First Day of Pre-School

 

 

 How is this possible??? Big A started Pre-School yesterday! He was so excited! We got up early and got him all dressed in his new uniform and headed out the door with plenty of time to spare (Daddy took the day off to take the little guy on his first day too!). We got to school plenty early and got to take him to his class to meet his new teachers and get started on the day before the other kids arrived.  The Teachers were super nice and put him right at ease. He was a little nervous showing them how he writes his name but he did a great job. When the other kids started to file in we gave him a quick hug and kiss good-bye and he happily waved us away, all ready for his new adventure. I think me, Daddy, and Addison were the more upset ones. We went to Kneaders for breakfast and lamented on missing the little guy. Even Addison chirped in with "I really miss Brudder!!" However it was so fun when we picked him up, hearing him relate his day to us, talking about all the things he did and people he met. Our little guy is growing up ... whether Mom and Dad are ready for it or not.

Crappy Game but a SUPER Bowl anyway.....

Superbowl was weird this year. The whole thing sort of sneaked up on me. We were going to have a big shindig but I didn't get invites out and it looked impossible to plan. The weather was so bad on the east coast that they weren't positively saying that it would be on Sunday this year...(maybe Saturday, Maybe Monday...what?!?!). So we decided to go low-key this year, just have Mine and Jeff's parents over. I still decorated and had WAY too much food.

The game was a total bust. Regardless of who you were rooting for (we unfortunately wanted Denver to pull it off) the game stunk. The commercials were Eh, Halftime was okay but not brilliant. Overall it would have been pretty disappointing except the food was fantastic (Jeff even grilled!) the company was excellent and the kids were super cute.

 Next Year.... GO BEARS!!!!

 

2013... That's a Wrap!

10 big things in 2013

 

1. Disneyland Vacation!(First time for Big A, First for me since I was 11!... (THANK YOU Mom and Dad!!))

2. Big A played Tee-Ball and Soccer, Our star athlete! (Jeff Coached)

3. Little A graduated to a “big girl” bed (No crib anymore!) and decided to potty train herself (We are diaper free!!)

4. Jeff started painting again and is showing at the Slusser Gallery now.

5. I learned to Swim! (Big A did too!)

6. Big A Knocked out his first baby tooth

7. Minor remodel of the Kitchen (painted cabinets and new hardware) awesome results and got a New Roof (Ours blew off in a storm!)

8. My Sis Jackie married her soul mate Lewis and we were all in the wedding

9. Jeff’s Brother and wife had a beautiful baby boy

10. Expanded my horizons, I took Jewelry Making and Anti-Gravity Yoga classes, was on "Good Things Utah."

 

Disneyland!!



Tee-Ball!



Big Girl Bed!



New Cousin



Swimmer!



The Wedding



Anti-Gravity Yoga



Lost Tooth



Gallery Show

 

On "Good Things Utah"

 

Book Review, Author Interview, and Give-A-Way...Oh My!

One of my good friends recently published her second (yes second!) Young Adult novel and gave me the privilege of an early read. Let me tell you it is a great book that really delves into the ups and downs in young relationships. If you are looking for a fun "romantic" read that is not one of those about a "Hunky guy who has lost his shirt" (to quote the Good Luck Charlie Mom) this is a book for you.

I got to sit down with her and talk about her book and her writing and the interview follows.

I am also giving a way to one lucky follower a copy of "Second to No One"...Enter Below!

little a gave it "two thumbs up!"

~ Giveaway ~ 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~ Interview~
An Interview with Author Natalie Palmer

 

How long did it take you to write this book?

It’s hard to say exactly but I would guess about a year.  Keep in mind that I’m only able to write a couple hours a day while my kids are asleep.  And this book actually went a LOT faster than my first one even though I had to squeeze it in between raising two kids instead of just one.   

What was your inspiration to write this book?

Gemma and Jess.  Their story is inspiring to me and I’m so happy that my imagination stumbled across it.  I knew that one book wasn’t enough.  There’s just so much more to their story.

Were you always planning on continuing the story from “Second Kiss”?

I knew going into the first book that I wanted to follow my main character through the better part of her teen years and it’s nearly impossible to truly feel what she feels unless you watch her grow on a day to day basis.  For this reason, yes, I knew from the beginning that it would take more than one book to finish her story. 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was like six my older sister helped me write a book about a kid with crazy hair.  It became my new favorite thing and a love for creating stories was instilled in my brain.  

Why are you drawn to writing Young Adult fiction?

Maybe because I still feel like I’m seventeen… but also because I think it’s the most crucial time in a girl’s life.  When you’re a teen there are so many forks in the road and I’m hoping that my books will help my readers to see the bigger picture. 

What do you think makes a good story?

A little bit of real-life humor and a whole lot of feeling.  I like real people and real situations.  I love a story that makes you realize that every person in the world can in some way relate to each other.   Nothing makes me happier than when a reader tells me my books made them both laugh and cry. 

Has someone helped or mentored you in your writing career?

A lot of people indirectly helped me get to this place (i.e. my husband who has supported me every step of the way) but the first person to specifically mentor me in my writing was my first editor for Second Kiss.  She made a huge impact on my writing and helped turn the Gemma and Jess story into what it is today. 

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Always!  My favorite one is my mom.  She will tell me what she really thinks but she’s so full of compliments that it makes me want to shoot for the moon. 

What was your favorite Book when you were a “young adult,” has it changed as an adult?

Oh geez.  I’m embarrassed to say.  In my tween days I liked everything Jack Weyland (but I blame that on the fact that the internet was not yet kid friendly and the other options in my at-home library were Nancy Drew and Choose Your Own Adventure).  But during my junior year of high school I read A Separate Peace by John Knowles and that changed my literary taste forever.   It is still at the top of my list along with The Hiding Place, The Wednesday Sisters and anything Jane Austen.  

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I went through my teacher and veterinarian phases and for a long time I thought it would be cool to be a taxi driver. But for the most part I always wanted to be a mom and a writer.  I guess some things do work out the way you want them to. J

What is your favorite quote from a book?

From A Separate Peace by John Knowles:

“Everyone has a moment in history which belongs particularly to him. It is the moment when his emotions achieve their most powerful sway over him, and afterward when you say to this person “the world today” or “life” or “reality” he will assume that you mean this moment, even if it is fifty years past. The world, through his unleashed emotions, imprinted itself upon him, and he carries the stamp of that passing moment forever.” 

 

~ Synopsis ~

Title: Second to No One

(A Sequel to Second Kiss)

Author: Natalie Palmer

Published: November 2013

Genre: YA Romantic Comedy

 

“Things change. People change. Jess and I weren’t above it.”

Gemma’s first year of high school isn’t starting out the way she hoped. Jess is back from California and before she can memorize her class schedule their summer romance comes to a screeching halt. To add to her misery the gorgeous new girl in school also has eyes for Jess and despite Gemma’s unfailing attempts to win him back she keeps finding herself alone.

But when a late night car crash lands her a three month grounding and twenty hours of community service she discovers that there’s more to life than just romance and boyfriends.

Unpredictable and heart wrenching, Second to No One is the perfect continuation to the magical beginning of the Gemma and Jess romance.

~ Available  ~

www.tatepublishing.com

www.nataliepalmerbooks.blogspot.com (autographed copies available here)

www.barnesandnoble.com

www.amazon.com (kindle version also available here)

Spooky Halloween FREE printable!

Where has the summer gone?!?! I was reminding Mom the other day that "Sons of Anarchy" was coming back. SHe said "O really? I didn't think it was coming back until September." Um Mom..... It IS the middle of September!! I know how she feel though, I am not quite in the "Fall" vibe yet.

 

That being said I AM getting all geared up for Halloween. All the stores are getting their decorations in and pinterest is absolutely FLOODED with Halloween pins. It is getting me really excited!

 

While I was looking around Pinterest I saw these AWESOME "You have just been poisoned" etched glasses from etsy...( They are avaliable HERE).

 

 I loved the idea but not the thought of spending that kind of money on a new set of glasses OR trying to find a place to store them after halloween. I came up with a simple and easy way to achieve sort of the same effect (Not nearly as awesome as the etched ones though). I created a template to print off and then I am just going to "glue" them to the bottom of some clear glasses with NON-Permenent tape runner. (You could also use double sided tape!) I created a free printable PDF so you too can "poison" some of your Halloween friends ;)

 

The original...My inspiration!

Here is my printable sheet for you!
http://freepdfhosting.com/bb0cd39a6b.pdf

 

I think it might ACTUALLY be the happiest place on earth....

Taken at the early morning "power walk" offered by the hotel before the park opened

My AMAZING parents gave Big A the best early 5^th birthday gift ever! They took him (and me and Jeff too!) on a magical, fantastical, completely over-the-top amazing Disneyland Trip!!  We decided to leave little a at home (She stayed with Jeff’s Parents) She is still too little to really do anything and didn’t really “get” what she was missing. That way we could put all our focus on the Birthday Boy and really cater the trip to him. It’s funny, I haven‘t been since I was like 12 and I think I was just as excited as Big A for the trip.

The Trip started out with a bang as a HUGE stretch LIMO arrived at our door to pick us up for the airport. Big A couldn’t believe how big and awesome it was! He actually laid down on the vast seat and said” I think we should live here. We could just sleep here and have it take us anywhere we want to go!”

The next phase, Big A’s first flight! We flew Jetblue. It was a perfect plane ride. Big A was a Great little traveler and enjoyed looking out the window, coloring and playing with the ipad.

We arrived in sunny California and went straight to the happiest place on earth! We stayed at the Grand Californian Hotel. It was so impressive! The lobby was so Beautiful and classic. It was not at all the “cheesy” theme park hotel one might imagine.

We went up to our room to freshen up before we hit the parks and found a magical surprise. Grandma and Grandpa had sprung for the “dream makers” experience and it truly lived up to it’s name.   “Mickey” had visited Big A. He totally decorated the room and left a HUGE present for our special boy! It was soooo cool! Mickey’s footprints led to the package and the Ginormous box was filled with all sorts of Mickey and Disneyland surprises.

We went on to spend three magical, fantastical, enchanted days exploring Disneyland and Disney California. We went on every ride. Big A was brave and AWESOME and went on everything, Matterhorn, Space Mountain (My Fave!), Indiana Jones, even The Tower of Terror. We got his autograph book signed and he liked seeing the characters but that was not his focus.

Radiator Springs was amazing! We even talked Ma and Pa into going with us on the Cars Ride! It was so fun! I think it was Pa’s favorite ride in the park! When we went it wasn’t too busy, between fast passes and the walkee wait app I think we never waited more than 15 minutes for a ride. The only negative was that it was H-O-T! Not just regular California hot, but crazy, sweating your socks off, locals saying how crazy hot is was, hot! Ma and Pa rode "Little Mermaid" like a THOUSAND times to cool off!

One very exciting thing happened, Big  A became a Jedi! We went to see the Jedi Training Academy show and our awesome boy was selected! He got to train with the Jedi and battle Darth Maul! Jeff literally had a tear in his eye watching his boy become a Jedi!

It was truly the most amazing time and I can’t even begin to tell my parents thank you for everything they did. It is memories that will last a lifetime. However it did leave us with one mutual sentiment….

As Big A said on the Limo ride home
“So can we go back to Disneyland tomorrow??”

Deja Vu

Big A loves his little sister. He calls her sweetheart, kisses the top of her head and if anyone one is bothering her he yells "Leave my SIS-ter ALONE! He however has very little patience with her and her baby ways. I saw this in the paper last weekend and had a Major Deja Vu feeling!