Books | Cozystyle

On My Bookshelf: Landlines and Lifelines

I’m back to share more from my bookshelf with you today. When last we left our heroine, she’d put herself on the wait list for Rainbow Rowell’s Landline because she’d pulled it out of her TBR jar. And then she waited. And waited. And finally, the day came when the email arrived saying her book was ready to pick up!

I started Landline on May 9th (remember this is 2016 we’re talking about – because our heroine is behind on her blogging) and finished it on the 14th. I really enjoyed this book. Rainbow’s books are always so well-written and enjoyable. And, they are all so different. This book reminded me more of Attachments and less like Fangirl or Eleanor & Park. I love her complex but relatable characters and this storyline. Well worth a read!

After finishing up Landline it was time to pull another book from my TBR jar.

And out of the TBR jar came…one of my wildcard free slips. So, since I had checked out Feverborn (read my review of it here), I went ahead and counted that as my wildcard. Then I decided that since I was on such an awesome reading streak, maybe I should try to read some of the books I have sitting at home. So, I picked up a book that had been luring me – A Café on the Nile. I started it on 5/24. The author is a member of The Explorer’s Club, which I am fascinated by, and the book is set in Egypt. What could be better?

Well, yeah. Notsomuch. I tried. I really did. My reading slowed down to a snail’s pace. So slow in fact that I think I’d pretty much given up reading. So, after a couple of weeks I decided to give something else a try. Maybe I just wasn’t into this book?

So, I picked up another book on my bookshelf at home – Beyond Desire.

I started it on June 8th and attempted to read it for about a week. This book was supposed to take place on the Orient Express, it was supposed to be steamy, it was supposed to be good. Well, I ended up taking a break (more on that next time) and then picked this back up around the 29th of June. Finished it on July 7th.

Once I picked it back up, re-energized, I enjoyed the story and it kept my attention. I enjoyed the journey by Orient Express and eluding the followers and the search for clues about the bracelets. I think this book would have been much more enjoyable without the sex scenes. They were ridiculous, and overburdened with words like transmogrified, termagant, profligate. I also found that I occasionally had a hard time following whose thoughts and feelings she was describing because they flipped back and forth. I think Thea Devine’s writing would be better served with more attention to how the erotic scenes fit within the whole of her story.

If there’s one thing that these last two books taught me, it’s that my reading appetite is voracious, when given a good book. When given a book that isn’t doing it for me – I’d rather not read. But, I have found over the past months that reading for me is indeed a lifeline – I need it. It keeps my brain working and my creativity flowing. It keeps me well-fed.

More next time on the books I cheated on Thea Devine with.

On My Bookshelf: Burning Love

I’m back to share my May reads from 2016 with you. My library streak continued and I was excited to pick up Burned. Feverborn had already been released, so I was itching to get through Burned and jump into Feverborn. Burned was so good! I started it on May first and finished it up on the 8th. And I was glad that I checked Feverborn out of the library to have on deck when I finished this one. Moning has a way of blowing my mind even when I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. It took me way longer to read this one than it really should have, but that’s what a busy schedule does to my booklife. I do feel like I should have gone back and reread Shadowfever before starting this one, since there was such a big gap between when I read that one and this one. Although Iced was a recent read, there were definitely things about Mac and Barrons that I was a little fuzzy on, so a refresh probably would have helped.

And I just have to share this photo from @greenletterday on Instagram. She posted up these fantastic skeins of yarn with the caption: “Some of my favorite book heroines in yarn form: Miss Lane, The Mega, and Smokin’ Jada by the lovely @houseofalamode.” When I first saw this post I thought “ok, but who’s Jada?” After reading further I left her the comment: “So…when you posted this I had no idea who Jada was. I’m currently reading Burned. So when I got to Jada, I was like ok now I know who Jada is. But a few chapters later…and now my mind is blown about Jada!!!! Now I seriously need this yarn trio.”

Well, needless to say, I could not start Feverborn fast enough.

And, as is often the case with KMM’s books, I find that she has the ability to pierce right through to the truth of things that goes beyond this story, beyond these books, and I nod my head and think “girl, I feel you.”

But seriously, I read this book (and it’s a thick one!) in about a week. Why do I have to wait so long for the next book???? Love KMM, love this series, love the characters. This book was no different from the others in that my reading of it was complete and utter engagement – they make me cry, they make me miss my own sister, they make me want to throw the book across the room, they make me gasp in surprise, they make me talk back to them (and as much as Dani annoyed me in Shadowfever, these books even have me yelling “Dude!” at them). If you haven’t read these books – go right now and read them. Seriously. If you gave up after Shadowfever and had no interest in reading Iced (that was me), suck it up and go read Iced so that you can read Burned and then this book. Seriously, go.

On My Bookshelf: Mysteries, Love, and Tasting Stars

I’m excited to share the rest of my April reads today! So, after I finished Eleanor & Park, I went ahead and drew another slip out of my TBR jar. I think I only had two Rainbow Rowell books in there, and I pulled them both back to back?!? So, yes, Landline. I went online and checked to see if it was available at the library since I hadn’t seen it there when I went last time. Sure enough, it was checked out. So, I placed a hold on it and figured I’d just wait until it popped up. Meanwhile, I decided that maybe I should actually read something I own. So…I picked up a book I’d started (barely) and never finished. Someone recommended the Aunt Dimity books to me a thousand years ago and I went on a quest to find them at used book stores and actually think I have most of them. So, I thought this would be a quick, enjoyable read and I was not disappointed.

I read this in a little under a week. Although the book was written in 1992, it’s really rather timeless. This was the perfect cozy mystery for the rainy days we were having here – a great book to curl up with. I definitely recommend this read, and I’m definitely saving Beth’s oatmeal cookie recipe to try. Plus, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

No word on Landline yet, so I headed back to the library to pick up a couple more books. Since I seem to be reading them in about 3-5 days, I thought I was safe checking out three this time. I can’t even begin to tell you what finding the library has done for me. It’s like the library opened up this whole world for me that I’d forgotten existed. It renewed my love of reading. It awoke that voracious reader I used to be. So, I went back to the library and here’s what I got…

I started with The Fault in Our Stars. I pulled it first so that in case I didn’t like it I had two more choices. So…this book.

I had really written this book off some time ago because what I knew of the plot was not something I really felt I had the emotional energy to deal with. After losing my dad to cancer, the last thing I really was interested in doing was reading about people with cancer. Ultimately though, FOMO may have prompted me to pick it up at the library and give it a shot. I attempted to reserve judgment throughout the first third or so of the book and even posted that I wasn’t sure how I felt about the book yet.

John Green ensnared me with the language and the dialog between Hazel and Augustus. I loved the way they spoke and interacted. But, despite my best intentions to keep the characters at arm’s length and to keep my emotions firmly disengaged, I failed miserably. This book is so well-written and definitely worth the emotional investment.

“My thoughts are stars I can’t fathom into constellations.”

After being completely and utterly wrecked after reading The Fault in Our Stars, I decided that something lighter was in order. I’d heard really good things about Jenny Han’s books, so when I stumbled upon them at the library I quickly added this one to my stack. I’ve previously read a short story by Jenny Han from the book My True Love Gave to Me. I really enjoyed this book, and Han’s writing. It’s full of sweetness, teen angst, learning to venture out into the world, and the bonds of sisters. Looking forward to reading the next book.

In my next post I’ll share my May books, including Burned.

On My Bookshelf: Library Love

In April, it occurred to me that I was getting nowhere fast on my TBR jar or on my Goodreads Challenge to read 25 books in 2016. Four months into the year and I’d read…three. And while I love buying books, I have way more than I really need and hate to just continue adding to the problem. And then, it hit me. What about going to the library? I’d half-heartedly looked into the possibility of being able to check out ebooks through my libray, but didn’t really understand how it worked and it looked suspiciously like my library wouldn’t actually be able to do that. But, surely I could check out actual books, right? So, off I went. I got my first library card in like twenty years and went directly upstairs to the YA section to see if I could find any Rainbow Rowell books. And lo and behold, they had some! And lo and behold they had Eleanor & Park! Woohoo!

I came home with two books that day. I wanted to check out all of the things, but figured if I’ve only read three books in four months I should probably assume I can’t get through more than two books in the three weeks I had to read them. Of course I started with E&P first. I’ve read a couple of Rainbow Rowell books before (Fangirl and Attachments) and loved them.

“Eleanor was right: She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn’t supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.”

I read this book in basically three days. Rainbow Rowell may well be one of my favorite authors. I love her writing, I love her characters, I love that she makes me feel like I felt at sixteen. I love that she made me dig out mix tapes I haven’t listened to since high school/college. I love that although her books are shelved with the YA books and that at first glance they appear to be nothing more than a simple romantic love story – it’s the complexity of her characters and their inner thoughts and feelings and struggles that speak to me. Each book I read of hers becomes my new favorite. If you haven’t read her books, you should start one today.

After finishing Eleanor & Park, I started Anna and the French Kiss. So many people had recommended this book to me (probably because of my love of all things Paris and romances), so I was happy to find it at the library.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in about three days because I had a hard time putting it down. A story of an American girl sent to the American School in Paris who begins to fall in love with the city and a boy. I loved her passion for cinema (a passion I share) and the exploration of Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter, etc. made me long to return there. I have so many regrets about my time in Paris – so many things I didn’t see or do – and this book just made the city come alive for me again. This one was well worth a read and I’m looking forward to reading her others.

I’ll be back next time with more books!

On My Bookshelf: My TBR Jar and First Finishes

At the end of 2015 I started thinking about my plans for my 2016 reading and decided I would try something new and fun. Enter the TBR (To Be Read) jar. I’d seen this marvelous invention on Instagram and loved the idea so much I had to do it too. I’d set my annual Goodreads challenge at 25 books for 2016 (we won’t talk about that’s been my goal for the last several years and I’ve not even come close), so I wanted to keep my TBR jar selections around the 15-20 range. I chose a mix of books that have been sitting on my shelves forever (including one that I’ve started but never finished), books I don’t own but really want to read, and I gave myself a **Free** selection (meaning I can pick any book I want to read whenever that one gets drawn). My plan was to draw my first book on January 1st and get started. Oh, and I made myself a fun Harry Potter-inspired jar too!

I ended up holding off on pulling my first selection from the jar on January 1 because Eric bought me Lara Casey’s book for Christmas, which I’d been dying to read. As you already know from my previous posts, I worked my way through this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I actually started it on January 1 and fully expected to zip through it because it’s not a very lengthy book. This book, as Lara says herself, is an action book rather than a reading book. It took me awhile to work my way through it because it does require a lot of introspection, questioning, actioning, and praying. This book is part autobiography, part guidebook to really focusing on what matters. What makes Lara’s guidance so valuable is that not only has she been where you are, but she shows you how she started to make things happen in her own life – making changes that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t. Her authenticity and continued journey that comes through on her blog and on Periscope really strike a chord with me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to start making things happen in their own life. Not only did this book help me define what matters most to me, it also provided me with clear and actionable steps to move toward those things.

I took a small break from Make it Happen to read something light. Despite being a freebie ebook, I really enjoyed this. It reminded me a bit of Rainbow Rowell’s writing. A story about being awkward, which I think we can all relate to, and learning to love what makes each of us unique. Once I finished up Story of Awkward, I decided to go ahead and pull the first selection out of my TBR jar. My first draw was Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. Since it wasn’t a book I own I was going to have to procure it, so I wouldn’t be able to start it immediately. I sat that aside and went back to Make it Happen.

After going back to Make it Happen and finishing it up – more about that book in my other posts – I picked up The Lake House by Kate Morton. Lake House wasn’t a book that was on my list to read and I actually hadn’t ever heard of it. I was watching a knitting podcast (Fiber By Design) and this was the Feb/March book for the Oh Loops! book club on Ravelry. I decided to jump in and thought it would be fun to discuss the book, so I grabbed the kindle edition and got started. I haven’t read any Kate Morton previously, but I will definitely be reading her other books. This book kept me guessing, as all the best mysteries should, while carrying me along with the storyline. I loved that the story was woven between the 1930s and the 2000s, with Alice fusing the two timelines together. I really really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

So, those are the three books I started off my 2016 with. I’ll share more next time!

On My Bookshelf: My 2015 Reads

Happy 2016! I can hardly believe we’ve started a new year, much less that it’s almost the middle of January. It’s been awhile since I posted, so I wanted to pop in and also share that I will be posting on a regular basis going forward. I have tons of things to share, but I thought I’d start the year off by posting about what I read in 2015.

So, last year I set a goal (Goodreads challenge) of reading 25 books, basically the same goal I’ve set the past few years. But, I really wanted to focus on good books – books I really enjoyed and wasn’t feeling like I had to slog through.

During the holidays (2014) we watched The Red Tent on tv. I’d had the book on my bookshelf for years, literally, and had never read it. I’m so grateful that the mini series reminded me that this book had sat for far too long unread and I decided to pick up the book and start it on January 1st. A friend was going to read along as well so that we could discuss the book. The book is The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. I loved this book. I loved Dinah’s “voice”. I loved the small details like the Taweret pitcher Benia gives her, the lapis ring of Rachel’s, the widemouthed frog idol, etc. Overall I loved the pivotal role that the community of women plays – sharing, teaching, loving, comforting, grieving with each other. This book left me with a similar feeling as from The Mists of Avalon or The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I highly highly recommend it.

The next book I read was the complete opposite end of the spectrum – Fifty Shades of Grey. This was actually a re-read for me. I wanted to read it again before seeing the movie on Valentine’s Day. I enjoyed visiting Christian Grey again and if you’d like to check out my previous post on this series, you can find that here. As for the movie, I’m glad I went to see it and thought it was well done. My only comment is that I wanted Christian to have a little more…something. More fire to him? I only re-read the first book, I imagine I would re-read the others if/when movies are released.

Next up I decided to pick up Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I was gifted this book in December and after reading Attachments, I was really anxious to read Fangirl. I loved this book. I loved that it was about writing fan fiction, particularly since I’d just finished reading Fifty Shades (originally fan fiction) and I’d spent a good amount of time immersed in the world of reading fan fiction. I can’t say enough good things about her books, her characters, and specifically in this one her stories within a story. I really enjoy Rowell’s writing and will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.

After Fangirl, I moved on to a book that Eric had picked up on one of our trips and enjoyed so he recommended it to me, particularly since it had to do with art and archaeology. He was right, I did enjoy it. This book is actually part of a series and I haven’t read the other books in the series, but I think this book can stand on its own. I didn’t feel I was missing anything from not having read the others. I enjoyed this book and following the story from the Vatican to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and all the twisting turns in between. Coincidentally, at the same time I was reading this book we were watching a show called Dig that was excellent and had a lot to do with some of the same subject matter and focused on the Temple Mount. If you missed the show when it was on, I highly recommend it. Anyway, I will probably read more books by Silva in the future, likely circling around to read the other books in this series.

Next up I read Sublime by Christina Lauren. I have read several other books from them (the Beautiful series and Sweet Filthy Boy, the first book in their Wild Seasons series), in the adult romance genre and thoroughly enjoyed them, so I was anxious to see how their first YA book was. Sublime is a beautifully haunting and romantic ghost story, and it did not disappoint!

After finishing Sublime, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to read. I dug around on my shelves and came across the last book that my friend Missy had loaned me/recommended. So far from her I’d read a couple of the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse series, the Stacia Kane Downside Ghosts series (my post on those here), and Stacia Kane’s Megan Chase series (no post yet – coming soon!). I’d put off reading Kushiel’s Dart because it was the lengthiest of the stack. But, I decided I was ready for something a bit more substantial. I ended up picking this book up, reading it for awhile, and then setting it aside. Mostly it was because I was not getting much time to read and this book was involved enough that it did not lend itself to reading it in 5 minute increments. So, I set it aside for a couple other ebooks that I’ll get to in a minute. I took a trip to Michigan mid-November and had a flight and a LOT of time in the airport at both ends, which for most folks would be annoying but I was thrilled. It felt so decadent to do nothing but sit and read for hours. And because of my long reading stint, I was able to really sink my teeth into the book and really enjoyed it. Never was I bored with it, never was I uninterested, but the intricacies of the plot, characters, and intrigue required a fair bit of focus which I did not have in great supply. Even after setting it aside for days or weeks at a time though, I never lost the thread of the story. Carey’s debut novel is impressive, and detailed, and shockingly not on every best seller list. I am sure that this book has been passed over by readers due to Phedre being not only a courtesan, but more predominantly an anguisette (deriving pleasure from pain). I think that’s what makes her a much more complex character and understanding her nature is exactly what makes her memorable. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, and I am sure it will not disappoint. If you like Game of Thrones, I think you would enjoy this book.

Ok, so I mentioned that I set Kushiel’s Dart aside at a couple of points to read some ebooks. One was a free ebook called Club Shadowlands. Meh. The other was Iced by Karen Marie Moning. You may have read my post on the Fever series (here if you haven’t), and Iced is a spin off of that series. Same world, but you are now following Dani O’Malley rather than Mac. I didn’t love Dani as a character previously, so I honestly never had any interest in reading Iced. But, the quickest way to get me to read a spin off focused on a character I’m not that into? Tell me that there’s a new book featuring Mac and Barrons that this one leads into. KMM surprised me with this book. It was an enjoyable read and Dani didn’t bug the crap out of me like I thought she was going to. I feel like I understand her a bit better having been in her head now. I’m also very curious to see where KMM is going to go with Dani’s character. She’s far too young for her possible suitors to become anything at this point, but I feel like that’s where we’re headed. So…maybe she’ll go through some sort of time shift and age several years miraculously? Who knows, but it was enough to keep my attention anyway. So, I’d recommend reading Iced…particularly if you want to get to Burned. *evil grin*

The last book I read in 2015 was A Discovery of Witches. I’d had this one on my to be read list for awhile and sitting on my bookshelf for far too long. I was immediately hooked by “the combination of magic and history” as a friend put it. As an Art History major, I found Diana’s studies about alchemy and ancient texts (which crosses over into the art history realm) fascinating. As Diana struggled to learn more about her own history and explore her powers, I found that it was echoing a similar process I’ve been going through (not magical, obviously!) with finding and reacquainting myself with my authentic self. I cannot wait to read the next book in this trilogy! This one was another I would highly recommend.

So, that’s my 2015 year in reading and I’ve got a fun plan for my 2016 reads that I’ll share soon. Happy reading!

On My Bookshelf: Fever Series

After finishing the third book in the Downside Ghosts series (what I thought was the final book), I cast about for something else to read that would catch my interest. After a couple false starts, a friend of mine lent me the first four books in Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series. I had no idea what I was in for.

The first book had a pretty stuttered start for me. Within the first few pages the author completely lost my suspension of disbelief when she referred to OPI’s iconic I’m Not Really a Waitress polish as “pink”. WTF? I mean, I’ll buy the whole fae in Ireland thing, but in no way, shape, or form is that polish pink. And there may be a lot I don’t know – but I do know polish.

I decided to give Moning the benefit of the doubt and continued to read. And before long I was completely. sucked. in. I tore through the first book in a couple of weeks and moved right on to the next. And the next.

And yes, I do tend to match my polish with what I’m reading. Not sorry.

I continued to read each book in about two weeks and quickly ran through the first four books. After finishing book four, I had to step out at lunch the next day to buy book five. These books are like crack. I came home that night and immediately dove into book four and then proceeded to want to throw the book across the room. I won’t give anything away, but holy shit I almost dropped the whole series right there.

Except that I couldn’t really. I had to know what happened. With Mac, with Barrons, with V’lane. I finished the final book on the plan home from NYC after Easter.

The books are urban paranormal, and they are most assuredly NOT YA books. There’s a whole lot of steamy UST going on in the books. Mac finds herself coming in repeated contact with a gorgeous death-by-sex fae who amps up Mac every time they encounter one another.

There is a spin-off book that ties in with these, but I honestly didn’t feel the need to read it. I was so enamored of the Mac and Barrons entanglements, that I was good with sticking with these. The books are seriously fabulous and if you haven’t read them yet – do it. I wasn’t completely sold on the whole fae thing (I’m a vampire girl at heart), but these books changed my mind pretty quickly.

On My Bookshelf: Downside Ghosts Series

One of the best parts of my week’s vacation from work has been the time I get to spend reading. I so rarely get more than a few stolen moments here and there to read, that being able to wake up in the morning, have a cup of coffee, and read for an hour is such a luxury! As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been remiss in posting some of the books I’ve been reading lately. So what better time than when I’m actually getting a chance to enjoy my leisurely reads?

About this time last year I started reading the Downside Ghosts series that had been recommended by a friend. I read all three books that I thought made up the entirety of the series, but it turns out there are two more books. Oh happy day – more to read!

The series centers around Chess, the main character, who is also a ghost hunter. These books are part urban paranormal part mystery. I started reading Unholy Ghosts right around my birthday last year and zipped through it in a couple of weeks.

I took a little detour after finishing the first book in order to read Gone Girl. I don’t think I even reviewed that one either (where has my head been??). Anyway, after reading Gone Girl I went right back to book 2 in the Downside Ghosts series – Unholy Magic. I read this one in October of last year, and enjoyed it a little more than the first book so I was anxious to pick up the third book as soon as I finished this one.

And I started City of Ghosts in mid-November and it carried over into January. And the length of time it took me to read this one is in no way a reflection on how good it was. I finished this one just a few days into the new year and it was absolutely another great read from Stacia Kane.

I’m really anxious to pick up the next two books in the series, now that I know they exist – Sacrificial Magic and Chasing Magic. And it even looks like book six is due out in October!

The caution I was given when the series was recommended to me is that the main character, Chess, is an addict. You know that right off the bat, so it’s not spoiler-worthy information. And while I can see that this would turn a lot of people off, it does really play into who Chess is and why she does some of the things she does. Definitely well worth reading.

I have the first book in Stacia Kane’s Megan Chase series sitting on my bookshelf to read too. If that series is as good as this one, I’m already sold!

**In case you’re wondering – polish is Theon’s 5, Essie’s Berry Hard, and Essence’s Edward’s Love from the Breaking Dawn collection.

Young and Beautiful

I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of The Great Gatsby for a good while. I couldn’t ask for a better cast, and Baz Luhrmann has directed some of my favorite films including Mouline Rouge. I’ve been thrilled to see Gastby parties pop up to celebrate the premiere of the film and people are breaking out their best flapper dresses and coupe champagne glasses.

One of the loveliest things I came across were the Tiffany windows, decked out with diamonds, chandeliers and coupe glasses.

Stunning, aren’t they?

Here is the featured diamond and pearl Savoy headpiece.

I love the Art Deco feel of these.

This one may be my favorite.

I can’t wait to make it to the theatre to see this masterpiece on the big screen. I know Lurhmann will deliver nothing less than a showpiece, full of all the dazzling glamour and tragedy that the book deserves.

And one of the things I’m most excited about with this film is the Lana del Rey song, Young and Beautiful. Such an amazing start to summer.

March in Photos

Something crazy has been going on with my blog and/or WordPress over the past week. I keep trying to come in and do a new blog post and haven’t been able to! So, finally here is March in photos.

March was kind of a month of indulgences. Between the Mozartkugeln from Germany, the yummy homemade pizza, a good book and some nail polish, I was kind of on a roll! Really, I think a good part of it was a bit of escapism from some stuff that hasn’t been so fun to deal with this month.

One of the best things this month was going to the Dallas Quilt Show with a friend. I haven’t been to the quilt show in years, and it was such a fabulous day full of inspiration and even a little shopping. And the inspiration hasn’t left yet. I’ve been itching to sew!! Once I finished my Kate Spain quilt in February, I was dying to get back to my Kiss Kiss quilt. In March, I managed to get all of the cutting finished and also got all of my pieced blocks sewn together. Next up is starting to assemble the rows. I can’t wait to see this beauty come together! And I finished up a hexy pincushion for a friend’s birthday and sent it on its way. And a beautiful little thank you card came in the mail for the birthday gift I’d sent to another friend last month. Isn’t that little bird with the blue and white bowls adorable?

Some days it really started to feel like Spring, and the trees were blooming with glorious color. But we keep getting days of temps dipping back into the 30s and 40s, so I indulged in a little Mexican hot chocolate in the evening.

In family life, my boys are getting so big! They are a year old and we are feeling so fortunate to have them in our lives. Their daily shenanigans really keep us on our toes!! In June it will mark one year that we’ve had them, which I find hard to believe!!

As always, I appreciate you stopping by! I’m really enjoying sharing some of what’s going on in my world here.