Thanksgiving craziness was had at the Davis cabin this weekend. BZ and Bob invited the family to meet up at Lake Kachess to celebrate the holiday. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and Mimi came to have dinner and spend the weekend at their beautiful home. Between the knitting, game playing, movie watching and eating, lots of visiting and catching up was done. Bob even managed to reclaim his manhood thanks to Ryan Prentice showing up. Thanks for a great weekend Davis', can't wait for next year!
I wasn't going to blog about the Lion King because I knew mom already did, but my life is boring, so here goes! Last August, I bought mom a ticket to the Lion King for her birthday. It was a risky proposition because mom often bails on public appearances, and did in fact try to get us to take Liam, our animal lover, instead of her. I of course refused and told her she had to use her birthday present. Katie and I took mom out to lunch before the show to Sante, a cute little restaurant/charcuterie downtown. I discovered that I do not like TERRINE! Meat mixed with other substances such as olives in a gelatinous mold will not be crossing my lips anytime soon! In my defense, I didn't realize that the free-range chicken description meant pressed chicken with olives. My waitress kindly found a substitute, and I left a nice tip!
After the lunch fiasco, we headed over to the play. I was the only one of the three of us who had seen it. And of course, it didn't disappoint. The opening scene with all the animals heading to pride rock is so overwhelming, it brought a couple tears to my eyes. No surprise there. I saw the tour a couple years ago when it came to Spokane. It was a pleasant surprise to realize that they had added some new pieces to the show, including scenes and songs, so even though I'd seen it before, it was new! Thanks for a great time mom and Katie. Oh, and mom did indeed have a great time.
So I'm playing with the idea of having my students create book trailers for stuff that we are reading in class or that they are doing for outside reading. I was looking online today at different book trailers that authors and publishers had created, and loved this one. Thought I'd share it. Sad but true fact, if I show this to my students, I will first have to teach them what a typewritter is as most of them have never seen one...
So the newest trend in young adult books is to write companion novels: two books that are from the same series, but stand alone, and don't necessarily have the same characters. Fire is a companion novel to the book Graceling which I read a few weeks ago, and is in fact a prequel to the first novel. I loved this book, in fact I read till 2am to finish it because I just couldn't put it down. The book takes place in an alternate world (cause you know I love my fantasy books) where mixed in with the ordinary people and animals are monsters that are incredibly beautiful to look at and which use their beauty to trap unsuspecting minds so that they can eat them. Fire is the last human monster who doesn't want to use her powers to hurt people (she can read minds and use that to compel them to do things). It's a bit of a mystery, a bit of a romance, and a bit of an action/adventure all rolled into one really intriguing plot where Fire learns how to trust herself to not turn into the monster her father was. A real page-turner. I also loved the subtly woven in message that we all choose our own path regardless of where we come from or who our parents are. I heard at my book conference, that Kristin is planning a third book which will combine characters from both books. Can't wait for that to come out!
Seth Graham-Smith has made a Pride and Prejudice that even a boy will pick up. I loved this book from page one. It is funny and clever. Completely Jane Austin's romantic story about Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy overcoming their individual prejudices to find love Graham-Smith uses the original text) with a healthy smattering of zombie killing thrown in. England has been overrun by zombies due to some strange plague, and the sisters are some first-rate ninja, zombie killers. I laughed more during this book then any others I've read lately, and there are some truly great pictures throughout the novel. I am really hoping that they make a movie version of this. And if anyone is looking for a stocking stuffer for me, I'd love the new hardback version of it they just came out with (I borrowed my version from the library)! I hope his next few books in this series are as well done.
Katie's nursing friends Michelle and Bethany were also at the game. We met up with them at half-time.
Just missed the touch-down, thank God!
The Seahawks complete a pass.
Interception Seahawks!
Found this wine at the Basque Market. Best slogan ever!!!!
Our coffee treats at The Flying M Coffee House. A little drinkable art!
This guy was all about the Boise State spirit. He was one of the servers at Goldie's (all of them dressed up for Halloween).
Tara's breakfast at Goldie's. A potato and cheese frittata. 
Tara shows off her new phone. Loved this outfit. Dressed up for Halloween, or just plain awesome? No one knew!
Our costumes: the fairy and the bumble bee. Tara made our wings. Super sweet!
The tigers were a little frisky. And the kids got a little lesson about birds and bees...jk, they were just wrestling.
Tara and I had a ton of fun posing on the different kid toys around the Boise Zoo!
These masks were sweet!!!!
