins instead of trying to pick them up.  He'll usually try first and then declare, "heavy", although it sounds like, "havy" when he says it.  Every where he goes we hear, "Ooo, punkin!"
More water!  He loves to look in the water and throw rocks in water.  From this pictures it seems he doesn't love to pose for pictures...
Jordan had so much fun at our little pumpkin patch!

5 Aunt Jacquie Favorites!

5 Aunt Jacquie Favorites!

1. She drives me crazy like only a sister can!  And, I admit, I drive her crazy, too.  I think it's part of the job title.  

2.  She loves to come over and play with Jordan.  She loves her nephew.  It's fun to see her hang out with Jordan.

3. She loves to read fun young adult books and gets into them as much as I do!  This summer we had so much fun reading the Fablehaven series, the Percy Jackson series, the Maximum Ride series, and, of course, the Twilight series!

4.  She's very sentimental.  Our dad calls her Princess Tender Heart and she does have a serious tender heart when it comes to sentimental stuff from our childhood or last week. 

5. She loves Full Moon ice cream.  The girl knows what she likes, and one think she likes is Full Moon ice cream from Sweets, the ice cream/candy shop in downtown Lake Forest where we grew up...not to be sentimental...

5 Papa Jack Favorites!

5 Papa Jack Favorites!

1. Papa Jack is always the voice of reason.  Ever since I was a kid I could always talk things out with my dad and he could help me figure out what was going on and how I could deal things.  I have fond memories of waiting for the bus with my dad talking about life.

2. Papa Jack always has a good hug in him.  Papa Jack is just a big teddy bear who is always ready to wrap you up in a great hug. 

3. Papa Jack comes to the rescue when you need him.  Any time I had a car problem or a house problem or any other kind of problem, my dad was only a phone call away. 

4.  Papa Jack always has encouraging words of wisdom.  Papa Jack has some great words of wisdom in him, my favorite: Nothing is impossible if broken down into manageable segments, stabilized by faith, and purified by belief.  It's  a classic.

5.  Papa Jack is a great cook!  No one can deny the man can cook and we love it when he does!  

Happy Birthday Aunt Jacquie!!!

Again...it was almost a month ago...but not entirely a month ago so I don't feel entirely bad.  Anyway, Happy Birthday, Jacquie!!!  Doesn't she look cute in her bowling t-shirt?  We were excited Jacquie was home so we could celebrate her birthday with her.  

Aunt Jacquie loves Jordy and Jordy loves his Aunt Jacquie!

Jacquie was excited for her presents, who isn't excited for birthday presents?

Oh, the anticipation!  I love birthdays!

Happy Birthday Papa Jack!

Happy Birthday Papa Jack!  It's been a few weeks...but we did celebate Papa Jack's 60th birthday!  We had a fun island-themed party out on the back patio and in the basement.  The family had fun hanging out and relaxing.  Papa Jack got his Tassimo coffee maker and lots of fun coffee!  

The Birthday Boy!

Alex and Silvia

Wyatt and Sawyer

Chad and me

Guise and Raul

Aunt Kandi and Gamma

Uncle Eric

Aunt Jane and Aunt Jacquie

Jordan and Wyatt playing in the pond in the back.

Everyone had so much fun hanging out.  The boys liked being in the back and playing in the water.  They jumped after the frogs that were everywhere.  It was a beautiful night.  

The Wright Three

Most Recently Read Book:

The Wright Three

By Blue Balliett

I didn't realize this book was the second in a series...but it didn't really matter that I read it out of order.  This is a historical fiction book, which means parts are based on true facts or part of history.  This books happens to be about three kids who help to save a house that was designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright, a very famous architect.  There are plans to tear down the house but the kids find a way to save it.  They have a mystery to solve because they think they see someone in the house.  This book was a very fun adventure mixed in with the history part and even some math and art things, too!  Plus, this book is set in Chicago.  I love to read books that are written in Chicago.  I can't wait to go back and read the first book in this series, Chasing Vermeer.  

I especially liked this book because I recently read Loving Frank for book club and it gave me some background about Frank Lloyd Wright.  I think this book will be really fun to read with Jordan some day.  I would love to read this with him and eat red herring fish (Swedish fish candy)  and take him to visit the Robie house.  

The Thief of Always

Most Recently Read Book:

The Thief of Always

By Clive Barker

This book was recommended by one of my students!  His name is Jose and he thought I would like this book and let me borrow it.  This book is a combination of mystery and fantasy.  The main character, Harvey, is bored with life when a man named Rictus comes along and tells him he can take him somewhere that isn't boring.  He convinces Harvey it's kind of like a vacation and takes him to a place called Holiday House.  Harvey loves being there until he realizes some things there are a little too strange and tries to go home...at first he can't escape, but when he does he finds out for every day he was at Holiday House, one year of his life went by.  The only thing he can do is go back and try to figure out who is controlling everything at the house and find a way to get his "years" back!  

The Pumpkin Patch 2008

THE Pumpkin Patch is the one near Rockford that Chad always used to go to as a kid.  We stopped there on the way back from our NIU/Rockford trip with Chad's parents.  Jordan had fun running around and looking at everything.  Last year he basically couldn't do anything but this year he had a blast!

Chad and Jordan entering the Pumpkin Patch!

Me and Jordan with some fun pumpkins and gourds!

Jordan loved trying to pick up all the pumpkins!

Jordan thought riding this tractor all by himself was pretty cool! 

This is their 12 foot pumpkin!  We take this picture every time we go!

Bubba, Grandma, Chad, and Jordan posing with one of the many fun cutouts!

Jordan liked to see the animals.  I was brave enough to feed a llama.  Here are Jordan, Chad, and Bubba looking at some pigs!

We, of course, had to sit and have an apple donut.  I also tried a pumpkin donut this time.  Jordan loved eating grilled corn on the cob.  It was a great visit to the pumpkin patch!

Pretty Tough

Most Recently Read Book:

Pretty Tough

Liz Tigelaar

I thought this was a great book!  Besides being a great book in general, it was a great book for girls, sisters, and athletes.  There were so many things going on in this book.  Charlie and Krista are sisters.  Charlie basically hates her sister because Krista didn't stand up for her when her best friends started a really mean rumor about her.  When Charlie is recruited for the soccer team,  she decides to try out because she knows it will make Krista mad since Krista is the start of the team.  At first Charlie just wants to make Krista mad but then she really starts to like soccer and they find out that they have to figure out how to get along if they want to succeed on the soccer field.  There's boys and friendship mixed in along the way...and lots of technical soccer stuff, too!   

Visiting Rockford

After the Huskie game...two weeks ago...we drove up to Rockford to stay the night.  Jordan had a blast playing in the hotel.  He loves running up and down the hallways and this time he figured out the ice machine!  

Something else Jordan also figured out is how to climb into a cabinet!   We were so surprised when he just climbed right in, we had to get a video of course!  It's a little hard to see him at first, but he's basically folded up inside of this cabinet sitting up on a shelf.  It gets easier to see him at the end.  Life with Jordan is definitely an adventure!

In the morning, I was up early...unfortunately.  I have a thing with hotel beds, they make me sneeze.  I was up early sneezing like crazy when Chad turns to me and says, "You're gonna wake up Jordy."  So what did I do?  I went to Starbucks.  Luckily, Starbucks is open at 5:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning.  It was so dark out there wasn't even a speck of the sunrise at all.  I enjoyed my grande white chocolate mocha with soy no whip and read my book.  The baristas were amused that I had been kicked out of my hotel room by my husband.  

When I was allowed back in the hotel, we got ready and were off to breakfast with Grandma and Bubba (Chad's parents).  We ate at Machine Shed which was close to the hotel.  Jordan liked to see the fun farm things they have outside the restaurant.  

Up close and personal with a pig!

What is this thing?  I'm not even sure.
Dad and Jordan sat on the big tractor!
Jordan riding the pig.  
Afterwards, we checked out of our hotel and then went to Max's house to watch the Bears game and meet his new baby boy, Braylen.  Max is a friend of Chad's from high school.  Um, I feel really bad, but I have no picture of Max, his wife, Ashley, or Braylen.  Oops.  We did get a picture with Chad's friend Matt who was there with his son, Logan.  His wife Katie was sick.  We missed you, Katie!  (Can you tell a kiddo took this picture?  It's a fun angle.)

After the Bears game we were off to the Pumpkin Patch...but that's a whole 'nother post!

Amelia Rules: When The Past Is A Present

Most Recently Read Book:

Amelia Rules: Volume Four, When The Past Is A Present

By Jimmy Gownly

This was my first ever graphic novel!  One of my students was reading this book and it sounded like a cool series to me.  I have to say, graphic novels are definitely hard for me to read.  I read comics as a kid, but graphic novels are a different, if you ask me.  They definitely use the pictures and placement of words and characters to explain what is happening in the book.  It was hard for me to jump from one even to the next in this book just because I'm not used to it.  The reader definitely has to do more work as far as filling in all the gaps that are left out when the book is told mostly with the graphics and dialogue.  I really liked this book though and I think the characters are really fun.  Amelia does rule!

Half Moon Investigations

Most Recently Read Book:

Half Moon Investigations

By Eoin Colfer

Over the weekend I finished Half Moon Investigations.  This was my first time reading an Eoin Colfer book.  He is well-known for writing the Artemis Fowl books.  I really like Half Moon because it was a mystery book with a fun feeling to it.  Half Moon is a fun character and there are lots of other cool characters in the book.  I think there may be a sequel, I would definitely like to see these characters back!

Remember Me?

Most Recently Read Book:

Remember Me?

By Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella is one of my all time favorite authors!  I love the Shopaholic series, and that is what got me hooked on her.  We chose Remember Me? for book club this month and I loved it!  I devoured it!  This was really a good book.  I read Undomestic Goddess over the summer and that one was good, but I liked this one much better.  I loved the character and there were just parts that had me completely laughing out loud.  Loved it!

Huskie Game! 9/20/08

AH!  I am so behind in blogging!  I was trying to edit pictures last week and had a problem and then I kind of decided I didn't know how to fix it...but it seems to be working okay now, or at least I have pictures that haven't been put up yet that I can put up!

So!  On September 20th, we went to see the NIU Huskies.  It was Jordan's first Huskie game!  In good old Huskie fashion, we had to tailgate with Papa Jack and Grandma's cool Huskie tent.  We bought a fun new grill just for the event as well.  Chad was eager to try it out and our hot dogs turned out great!  The Huskies had a great game and ended up winning by a lot...sorry, I don't know the score, it was enough that we didn't even stay to finish the game because they were that far ahead.  Jordan liked the atmosphere...but it was way to hot for him, especially on the student side, so Grandma spent most of the time hanging out with him outside.  Thanks, Grandma!   Overall, it was a fun time!  

Chad, Jen, and Jordan!

Jane and Gary

Jordan and Grandma

Jordan and Papa

Jacquie and Joe

Jordan in his big kid chair!

Jordan in the stands among the fans!

Aunt Jacquie and Jordan

Joe, Jacquie, and Jen

Chad, Bubba and Papa Jack

Chad, Jordan, and Victor E. Huskie

Papa Jack and Grandma

There were painted Huskies all over DeKalb.  Very cool!