Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Great book! A classic easy to read, great message!

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Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a good book. Very interesting philosophies about success. Like the new way of viewing people with successful lives.

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Angie's Birthday Surprise

My friend Angie's husband contacted me a few months ago to help plan a birthday surprise for Angie.  Her birthday was on May 12th.  We planned the surprise to be at my place the night of May 11th.  I told Angie I had a gift for her and asked if she could stop by.  When she came over.... Ta da, a house full of people for the birthday surprise.

I hope that she had a good time and was surprised.  Her little girl got scared by all the shouts and noise.

 Me and Angie.

Angie and her husband Nathan.

 Can't have a birthday party without a cake!!

 Bri and Zane. 

Best Friends Emersyn and Charlie.  Angie and Nathan's little girl.

Thor

Five big Annie stars for the movie Thor!  I loved it.  I saw it this week with my friend Sarah.  It was much better than I thought it would be.  It was well developed and interesting.  The actors played their parts well.  I was entertained throughout the entire movie.  My favorite role... the gate keeper!  Loved him all the way! It's a great movie of good vs evil with a little romance mixed in. Clean, fun, entertaining.  Can't wait for part II.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

We celebrated my Dad's 66th birthday yesterday.  All of the little girls made him birthday cards and they were all so lovely.  Kim made an awesome German Chocolate Cake from scratch that was amazing!

Then there was the Happy Birthday singing.  From the pictures below you can see Ethan and AJ both took it very seriously.  I have to say I am a tiny bit disappointed in myself that I didn't record the amazing voices of them belting out Happy Birthday to their grandpa.  

Why Ethan is pulling that face I do not know.  And AJ's look as if he is trying out for American Idol was all I could handle.  We laughed for ever over their natural talent and singing control.  

I don't know if anyone could have done better.  It was a lot of fun. Happy Birthday to my Dad!  I love you all the way!

Tanning Trip #7

Brianna and I headed out over the weekend for our annual tanning trip to Mesquite.  This is the 7th year we have followed the tradition.  We have actually come up with a pretty stricked ritual.  We leave on Friday afternoon.  We drive to St. George and stop for In N Out hamburgers.  We finish the drive to Mesquite, check into the hotel, get in our pajamas and watch TV until we fall asleep.

Bri sitting pool side. 

On Saturday morning we go get a massage. It's heaven. Then we go to Walmart by all the slutty magazines, some treats and diet Pepsi.  Then we go lay out at the Casa Blanca Pool for the rest of the day. Around 4:00ish in the afternoon we pack up our pool bags and head back to the hotel.

I was so excited to wear my hat! Ha! :)

We shower and get semi-ready, meaning we don't wear any make-up or fancy clothes.  We take our selves out to dinner and then to see a movie.  This year we ate at Los Lupes.  Which was fabulous and I highly recommend and saw Water for Elephants as you can see in my post below.  Then on Sunday morning we wake up. Eat the free breakfast at the hotel and head for home.  It is one of the best weekends ever!!  I hope the tradition last forever!

Water for Elephants-- The Movie

As you all know I just finished reading the book Water for Elephants and I liked it good enough.  Well, this weekend I saw the movie - Water for Elephants.  I liked it good enough.  The book was better as most books are that are later made into movies.  Again the way the treat the animals is a little rough at times.  I have to admit it made me cry a little.  But, it was only because they were being mean to the animals and I was away from Charlie and it made me miss him.  I know, I know totally pathetic and I don't even care.  Good movie.  I would recommend seeing it.

Race for the Cure 2011

I look forward to the Race for The Cure every year.  This year I experienced more excitement because my Mom decided to participate.

Colette also came to the race again this year.

Kim came and brought a lot of her family members which made for a very fun, emotional race.   I am so proud of my mom for deciding she wanted to walk the race with us.  When we started we thought we would participate in the 1 mile walk.  As we got to the 1 mile marker Mom decided she wanted to go the entire distance.  I was so happy she was pushing herself for such a great cause. 

Breast Cancer or any cancer for that matter is no respecter of persons.  It effects the old, the young, the happy, the healthy, the depressed.  It is an awful disease.  The Race for The Cure is a fight specifically against Breast Cancer.  I am happy to participate and hopefully make a small difference in the lives of women, friends, husbands and children that have to experience the trials of this disease. 

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good book! Not on my list of favorite books ever but I would recommend it. I would like to know how much of it is true..I'm assuming most of it. If you are an animal lover it might be upsetting for you to read. It doesn't make me want to go to the circus anytime soon, either.

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Some Good News

I got some good news today.  I received the email below.  I'm so happy.  Back to School I go, I hope.  I'll know for sure in a couple of weeks... but, so far, so good!

Laurann,

Your application to the Distance MBA Program at Colorado State University is complete and been reviewed in the College of Business.  Your GMAT waiver request has been granted.  You are being recommended for admission to the Graduate School.  The official admission decision is made in the next two to three weeks.

Thank you.

Rachel

Graduate Admissions Manager

College of Business

110M Rockwell Hall - West

1270 Campus Delivery

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, CO 80523-1270

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY!

I want to say Happy Mother's Day to my Mom.  She is an amazing lady.  I am grateful for everything she has taught me and all of the support she gives me.  She is very special to me.  I hope she has a wonderful Mother's day!

Family Affair by Debbie Macomber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book is a good little romance. Easy to read. Not over the top but just fine.


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Fast 5 in Brazil!

I saw the Fast and the Furious 5 last weekend.  I loved it!  I felt like I was in a party in the theater.  That may have helped persuade me to enjoy the movie.  I've seen a few of the other Fast and Furious movies.  The second one is my favorite and this is probably next in line.  It is clever and fun and full of good looking men.  It actually has a good theme of sticking together as a team and supporting your family.  And folks, let's be honest, it's filmed in Brazil... nothing can be bad with a stage like Rio de Janeiro Brazil.  This movie won't likely change your life but it is great for a Friday or Saturday date night thrill.

The Complete Long Stories of Shelock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not 100% sure this is the right cover of the Sherlock Holmes book I read but Goodreads doesn't have a copy of the book I read.  I do know that it was a book with various stories of Sherlock Holmes.  It was an okay book.  I wasn't dying over it and mostly just plowed through finishing it to count it toward my reading goal for the year.  Sorry Sherlock, I love you, just didn't gush over the book.

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Redefining Joy in the Last Days by Chris Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a great book to read on a Sunday afternoon.  I like the hope it instills.  Great book to promote faith and patience.  Also helps you to be grateful for what you have. Great Book!


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I did it..

I did what I said I was going to do.  After the Royal Wedding on Friday I was fascinated with the hats the women were wearing.  Yesterday I went out to buy myself a hat. Ta da!  Do you like it?  I can't even wait to wear it. Yay!!

Anthem by Ayn Rand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am quickly becoming a huge fan of this author. I love her thoughts of individualism, capitalism, and talent development.  I love the language of the book and the tense in which it is written.  It is short, easy to read, entertaining, thought provoking and left me with a feeling of inspiration.  I highly recommend this book.

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