Book Review #8 Bel Canto By Ann Patchett

I’ve tried many times to write a review for this book and for some reason it is not working out for me; either because of time restraints or not really knowing how to sum up this book, I’m not sure. I actually in the end really enjoying this book quite a bit. It was recommended off a book club book and for the first 100 or more pages I couldn’t figure out why. It is a little slow in the beginning, but by the end I was so engrossed in the characters I found myself longing for, although knowing there couldn’t possibly be, a fantasy ending.

Bel Canto is the story of a Japanese business man who’s only real joy in life comes when he is listening to Opera. He is enticed to visit a South American country, who is hoping he will build a factory there, by the promise of a private concert by one of his favorite sopranos. During the concert the party in over taken by a group of terrorists hoping to kidnap the president of the country and ransom him for the release of their country men. Since the President decided to stay home from the party to watch his favorite soap opera the terrorist are at a loss of what to do; this beginning the story of the captives and their captors and the entwining of their lives.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I read these books at the same time so I figured I would post them together.

During a snow storm Dr. David Henry delivers his twin children, first a boy, then a daughter born with Downs Syndrome. He quickly makes a decision to send the child away, telling his nurse to take the girl to a home. David then tells his wife, Nora, that the child died. The book continues on with their lives and their struggle to live with the decision David made.

Memory Keepers daughter was a beautifully written, although it was a very depressing and heartbreaking book. I would not recommend it to anyone and never plan on reading it again.

2 Weeks of Non-Stop Fun

Here it is…the last two weeks of our lives; I hope you have lots of time; I’ll try to keep it short and sweet. I seriously can’t believe all this was only two weeks ago, it all seems like forever ago.

Temple Trip to Regina Our stake set a goal last year called 2007 in 2007. For the week-end of Good Friday a stake temple trip was planned with the goal of completing 2007 ordinances over the course of the week-end (we doubled the goal… so exciting). Thursday after school I loaded the kids in the van and headed off to pick Spencer up from work, we meet up with our friends the Northcotts in Headingly, then hit the road. We stopped in Brandon for supper, which only took 1 ½ . Not sure why, I guess none of us were too excited about getting back in the van so we just sat , talked and watched the kids play in the play structure. We finally arrived in Regina around 12 and our kids were so exhausted they went right to sleep. Yippee!!!!

Tricia and James had their first session at 8:30 so all their kids came and hung out with us and then we did a switch when it was mine and Spencer’s turn to do our sessions. It was wonderful to sit in the temple and know almost everyone else in the session. A completely different feeling then ever before… Wonderful.

While Spencer and I were at the temple, Tricia and James took the kids to the science center. Apparently it was a great way to kill 3 -4 hours; providing 3 floors of nothing but fun. After we were done, we all headed off to Chucky Cheese. The kids thought he had died and gone to heaven – nothing but pure fun. They loved it; games galore. Finally we loaded the kids in the van and arrived home around 2:30.

Nolan Story
As we were driving up to the temple Nolan said, “Hey look, they have the Golden Boy (statue on top of the parliament building here in Winnipeg) on top of the temple. I told Nolan that it was actually the Angel Moroni and not the Golden boy, to which he replied, “ohhhhhhhhh, so this is where they had that great big battle”.

After we arrived home, we all unpacked, cleaned up our house in anticipation of Kaye’s visit and did some grocery shopping. Then we headed off for the 4th annual Northcott/Court/Taylor Easter Egg Hunt

The egg hunt was as you would expect, met with much eagerness on the part of the kids. We once again joined with the Northcotts, the Taylors have moved on the greener places, and their presence was sorely missed. The kids love gorging themselves on chocolate.

Later that night we went to picked up Kaye from the airport. The kids were so excited to have her arrive. They had been asking for months when she was going to be here.

Easter morning the kids awoke to find the Easter bunny had filled their baskets with lots of fun things. Jarom got a puzzle and coloring book and Nolan got a make a volcano kit and magic writing paper.

After dinner we loaded our Easter Eggs in a basket and headed off to the park to start a new tradition. Rolling the Easter Eggs. I remember doing this with my family and even though Nolan was very skeptical that it would be fun we all managed to have a great time rolling our eggs down the hill. Spencer would have everyone believe that he was the champion egg roller, but in truth, I was the best roller of all.

We had a wonderful week with Kaye here. We went to visit the Zoo, had yogurt cones and Gelato. The kids love Kaye’s visits so much because she spends so much time playing them. Jarom was in play date heaven; he loves to sing songs and do finger plays, all of which Kaye is the master of. I love the visits because I get a break, who wouldn’t love that? Best of all, for me, I had to leave for Youth conference on Friday and Kaye was so nice to watch the kids while I was gone. I was such a treat not to have to arrange babysitting. THANK-YOU Kaye!!!

Fat Lips

I know that many of you have been waiting for me to post an update of the last week and a half of whirl wind activities, don’t worry! Tomorrow I promise to provide a post so long (pictures and all) you are going to go blind from staring at the computer screen to long.

I did however want to quickly want to share this story.

Tonight we were going to Nolan’s swimming lesson and he asked me if I wanted to have fat lips. I was a little surprise at the question and asked him why he asked that question. He replied, “Well, when I read the yogurt contain it says Fat Lips 0g”. I immediately realized what he had read and killed myself laughing. I did try to control myself, but it was hard.

Check out the label if you’re not familiar with a Canadian nutrition label or want to see what Nolan saw.

Book Review #7: My Sister's Keeper

After having 2 kids, Kate and Jesse, Sara and Brian decide their family is finished. When at the age of 3 it is discovered that Kate has a rare form of leukemia, her parents decide to have another baby that will genetically match Kate in every way; providing Kate with much need stem cells. What was suppose to be a one time donations from Anna to Kate turns into a life long experience of Anna being subjected to many medical procedures whenever Kate experience a relapse. The two sisters become so interwoven in their identity that Sara must struggle for her release by hiring a lawyer to get her medical emancipation.

This is a book that I normally would steer clear of; it took me through so many different emotions. Seeing the point of view of Anna, basically just existing to be a donor for her sister. Viewing the situation from the eyes of her mother, Sara; being a mother myself, could I let my child die, when there is another one that could save her? At the same time knowing that I am sacrificing one child to save another. It was a complicated book. However, I could have said that it was a good read, except that the author ends the book in such a way that leaves the reader stunned; something so totally unexpected it is almost unforgivable.

Easter Egg Dying is always one of my kids’ favorite activities of the year. Jarom tried to make his allotted 6 eggs last as long as he possibly could by transferring them from color to color to color. He was still trying to continue coloring while I was dumping the pigments down the sink.

Nolan has developed in his egg dying; trying to go more artistic. He drew some wonderful designs then dip, drew again, then dipped again resulting is a beautiful colorful creation.

The kids love their Easter eggs and are constantly picking them up for a look… every time they touch one I wonder how many of the egg will make it to the Easter Egg roll on Saturday.

Childrens Museum

Well today officially marks the end of Spring break. Nolan was off to school bright and early this morning. Surprisingly there wasn’t too much weeping and wailing- from me not him.

This was a fun week with the kids. We did all sorts of fun things. Friday we went to the children’s museum with the Northcotts and with our friends the Hutchinsons. Every other time I’ve been to the children’s museum I haven’t enjoyed it much, but this time it was tons of fun…. 4 hours after we arrived the kids were still going strong. One this I realized this spring break is, life is so much easier with a four year old, than with a three, two or one year old. Jarom seems to have turned the corner and is easier to go out in public with. The exhibits were able to hold his attention longer than .5 of a second.

The kids had a great time exploring the underwater exhibit made entirely of Lego’s, playing in the train, sliding down the tree house, climbing into the beaver den and digging in the tub of rocks and water. The kids dug in the rocks and water forever. I’m thinking this summer I should just get a swimming pool; throw in a couple bags of rocks, some water and Presto, hours of entertainment for my kids. Jarom also had a great time putting on a puppet show. I was the only audience, which was probably a good thing because all he did was kill off the puppets.