Baltimore Aquarium

Last weekend was cold and a little snowy, so we, of course, thought it would be the perfect chance to go to the Baltimore Aquarium. We got there just after the aquarium opened, and, just as we had hoped, the snow kept many people at home.

Here's a look at a snowy Inner Harbor.

The Baltimore Aquarium is the National Aquarium, and it is pretty impressive. My pictures are not going to do it justice at all. We saw lots of sharks, sting rays, some turtles, puffins, sea anemone, and lots of lots of fish.

Beckett loved the aquarium.

We all loved the dolphin show. Beckett loved when the dolphins jumped out of the water. He threw his arms up in the air and cheered. He kept asking us when they were going to jump again.

The aquarium has a South American and an Australian exhibit. The Australian exhibit is particularly impressive. I snagged some pictures of these reptile relatives.

 The dwarf caiman lives in the Amazon.

And this is the Australian freshwater crocodile.

I really like taking photos of jellyfish. Here are a few from Baltimore's exhibit.

This is a spotted lagoon jelly from the South Pacific.

We seem to see the moon jelly at a lot of aquariums.

We also saw the pacific sea nettle in Monterey.

As if those other jellys weren't wild enough, here's the upside-down jelly. Instead of swimming it hangs out on the floor of shallow seas.

We might have to go back on another snowy day.

Air and Space

We are doing our best to squeeze in some fun before this baby comes. We went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum out by Dulles on New Years Observed.

Seeing a space shuttle was definitely a highlight of the trip. This is the Space Shuttle Enterprise, and it hasn't actually been to space. It was used for tests on the ground and in the atmosphere. Check out how big it is. We read in a recent National Geographic that now that the space shuttle program has come to an end that the Smithsonian will house the Space Shuttle Discovery.

The SR-71 is also huge.

A Huey medical helicopter from the Vietnam and Korean Wars.

Beckett enjoyed this museum. He especially liked the helicopters and the little model planes. He kept saying "another plane, more planes." The museum has an upper walkway that allows visitors to look down on the planes displayed on the floor and get eye level with the suspended planes. You can see the supersonic Concord in the background.

The museum also has an observation tower where you can see some really nice views and watch the planes land at the Dulles Airport. This was also a highlight for Beckett.

Happy New Year

In the Stephens' household we aren't sad to say goodbye to 2011. Welcome 2012!

Favorite Reads of 2011

As dictated by tradition, on the last day of the year I post my favorite reads (see 2009 and 2010). This year I read 93 books. I didn't quite make 100, but 93 is a personal record. 24 of those books were audio books. 65 were middle-grade or young adult books, meaning that 38 were written for adults. Only 5 were non-fiction. I read 10 books for book club. Here, in a variety of categories, are my favorites of the year.

 
Favorite Middle-grade Novel: Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
 
Basically Gary D. Schmidt is a genius. The Wednesday Wars made it onto my favorite reads of 2009. Okay for Now is every bit as good. Doug, the main character, has a rough family life, a volatile father, one brother in Vietnam and one who is always picking on him, and a loving, but powerless mother. Needless to say, he is rough around the edges, but Marysville, despite his initial disdain for the town, ends up being so very good for him. I couldn't not love this battered kid who has such a good heart and so much potential. Doug's voice is so strong and so funny but also so vulnerable, and it's one of the things that makes Okay for Now poignant and real and amazingly good.

Favorite Contemporary YA Novel: Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
 
Most of my reading choices tend to be on the science fiction side, but I went through a Contemporary Young Adult kick at the beginning of the year. I had heard lots of good things about Australian author Melina Marchetta's books, and I think they are all true. Francesca is one of the first girl students at a previously all-boys school. She has been torn away from her friends, she has to deal with these boys that don't want girls mucking up their school, and her mother is suddenly, severely depressed. While Francesca starts out floundering it is such a joy to see her discover herself, make new (real) friends, and grow up. A really lovely story. I resolve to read more of Marchetta this year.

Close Second Favorite: Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Favorite Book Club Book: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
 
Henrietta Lacks's cells became the first immortal human cells, HeLa. Those cells helped create the polio vaccine, AIDS and cancer treatments, and were a crucial component of cloning and nuclear research. But Henrietta Lacks had no idea she had "donated" those cells and neither did her children or husband. When they found out, long after Henrietta's death from cervical cancer, that knowledge haunted them. This book is about the cells, the woman, her family, and the author's road to putting the story together. The book is about a fascinating and controversial topic. It made for a great book club discussion.

Favorite Non-fiction Book: The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
 
The Lost Painting chronicles the events leading to the discovery, in 1993, of a lost painting by Caravaggio, The Taking of Christ. I know I am an art history nerd, but I found this book incredibly suspenseful even though almost all the big discoveries were unearthed in archives (tedious work). The book recounts the contributions of several people, an eminent octogenarian Caravaggio scholar, an Italian art restorer living in Ireland, and a Roman graduate student of art history. Much of the credit for unearthing The Taking's provenance goes to Francesca Cappelletti, the aforementioned grad student, who was in her twenties at the time and a Master's student. Seriously impressive. 

Favorite Audio Books: The Protector of the Small Series by Tamora Pierce
 
I am still working my way through Tamora Pierce's oeuvre. She's written a lot of books. I listened to 10 of them this year alone. Tamora Pierce is now the most read author, by far, on my goodreads' shelf. Of all the Tamora Pierce novels I read this year, I think I loved the Kel books the most. Kel is different than most of the heroes who populate Tamora Pierce's novels. She is a leader who understands strategy and who inspires loyalty. She has wonderful friends. I liked Kel more and more as I read through her series. She is tough. She knows what she wants, and she is talented.

Reading Order: The First Test, Page, Squire, Lady Knight

Favorite Light Read: Anna and the French Kiss  by Stephanie Perkins
 
This book is so utterly charming. I loved Anna. She is so normal. I would like to be her friend. And I loved St. Clair. (Whose first name, Étienne, is my favorite French name! Yes, I have a favorite French name. Have had since high school French class. I know. I am a little odd.) And Paris! The chemistry between Anna and St. Clair is perfect. Their banter is fun, flirty, and witty. This is an endearing story about friends, friendship, love, and courage.

Favorite Series Finale: Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
 
I really liked Incarceron but Catherine Fisher's follow-up novel, Sapphique, absolutely blew me away. This is science fiction/ steampunk/ post-apocalyptic dystopia at its finest. The Realm and Incarceron are never what they appear to be. Fisher has created a world with its own deeply entrenched mythology, yet with tantalizing nods to our own fairy tales and fables that establish a tie to our own time and place. The Sapphique Legend is a masterful creation. I found this book to be utterly magical.
  

Favorite Sequel in an Ongoing Series: River Marked by Patricia Briggs
 
The Mercy Thompson Books just keep getting better and better. This is the sixth book in the series, and so as not to leak any spoilers for those just beginning to read it, I'll just say that reading this book made me want to the read the others in the series all over again. Basically Patricia Briggs writes one of the best paranormal/ urban-fantasy series out there.

Reading Order: Moon Called, Blood Bound, Iron Kissed, Bone Crossed, Silver Borne, River Marked

Favorite Historical Novel: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
 
The Paris Wife is the story of Ernest Hemingway's marriage to his first wife Hadley Richardson, as told from Hadley's perspective. The couple lived in Paris and participated in the burgeoning artistic climate of the post-war period, a time period that is of particular interest to me. The Sun Also Rises might be my favorite book by Hemingway, so it was also interesting to read about the circumstances surrounding it's creation. I think that Paula McLain crafted the book so that Hadley is a very rich and captivating narrator and Ernest is an artist with a vigorous and energetic spirit who, although not without his demons and flaws, is clearly a fascinating person.

  Favorite Science-Fiction/ Historical Novel: Blackout (and sequel All Clear) by Connie Willis

Blackout begins in Oxford in the year 2060 where historians are preparing to time travel to WWII. Once they get there things go awry. Not only do they have to deal with unexpected quarantines, demanding bosses, and all kinds of delays, but also time travel doesn't seem to be function properly. It seems like there are a lot of WWII books out there right now, and some and good and some are not so good. Connie Willis's novel offers a really interesting perspective on the war because the characters have all studied it intensely, and they have insights that the contemporaries do not, and yet they are still unprepared for the harrowing experiences that they face. In some instances knowing more is worse. 

Favorite Fantasy: Starcrossed (and sequel Liar's Moon) by Elizabeth Bunce
 

Here are a couple of books I think deserve more attention. Elizabeth Bunce's novel plunges the reader right into the world she's created, and the reader picks up on its intricacies little by little. This is exactly how I prefer my stories, especially my fantasies. StarCrossed is on par with some of the great fantasy novels. The world building is as intricate as that of Tamora Pierce. The court intrigue is just as fabulous as that of Megan Whalen Turner. The atmosphere of the book is as layered as that of Kristin Cashore. This is high praise. 

Favorite First Book in a New Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

If you are like me you have been hearing all sorts of good things about Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and you know what, they are all true. Everything in this book, from the various settings, our blue-haired heroine, her quirky friends, and even quirkier "family," to the mystery of Karou's origins is fantastically developed. The novel rolls along in this perfect progression, never revealing too much or too little. I particularly loved the beginning of the book. Taylor's blend of the ordinary with the extraordinary has a Neil Gamon-type quality. And that is a huge compliment. 
 

Favorite Steampunk Awesomeness: The Leviathan Series by Scott Westerfeld
 
I loved the Leviathan Series. The books combine a lot of elements that I find really appealing: 1. an alternate history 2. a WWI setting 3. girls disguised as boys 4. steampunk at its finest (seriously the Darwinists creations are just perfection). On top of all of that, these books feature engaging characters and amazing illustrations. They are a fantastical romp around the world, from England and Austria to Switzerland and the Ottoman Empire to Russia and the United States. I'm honestly sad the series is over. I could read more about this amazing setting and the characters who populate it. 

Reading Order: Leviathan, Behemoth, Goliath

Favorite New Release by a Beloved Author: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater 
 
It's no secret that I love Maggie Stiefvater's books. (Just check out last year favorite books and the year before.) When I met Maggie Stiefvater back in back in July she told us that The Scorpio Races was her favorite of all the books she had written but that previously Ballad was her favorite. This bode well because Ballad was also my favorite of Maggie's books. With The Scorpio Races Maggie Stiefvater once again delivers a book that is impossible to read quickly because the language is just too gorgeous to rush. It is a book that sucks you in slowly until you are completely submerged in the atmosphere and characters.

Christmas Extravaganza

The whole family invaded my parents' house for Christmas this year. It was such a great time. My parents really know how to throw a good Christmas. Here's how they do it:

1. Devote lots of attention to the grandkids.

2. Allow your house to become a playground.

The dads turned the couch cushions into a tunnel (B is obsessed with tunnels). The boys loved this game. They also enjoyed running around the family room and throwing themselves on the couch and laughing and laughing. Beckett also played the "Come Back" game with my dad. It involved him running to some not very hidden spot (or climbing behind the couch) and shouting "Come Back, Come Back, Not Again."

3. Visit the Relatives.

We took a trip to Denver to see my Gramma (Gramma Great) and Aunt Patti. The boys loved Patti's preschool room. Beckett and Andrew really enjoyed all the shouting and noise we made during the photo session. Charlie was a little confused by all the commotion.

4. Dress your grandkids alike as often as possible.

Above the boys sport their Christmas Eve outfits. They wore these matching outfits to the Sorenson's Christmas Eve Open House.

Beckett and Andrew wore matching Cars pajamas to bed on Christmas Eve. Beckett was so excited when he opened these pajamas. He immediately said, "put cars on."

 

The cousins looked so cute in their matching sweater vests. They wore them to church on Christmas morning.

5. Be traditional.

 The results of the traditional Christmas cookie baking.

 

The traditional Christmas Eve pajamas presents.

The traditional "down the stairs in youngest to oldest" picture.

The traditional super-stuffed stockings.

And the traditional Christmas night dinner with the Danahers.

Thanks Mom and Dad. I can't imagine a better Christmas.

Beckett Versus Wallace

For years Nate has been saying that he thinks that Beckett looks like a Burt (my mom's family). This Christmas my mom pulled out some pictures of her parents.

Here is a picture of Wallace Burt, my grandfather:

And here is a picture of Beckett from approximately the same age:

Now let's see them side by side:

In these pictures from when Beckett was a little younger, he and his grandfather wear the same expression:

Pretty wild. Especially since I look a lot more like my dad's side of the family than my mom's. I guess those genes were in there somewhere.