The Christmas Sweater

I must admit, I love a good and even a bad Christmas story. I totally enjoyed this one, "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck. It's a quick read, so if you have a few extra moments sit down and enjoy.
Based on events that happened in Glenn Becks life, it tells of boy named Eddie, who expects a bike that he thinks he deserve but instead receives a home made sweater. This starts a series of events in which he learns some truths about life. We become who we are based on events that happen in our lives, but we don't have to remain that person. In order to not remain in stagnation, in order to be the best person we can be, we must face the demons of our pasts & be prepared to face the demons that will come our way in the future(the storm in the story). Forgiveness and redemption are underlying themes. In the book, this takes place over a years time, but in real life it took Glenn a lifetime to learn this.
At the end in the post-log he makes an important statement that defines or wraps up the Christmas to Easter concept. "Without his death, the birth would have been meaningless." (p. 271) Something to think about.

Our Luck

Preston spent a large portion of his Saturday detailing the inside of the van. He literally cleaned every nook and cranny. We joked that every time he washed the outside it rained ( a rare thing in Arizona) and we wondered what would happen to the inside now that he scrubbed it...

Well, I will tell you what happened. Less than 48 hours later Tyler, who is almost 4, threw up for the first time in his entire life all over the inside. Seriously I couldn't stop laughing, poor guy was barfing and I was in hysterics. I think the van must be cursed - and we will have to buy a new car...I'm thinking this one would do just fine

Christmas was fantastic...we had a good time this year enjoying Preston's time off work and eating ourselves into a stupor. Here are a few of the events of our Christmas...
1.The Spaghetti Factory. A Golding Family Tradition to eat Spaghetti Factory every year during the Christmas Season.

Notice the cheese caked on Tyler's Face...yummmYeah, he's licking the parmesan cheese off the table...what can I say? He's an animal.

On a side note...Spaghetti Factory is having adult entrees for $2.35 and Kids meals for $1.99 on January 6th...just thought you might like to know.

2. Baking, Eating, Baking and Eating some more.

Santa's Dipped Oreos...I don't know for sure, I mean, I didn't get to talk to him BUT I think he LOVED them!

3. Preston as King Herod...what more can I say? Priceless!

This was his, "no more paparazzi" look

4. Having a sit down with Santa

You can see the panic in his eyes

This is the first year he's sat on Santa's lap without serious amounts of screaming!

Although I know it's not true...when I look at this one I think he and Tyler look like old friends-possiblly discussing the "good ol' days" in elf school.

5. Irony

This picture was taken on Christmas Eve....a Valentines display !!!

6. Presents...
Preston putting a toy together with real tools and Tyler helping with his new tool set.

Ethan's favorite present - Light Bright
Tyler's favorite present - Bud's Ark. We are still trying to convince him that it's "Noah's Ark" but he swears the bearded man's name is Bud...

7. 24

Rented on Netflix...they have taken over our evenings. Go Jack!!

8.The Coolest Aunt EVER!!!
Check out the gift my sister Lindsey bought the boys...she now goes down as the coolest aunt in the history of aunts!

A Karaoke Christmas

Grandma Nori bought us a Karaoke Machine this year and it has been so much fun. Fun for us...the neighbors may not agree. Seriously the best gift ever. We are in love
We're going to have a big Karaoke Party soon...if you live in Arizona you should come...if you don't get some plane tickets - the laughs will be worth it!!


Coming Soon: Ethan and Tyler Rock Out

The Newest Member

Hi! My name is Beverly, and I'm excited to be a part of Andrea's blog.  I love to read (when I can find the time)- and am always looking for new good books to read. I'm the mom of 6, and I've known Andrea for a long time. She was one of my favorite babysitters when we lived in Illinois, and she watched my two oldest when they were between the ages of newborn-4 yrs. old (they are now 14 & 12).  I'm currently PTA pres., and a radKIDS instructor, so finding time to read is difficult for me. I love 'get aways' with my husband for that reason, because then I can read, read, read - it drives my husband CRAZY! A few of my favorite books are The Book Thief, The Red Tent, and The Year of Magical Thinking.  I am currently reading Identical Strangers - which I am finding very interesting because my two youngest girls are identical twins.  It is the story of two women (identical twins) who were secretly separated at their adoptions, for a nature vs. nurture 'study', and find each other at age 35. Extremely interesting. I look forward to finding some great book recommendations here. Thanks, Andrea, for letting me be a part!

This picture looks creepy. The movie is much better!

I just watched part 1 of the Masterpiece Theater adaptation of Jane Eyre and it was so so good. I loved the book and I was sure that any movie would fall so short and leave me disappointed BUT this so far has been amazing. I love it. I rented it from Netflix so - I am waiting for disk 2 to come! I can get the whole miniseries on Amazon for 15 dollars...Preston - my birthday is in March!!

At this moment, I feel completely hopeless. I am so ashamed of myself and what I have allowed myself to become. I want to be someone else. I hate that I hit him. I hate that I let myself go that far.
I hate that he said F. you. I hate that it hurt me so much.
I want to run. To sit in a cabin in Colorado -mountians all around me - and a house full of books. I want to avoid life. Core belief stuff...I can never trust anyone. Never with my heart. Never to see the best in me. Never to protect me. I can't trust anyone, not even myself.
I want to live in isolation because then I can never hurt them, and they won't hurt me.
Never
Never
They deserve better. They shouldn't even know that this stuff happens in the world. Their minds should be filled with magic.

It's A Girl.........

We adopted the sweetest four year old Lab today. It's nice to not be the only female in the house...about time!

The History of Love

The History Of Love
by Nicole Krauss

Thank you Lynsey for lending me your book, " The History of Love." This book was beautifully written with real characters that made you laugh and think and cry and hope and when the whole thing was through you want to start it over again. Sometimes you are in the mood for a light book, one that makes you laugh and one that requires as little thinking as possible...this is not that book...it does make you laugh - at times I was laughing out loud and Preston was looking at me - but it's a book that forces you to think and to feel...two of my favorite ingredients in a book.

Praise for The History of Love

"Ingenious." - New York Times

"At least as heartbreaking as it is hilarious." - Washington Post

A significant novel, genuinely one of the year's best. -- New York

Brilliant. An achievement of extraordinary depth and beauty. -- Newsday

Confirms the depth and breadth of her talent. -- Vogue

Wonderful and haunting....Deftly layered …with deceptively nimble humor and unsentimental tenderness. -- Miami Herald

Next up Edgar Sawtelle...have you guys started yet?