It is a feel good holiday story that anyone who cherishes or dreads the holidays can relate to.  Maureen, the prim and assertive librarian who loves the holidays, and Eddie the child star who has dreded the holidays ever since his parents turned the season into a roadshow, are faced with the challenge of putting on a christmas pagent together in Willow Lake.

Eddie doesn’t realize that the horrific accident that had taken place years ago has created a tie that finally  will find its way to emerge. Their differences of opinion on about what constitutes a Christmas - tradition versus non tradition - pagent makes for some hilarious banter.  Its a story about two people coming to terms with thier past and their differences and creating a bright and hopeful future.

Throw in the library closing and some blackmail, a desperate fund raiser, a few great side stories full of hope and the mysterious and amazing Jabez who changes them all —-> you have a good Sunday afternoon read.  It brings the magic of the holidays to life. Two thumbs up and a five star recommendation to anyone who loves a good read.

Mom:  Abby!  That’s not nice!

Abby:  Why freak?

Mom: Calling people a freak can hurt their feelings and make them cry. Do you want Mommy to cry?

Abby:  Sure freak.

Mom:  Abby.  Stop it.  Right now.

Abby:  Okay, okay.

She walks out of the room and I hear a quiet little "Mom’s freaky" before she closes the bathroom door.

Did I mention it snowed?  This beings mixed feeling with it.   I love the way snow looks, the white expanse that stretches on an don, horefrost on the strees, the sublime feeling of insiginificance it brings.  Yet, it is cold and means that I have to wrestle the kids into snowsuits, keep track of all those mittens, scarves, and hats.  So…a picture of the last pre winter sunset.

I have been studying my keister off..Art History (Michelango, Raphael, Poussin, Rembrandt..the classics) until like 3 or 4 am for over a week now.  I am feeling a little keyed up..WAY over tired.  But, it all pays of, I made Dean’s Honor List for Summer session again.  I also got invited to take a 4 year advanced/honors course.  It sure strokes me ego, and the call of distinction and money is strong…but I love my family and want to work for something that draws us together not draws me away for weeks/months at a time.  Still….with a PH.D I could be DR. ERICA HILDEBRAND.  It does sound..well…PERFECT! 

I am waiting rather impatiently for several books to come my way - the second book in the Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins, the second book in the Dreamhunter series, Deadlock, the new Lincoln Child/Douglas Preston book too.  So many good books, not enough time.  I would also like to see Zombieland, Hillsongs United in theatres, Fame and the new Metropolitcan Opera theatre series.  I will likely not see any of them..but it would be nice if money and time were of no issue. 

But as it were, it is.  So I must study.

Although I did fall asleep on the table after supper yesterday for 10 minutes.  My hand fell in Ashers spaghetti.  Yum. 

I found it hard to focus about 3 last night, er morning, on names in Italian that painted pictures that had every letter of the alphabet in their names.  Then I was struggling to remember what that had to do with teaching 13 year olds geography and english??? Then I was struffling to find the "e" on the keyboard..it had appeared to move.  Then I typed a sentence that was not even in my textbook when I was feeling WIDE AWAKE and realized that although I was "awake" for all intensive purposes my brain had taken a LOA and would not be back until it received better working conditions and health benefits. 

I let it know not to get its hopes up any time soon. 

It refused to remind my legs how to get out of the chair.

I promised a compromise..I had to use the little girls room something fierce.

This video is called the World Animal Adventure. It’s chalked full of exotic animals - Asian panda’s, snow monkeys, giraffe’s, elephants, gorilla’s.  There are two ways to watch this movie, one is the traditional video, the other is "grow with me" and has more words for learning babies.  This is the one Asher likes the most.  The extra words really draw him in.  You can also select a small segment, perfect for those times you need only 5 to 10 minutes to fold some laundry or make some lunch, there are some great puppet shows in this section.  There is a World Animal Song and one of my other favorite things is the Spanish and French Language tracks.  Like you would expect the video is bright, colorful, informative, fun, and educational.  It got two thumbs up from my 3 year old and my 18 month old. 

Make sure to check the website for more great Baby Einstein products, they are seriosuly among the greatest toys you can buy your children. 

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Baby Einstein and received a World Animal Adventure DVD to facilitate my candid review.”

It was a busy but great weekend.  Chey had Gabby, Sophie, and Bethany over Friday night after youth. I am sure they were up ALL night.  I studied until 3 ish and they were still awake and playing DS. Saturday Zoe and Freedom were up bright and early and went with Wendell and the rest of the family to watch Kyra’s semi final soccer game.  They lost, but this is the farthest their team has ever made it.  So that was exciting.  Then in the afternoon Freedom went skating with Kyra and the university girls hockey team.  Sunday morning I volunteered in the kitchen at Church, Pastor Leon gave an AWESOME message and then I bought (Well technically Wendell bought) tickets to see Darlene Zschech in November.  That is exciting.  She is bringing her whole band.  I can’t wait.  We hae had some of THE BEST speakers etc. from Hillsongs church this year..Donna Crouch who is AMAZING, Brian Houston at the conference in Oct, Darlene Zschech in November.  Seriously, wow. 

I also managed to turn 29.  With mixed feelings.  I DO not feel 29, in fact I never have felt like I made it past 22.  I just expanded horizontally.  The 16th of September came and went and I was not sure I wanted to celebrate.  But I did.  My amazing friend Nettie surprised me with a yummy dinner and a cake.  Her family is so amazing, we are lucky to know them.  It is funny that I manage to make good friends with the only Mom at school YOUNGER than me.  I was left contemplating 30 next year.  30.  Old.  I realize it is just a number, but I have always had an unnatural fear of getting old.  I am not scared of dying I know where I am going (Thank God), not afraid of being sick or crippled (I know I am healed and protected Thank God)…its just the idea of being old.  Old is uncool, out of touch, no fun, isolated, out of their prime, just…yuck.  Now, I know a lot of really cool people over 30 (my husband, my in laws, my mom).  They all rock.  Yet, here I sit contemplatig ways to avoid turning 30.  I have issues. 

For 30 I have managed to accomplish more than most..married 10 years, 5 kids, a univerisity degree, I never drink, smoke, do drugs, I am part of a great church, a great relationship with my Mom, my in laws, my kids, my kids friends, , I have a realtionship with my God and my Savior, I am involved at the kids school, at church, we own a house and a great yard, two vehicles, I am healthy and so is all of my family..I mean I have it made.  Its not that I made it to neary 30 without acheiving anything and leaving a legacy of regret.  SO what is my problem???

This week I got to sample of the two new Atkins products – Atkins Penne Pasta and Atkins All Purpose Baking Mix.  I have to tell you, I am usually weary of anything that promises to be "good for me"  even if it froma company as reputable as Atkins. But…I was pleasantly surprised. 

The Penne..its great.  Great texture, great taste.  I took about a cup of prepared noodles and threw them in a skillet with some olive oil, some onions, some green peppers, a TON of mushrooms, some thyme, basil, garlic, and pepper.  Threw in about 2 TBSP of the pasta water and sauteed it for about 15 minutes and it was YUMMY!!! (check the site for about 200 other recipes if you prefer..here)

The Baking Mix intimidated me, I enjoy comfort baking.  You know, things that are yummy and smell comfortable and nostalgic.  So I hunted the Atkins site for some recipes and I was blown away.  I was prepared to make waffles because that was pictured on the mix bag but the site had a TON of recipes for cookies, cakes, muffins, …..everything you could imagine.  I ended up making blueberry muffins (2 cups of mix, 1/2 cup of sour cream, 2 eggs, 3 tsp of baking powder, 1/2 cup soya milk, 5 TBSP of sugar, bag of frozen blueberries, probably 3/4 cup).  The kids gobbled them up.  I never mentioned that they were AhhK!!!!  good for them and chalked full of vitamins and protein.

Don’t forget to check out the contest HERE.  Enter Your Favorite Atkins Cuisine Recipe for an Opportunity to Win Fantastic Prizes, there is a limit of one entry per person per product (you can submit one recipe for Atkins Cuisine Penne Pasta and one for Atkins Cuisine All Purpose Baking Mix).

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Atkins and received samples to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Literaly.