Lunch Date with Su Su & Mommy

YUM YUM!

 One of the many joys Sadie and I experience is the chance to have random play days with Su Su while Daddy is at work. On this particular day, we decided to go have lunch at Freebirds then get some Jamba Juice! Sadie was a great eater--eating her quesadillas along with her rice and beans. This has always been a favorite hot spot for Sadie so we were glad to share it with Su Su!

Check out those teeth!

 After eating lunch, Sadie's little feet carried her out of the restaurant and immediately next door (literally) to Jamba Juice. We have obviously gone enough times that Sadie has learned the way to the after-lunch fruity treat. She posed with Su Su for a quick smile and a "cheeeese" then took a quick shot with Mommy.

"CHEEEEEEEESE" with Su Su

Jamba Juice Excitement

 Before leaving, Sadie always likes to sit on the bar area and share her drink with Mommy--taking turns sharing her tiny drink with Mommy's bigger one (and occasionally enjoying holding both!). She has always been a great "sharer"--at least when it comes to Mommy and Su Su. :)

Sharing with Mommy

One.....TWO!!!!!

Book Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

It has been a while since I have entertained myself with a good dystopia. Contrary to popular belief--and my apparently outgoing personality--I have always enjoyed the "dark and twisty" found in any dystopia. Understand that I don't necessarily classify Dorian Gray as dystopian, but is is certainly dark and twisty. 

The story is about a beautiful man--Dorian Gray--and his friend, Basil, paints and exquisite picture of him early on in the story. Dorian is made aware of his beauty and innocence (thereby losing the latter) by a friend--Lord Henry. From this point on, Wilde takes his reader on a journey through the soul of a man slowly being lost to evil desires and fleshly gain. I speak in nebulous terms because there is nothing worse that someone else spoiling a story for you. So, if you fancy reading it--you'll still be surprised. 

In any case, the "twist" in the story is centered around the unusual (dare I say, magical?) portrait painted, that gives Dorian a bit of an immortal existence or beauty for an extended amount of time. A love, a murder, and natural greedy aims are all thrown in for good measure, making this a book I wish I had read earlier so I could have taught it in the high school classroom. Delightful--well, for a dark and twisty novel, that is. :o)

Book Review: The Help

  

After inhaling Summer by Wharton, I felt the immediate need to embrace a new read. I thought about going the more "canonical" route (since most of them are free on amazon kindle), but instead opted for something a bit more current - The Help by Kathyrn Stockett. It is apparently her first published work and I have no doubt there will me more great reads to come. I was also incentivized to read this novel because I knew the movie was coming out soon. Susan had read it much earlier and raved about it, so I thought I'd just hop on the popular literary bandwagon.

The novel was superb. One of the main characters, Skeeter, was a hilarious sketch of an awkard, but self-confident young woman who needs the guidance of The Help  in order to help make a difference in the small (and considerably racist) town of Jackson, Mississippi in the early 60s.

I found myself sacrificing sleep to read "just a few more pages" and I feel certain this is how you know you're reading something very special. It may not be the perfect picture of realism or literary modernity or typify any other notable literary theories, but it was entertaining and heart-warming - which is sometimes just what this little bookworm needs. It is, after all, fun to read something that is written well and entertaining. So, hail to enjoyable reads--those welcomed pages of escape and adventures just waiting to be discovered.

Book Review: Summer

 

I have been reading,researching and writing about Mexican American immigrant journeys for two years. Since giving birth to Sadie came in the middle of my thesis work, I have experienced an extended stay in the last couple of moments of grad research--faithfully plugging away with each stolen moment to reach the end goal of a thesis worth reading and sharing with others who will listen. My work (both thesis and mothering) has left be someone bereft in the way of notable and recent literary reads--I haven't read anything "for fun" in ages. Every time I would pick up a book at the local Barnes and Noble and felt its smooth cover across my fingertips, I would be overcome with a sudden feeling of guilt that I was somehow forsaking my research reading anything unrelated. It took a long time to give up these nonsensical sentiments and do something fun.

When I ventured out for something. I wanted it to be "worth my time" away from my work. Consequently, I pursued a suggestion by my thesis director, Dr. White, and downloaded Summer by Edith Wharton to my Kindle. I had previously relished the delicious words Wharton in a class with dear Dr. McNamara. Age of Innocence served a perfect example of realism and the plot left you both wonderfully frustrated and in awe at Wharton's natural mastery of prose. 

After starting Summer,  and in a patter of page turns, I was lost in the world Wharton created in a sleepy little town of North Dormer located at the base of a mountain filled with "uncivilized" people cut of from the town. Charity Royall, Wharton's repressed protagonist, is a girl saved from the throes of the uncivilized by the town's local lawyer, Mr. Royall. However, she sees him only as a father-figure, focusing instead all her adoration on Lucius Harney - the "big city man" come to town do to a series of sketches. 

I shall speak no more of the plot, other than she is freed and repressed through her relationship (with whom, you'll have to read!). The close of the novel is shocking (especially with its 1917 publication date) and delightful in that Wharton allows her reader to be taken by the plot. I am rarely surprised by the endings of books, but this one different. A true picture of realism and a much needed shot (of fun) in the arm for me as a reader. 

Oh, fun reads! How I have dreadfully missed you. :)

Sadie and Collin's Inside Joke

Friends are very important. Sadie and little Collin Ernst seemed to have discover this nugget and learn to appreciate it from an early age. Katy, Collin, and our dear friend, Annie, were over the other day for some play time. Sadie loves looking at the "bah-beee." She says hi to Collin, pats him gently on the back and stares in delight at his ten tiny toes, exclaiming "toes!" On this visit, Collin and Sadie found something immensely hilarious and we captured it on film. Their laughing warmed our hearts and gave us all a good chuckle as well. 

The Fantastic Freeman Library

A couple of weeks ago Granny and I took Sadie to the Freeman library for the first time. She loved it and we found a great new hang out spot for us when school starts! Besides countless toddler times and droves of books, there are several other fun spaces and games for little tykes. Here are just a few shots of our fun day together!

Playing with another toddler, two year old Mason

Sadie loved the puppet show stage! Peek-a-boo!

A computer just for Sadie!

Mommy helping Sadie work on the computer

My friend, Ashley wrote the white book (to the right of the pink one).

Coffee with Mommy

Sadie and I have adventures out every day together. This day was no different. About a week ago, we decided to head to Dunn Bros. Coffee Shop in Friendswood. It has become a favorite local hot spot. Sadie charmed the staff and they offered her a sticker (seen in the photo on my neck - lovingly placed there by Sadie). She strutted around in her mermaid shirt flirting with the customers then finally found a comfy seat. The big white chair of her choice was big enough for us both to share while eating our delicious "Morning Glory" bran muffin. We were also thrilled to discover than the coffee shop serves ice similar to Sonic! We crunched on ice and ate up our muffin then headed out. However, before we left I remembered to take a picture with my phone. I asked Sadie to say "cheese" and she sweetly complied and this was our shot. For some reason, she puts her finger up near her face whenever she takes a picture. This was just a small daily joy for us - no big trip to the zoo or out of town, but these little moments of joy are what I most   treasure during these first years with my sweet daughter. I want to remember the simple moments of happiness I have shared with Sadie. So thankful to have been given my little girl. 

Piggy Polish

Several weeks ago I pulled out the nail polish and Sadie took an immediate interest in it. She said, "Yah!!" as she pointed to it and shook her head up and down. I asked her if she wanted me to paint her toes and she screamed, "YEAAHH!" Clearly she has seen Mommy's toes and wanted some polish for herself. I looked everywhere for pink - I mean everywhere. Who paints their toddler's toes crimson red? Well, apparently, I do, because all I could find was black (from an apparently goth nail phase) and red. I figured red was the lesser of two evils. So, she sat down with a towel under her feet and held perfectly still for a foot and a half. By the last few toes she was so excited to look at them she had trouble sitting still. When we were finished she squealed with glee and immediately walked over to Daddy and said, "Oooooooooooooooooooo." Daddy responded appropriately and reciprocated her delight. I didn't post up immediately because I worried about what others would think. Then I remembered that she is my daughter and since when have I let others dictate how I raise my child? James and I work to reveal Christ to her every day through our love for her and the least of my worries is piggy polish. So, I quickly rejoined the present moment of glee and basked in the glories of being a girl. Here's to more mommy / daughter moments. Girls are divine. :)