Books of 2012.

I only read 25 books in 2012. I usually try to read somewhere between 40 and 70 per year. (Big range, I know. I believe in being flexible). The year I had Sonnet, I only read 7. A couple years after that I read 65. So you know, I'm nothing if not fickle.

I guess something about having a new baby and a kid in school and a husband in the engineer's academy this year sucked up some of my energy reading time. Seriously, I just feel so... distracted. But that's another whine post for another time. :)

Suffice it to say, I have a super long list of books to tackle in 2013... and I'm excited about it. :) I really like to read, so I'm going to try to get back into it with more gusto in the coming year.

For now, here's a review of what I did get to...

1. The 5 Love Languages
Gary Chapman

I found it interesting and useful. My review here.

2. Timeline
Michael Crichton

I am obsessed with all things time travel. BUT this was only so-so. A bit confusing and a tad too corny. (Which, I think were the same words I used last time I read a Crichton novel. Maybe I should learn from past mistakes?)

3. Decision Points
George W. Bush

I am one of the few people on the planet who still likes The Dub. I loved hearing his experiences in his own words and learning a bit about what goes on behind the scenes of politics.

4. Unbroken
Laura Hillenbrand

Amazing! It's the kind of story that should be depressing, but somehow, it was interesting, relatable, and inspiring. If you want a non-fiction to read, read this one. If nothing else, it will make you feel grateful for your life. 

5. The Happiness Project
Gretchen Rubin

A bit too "organized" for me. I agree with the idea that you do actually have to "work" at having/recognizing/creating happiness in your life, but this felt like too much of a "project" to me. (Duh, it's in the title). I just have a different personality than the author, I think. Still, I did really like it and I appreciate her logical plan of attack. There were several quotes that really stuck out to me. My review here.

6. I've Got Your Number
Sophie Kinsella

Oh my gosh. Looooooved this! I laughed out loud several times. It was fun and girly and silly and sweet, but not dumb. I just adored it. (A few swear words, so those with sensitive ears beware.)

7. Can You Keep a Secret?
Sophie Kinsella

This was cute too, but I didn't adore it like I did the last Kinsella I read. Still, her books are always enjoyable for me. Her main characters are just so easy to like.

8. The Power of Habit
Charles Duhigg

I kind of feel like this should have just been a mini-book or a journal article or something. I felt like it was a stretch to write a whole book on the topic... it didn't all relate or tie together well enough for me. But, the parts where it explained how a habit is created and what actually happens in the brain was SO fascinating to me. I wrote a bit about it here.

9. Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand

Well, we all know this is one of my favorite books on the planet. I've read it several times and I go back to it whenever I need to feel "understood." I just so agree with *most* of the philosophy and when I feel like the world is falling down around me and all I want to do is "shrug," or when I need to be inspired to work harder, I pay a little visit to Taggart Transcontinental and all is right in the world again.

10. Rebecca
Daphne Du Maurier

And this is one of my other favorite books on the planet. I first read this in 6th grade and I have read it about a million times since. That awful, dark, gorgeous Rebecca, and the poor, first-name-less Mrs. de Winter, and Manderley itself... it all just sucks me in. I seriously have the entire floor plan, decor, and grounds of Manderley mapped out in my head. I swear if I went to the English coast, I could find it. It's real for me, people. :)

11. Great Expectations
Charles Dickens

Well, it's a classic. I had to read it in high school and I remember not liking it. I still didn't really like it, but I understood it a lot better this time and I do appreciate the talent of Dickens. I have a goal to read more "classics" in the future, so this was my toe-in-the-pond.

12. A Thomas Jefferson Education
Oliver Demille

Loved and adored this! A fantastic guide for well... anyone. But especially for parents who care about and want to be involved in their kids' education, no matter if they homeschool, attend private school, or public school... who want to be "mentors" to their children and teach them in a way that they can receive the education worthy of their potential. The book is all about teaching our kids to love learning just for the sake of learning, to think for themselves, that education is ultimately their responsibility, to become knowledgeable in a variety of areas, to study the classics, to get off the "conveyor belt," to learn to communicate effectively, and to prepare to be "statesmen" who can inspire and lead others.... Seriously, I want everyone to read this.... and practice it!

13. Running Barefoot
Amy Harmon
This was fantastic! Clean and cute and sweet without being corny or fluffy. A bit romantic, very real, touching, funny... just an all around good book. You will like it.

14. Slow Dance in Purgatory
Amy Harmon
Super cute. Super fun story...

15. Prom Night in Purgatory
Amy Harmon
I was a tiny bit disappointed in the way everything was explained, but I love the characters, and I love anything to do with time travel, and really, the book was good.

16. Rules of Civility
Amor Towles
A wee bit "artsy" for my taste, and maybe a tad too sad, but I liked it.

17. Being George Washington
Glenn Beck
I have a great respect for George Washington and have studied a bit about his life. I like how this book felt more "personal" and I liked learning more about him and analyzing why he did what he did and how I can learn from him.

18. Mr. Churchill's Secretary
Susan Macneal
Fun, historical fiction. I read it in about 2 seconds. I liked it.

19. Unwind
Neal Shusterman
Super weird premise, but somehow not a weird book. Better than I expected. But, I didn't love it.

20. Princess Elizabeth's Spy
Susan Macneal
Another in the "Maggie Hope" series. Good. Fun. Fine...

21. The Time Keeper
Mitch Albom
Interesting... Kept me wanting to read... But ultimately, not all that great for me. I don't know what it is about this author.... "Tuesdays with Morrie" was phenomenal.... his other books I have tried have fallen flat for me.

22. How Do You Kill 11 Million People?
Andy Andrews
I love the premise. Love. I love what he's trying to tell people. "How loud are you singing?" I just wish he would have said MORE! (The book is more like a pamphlet). I could have gone for 300 more pages. (I've read a couple other books by this author and really like his stuff).

23. The Gospel According to Coco Chanel
Karen Karbo
Eh. Chanel interests me (and of course, her suits do too) and I suppose this was kind of a fun way to learn about her, but I wasn't really "feeling" the author and since she injects so much of her own commentary in the book, I didn't love it.

24. Tuck Everlasting
Natalie Babbitt
I just love and adore this book. I've read it several times now. (I also love the corny movie they made a few years back). Such a good story and such beautiful writing. Reading it this time made me wonder why I have never read anything else by this author since her writing style is so up my alley. I now have a couple of her others books on my "to read" list. 

25. OK For Now
Gary D. Schmidt
Love! He's the dude who wrote "Wednesday Wars" which I read last year and adored. The writing is like a G-rated version of 'The Catcher in the Rye...' so quick and smart and funny. Apparently I am a huge fan of Gary D. Schmidt and will be reading all his mid-grade fiction. :)

Kid Art.

Love notes from your kiddies are just so cute, are they not? Sonnet made me a card with a picture of her doing the dishes. :) Haha. Love. :)

 

Family Outing.

We went to check out the gardens and water show at the Bellagio. Sonnet loves it! We try to go every "season." Stetson was very unimpressed. Of course, I have to oogle the stuff in Chanel and Tiffany's while I'm there. :)

 

Taxi!

Stetson found a new use for his Tonka Truck! Good thing he has a sister who's always willing to push him around the house! :)

 

New Duds.

Stetson got a few new outfits for Christmas. Really, I just wanted an excuse to take another picture of him. I can't help it. He's so cute! :)

 

Sonnet's Cafe.

Sonnet is obsessed with her Easy Bake Oven. Today she got up and told me she wanted to "bake a tons of things and go to the park and set up a table and sell her food!" Nate talked her into setting up a little cafe at home for us instead. She made a menu, made some play money, baked cupcakes and cakes, made sandwiches and tons of other food, assigned a price to everything, made us sit down at the table and then took our orders, served our food, and brought us change. Then, of course, she left the mess for me to clean up. It was pretty darn cute and fun though! :)

 

Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve, Sonnet put out oreo cookies and milk for Santa. We hung our "magic key" on our front door so Santa could get in since we don't have a chimney, and we said bye to our elf Anna. Sonnet wanted to go to bed early, but really she spent most of the night looking out her window trying to spy Santa. :)

Christmas morning, Stetson woke up about 6:45 and we snuggled in my bed until Sonnet woke up a half hour later. Nate brought the kids downstairs and Sonnet was so excited! The first thing she saw was her huge hippo sitting on the couch. She was super happy! She has dragged him around the house all day. :)

 

Stetson got a huge stuffed horse and he laughed and laughed at it.

Then he tasted it, because you know, that's what good babies do. :)

We opened stockings... and then took turns opening presents...

 

Stetson finally got his hands on the Christmas tree and he was in full-on Destructo mode.

He got a Tonka truck and he loves pushing it around the house.

 

 

Sonnet got a "knock-off" American Girl doll named Sadie that she is quite taken with. She also asked for high heels, the new Tinkerbell movie, a Barbie guitar, the Dora mermaid, and a few other little things.

 

Nate got her one of those recordable story books. She has one that my parents gave her a few years back and she loves it. We figured it would be cute for her to have one so Daddy could read her a bedtime story even when he's at the station. :)

The thing she most wanted was an Easy Bake Oven. My parents got that for her and she was so excited. So far she has made us LOTS of cupcakes... ;)

 

 

 

My parents also gave Stetson some toys and they bought both of the kids some super cute clothes. Stetson mostly loved eating the wrapping paper. :) 

 

We had our traditional brunch of quiche, a pull-apart, bacon, and fruit. In the afternoon, Nate and I traded off taking naps.

We had such a nice day together and I am grateful we have each other, that we are all healthy, warm, clean, and fed... that we could buy each other fun gifts and spend time together...

It was a merry Christmas! :)

Merry Christmas, Mama!

Sonnet made this for me at school. Love the cheesy grin! :)

Christmas Eve Eve.

My brother and his wife came down for Christmas, but they had to leave on Christmas Eve and go back to Utah because Hayden had to work on Christmas Day, so we did our "Hoffman" family party on the day before Christmas Eve.

 

 

We went out to my parent's place in Boulder City and had dinner. Yum yum yum.

Then we read Luke 2 and did the nativity. Sonnet was Mary and she brought her favorite doll to be Jesus. She didn't want Stetson to do it because she said he was to "wiggly."

 

 Then we all shared a talent. Sonnet sang "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas"...

And Stetson showed off his walking skills...

I recited "The Christmas Guest" and Nate showed us how to do CPR. :)

Then we watched "The Candy Bomber," did a "snack pass," and played BINGO. Then we opened stockings and presents.

 

 

Stetson was excited to open his first present! He's been dying to rip open the presents under the tree for weeks. :)

 

Hayden and Stetson! :) Nice muscles!

 

I love my brother. I love my family. We had such a nice night together. Growing up, we always did a nice Christmas party at my grandparent's house and it was something I really looked forward to. We dressed up, had dinner, we did the nativity, we shared talents, and we exchanged presents. The last few years since my grandparents died, I've really missed the big family parties from my childhood. This year, all felt right in the world again. :) It's strange that I'm my mom now and my parents are the grandparents and Sonnet is me- haha- but then again, it all feels right. I am grateful that Sonnet is close to my parents like I was to my grandparents and that we can all get together for special occasions like Christmas.