Harry Potter

So I read Deathly Hallows when it first came out. I wanted to re-read it again but though if I'm going to re-read the 7th book I might as well start with book 1. So I started reading all the books. I'm on the fifth one, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I'm actually almost done with it and then I'll move on to Half-Blood Prince. They're actually better reading them in a row like that. Although I did take a break between some books to read The Host, which I'm going to write about soon. That was a good book. But for now I'm re-reading Harry Potter. There's a new book coming out in December, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which is based on stories that helped them in Deathly Hallows. I will probably buy it since it sounds interesting. I haven't pre-ordered it yet or anything.
Next week is Halloween, I can't believe it. It sure snuck up on me. I still have to make a belt to go with Xavier's costume. I think I might do it tomorrow morning. We're going to a Halloween Carnival at the community center on Saturday and he needs his costume. I'm still giving him the choice of a Jedi or warrior. It is the same costume and same belt. The only difference is wearing a light saber or wearing a sword & shield. I was also going to make a sheath for his sword and attach it to his belt. I'll post pictures of the kids after Halloween.

Google Docs, who knew?

Apparently Dan did. He actually told me about it a while ago and I didn't listen. Well yesterday I decided to check it out. Since I didn't know how to get there I just went to google.com and on the top there's a tab that says "more" under it it says "documents" So I went there and tried it out. I put my list on there. Yeah I have an ongoing Christmas/Birthday wish list all year that I have saved in Microsoft Word. It's a way for me to know what I want. Like if I see something in a magazine and think "Hmm, that looks pretty cool" I can simply add it to my list. I also have a list for Xavier & Olivia and Dan has his own too. It's easy come Christmas/Birthday time when people want to know what to get you. Anyhow now my list in on google docs and I've shared it with Dan so he can view an updated one. I'l be putting the rest of the lists up soon. As well as my book list. I keep a list of books I want to read as well as books I have read. The cool thing about google docs is that it's saved on the internet and you can pull up your file anywhere. So I can save it and change it at work and open it, save it and change it at home, at the library or someone else's house. So go to http://docs.google.com/ or just do what I did and go to google.com. Check it out! There's also a calendar feature.

The Apple Orchard again

We went to MN Harvest yesterday. It was a perfect day to go because it wasn't too hot or too cold. The kids had a great time there. We walked around and petted some horses and ponies. We took a tractor ride, bought some apples and a couple of pumpkins. I took some great pictures too.
Xavier & Olivia by some pumpkins:

Olivia picking out a pumpkin:

Xavier & Olivia posing by some pumpkins:

The kids looking over the fence at some horses and tractors:

The family on a tractor ride:

Brisingr

I actually finished the book last week but have not had a chance to write about it. I was in the process of re-reading all the Harry Potter books. I took a break from those when this book came out. I wasn't actually planning to buy the book. We went to Target the day it came out and I had seen it in the add for $15. I decided if they had it I would buy it. Well I had to ask the Electronics department person and they had 2 left behind the counter. So I bought it. It did take me a while to read, I think it's about 730 pages long. It was a good book, but Eldest if probably my favorite of the three. That being said though I am looking forward to the fourth and final book. So here is what I thought of the book. Oh and just in case you haven't read it, I am warning that there are spoilers ahead.

The book starts out with Eragon and Roran trying to save Katrina. I thought this was over a little too soon and that they defeated the Ra'zac a little too easily. I did like the chapters that were in Roran's prespective. There are definately some parts this book could have done without, such as the whole choosing a Dawrf King and all the detail that he went into describing how Eragon's sword was made. I like Murtagh and Thorn though and I actually feel bad for them. I kind of had an idea that Brom was Eragon's dad and so it wasn't too surprising when that was revealed. I did find surprising that Eragon's mom Selena was so cruel. At least now we know why Brom was in Carvahall and why he kept such a close eye on Eragon. Also surprising was the source of Galbatorix's power. Although the word Eldunari sounds like it belongs in Lord of the Rings. But the Heart of Hearts makes perfect sense. I also like that Glaedr gave Saphira and Eragon his Eldunari. It was so sad when Oromis and Glaedr died. I found it kind of stupid that Eragon and Arya had to kill a Shade. It seemed like it happened too easily. But I do think that Arya has feelings for Eragon. I think in the next book they will get the next egg and it will hatch for Arya. The dragon will be a male and Saphira will then be it's mate. This will forever bind Arya and Eragon who will also get together. Oh and what was taken from Eragon when he got the brightsteel from the Menoa Tree. She told him that he had to agree to let her have what she wanted but she never told him what it was. I'm sure she took something from him and I hope we find out in the next book. I did like this book and I hope Christopher Paolini writes the fourth one quickly.

Olivia

We think Olivia has Roseola. She started off with a fever (~103F) on Wednesday night. I stayed home with the kids on Thursday and Friday. I took her to the doctor on Saturday. What did the doctor say? It's probably just a virus. Give her plenty of fluids and let her rest. So the doctor visit was a waste. She did have slightly swollen glands. Her fever went away Saturday night. So then I thought she was better. Then on Sunday afternoon she gets a rash all over. Then Monday it was still there. I call the nurse line and they say it's Roseola and that she's no longer contagious. The rash should go away in a few days. What is Roseola you ask:

Roseola (also known as sixth disease, exanthem subitum, and roseola infantum) is a viral illness in young children, most commonly affecting those between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. It is typically marked by several days of high fever, followed by a distinctive rash just as the fever breaks.

Sounds exactly like what she has. The rash is better today but she's so crabby. I also think her molars are poking through, I'm sure that hurts.

The Apple Orchard

We went to the apple orchard last Saturday (09/20). We of cours forgot our camera. The kids had a lot of fun there. They had goats, chickens, geese and ponies to pet. Xavier fed the ponies some hay and he thought it was so funny when they ate it off his hand. They had a little play area too. We went on a tractor/hay ride around the orchard. Then we did the Apple Cannon. It's a thing that shoots apples out using compressed air. Xavier rode the Cow Train ride and loved it. We bought some apples, which I'm planning to use to make an apple pie this weekend. I wish I would have brought my camera though.

Goat:

Apple Cannon:

Cow Train Ride:

I took all of the images off of Apple Jack's Orchard website. www.applejacksorchards.com

Heroes last night

I watched the 2 hour season premiere of Heroes last night. The two hours went by way too quick because it was so fast paced and so much stuff happened.

Sylar went and found Claire and we found out he doesn't eat the brain to gain power. He just pokes it around with his fingers and takes the power. So he took Claire's power and left her alive. He told her that she was special. So now Claire can't feel when she gets hurt. Sylar then goes to Level 5 to try to steal better powers. He runs into Elle and tries to steel her power but she zaps him and knocks him out and takes out the power in the whole facility and lets all the Level 5 villains out.
Hiro and Ando are in Japan. Hiro is now in charge of his dad's company. His dad leaves him a DVD recording and tells him that he must protect what is in the safe and not to open it. So of course Hiro opens it and there's another DVD. His dad says "I told you not to open it" He then again warns him to keep it safe and not let it get into the wrong hands. So he opens the envelope and there's a piece of paper with a really long chemical on it and then it's out of his hands. Daphne steals it and she can run really fast. She escapes and Hiro find out she lives in France. So he goes to the future to see what will happen if he doesn't get the paper back. In the future he sees future Hiro and Ando fighting and then Ando zaps him with red sparks. So Hiro goes back to present and is afraid that Ando will kill him. They go to Daphne's apartment and she gets back. They track her to Germany.
Suresh and Maya are arguing and Suresh is packing to go back to India. Then he figures out his dad was doing research wrong. He takes blood from Maya and makes something that will give anyone super strength. Maya gets angry and tells him no one should have that power and he should destroy it. Suresh goes to the river to destroy it but decides to inject himself with it. He gets a super power, enhanced senses and superstrength. Him and Maya make up. The next day his back is all peely and he notices he's having side effects.
Future Peter shot Nathan. Because in the future when Nathan told everyone about people with powers they were all hunted and experimented on. But Nathan survives and now he sees Linderman. Peter gets yelled at by Angela and tells him she wants her son back. Future Peter has put Present Peter in the body of one of the Level 5 Villains that have escaped. So he has to find him. Then Angela tells Sylar that she's his mom.
Matt is stuck in the desert and some guy that can see the future saves him.
Niki or is it Tracy is with the Governor. She can freeze people. I think maybe she's Jessica and Niki really is dead.
I thought it was a good episode and can't wait until next week.