My favorite little unicycler...

Millie had her end of the year unicycle show in March.  I am finally back to blogging and I really wanted to share these amazing pictures of Millie and her fellow teammates. 

Millie riding with one of the high school girls. It has been so motivating to have the older riders help mentor the younger ones. 

Millie is the one in the middle.

Millie is not in this photo, but I think it is just so cool to see these "giraffe unicycles.

 

Presenting the Snoqualmie Valley Unicycle Team!

Start of March

We really took advantage of the sunny weather to get outside early and decorate our Easter egg tree.  Every year we add more and more eggs.  It's become the start of our Easter tradition every year.

It's almost the end of the unicycle season for Millie.  We are getting ready for the big show at North Bend Elementary next week.  Lots of practicing.  All the kids in this program are pretty amazing. You need lots of determination and patience....on top of very good balance!

Stretching out before a practice.

Working with partners...

...and in groups. 

Moon Over Edisto by Beth Webb Hart

Moon Over Edisto is about the Bennett family and the aftermath of a divorce.
Julia's best friend from college, Marney betrays her by falling in love with her dad. Her family divorces. Julia moves to New York to pursue her passion of art, her mom, Maryellen moves away to find peace with why her marriage fell apart and younger sister Meg struggles to create the picture perfect family of her own.
The book opens when another tragedy forces Julia to return to her childhood home on Edisto Island in South Carolina. This time Julia is asked to care for her three half-siblings. She stays a week, but in that short time, she begins to questions why she was unable to forgive Marney and her dad. She also discovers that her home is pulling her back and away from her new life in Manhattan. Julia's dad is no longer alive, but the rest of the family comes together (usually over a delicious southern meal) and slowly begins to heal.
I really liked this story, much more than I thought I would. I love books where each chapter is told from the point of view of major characters in the book. Julia is great with her half-siblings. They in turn are kind and appreciate her help, as well. I kept wondering if Julia and Meg would be able to reconcile with Marney before the book ended.
I was happy at the ending of the book, as well. A great conclusion to a heartwarming book.
*Disclosure* Booksneeze has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are mine alone.

Remembering Christmas

Before the year starts passing by any faster, I wanted to add these pictures of Millie opening up her Christmas presents from last month.  We opened a few presents on Christmas Eve and then even more were delivered by Santa the next morning. Here is Millie so happy to discover her very own Elf on the Shelf book.

And of course, it is always so exciting to get new clothes!

New books, too!

This year Santa granted Millie's wish and delivered an American girl doll. 

 

Hope our friends and families had a wonderful Christmas and we can't wait to see what happens in 2013. 

You Be Sweet with recipes by Patsy Caldwell

This is a cookbook focusing on all things sweet and delicious. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful photographs of desserts scattered throughout the book. Patsy Caldwell takes some of her favorite Southern confections and creates a collection of recipes that you'll definitely want to make at home.
Not every recipe includes a photograph, but there are still plenty to keep you turning the pages. The book is divided into eleven chapters. Each chapter begins with personal stories that will warm your heart and give you background information on many of the recipes included. These were really fun to read.
If you love desserts, you need to read this cookbook. I found that I had most of the ingredients at home already. I am really excited to try things like, Doughnut Bread Pudding with vanilla sauce, pink lemonade cupcakes and the Peach coconut upside down cake. I also have a request from my daughter to make the Red Velvet cheesecake. I'm so happy to add this cookbook to my collection!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksneeze review program. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive review.

November

Cutest kid!

Millie at the Museum of Flight at Boeing.

Future astronaut?

Delicious crab dinner.

Halloween Happenings...

Millie and her first grade class on Halloween day!

So glad Mike and I were able to attend Millie's Halloween celebration at school.

Making skeletons....

Halloween Night!  These pictures were taken about 2 minutes before we started our trick or treating.  It was drizzling for the pictures, but stopped immediately after and stayed dry the whole time we were out.  Yeah!  I even dressed up as a scary witch...no pictures of me since Mike was working the evening shift this year. 

A bit blurry, but still a keeper!