Movie Review: 3:10 to Yuma

We have had this movie sitting in our home for weeks.  When Shad got it from Netflix and said it was a western with Christian Bale.  That made me interested but not enough to say Alright lets watch it now.  Then I forgot about it.  I'm busy most nights, if busy is reading, crafting, watching Biggest Loser or going out to do something else, so it wasn't brought up much to watch it.  Then came one night last week.  I said I was going to read all night because I wanted to finish this book and suggested he go ahead and watch his movie because I know we have had it a long time.  But then when he came down to actually put it in I decided to stay and watch too with the clause of I can always go upstairs if I don't like it.


Let me just tell you that this is a great movie.  Christian Bale isn't his tough unstoppable strong masculine hot batman "self" he is rugged and dirty, down on his luck and looked down on by his town and son, but he is unstoppable.  He volunteers to take a super bad ass outlaw (Russell Crow) to catch the 3:10 train our to Yuma city where the jail is.  They have to get Crow there with his band of merry men after them and through Indian country.  Everyone has a gun and is not afraid to use it or get shot with it.  You know that Crow is bad but you can't help but love him.  

**************SPOILER********************

Now I have to share how I wish the movie had ended.  Now if you read this that means that the actual ending will be ruined for you.  So do not read on if you do not want to know the ending of this movie.  Come back and read it after you have watched the movie.


Evans and Wade run to the train and pull the door open and Wade jumps in and gets behind the bars of the train's jail cell.  Evans is seeing him off when Wade's right hand man, Butterfield, comes up behind Evans and shoots him.  It gets him in the shoulder and he slumps over.  Wade jumps out of the train angry and tells Butterfield to stop.  Butterfield is still aiming his gun at Evans as he tries to stand.  Wade tells him that Evans isn't worth being shot and to hand his gun over.  Butterfield hesitates but listens.  Wade admires his favorite gun with the gold cross on the handle then holds it up and shoots Butterfield in the chest followed by the rest of this posse that are gathering around them.  Will runs up to help his dad up and Wade makes eye contact with Evans, nods his head then gets back on the train and behind his cell.  As the train pulls out you hear Wade whistle and his horse comes a running after the train.  

THIS ending leaves you to believe that Evans lives.  Which I think is better because I'm so sad that he has to die after all the hard work he did in getting Wade to the train in extremely difficult circumstances.  He finally has made enough money to help his family and prove to them that he isn't worth anything.  Wade goes off to jail and then later escapes only to then return to help Evans and his family on their farm and chooses to give up his outlaw ways because he has found such a great friend in Evans.  The way it actually ends makes me think that after Wade escapes from jail (which he undoubtedly will because he already has twice) that he sends money to Will and the Evans' family to help them pay for things they need.  It is just so hard in movies (and books) when a character you love and have grown attached to dies. 

a week without coke

It has been a week and 2 days since I've had a coke or any other soda.  Things have gone okay.  There have been times when I have really wanted one because I'm tired or stressed but I've made it through.  I have been more cranky and I have felt more tired in the afternoons.  I am so used to having a coke with lunch that I don't have that pick me up for the early afternoon.  It is also hard to break the habit of stopping by the gas station on my way picking up Brody from school and get a coke from the fountain.  This gives me a little AHHHH moment and cleans away some of the stress of the day and gives me a boost to get through the rest of it.  I can also tell that my body is trying to make up for the lack of sugar it has been getting from the cokes and I am craving sweets more.  So many times when I have wanted a coke I have grabbed a cookie instead or a reeses cup.  But I'm finding that there are other choices when you go places to eat out like lemonade (chickfila's is really good!) or a fruit punch drink.  When we had game night I bought a special Cherry Limeade drink so I would still have something fun to drink but not go for the sodas.  I did really well. 

I NEED A COKE!!!

I love Coke.  I like Dr. Pepper, Cheerwine is good, and Pepsi is alright, but I love Coke!  I like canned coke in my fridge.  I like fountain coke from the gas station up the street.  A coke is always the best drink with fast food or food at restaurants.  On afternoons when I'm stressed and tired grabbing a coke always uplifts me and gives me a calming boost to keep going.  When I'm stressed from a long day of being busy a coke helps relax me and calm my nerves. 

BUT......

I'm finding that I reach for this way to often.  I can't stop with just one.  One today means two tomorrow and before I know it I have had nothing to drink in a day except coke.  This isn't healthy.  It also hurts to see my 2 year old scream when I take the cup, straw and coke away from him.  I can't drink it around him because he begs for it, and I always give in and let him have what he wants.  I don't want my child to think drinking soda is good or be the drink that he craves and asks for all the time.  I know soda is not healthy for me.  I know that sugar is adding to my weight gain or lack of weight loss that I'm always working on.  I know that caffeine is addictive and that the church frowns on it.  I know the acid and coloring is bad for my teeth.  It is time to stop.  I've tried to stop before but it never lasts.  I always pick it back up.  This has to change.  I've even googled how to overcome addiction and how to overcome addiction to caffeine. 

My name is Katie and I'm addicted to Coke. 

I need encouragement and support in quieting coke.  This is going to be hard.  I hope I can do it.  I'm expecting to be tired and get headaches.  I need to replace this urge to grab a coke with drinking water.  I really want to pick up my running speed.  I have noticed that when I drink too much coke it makes me sluggish and I can't run as fast.  I know that even when I'm thirsty I will grab a coke instead of water and soda is one of the things that makes me thirsty in the first place!  I can do this. 

Books I've read in 2012

My goal is to read 28 books this year.  I have kept track of the books I read the past couple of years and have come no where close to my goals.  The goal keeps getting smaller every year. 

This is my ratings system:
5 - Best book ever! Everyone must read it! I love it! I will read this book over and over and over again.
4 - Great book. I would highly recommend it. I'll read this book again.
3 - Good book. I enjoyed it.
2 - It was okay. Not the best.
1 - Not Good. Why did I wast my time?


I enjoy re-reading books so that is how I base my ratings and what I think of books.  3 stars doesn't mean I didn't like the book it just means I didn't love it enough to re-read it sometime in the future but I did enjoy reading it once through.  I'll mark books that I've re-read this year with a * in front of the rating.  I hope you find something you are interested in reading.

January
Prodigal Son (Dean Koonz's Frankenstein #1) by Dean Koontz -- 3 stars
Inheritance (Inheritance Cycle #4) by Christopher Paolini -- 5 stars
Ava's Man by Rick Bragg -- 3 stars
The Asylum (The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #5) by L.J. Smith, Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec -- 3 stars
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith -- 2 stars
Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare -- *4 stars

February
Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare -- 5 stars
The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Laura Schlessinger -- 5 stars
Persuasion by Jane Austen -- 4 stars
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom -- 5 stars
Escape Children of the Holocaust by Allan Zullo -- 3 stars

March
Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer (Twisted Tales #2) by Maureen McGowan -- 3
Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1) by Gail Carriger -- 4 
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns -- 5

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes Book of Shadows

Date night last night took us to the 2dollar theater in Raleigh to watch Sherlock Holmes: Book of Shadows.  I really enjoyed the movie.  I loved Robert Downey Junior's English accent.  I think the cinematography was awesome!  The costumes and makeup were so fun.  I loved how there would be scenes slowed down and sped up to show details or emphasize certain parts.  I think this movie showed how insanely genius Sherlock Holmes is.  I haven't read any of the books so I'm not sure how he "really" is supposed to be but I like the corckyness that Downey gives Holmes.  The plot is definitely one of those problem solve movies that move quickly and give information fast so I missed a few pieces when given but it all "makes sense" in the end.  But of course there is also that piece that we don't know about till the end because they chose not to show us part of Holmes's plan.  I also really enjoyed the friendship between Holmes and Watson.  Do friendships like this exist in real life?  I hope so because I want one.  Watson knows what Holmes in thinking and he gets how Holmes works and plans so once he sees that Holmes's ridiculous plots plan out he can go right with the flow.  They have an understanding of each others language and can help each other out in times of need.  I would suggest this movie to anyone that wanted to have a fun night watching a movie.  It should be out on DVD soon so go rent it.  I would watch it again just so I could pick up on things I missed the first time.  And truthfully, Robert Downey Junior isn't hard to look at.

Finn is 2 years old!!

February 2010

My baby is two.  I can't believe it.  2 years ago I was screaming at the mid-wife to "GET IT OUT OF ME!!!" and then hearing the sweet words from Shad telling me that HE is here and okay.  

May 2010

December 2010

April 2011

Finn is such a joy to have in our home.  He loves to play and laugh and follow his siblings.  He also loves to scream and throw.  He chooses not to listen even though he understands.  He spends every minute of the day either driving me absolutely insane! or being so cute and lovable.  He likes to stand while he eats and chooses not to use his spoon or fork even for oatmeal and yogurt.  But he has learned to say "done" then place is bowl or plate in the sink.  He doesn't say many words or many signs, but enough that he gets his point across.  His NO and YES are very expressive.  He loves Blue Clues and Super Why.  He enjoys letters but doesn't know what they all are, most of them are A, B or O.  His favorite and best is Mario.  He wants to watch Brody play Mario on the Wii all the time and loves to cuddle with his little mario, along with 2 blankets, every time he goes to bed.  He might still hit when he is mad but he also gives plenty of kisses and likes to cuddle up with mommy on the couch.  I ask him "Are you my baby?" and he happily says "Yea."  He enjoys climbing to the very top, exploring in the woods, and throwing balls.  His pacey is always in his mouth.  He is an active ball of energy always on the go and I am just crazy about this little boy of mine, crazy in love and crazy I'm-gonna-strangle-him!

August 2011

October 2011

Briar's 4th Birthday

Briar turned 4 at the beginning of January and even though we celebrated on time as a family I didn't get around to her party for 3 weeks after.

she got a long sleeved dress from her Nana Lois so this is now our only "winter" dress so she wears it to church every week.

We got her 2 board games.  One is called Snack Attack and I picked it out because she is always asking for a snack.  The other is a cup cake making game.  She also wants to help us bake/cook but that isn't always possible so now we can play this game any time she wants (no real edible ingredients used).  And a look and find book, because she loves those.

 For Christmas my mother-in-law gave myself (and Briar) a how to book on decorating cup cakes.  We gave our first ones a shot and they turned out pretty cute.  Pink Flamingos!  The wings are melted pink chocolate wafers.  The head is a pretzel with a jelly bean attached with the same melted chocolate as a head and a gummy savor beak.  Make the frosting sparkle but rolling it in tinted sugar.  Yummy!

 

 

 

Briar's party took a couple of weeks and my girlfriends were so willing and kind enough to push back plans after 2 cancellations and changes. But when the day finally came everyone had a wonderful time I think.  Our 4 princesses and single prince adorned their crowns with jewels and covered their hand mirrors in pretty stickers so they could look upon themselves in spender.  The feast could not begin though before they located Lumiere's candles so our luncheon could be served.  We dined on croissants and apples with pink lemonade. 

 

 

 

These cup cakes were from my aforementioned cup cake book.  they are supposed to be roses (made from fruit roll ups) but they seem to have wilted by the time dessert was served.

the king served up lemonade but the yellow cups i bought at the dollar store were cheap and leaked their contents so regular plastic cups were brought out.

strawberry shortcake.  always loved!

legos.  a new favorite.

I was having a play date with my friend and was discussing Briar's new love for legos after her brother receiving so many for his birthday a few months before.  She got a box of girl legos for christmas and enjoys playing them very much but beyond the box she got at christmas there isn't much other choice out there for girls that like legos.  Everything is boy geared, star wars, ninjas, pirates (not that girls don't like these things but where is the pink and purple and brightness?).  then a week after briar's birthday and most likely 3 weeks after this conversation i glanced a few boxes of new girl geared legos and what did my friend get briar but those legos that she saw at target as well and remembered our conversation.  Friends are so great!

After our party the girls were escorted in their finest attire to a viewing of Beauty and the Beast in 3D (now do you understand why Lumiere, hand mirrors and roses were at the party?).  This was brody's first 3D movie.  he wore the glasses the whole time and said that "the movie looked real."  Briar refused to wear the glasses but when i would peak to see what the movie looked like without glasses it was only slightly blurry.  I guess she didn't notice or wasn't bothered by it.   before the movie was the best part though.  there was a short film about the wedding day of Tangled characters Flynn Rider and Rapunzel.  I was laughing so loud!  It really was one of the funnest things i have seen. 

Finn's first haircut

Finally took Finn to get a hair cut today!!
The back has been too long and stragelly for too long.  It gets matted in the back and it doesn't really curl nice so it just looks bad. 
Today that all went away.
I took Finn to the kids hair salon and he got to sit in a cool car and watch Dora while the lady cut his hair.  I was prepared for screaming and squirming but there was none.  Only a little head turning when she would cut close to his ears but other then that I don't think he even knew what was going on.  Then when it was all over he got a sucker. 

Before

during

 after

Now his head looks really round in the back and he looks like a handsome baby.

Valentines Day

Valentines Day to me is really just another day.  People treat it differently and I think that is crazy.  Yes I do like to tell my kids and my friends and my husband that I love them because today is a "holiday" but those people out there that treat this day as a "i'm going to die if I don't have a date or if my husband doesn't buy me a ridiculously over priced bouquet of flowers" (my sister-in-law works at a godiva chocolate store and she says that 6 chocolate dipped strawberries cost $50! WTF to the max!!).  I am not one of those people.  I'm not sure if I have ever been (but I am not one to celebrate most holidays like a crazy person).

How I celebrated today.

Well first yesterday Briar, Finn and I went to a small valentines party at a friends house.  There were many snacks!  Finn played very nicely, which was a wonderful surprise.  Briar was shy but found her nook when she could create a card.

We also made the kids valentine cards that they passed out today in their classes.  When we started Brody asked if we could listen to valentine music like when we made our christmas crafts and listened to christmas music.  Not really the same thing.  I tried to explain to him that valentine music is just love songs.  i put something on.

This morning, our favorite place, Chickfila was serving heart shaped biscuts.  I took my funny valentine to enjoy them.  We stayed and played for a long time because he was having such a good time in the play place.  But once he started trying to take the play time out into the resturant area we left and headed to a real playground.

He enjoyed the played equipment, but mainly just wanted to climb up whatever he could.

Once that was exhausted we wondered around and played in the "woods."  Finn wants to walk around things, pick things up, and throw them.  

The afternoon was exciting when the kids came home from school to look through their valentine card bags and eat some candy.  Then after dinner I gave them their valentine gifts.  They each got a bag of gummy worms.

Then Finn screamed when we took his away so we could get ready for bed.

Just a normal Tuesday.