The Cullens!

Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz Join Cast of the Thriller Romance

for more information check out www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight_movie.html

March Madness creates MAY-hem! READ ON!

I just wanted everyone to collectively check and mark your calendars for Friday, May 16th through the 17th. We will be holding book club in Cascade, Idaho for a special Women's retreat! We will be staying at my parents house and enjoying some RandR and gab time. For this event I can't decide what would be the perfect book to delve into. Here are some suggestions, please check them out and let me know what you think!

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1881273156/ref=sib_dp_pt/105-8532476-2250035%23reader-link
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0307387178/ref=sib_dp_pt/105-8532476-2250035#reader-link
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1582870837/ref=sib_dp_pt/105-8532476-2250035#reader-link
Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/B0009B2WTC/ref=sib_dp_pt/105-8532476-2250035%23reader-link

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Thank you to Adrienne for hosting us in a lovely discussion about the Silver Chair. Our next book, hosted by Marianne, will be A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Housseini.

The novel opens with the introduction of Mariam, a girl growing up in a small village on the outskirts of Herat in western Afghanistan. She lives with her mother, Nana, an embittered woman who is frequently resentful of her daughter whom she bore out of wedlock. Mariam busies herself with lessons in reading and writing from Mullah Faizullah, an elderly, kind-hearted cleric, and weekly visits from her wealthy father, Jalil. Mariam has heard of her father's other wives and children, who live with him at his lavish home in Herat, but has never visited them due to the stigma of her being an illegitimate child.

Welcome Baby Dittrich

April and Shane Dittrich welcomed their new baby boy into the world this morning weighing 6lbs 4oz and 20 inches long.

Congratulations!!!!

Sorry I don't have more details. I only spoke to Shane early this morning, and I was so excited for her that my brain froze and I forgot to ask for more info, like a name. But all is well and if I find out more info I'll let you know.

Some Book Club Questions

First, thanks ALOT Alyce for making up the book club brochure. It looks so professional. You're awesome. I was reading through it and lauged as I remembered the meeting we came up with the rules and I have to ask; is anyone else wondering if it's time to break into smaller groups? Poor Marianne is trying to round up books for 19 people to read. WOW!

Ann and I were talking about the pros of smaller discussion groups. Everyone can comment was a big pro for me. We do better sticking to the topic or in other words there aren't as many side conversations happening. It seemed easier to talk about and make decisions on the next book we read too. My personal favorite was when we designated each month a genre and then were given a few choices to decide on together within that genre. I felt most out of my comfort zone but grew a lot more by the end of the year, I started to feel more well read so to speak.

Ann brought up a great point regarding the name of our book club. For a while we were calling it "Reading Girl" due to the name of the book journal we passed around; so not that we have to call it that still, but Nampa24 makes it sound related to church. So does anyone else have opinions on it?

I know, I know, I'm opinionated. But you still love me for it right??? I hope??? Please get evryone to respond; I think in loo of it being a new year it's a good time to revisit "The RULES"

The Silver Chair

A big thanks to Julie for our fun night last night! Emma by Jane Austen was a hit as far as our discussion goes!

Next month, Feb. 12 (as far as I know) will be another evening of discussion at Adrienne's. We'll be reading C.S. Lewis's The Silver Chair. Don't worry - you don't need to have read any of the other's in the series to enjoy it. There are lots of copies in the library. See you all in a month!

Shortbread Dessert

2 1/2 C flour
6 Tble sugar
1 C butter softened but not melted
1/2 C Nestle's mini semi sweet ships

Heat oven to 325. Mix all ingredients in bowl, dump into casserole pan 9x12 ish and press into all corners till smooth. Bake for 25-30 min. or unitl bottom starts to brown. Cool Completely

First topping:
1 container cool whip (small container)
1/2 pkg or 4 oz of cream cheese, softened to room temp
1 pkg of vanilla pudding (Large pkg) I usually only have fat free pudding mixes on hand, so that what you all had the night of the club.
Mix well with blender and spread over shortbread.

Second Topping:
1 pkg Pastachio Pudding mix (follow recepie on box) again I used fat free.
1/4 C Nestle's mini semi sweet chips
Combine and pour over first topping and Refridgerate till served.

Keep refridgerated Enjoy!