Book in a Series - The Iron Witch Series

Don't you hate it when you are reading a book and it's part of a book series and you have to wait FOREVER for the next book to come out.  Then you get the next book and you can't remember where it left off?  Well I'm going to summarize a book in a series that I've read so that when I get the next book I can look at my summary and know what happened.  Warning, the following contains spoilers!

The Iron Witch Series
The Iron Witch - Karen Mahoney

The Wood Queen - 02/2012

This book was suggested by author Richelle Mead on her website and so I thought I'd give it a try and I'm glad I did.  I really liked it.

Donna Underwood is the child of Alchemists.  When she was 7 years old her father was killed and she was injured.  To fix her injuries she was given iron tattoos on her hands and arms since that was the only way to help her.  She has great strength because of them and she wears gloves to cover up the tattoos.  She has a human friend named Navin, and he gets kidnapped by some wood elves.  She also meets a half-fey named Xan.  He was kidnapped by the Wood Elves when he was younger and his wings were ripped out and now he has scars.  With the help of Xan she goes to get Navin back.  They get into the Wood Elf realms since Xan knows how to go there and the Wood Queen says if they want Navin back they need to find the Elixir of Life and bring it to her.  She steals it from the estate of someone high up in the Order of the Dragon (society of Alchemists).  They save Navin and her tutor, Maker and she gets in trouble and has to have a trial to decide her punishment.

Book in a Series - Inheritance Cycle

Don't you hate it when you are reading a book and it's part of a book series and you have to wait FOREVER for the next book to come out.  Then you get the next book and you can't remember where it left off?  Well I'm going to summarize a book in a series that I've read so that when I get the next book I can look at my summary and know what happened.  Warning, the following contains spoilers!

Inheritance Cycle
Brisingr - Christopher Paolini

Inheritance - 11/08/11

The book begins with Eragon, Saphira and Roran rescuing Katrina.  They go back to the Varden and we find out Katrina is pregnant with Roran's baby and they get married.  During the ceremony they get attacked and Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn come.  They end up fleeing.

Eragon has to attend a Dwarf King election.  A clan tries to assassinate Eragon but Orik exiles them and then he is elected King.

They then return to Ellesmera to finish training with Oromis and his dragon, Glaedr.  There he finds out that Brom is his real father.  He also finds out that the source of Galbatorix's power is the Eldunarya (heart of hearts).  The holder is able to communicate with or draw energy from the dragon it belongs to even if the dragon is dead.  Eragon also gets a new sword, which he names Brisingr.  Before they depart again Glaedr gives them his Eldunari.

Roran is fighting with the military and he is sent to target a convoy of supply wagons.  Roran takes command and brings a victory to the Varden.  Despite what he did he is charged with insubordination and is flogged as a punishment.  Then Nasuada promotes him to Commander.

During another battle, Eragon and Arya find some magicians trying to create a Shade.  While he is trying to kill the magicians he gets a vision through Glaedr's Eldunari that shows Oromis and Murtagh fighting.  Then he sees Murtagh getting possessed by Galbatorix and he kills Oromis and Glaedr.  The magicians still are able to create a shade but Arya and Eragon manage to kill it.  After the fighting stops, Nasuada tells Eragon that the Varden is planning to invade the Empire.

Last week I was on vacation.  A whole week off work and the kids were home and so was Dan.  We didn't go out of town or anything.  Just stuck around town.  Went to MOA and on rides, Baseball game, fishing and the Zoo.

The kids in O's room:

 Apollo cooling off in the pool on the 4th:

 The kids were in the pool pretty much all day on the 4th:

 O's T-ball game (she's on the right wearing a pink hat):

 X waiting for his Softball game to start:

 Apollo watching the kids play T-ball/Softball:

 O playing in the field when she would be in ready position:

 Me & O on the boat:

 Me and the Kids on the boat:

Flowers!

I love having gardens.  The upkeep is a little much but you get such beautiful flowers.  So here is some close of ups of flowers I have growing.  Picture overload.  :)