One of These Girls is Not Like the Other


Reilly just got her 7th Grade School pictures back...wow...am I ever struck by how completely dissimilar Reilly and I are in our 7th grade experiences. Completely different...HUGELY different. I was prepared for Reilly to have a difficult transition into 7th grade...people warned me...EVERYONE warned me. I was especially expecting it because her best friend, Noelle, was moving to live with her dad in California so Reilly would be flying solo. What I was completely unprepared for was how SMOOTH of a transition she would have. What? I am still haunted by my horrific 7th grade year full of awkwardness, low self-esteem and tears. THAT I can deal with...I'm prepared...I have skills in this area. Confidence and self-esteem...that I am at a loss for.

So far 7th grade has been good to Reilly. I drilled her on what to do if none of her friends had her lunch and she didn't have anyone to sit with; I drilled her on what to do if she was afraid to talk to her teachers if she was confused about something; I drilled her on what to do if she couldn't open her locker; I drilled her on what to do if it took her awhile to find friends; or if she felt shy; or if people were rude; or if she got bad grades on her first mid-term report card...hello life of Kristin...but alas none of it was needed.

Reilly has friends; she had zero concern about the lunch room (I still have nightmares of this); she could open her locker and was assisting others; she's definitely not shy; she chit chats regularly with her teachers; and she got pretty decent grades on her midterms. I am grateful but baffled.

Not only that but she LOVES her drama class. I would've rather died than take that class. She has auditioned for two productions...she got parts in both. One of which was a SINGING part. Again I would rather flunk a class than sing a solo. Not only did she sing for her whole class but she belted out a Celine Dion song/Glee arrangement. I tried to prepare her for perhaps not getting the part and tried to suggest a less "challenging" song. Which she now loves to sarcastically say "My dad BELIEVED in me and my Mom tried to make me sing a Taylor Swift song!!"

I have been asked multiple questions by Reilly that I was unprepared for:

"What do you do to get boys to stop looking at your chest?" um...never had that problem.

"Did boys ask for your phone number on the first day of school?''...um no.

"How do you nicely tell a boy that your not allowed to date until your 16?" ...um didn't have that problem.

Let's flash back to 1985. I was just entering 7th grade. Let's just say I have A LOT of tragic and angst-filled journal entries. Add to that braces, a really bad bob (the boys called me "Cleopatra") and I was about the height I am now and played the French Horn (against my will). It wasn't a fun time.

I also had the joy of a friend of mine telling me that her mom said I was in my "ugly stage". Another neighbor kindly pointed me out at one of the few mutual activities I went to as an example of "awkwardness" but said that I would one day grow out if it. Seriously. Good old Mrs. McGown was talking about growing up and how it can be awkward and seeing her search the group of girls and saying "Now where is my example" and me slinking down in my seat praying fervently that she was not talking about me...which she was. AND...my own mother signing me up for "poise" classes...complete with walking around with a book on our heads and a little fashion show at the end to apparently show that we could finally walk gracefully. Good grief I'm feeling the need for some therapy right now. I guess deep down that awkward 7th grader still lurks.

The proof:

Now that teddy bear sweater (worn against my will) was just child abuse!! My parents were against make-up beyond light mascara. Would some lipstick have killed THEM? Maybe some tweezers/waxing for those eyebrows?

What was the point of this post? Heck if I know. I guess I am just happy the apple has fallen FAR from the tree.

Now against my better judgement and the angst I am feeling right now I am going to hit "publish".

I dare you readers to post your 7th grade pictures. But only if you were awkward and lame. Anyone, Anyone? Where are my peeps?

OH 7TH GRADE...YOU WERE NO FRIEND OF MINE!!

Book Review #63




This book kept coming up on a bunch of Goodreads lists and I was intrigued so I thought I would give it a shot. Because as you know I LOVE historical fiction.

From Publishers Weekly

This fictionalized life of the notorious queen is told from the point of view of her younger sister, Mutnodjmet. In 1351 B.C., Prince Amunhotep secretly kills his older brother and becomes next in line to Egypt's throne: he's 17, and the 15-year-old Nefertiti soon becomes his chief wife. He already has a wife, but Kiya's blood is not as royal, nor is she as bewitching as Nefertiti. As Mutnodjmet, two years younger than her sister, looks on (and falls in love), Amunhotep and the equally ambitious Nefertiti worship a different main god, displace the priests who control Egypt's wealth and begin building a city that boasts the royal likenesses chiseled in stone. Things get tense when Kiya has sons and the popular Nefertiti has only daughters, and they come to a boil when the army is used to build temples to the pharaoh and his queen instead of protecting Egypt's borders.

So the question is...Was ita good historical fiction? Not really. It had a few good points. I enjoyed immersing myself in an ancient civilization and trying to get a feel for the time period. Do I think it was an authentic portrayal of the ancient civilization...no. Overall I feel that the whole book was a little weak in the same way that I thought The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory was weak and unauthentic. In fact I completely agree with other reviews that refer to this book as "The Other Boleyn Girl...Egyptian Style." This book did cause me to do some research on Nefertiti and Akhenaten and made me want to learn more about this particular time period. But as for being amazing historical fiction it left me disappointed.

Consider this a fluffy read, at times entertaining, but disappointing after all the hype.

My rating: Ok...not great.

HILARIOUS

After years and years of suffering President Bush jokes I found this quite funny!!

Fall is Here

It is starting to officially feel like Fall around here. I've made my peace with it. Summer is king in my mind but if summer has to fade at least it is replaced with beautiful Fall. The leaves are just starting to change and the nights are getting crisp.

Fall really gets started with October General Conference. What a great weekend of inspiring talks. I loved so many of them...Elder Holland's, Elder Oakes', Elder Christofferson's, and President Monson's just to name a few. I really felt a renewal and a re-commitment and excitement for the gospel. I feel so much more inspired as a parent. I love it.

I actually heard my children say "I'm so excited for General Conference." I think the crepes I was serving may have been involved but the words were said all the same and they sat quietly and seemed to actually be paying attention. Kameron even downloaded President Monson's talk onto his Ipod so he could "really hear that LONG talk".

Also- we had a visit this weekend from some good friends who we miss...the Carltons. Jayni and Jake moved to Utah about a year and a half ago. They came up for their UEA vacation and we had fun with them. Tyler took a day off of work and Ailey played hooky from Kindergarten and we all headed up to Greenbluff for a day of fun.


Nothing says Fall to me like Greenbluff. I love picking apples and pumpkins and most of all eating the BEST pumpkin donuts ever. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate for our little outing and it was cold and rainy the whole time. But it didn't stop our fun.

Jayni and Jake have had a new addition to their family since we last saw them. Cute Henry who looks exactly like his mommy. Jayni was pregnant when we visited them in Utah and it was fun to see this cute little guy.

Ailey was happy to see Elly and the two of them warmed up to each other pretty quickly and had fun wrecking havoc on Greenbluff.

Hanging out in the Pea Box

Seeing how much they had grown since we last took their picture with Snow White for Joy School.

We rode the Fruit Loop Express out to the apple picking area.

Elly, Ailey and cute little grown-up TALKING Toby!!

Bryn had fun too!!

Hmm...I think I could've made a better shoe choice for the day.

Picking...I mean...EATING apples.

They were delicious!!

Kristin and Jayni...I'm looking a little worse for the wear after apple picking in the rain. We all had a fun meal together and tried to warm up. It was so nice to be able to visit with Jayni and Jake and catch up with one another. We miss their family!!

Of course we also stopped at:

Their pumpkin donuts are SERIOUSLY amazing!!

Jayni and Jake

We had a great weekend with Conference and good friends!!