How cute are they in their matchy-matchy dresses?! We took that on Easter. All four of us were color-coordinated in our Royals gear a couple weeks ago, but I didn’t get a picture. I figure we can always put those outfits back on another day. After all, baseball season does go on FOR-EV-ER. (Please, PLEASE hear that in my best Sandlot voice!)

Is it possible the months are going faster? Like the earth is turning more quickly as every month passes? (Or whatever the earth does. Science is not my thing.) I mean, every single month I’m saying the same thing! “Time goes so fast, blah, blah, blah!” It’s true, though. Earlier this week I talked to someone about starting a project in May, and she had to point out that May was literally two days away.

Oh.
Huh.
Okay then!

April was full but not overly busy. And aside from some annoying rainstorms, the weather was beautiful. I had a few stressful work days, a few surprisingly pleasant family days, and even an afternoon or two where I realized I didn’t have any pressing deadlines for the moment.

Shoot, you guys. As soon as I wrote that I remembered a deadline I have FOR TODAY. Yikes!

Anyway. April brought two major milestones for my family. Annalyn was baptized at church, and Adrienne finally started walking. Big, big deals!! I love those girls so stinking much! They are both so awesome, and I am crazy proud of them. So, April was a good month here. How about you? I’m going to share what I was into over the past few weeks, and I’d love to hear what you were into, too!

What I’m Reading

I didn’t read as much as normal this month. I’ve been trying to go to bed earlier (you know, LIKE A GROWN-UP). And I’ve also had a hard time finding something I really want to read. Luckily, I found a few that I loved.

A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano: Set in the 1880s, this is the first in a series of Christian romantic suspense novels. It was full of spunky, progressive women and men who are amused by them. It was not particularly realistic, but the snappy dialogue read like a Regency romance, and I’m a fan of that. If you need something light and funny, try this series.

Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas: I’ve got a serious beef with Mr. Rob Thomas. I was doing just fine all these years without anything new in the Veronica Mars world. JUST FINE! But then he has to go and write a movie and two books that are PERFECTION – and then NOTHING ELSE. I do not accept this, Mr. Thomas! Do you hear me? You can’t stop now! Your marshmallows need more, and they need it now. (Translation: This book was great, written in a flawless Veronica Mars voice. I didn’t love the vibe between Veronica and Logan, which stinks. But I have confidence they can get it back in the next book. Or movie. Either one, I’m not picky!)

Time’s Edge by Rysa Walker: I had to re-read the first book in this series before reading this one, because I originally read it last year when Adrienne was a newborn. I remembered loving the YA time travel story but couldn’t remember the details. Which is good because this plot? It is convoluted and full of details. I didn’t love it quite as much the second time around (and I’m including the second book in that description), but it ended on a crazy cliffhanger, so I’ll definitely be back for the next one. Well played, author. Well played.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black: I read The Curse Workers trilogy by Black a few years ago when I had the flu. I literally laid in bed devouring the books while I coughed and sneezed and sweated. I was blown away by the creativity of the stories. Still, when I read the description for this new book I wasn’t excited. I was wrong. This is a story about a girl and her brother and a fairy prince and evil fairy kings and much, much more. It was so creative – characters and story I haven’t read before. And I read a lot of fantasy books! This is a good one – and a standalone, which is a nice change from EVERY OTHER BOOK EVER.

From the Start by Melissa Tagg: Okay, look. I do not like that cover. It’s cheesy, I know. But this book – and all the others I’ve read by Tagg – are great. If you like straightforward Christian romance novels, read this one. (And the others by the author.) It was charming and sweet and not predictable in the normal ways. Also, it had likable characters and good dialogue. I wish the next book was out already!

And now for something totally different! Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me About Life, Faith & Second Chances by Rachel Ridge is being released today, and you’re going to want to get a copy.

I was just talking to someone about how so many books feel…similar…these days. Not so with Flash! “Some people get angels; I got a donkey.” Heh. I love the way Rachel learned so many life lessons from something as unusual as a donkey basically adopting her family. And she’s such a great storyteller, too. Flash is a keeper – both the donkey and the book.

What I’m Watching

A couple weeks ago we got new cable service, so now I have Netflix on my TV. (Before this, we either watched on my laptop or connected a cord from the computer to the TV. Either way, it made it hard to multitask so I didn’t watch a ton of Netflix.) I was clicking around, just looking at what’s there – and I found Undeclared.

I knew it was a show many people have on their lists of beloved short-lived shows, and I’ve heard it called, “Freaks & Geeks Go to College.” Based on that, I gave it a try – and I loved it. It was EXACTLY like Freaks & Geeks Go to College, and a whole lot more like my college experience than Greek (which I loved anyway). When one of the characters attempted the sorority life and later told her friend, “We’re dorm people!” I totally identified with that.

Mark and I are still watching and enjoying West Wing and Sherlock (although The Hounds of Baskerville was my least favorite episode by far). And NCIS and Castle are basically the same old, same old. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. They just aren’t terribly exciting to me right now.

The rest of the shows I watch are all in full-blown season finale ramp-up mode, getting more and more DIRE and SUSPENSEFUL and SERIOUS and MYSTERIOUS with each scene. I’m sure I’ll have lots of feelings to share about them in a few weeks.

I was so excited when I first heard about Jimmy Fallon and John Krasinski turning Lip Sync Battle into an actual TV show. Now that it’s here, I kind of wish it had stayed in late night. Bummer.

Not a bummer is my plan to see the new Avengers movie tomorrow. Mark and I have had several less-than-successful date nights over the past few months. A few times we had plans but couldn’t find a babysitter, but other times we actually went out but couldn’t find a movie to watch! (Not that every date must be to a movie, but we like going to movies.) So the fact that we have a babysitter lined up for tomorrow, when a big superhero movie is coming out? IS SUPER EXCITING AND I CAN’T WAIT!

What I’m Listening to: I told you about a lot of the songs I’m listening to in my post about what I’ve Shazam-ed lately. My friend Angela reminded me of another one I’m loving: Shut Up & Dance by Walk the Moon. Have you seen this video? YOU GUYS. It is totally retro and a very literal interpretation of the lyrics AND ADORABLE. I love it. I’m going to go watch it again right now. You watch it, too.

What I’m Eating: In case you missed the memo (I’m KIDDING; there was no memo. How embarrassing!), I re-joined Weight Watchers. So I’m eating grapes and bagel thins and chickenchickenchicken. And Fiber One fudge brownies, because a girl needs chocolate. (And then I’m dreaming about these Oreo Magic Brownies. Mmmmm…)

That’s me and my April. Now I want to hear about YOURS!

What were YOU into this month?

 
I’m linking up with Leigh today. Join me at her place for some of the best book, TV, movie and music recommendations!