Literary Depression

I was finally talked into reading the Twilight Saga recently, something I had been avoiding not because I don't enjoy that genre but because of the tween craze. Nevertheless, I gave in and to my surprise, enjoyed the first book! It is no Pride and Prejudice, but it was a fun, easy read and I loved the plot idea! Nice vampires, unlikely love, it was an entertaining twist.

As I read through the next two books in the series, I was feeling a little disappointed in the quality of the characters and the storyline. The more I read, the less I understood about their relationships and almost didn't want things to work out for them. They were whiny and selfish (besides Edward, but but he was also degraded to a piece of pathetic background noise later on) and seemed to just be satisfied that mystery and physical attraction was the reason for the "love" triangle. Sigh, I was beginning to become disenchanted with the Saga, but hoped that Breaking Dawn would pull it all together and save the day!

Oh boy... How I wish I had never opened that dismal book!

This is not intended to be a book review, so I will not explain all the ways that I was so disappointed in the last book of the Twilight Saga, but let me just say that it sent me into a "Literary Depression" for a few days. Because I had never read any reviews I had no preconceived ideas of how others liked the book, so I assumed that I was alone in thinking that this was a travesty among book Finales! This thought made me even more depressed. What had I missed? Had I expected too much? Why did I feel like this book wasn't even written by the same author?? When did the sweet innocent first love story turn the characters into cardboard afterthoughts, sex addicts and mutant baby producers?!?! Ok, let me get my composure back....

Ok, so this anticlimactic and frustrated feeling lasted a few days until I was brave enough to search for someone else that might have felt the same way. So I typed "Breaking Dawn book disappointment" into google hoping I might find a lone blogger who shared my let down.

Lo and Behold! I begin to read review after review of people just as chagrined as I was!! Luckily Matt and Corie had gone to the church to play basketball and Evie was already tucked asleep in bed, because I would have been embarrassed for anyone to hear my hysterical laughter and jubilation over a hostile book review! I was not alone! As I read and saw everything I had been stewing over in other's typed words, I began to feel better (ok so elated!)

In conclusion, I will not brand myself as a Twilight fan. As I said above, I did enjoy the first book and do think that the storyline had potential to be a really good series. The author was either too inexperienced, to "dazzled" (haha, i dare you to find out how many times that word is used in the series!) by the media, or had too much pressure writing the final book. Either way, while I am no longer in my "Literary Depression," mostly because I was not the only one to be disappointed, I am sad that it had to end on a sour note.

*disclaimer* -For those of you who do not know me well, I would like to point out that I love to read and enjoy books immensely, sometimes obsessively. BUT I also enjoy being overly dramatic in my writing and it just made it more fun that Twilight has been such an over the top craze, I couldn't help myself. I was never actually depressed, I hold no hostile feelings toward the author, and I can go on with my life and forget I ever read that stupid series. That's all.

"Team Edward!" (Just Kidding!!)

Fourth of July

For the Fourth of July my family went to spend the weekend with my grandparents at their lake house at Lake Whitney. It is always great to spend the fourth with my grandparents, plus the forth of July is my Granddaddy's birthday! Didn't get many boating pictures, but here are a few cuties.

This is the bike that Paige and I road at my grandparents house growing up. My Granddaddy found it in storage and cleaned it up for the girls!

Proof of fun

Aha! Got some pictures of a fun thing! Washing their dishes in the sink! Why is playing in bubbles in the sink so much more fun than playing with bubbles in the tub?

Note Evie's face. This is the face she makes when I say "smile!"

Some Fun Things

Fun has been hard to come by with this Mommy lately. I have found that I have become less tolerant of messes, potential messes, and being outside unless we are in a pool this summer with a growing midsection. Despite all this, I have managed to grit my teeth through some fun for the girls.

We have been to the local zoo and enjoy watching the baby kangaroo do mini hops around his area, and then copying him.

The girls have, on two occasions, been allowed to paint (Evie has a big plastic bag with dollops of paint inside she gets to squish.)

I have also decided to keep the hose next to the front walk so that the girls can blow bubbles on pretty mornings and evenings. The hose being necessary because Evie does not no how to blow bubbles in the least, she just likes to carry around a wand dripping in bubble juice.

We went for a puddle jumping walk in which two girls ending up bootless and soaked and giggling while sliding around in mucky water. ( I reeeeeally had to grit my teeth through this one, some of those puddles were questionable, I don't know how germ-a-phob moms deal with mud puddles)

After her first fall into the goop Corie looked ABSOLUTELY astonished that I was laughing. Made me sad that she doesn't remember that I was a fun Mommy a short 7 mths ago, but I am more determined to do fun stuff and be a little less of a fuddy duddy. Sadly I have no pictures of any of these fun things, it takes enough of my energy and concentration to take part in the fun I suppose.

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

New Marstaller on the way!

I am sure the news has made it to your ears by now, but I thought this was a good way to start off my new blogging energy! With Marstaller #3's birthday looming (ok, so these next 4 months will seem to take forever) I want to not only keep friends and family updated with Marstaller Girl Mania, but also have a reason to sit down and reflect now that my family is growing. I do not want to let the days slip by unnoticed. I will also try to save a few special pictures only for the blog (meaning I won't put them all on Facebook) and get Matt to finally show me how to put up videos. Videos are the whole reason Mo'Marstaller was forgotten about. I wanted to put some fun videos up and was waiting for Matt to figure it out. But, video or no, I love my girls and want to express my thankfulness for being there Mommy in this extra way. Have a happy Memorial Day weekend!

Corie Update: 3 and a half-ish years old

Favorite Activities: Playing Fairy or Princess, reading, making cards with stickers and markers, being in water (but NOT swimming, it makes her nervous, her own words) making things in the kitchen for parties (cupcakes mostly)

Evie Update: 16 months old

Most used words: Mama, Dadd-IE!, Bee (for Corie and all insects) Abbie (for all small domestic animals), Baba (Paci), Nah-nah (blanket and/0r mouse she always sleeps with, bananas, or "no no") Bee-bee (babies) Various animal noises, my favorite being Kitty Cat, she hisses,

Tit-ter (sticker) Babu (bubbles, belly button) Boove (moon, shoes, cow noise) Eye, Eah (ear), and mouw (mouth)

Most used communication: Shaking her head yes or no, or throwing things

Favorite Activities: Eating, reading, jumping on Corie, being outside, hiding in closet with Corie, putting on and taking off jewelry, emptying the kid's cups/bowls/plates drawer.

Baby #3 Update: Due Date September 29th, but scheduled for September 21st.

Heart Rate: 157

Size: .9 lbs

Movement: Lazy baby so far, gentle rolls and small kicks

Gender: Girl!

Sweet helper

Evie helped me with the laundry the other day. I need to remember to do this more often because she loved it! So often I try to cram all the chores into naptime, but sometimes a "little" help is nice.

And I can't help but slip in some shots of Corie helping a long time ago (and she still loves to help too)

Poor Evie

I realized that I haven't been posting very flattering pictures of Evie so far. Sometimes I forget that this is different than my FB photo albums, so here goes.