Wicked

I finally finished reading "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire.  I really struggled with this book I started reading it back in August and I just couldn't get into it.  I actually read another book in the meantime just to get a break.  I was intrigued by this story as the musical is so popular and I have heard great things about it.  I have a feeling that the book and the musical are quite different.  I haven't met anyone who has read the book and seen the musical, so if anyone has any input I would like to hear it. 

The book itself was very dark and it moved around a lot.  At the end all the loose ends to came together which helped but there were a lot of parts in the book that I didn't feel needed to be included to tell the story.  I am sure those parts have been left out of the musical.  I never quite got the whole Dragon of the Time Clock thing.  Actaully there were a lot of things that I didn't fully understand.  I would love to have a book club meeting about this book, so I could understand more of the story.  If anyone has read this book and would like to discuss it with me please, please contact me.

I can't say that I would recommend this book, but it did give me an alternative view of the original Wizard of Oz.  It's an interesting idea that the authour came up with.  I hear his other stories are also quite interesting.  Perhaps it was his writing style that I struggled with.  I doubt that I will read the sequel "Son of a Witch" although I was told it was better than "Wicked".

All in all interesting book, not my favourite.       

I am really excited!

I just heard about this new show on Nickelodeon for kids. It's called "Ni Hao Kai Lan". It's so perfect for Cali as it teaches the Chinese language and culture. Something that we are sadly lacking in Strathmore. I am sorry to say that Cali is growing up white. So I bought these movies hoping that it will add a little Asian influence in her life. If you are interested here is the intro to it.

Is it just me?

Is it just me or is the water in Strathmore improving?  We have been struggling all Spring and Summer with water that smells and tastes like a swamp in our little town.  Due to the increasing water shortage our water supply has been low and runs through a swamp on the way to town making the water in a word, NASTY!  Anything that touches the water smells like a swamp, our clothes, hair, the bathtub, simply everything!  However today I tasted some filtered water and I thought that it tasted fine.  Perhaps my standards have been lowered but I think that I may start drinking it again.  The town has be claiming that the water's taste will improve when the weather cools off because the algae will die then.  There has been an outdoor watering ban since May I believe here.  It's insane.  Let's move to a place where water is abundant!  I can think of a nice little province off the coast of the Atlantic...

Anyway Cali wants to share her jumping video.  Here it is in full colour!

Summer Wind Up

I must admit I have fallen a bit behind on my blogging as of late. I am sad to say that Ed has been back at school for over a week now, so I suppose the summer is offically over as we know it. However the weather has remained quite warm here in southren Alberta and I am ready for it to cool off a bit. Well anyway let me do a quick review of events since my last post.

Ed and I have thrown the name Kaitlin out the window for possibilities. Thank you all for your feedback so much!

We attended my cousin Mike's wedding on August 22nd to his beautiful bride Jenn. It was a great time. It's nice to catch up with the family. I haven't seen a few of them since my wedding three years ago.  I was surprized that a few had gotten married since I last saw them!  Congratulations Jenny and Rob!

The last weekend of August we headed down to Lethbridge to visit our friends from Strathmore for the Taber Cornfest.  We didn't end up making it out to Taber, instead we enjoyed Coaldale corn in Lethbridge with Trevor, Joyce, and, Mayah.  Ed and Trevor has a great time golfing and Joyce and I enjoyed sneaking out to Superstore for some ice cream.  It's great to have a friend to share ice cream with!  Cali and Mayah had lots of fun playing in Mayah's new big backyard!  It was a great weekend and a nice break from Strathmore.

On Tuesday Cali and I went to Riley Park home of the biggest wading pool in the city.  We went with Cali's friend Meagan and her mommy Carely.  It was a beautiful day and I got some great pictures of the girls.  Of course they wouldn't hold a pose long enough for me, so a few of the pictures are a bit abstract.  Here a few pictures to share...

 

Meagan in the pool with her floating mat.

 

Cali testing out the water.

Cali and Meagan enjoying their banana prune muffins in the water.  The girls loves the muffins and so did their moms!  So just click on the link if you have some prunes and bananas that you need to get rid of, or if you just need a good poop :)

After the park we headed over to Babies'r'us and I picked out a few things that we need for the coming baby.  I love that store!  Less than two months to go! 

So summer is now over and we are looking forward to the Fall and what it has to bring!