The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer! It's an opportunity to share news, post a recap for the previous week, showcase books, and highlight what's planned for the week ahead.
News:
My son starts piano lessons this week! He's really excited, and I'm happy to give him another outlet for his energy. He already does Brazilian jiu-jitsu twice a week, and I swear he has more energy when he's finished. The girls get to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa while he's at class (there's no way in hell they'd sit still for an hour while he practiced), so everything works out. Yay!
The last few days have revolved around my car. It now has new tires (first time they've been changed in five years), new rear shocks, and I paid an arm and a leg to have it thoroughly cleaned out. When we moved, we moved with three kids, five dogs, and two cats all in the same car. The level of ick was disturbing, and I am sooo happy to have a clean car again! Typically, we use Jacob's truck when we want to take the dogs somewhere, or they stay in the back of my car, but during the trip we had two in the middle at the children's feet. But now I have a clean car with new tires and shocks! They also did a tune up on everything else, so everything should be gravy for awhile. (We've had the car cleaned before, and used to have it done every six months or so, but this is the first time they've gotten every single piece of dog hair out -- amazing!)
The cats have a new cat toy (a three-story spinning ball tower), and two new beds that they share. They've always loved their cat tower, but I thought it would be nice if they had something to snuggle in. It's been so cold and rainy here this week! It's supposed to get down below freezing the next few days.
I've been trying to read, but this last week hasn't really given me an opportunity. Audiobooks have saved the day, but there are a few other books I really want to get to soon! I'm also trying to catch up on all of my comics, which seems impossible at the moment. I thought I would get some reading done while I waited on the car stuff, but it didn't work out.
Previous week on the blog:
Sunday: Mini Reviews [25]
Monday: Nothing!
Tuesday: Sunkissed Days (Magnolia Sound, # 0.5) by Samantha Chase [Blog Tour: Review + Excerpt] ⋆⋆⋆
Thursday: Nothing!
Friday: DNF&Y [14]
Saturday: Nothing!
What I'm currently reading:
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods (The Underland Chronicles, #3) by Suzanne Collins
Black Wings Beating (Skybound, #1) by Alex London
I could not wait to read the next book in The Underland Chronicles! The last book didn't have a cliffhanger per se, because it wrapped up everything pertaining to its particular story, but there were a few loose ends that will hopefully be addressed in this book. Some of the main characters are unaccounted for, and I'm worried for their safety, haha. My son also begged me to read this one next (even though we tend to space out books in a series so they last longer), because he needed to know what happened as well. We're both super curious!
Black Wings Beating is the book I'm actively listening to at the moment, but I'm still on the fence about how I feel. There's a lot of animal cruelty, and I find it distasteful and hard to read about. If two people want to fight each other in a pit, whether it's to the death or for fun, they shouldn't drag animals into it. In the book they tie birds to their wrists so they cannot fly away, and then they're forced to battle other birds while their masters/owners/trainers fight on the ground. It's awful and a waste of innocent life.
What I plan on reading next:
How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 by Joanna Faber, Adele Faber (forward), Julie King
The Last Woman in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets
Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren
I started How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen a few weeks ago, but my audiobook expired! It's a long book, and one I like to randomly listen to when the mood strikes (like when my children are being particularly difficult). I hope to finish it soon!
The Last Woman in the Forest and Cold Day in the Sun are two of my most anticipated reads for this year! I really hope they don't disappoint.
What I'm watching:
Zilch. I'm trying to catch up on an anime show called Fairy Tail, but time hasn't been my friend. There are a few other shows that I would love to start, but movies and television always get pushed aside for something else. My kids have been watching a lot of Super Why, so I guess there's that. 😁
I'm a little behind on some of my challenges, but it's still early in the year! Also, when I finally catch up on all of my comics, my numbers for the Goodreads Challenge will improve. What about you? How are you doing on your challenges so far?
Car stuff can be not-so-fun, but it's so necessary! Not sure why it's all so expensive, though! I love that you and your son read books together.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely necessary! I drive my kids around in it, so I want it to be as safe as possible. We've always read books with the kids, but now I'm getting to read more MG! They're longer and require more thought on his end. He seems to enjoy it! :)
DeleteExciting your son will start Piano. Hope he enjoys it. I love when I get my car detailed. Happy Reading.
ReplyDeleteHe's so excited! He was supposed to start last week, but the teacher had something come up, so we'll start this week instead. It should help keep him busy since he'll have to practice at home, too. I love it when my car is clean and detailed! <3
DeleteWow! You have a lot of people and pets to take care of. You are superwoman! I loved Cold Day in the Sun. I am trash for hockey romances, and these two were adorbs. PLUS, there were so many other things to love. I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteWe have a large family, haha. Two of our dogs we've had since before the kiddos, so they're getting pretty old. The other three are younger, but old enough to know how to behave, haha. They're really great dogs, and we try to make sure we get them out and about often. They love to swim, catch frisbees, fetch balls and run, so there's no shortage of what we can do! On busy days, we take a walk or hang out in the backyard. If only the kids were as easy to take care of... ;)
DeleteYay! I'm happy to hear that! I'm really looking forward to reading Cold Day in the Sun! It's been ages since I've read a good hockey romance. <3
Ooh I bet the cats are happy haha! New toys or cozy beds are always popular! And glad your car stuff got all straightened out. New tires are always nice.
ReplyDeleteThe Last Woman in the Forest looks quite good. And good luck catching up w/ the comics! I got some new stuff over on ComiXology and now I gotta get around to reading it lol.
The cats were thrilled! They now have a strawberry bed and a pineapple bed to share between them. I think they prefer the pineapple at the moment, but it arrived before the strawberry so they're more used to it, I think. I really need to vacuum the cat tower! I sometimes forget to do that whenever I'm vacuuming the rest of the house.
DeleteI started The Last Woman in the Forest last night, and so far so good! :) Good luck catching up on your comics -- it's never-ending! What's your favorite ongoing comic that you're reading right now?
Right now I'm loving Golden city, which is a Eurocomic (seriously I've been loving those!!) It's been translated into English and ComiXology is carrying them, so yay! lol I've also been enjoying The Survivors by Leo (more Euro stuff). And my favorite Marvel thing right now is probably West coast Avengers. I wish all their stuff wa that fun. :)
DeleteInteresting! I'll have to look into some Eurocomics. ;) WCA really is fun to read! I always save it for last, even though it's the first thing I want to read when they arrive. <3
DeleteHooray for a refreshed and all-clean car. I'm usually the only one ever in my car and half the time when a bag boy is loading groceries in the trunk I get asked if the car is brand new. It's always "I've never seen such a clean trunk." LOL Then I tell them that the car is 3 years old but the only one in the car is me and the only thing in the trunk are groceries now and then. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to see what you think of both The Last Woman in the Forest and Cold Day in the Sun. They both sound so interesting!
Hahaha -- I would love for my car to stay that clean! Alas, children are messy, and dogs shed their fur. It has to end up somewhere! I don't let them eat in the car, but I bent those rules when we were sitting in a car for hours and hours. It was easier than trying to get the kids out while also finding somewhere for the dogs to hang out. The back/trunk of our car is used for groceries, dogs, bicycles, a stroller, skateboards and basketballs... it's never going to stay clean. And with our son starting soccer this month, I have a feeling the middle seat will see it's fair share of dirt and sweat. ;)
DeleteOh my gosh picturing traveling with all of those bodies makes me wonder why in the heck you did it. I've done six hours to my home, home with a husband, a baby, and two big dogs and that's more than enough for me lol!!
ReplyDeleteAlso Dance of Thieves keeps catching my eye, too. I never finished her first series set in the same world...would you say I would have to before starting this??
It had to be done! That's the only reason I would put myself or them through that. We've settled in at the new place, so the car ride is a distant memory, but moving is inevitable when your spouse is in the military. We'll move often! We were lucky this move was relatively short, and we were able to make the trip in a single (albeit very long) day. When we moved from Georgia to Texas, that trip took multiple days, although the kids were in one car and the dogs in another.
DeleteDance of Thieves is my first book by the author! I was unaware she had a previous series, and that the two were set in the same world. I'm enjoying this one without any previous knowledge of world, and I'm really enjoying it. :)
Oh gosh looking back at my original comment I totally meant "How in the heck" not "why in the heck" hahah. Made me sound like a jerk!!
DeleteAnd that's really good to hear about not having to read the other books because I wasn't sure about going back to read the other two I skipped..
I didn't think you were being a jerk, haha. I often ask myself why we did it, too. ;)
DeleteI cannot wait to see what you think of The Last Woman in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets!
ReplyDeleteIt's great so far! :) Have you read it?
DeleteI head good things about the last woman in the forest. hope you love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm really enjoying it so far. <3
DeleteWow, your car must have been nasty with all those kids and critters. I have 1 big dog, and she’s pretty good at messing up cars (and houses). Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
It wasn't nasty (because I still cleaned up after the kids), but there was an excessive amount of dog hair, and some crumbs in those hard-to-reach places! We don't typically let the kids eat in the car (or ourselves), so food mess was a minimum. Although, we did allow it while traveling, so it cut back on how many stops we had to make. Plus, there was the mess of the car just being used, like dirt from shoes and stuff. It definitely needed to be cleaned! You're so right about dogs, though -- messy! :)
DeleteI hope your son enjoys piano!! I'm really curious about The Last Woman in the Forest. Hope it's a good one!!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
He's super excited, so I really hope it goes well. I want him to like it! I think learning piano at his age will be good for him mentally and physically. It should be challenging in both areas at least! :)
DeleteI love having a clean car. I'll be at least vacuuming it out myself once it gets a little warmer. I did vacuum the house on Sunday which will last for a couple days and then need to be again. Here's to a great reading week and better weather. Anne - Books of My Heart
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of dogs and our floor is stained concrete, so I sweep often. During the winter I can do it every other day, but it's every day during the summer. Once it gets warmer and they start to shed a little more, ugh. I'm very familiar with a broom, haha.
DeleteYay for a clean car. I did the same thing after we moved from Jersey to Florida. It was me, the kids, the cats and my MIL. (Hubby went ahead to start new job) I had that van so stuffed I killed the rear shocks.
ReplyDeleteMe too!! When I went to have my tires replaced, they said my rear shocks were leaking. They asked if I'd carried anything heavy or far, and both were true. New tires and new rear shocks! When we PCS, my husband typically goes down first to get everything set up, housing and work, and then he'll come back to help us move.
DeleteOMG any one of those travel factors (kids - cats - dog) never mind all of the above! The deep cleaning of the car is definitely deserved.
ReplyDeleteIt was madness! I was super stressed out before the move, during the drive, and for about a month afterwards. It took us a while to settle into a new routine, and for everyone to adjust to their new surroundings.
Delete