The Dinkins' Christmas 2013

Like always, we had a very busy, exciting Holiday! We made the rounds to all the in laws' and grandparents' houses! We saw Santa several times and had my family over the weekend after Christmas.

I put so much time and effort (not to mention money) into Christmas this year! I kept second guessing what all I bought for the boys, wondering if it was enough. One present costs 20 to 30 dollars, so while 5 presents is already 100 bucks, it just didn't look like enough.

I never realized how much work went into Christmas each year. But now that I have my own kids to impress, I'm seeing just how hard it can be! I'm still in awe of my parents for doing it for 4 kids! Whoa.

But it turned out perfect! The boys were so happy and excited! They loved everything and were so thankful for it all! That's what really made me happy!

Cole and I sat down and I wrote up a letter for Santa, writing everything Cole said. I thought it was so cute and sweet! I just have to share! My favorite part is him thanking Santa and the elves for all the presents they WILL give him!



Here's a few more pictures of our Elf, Max, who went back to the North Pole. He really made us laugh this year!


Fishing












Here are a few pictures (I made them take) Christmas Eve!






























This was the scene on Christmas morning! (Don't you love my new curtains?)



































Cole and Cooper's big gifts were these little four wheelers!








I have the cutest boys!!


And my favorite picture of the season:




The boys decorating their own Christmas tree!

Happy Holidays to everyone! May we always remember to praise God for all our blessings and for sending His son to earth so many years ago to die so we may all live!

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

I finished reading this novel about 2 months ago, but I have just been too preoccupied lately that I totally forgot to write a blog about it until I saw a preview for the movie last night!  I am so excited that they are making a movie about this novel, I think that it is going to be so good!  With Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, how can it not be? 

This novel is a lot different than the previous novels I have blogged about.  For one, it is told in a man's perspective and and for two, it is definitely not a chick novel.  It has a lot of cursing and violence!  But I love all the drama associated with it.  It really keeps you in suspense and wanting to read more.

The main character is Jacob who grows up as an only child in a caring family.  His father is a veterinarian so he decides to go to school to be a vet also, hoping to one day help his father in his business.  As Jacob is in school he learns that his father and mother have died in an accident.  Not knowing what to do and not having any money for school or food, Jacob runs away. 

He finds himself in the middle of nowhere walking along railroad tracks.  He decides to jump on the next train and see where it leads him.  Instead of boarding an empty train, he quickly learns that he has jumped onto a circus train. 

He eventually gets a job working for the circus and becomes their vet.  He meets a variety of different people while working for the circus but becomes attached to Marlena and August the most.  Marlena and August are married and have been working for the circus for a long time and are in charge of the animal performances.  

You eventually find out that August has a personality disorder and can be extremely nice at times and extremely mean at other times.  August is very cruel to the animals that do not perform well and this makes Marlena and Jacob furious.  They quickly form a friendship and eventually fall in love. 

Throughout the rest of the novel they scheme to find a way to get away from the circus and away from August.  This was such a great novel!  I would have liked it to have a little bit of a different ending so I am curious to see how it ends in the movie.  I am so excited for it to come out so I can go see it! 

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

It feels like it has been FOREVER since I have updated this blog!  I have been so busy that I just kept putting off reading.   I would normally read right before I went to bed but lately I have been so tired that I just go right to sleep.

  A few weeks ago for Christmas, Marshall bought me a kindle and it has made me a lot more excited to read!  I love my kindle!  So that is what brings me to my this blog!  I finally got motivated and finished a book after months of not reading!  

Baby Proof took a little while for me to get into.  But once I did, I was very pleased.  It is definitely a chick pick!  The men probably won't enjoy it as well as I did.  It was hard for me to relate to the main character because her opinion on having a baby is so different than mine!  She doesn't want one and never will! 

In fact, the main character, Claudia, is so against having a baby that she ends up divorcing her husband, Ben, after he insists that he needs to have a baby someday.  Their divorce is really hard on Claudia but she eventually starts dating again and begins moving on with her life.  But in the back of her mind, she still finds herself thinking of Ben.

There are a few other characters that play a major role in the novel.  Her sisters and her best friend, Jess are among a few of them.  The novel dives into their love lives and explores how each one of them feel about having babies. 

I really enjoyed this novel.  I especially liked the ending!  Let me know what you thought about it in the right upper corner.

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

Last night I stayed up until 3am reading the conclusion of Something Blue.  Something Blue is a sequel to Something Borrowed so if you haven't read Something Borrowed, don't read my synapses!  I loved this novel!  It was such an easy, fun read! 

Something Blue is all about the character, Darcy, who was Rachel's best friend in Something Borrowed.  Something Borrowed left off where Darcy was pregnant and Something Blue picked up right there!  Darcy has a really rough time in this novel.  She is pregnant, her boyfriend (and father of her child) dumps her, her best friend Rachel stole her fiance, and her mom isn't speaking to her.  But don't feel too bad for her, she is very conceited and only cares about herself, making it hard for even the reader to like her.

Darcy then decides that she needs a change.  So she moves to London to live with her childhood friend, Ethan.  Ethan and Darcy do not get along at first and Darcy has to get used to living in a tiny flat with no bed (which is quite an adjustment for her)!  Ethan and Darcy get in a big argument one night after dinner and Ethan is brutally honest with Darcy, telling her how her attitude needs to change.  So Darcy decides to change and from then on she is a much better person. 

The book then goes on to tell about her pregnancy and how she finds new friends and a new boyfriend and even tries to find a job.  I love the ending of this novel, it updates you on all the characters in the first novel and Darcy has her happy ending!

RESULTS: 1 vote, 100% for Liked it

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin was such a breath of fresh air after the more boring books I have been reading lately.  Something Borrowed is going to be a major motion picture in 2011!  Some stars in the movie include Kate Hudson, John Krasinski (from The Office), and Ginnifer Goodwin.  I am so excited to go see this movie and to top it all off, Something Borrowed has a sequel,  Something Blue!  This will be the next book I read!

Something Borrowed begins at the main character Rachel's, 30th birthday party (my sister in law also named Rachel just had her 30th birthday a few days ago but in no way celebrated like the Rachel in the novel).  At Rachel's party she and her best friend's fiance, Dex get a little too tipsy and end up sleeping together.  Throughout the rest of the novel Rachel realizes just how much Dex means to her and how she wants to be in a relationship with him but is confused because she doesn't want to hurt her best friend, Darcy. 

It gets complicated because as you read it, you really have a hard time deciding whether or not you want Dex and Rachel to be together or if you think they should stop their relationship.  You want Rachel to be loyal to her best friend but you also want Rachel to be with her true love. 

The more you read it, the more juicy it gets.  It has a surprise ending that you would never see coming!  I recommend this book to everyone.  I loved reading it and can't wait to start reading the sequel!  I rated it as I loved it!  Tell me what you thought about it! 

RESULTS: 3 votes, 66% for Liked it, 33% for Haven't read it

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

I just finished reading the Nanny Diaries.  It took me FOREVER to read this novel.  I think it was partly because I have just been really busy lately and haven't had a lot of time to read and partly because I just didn't really like this novel that much.  I would rate it as I liked it but that's pushing it.

The main character of this novel is Nan or Nanny who is working as a nanny for a very wealthy family with one son, Grayer.  Nan is working as a Nanny to try to make some extra money to help her pay for college.  I would describe Nan's employers as being wealthy snobs.  They take advantage of Nan and are constantly ignoring their son and making Nan doing everything for him.  I feel incredibly bad for their son because his parents want nothing to do with him.  Nan is in charge of doing EVERYTHING for him, including taking him to school, bringing him to play dates, and putting him to bed. 

This novel was interesting because it opened my eyes to how some families actually live.  It is hard to believe that some parents are not involved in the raising of their children at all and it really makes me feel sad for those kids.  This novel did drag on to me because it was constantly talking about Nan doing this for Grayer and Nan getting upset with the parents for that.  It seemed to be the same problem only a different scenario each time and it just got boring to me. 

Let me know what you thought of this novel or if you haven't read it!  I just started reading Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin so look out for that post next! 

RESULTS:  2 votes, 100% for Liked it

Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich

I would classify this novel as a suspenseful drama.  I liked this novel, it kept me wanting to read more to find out what was going to happen because it was very action packed.  Almost too action packed.  There wasn't very much downtime which I like because it allows you to learn more about the characters.  I'm glad I read it, but it definitely was not one of my favorites.

This novel is about a young woman, Barnaby who travels to Florida to find her missing brother, Bill.  In the course of looking for him she runs into a race car driver, Hooker who is also looking for Bill because he supposedly stole his yacht.  So Barnaby and Hooker team up to go on this scavenger hunt to find Bill.  Along the way they discover that her brother is with a girl who is looking for her father's long lost treasure.  In the meantime, a few different 'bad guys' are also looking for this treasure and for Bill. 

This novel is filled with action as they try to run from the bad guys and also hide the treasure.  Barnaby and Hooker's relationship turns into a more sexual one by the end of the novel.  It is very thrilling and has a lot going on the entire time.  If you like drama and suspense, you will like this novel.

The Results:  1 Vote, 100% for Liked it