Here We Go Again

I AM NOT AN ANIMAL PERSON

... in case you didn't know. If we hadn't lived in three different houses in the last nine years we would have quite a pet cemetery accumulated. Why do I keep getting animals that I know I will struggle with? Well, you see, my child LOVES ANIMALS.

She reads about them, watches them on TV, pet-sits, and dreams about them at night. She would love a house full of animals, and a backyard full too. So we try... and try... and try again.

It's been over a year since we lost Callie Cat, so I guess it's time to try again

Allow me to introduce Rosie

We know where Rosie came from and that she loves kids and that she's a sweetie. Of course, Gwen

LOVES HER

and of course, I think she's adorable, but annoying when I'm trying to sleep, or walk, or type.

 

I have a really good feeling about this little lady and all signs point to us having found a third member of our little family.

My Love, My Life

      

Gwen and I may not have tons of frequent flyer miles, but I have taken my child to the Hundred Acre Wood with Pooh, Narnia with Lucy, Out West with Laura, North of North with Bella, England with Mary and China with Ping.

 We have been to Japan with Masako, Africa with Ki-Pat, Spain with Ferdinand, Boston with the ducklings and to Paris with Madeline.

We have been to the vet with George, the Garden with Peter, Under the sea with Emily, and to the farm with Happy.

We have been to Droon with Eric, into the woods with Robert Frost, Canada with Toklo and New York City with Chester the cricket.

Side by side we have battled snowstorms with Katy, ran a circus with Olivia, chased bees to their tree with Mary Ellen, been chased by Monsters with Jewel, and traveled the world in Santa’s sleigh with Felix.

Together we mastered the high wire with Mirette, been adopted with Martha, escaped the Vikings with Jack & Annie, played with Danny’s dinosaur, and misunderstood EVERYTHING with Amelia.

My daughter and I have built fairy houses and birds nests. We have cleaned up litter and watched a turtle eat (It happens veeerrrry Slllooowwlly). We have explored forests, wetlands, beaches and fields as a team.  

These are experiences that will shape her life. Someday she will think of me and get feelings of excitement, love, approval, and acceptance. She may not remember every moment of every day she spends with me, but she will have a great desire for adventure and knowledge. She will know that I loved her enough to give her that, no matter how long it took us or where we ended up.

A-Z Challenge!

So, I was on Goodreads.com (just like I am every day) and I got a great idea from my YA (Young Adult) Book group. They are doing an A-Z challenge. It sounds like a great idea to me, but I don't only read Young adult books. I would like to be able to count all the books I read. You should join me!

If you look above this post at my pages, you will see a new one called A-Z Challenge where I will keep track of my progress and list the rules (or you can click here). I'm doing pretty well already, if I do say so myself!

Let me know if you are going to attempt the challenge too!

Let's Go Flyers!

Yes, I know they haven't won the cup in quite some time.

Yes, I know this season hasn't gotten started in the best way.

But tonight, I will be watching the game with my daughter, because we are loyal (smile)

Actually, she will be eating my snacks & reading a book and sitting next to me while I watch the game.

I am not this much of a fan though... and I never will be... ever.

Flu Season Woes

Cough, Cough
Achoo!
Snnnniiiifffff

That is the song of my house for the past two weeks and I have to tell you, it's not unfamiliar. It happens every year around this time and pieces of it linger until spring. I've been told this season is worse then usual, although that's what they say every year.

 

I might just believe them this year because along with the coughing, sneezing and runny nose my house was also invaded by fevers and vomiting. And that, my friends, is what has led to my woes. As you well know, as soon as these sicknesses appear all moms look at the toys in the house and thing one word

EEEWWWW!

Anything that could go through the wash did. Anything that could be bleached was. Anything that could be sprayed with disinfectant was.

Everything else.... was bagged up and is enduring a 2-3 week vacation in the attic while I wait for the germs to die out on their own. Unfortunately, many of those toys are favorites and they are sorely missed.

I can't blame them for missing the horses... They are pretty cool.

 

I brought out some toys they hadn't played with in awhile, but I'm still continually answering the question of when they can play with them again. I will have to over and over until the day their quarantine ends.

 

Here's a cute little book for toddlers/preschoolers about germs:



 

I would recommend these for children older then preschool:



  

Hope you all stay healthy!!

Dependable Book Reviews

Some of you may know that I have always been more comfortable with my daughter reading books that I have read first and given my seal of approval.

*Don't look at me like that! There are a lot of parents that do this.

You may also be aware that this beautiful child of mine now reads at a 5th grade reading level and as quickly as I do. I love it, of course! Unfortunately, I do not have as much time to read as she does... You know, because little things get in the way. Like my job and house and teaching a homeschool curriculum. So I have been searching for a web site that I can trust for book reviews of the books I have not had a chance to pre-read. Thanks to suggestions from my friends on Cafemom I have found several great resources.


Common Sense Media
I have used this website for movie reviews in the past, but somehow didn't realize that there were book reviews as well! This site allows registered members to give the book a

• Star Rating
• Age Recommendation
• Rating for topics such as Educational Value, Positive Messages, Positive Role Models, Violence, Sex, Language, and Drinking Drugs & Smoking.

Christian Book Websites
Christian book distributors usually only carry books that have been carefully reviewed. One is The Way Station


Another is ChristianBook.com which allows customers to review books and give the book a

• Star Rating
• Rating for Quality, Value, and Meets Expectations

Sparknotes
Remember these? The old fallback for when you didn't do your high school summer reading? Well, now they can help you find out the ins and outs of a book even if you don't have time to read the whole thing before your speed-reading child! (Or if, like with me and Gwen, you and your child have differing opinions on what you like to read) This website seems to have everything the books have, including, but not limited to

•  Plot Overview
• Character Analysis
• Themes
• Breakdown of Chapters
• Explanation of Important Quotes
• Key Facts

Thriving Family
This is my favorite site of the ones I have found. It doesn't feature as many books as I had hoped, but I love the quality and breakdown of the reviews. It supplies

• Age range
• Plot Summary
• Christian and Other Beliefs
• Profanity/Graphic Violence
• Kissing/Sex
• Discussion Topics

And more!


Books About Books!!
When in doubt, look in a book!!!
 
Honey For A Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt is out in it's 4th addition. It is a guide of wholesome books for ages 0-14. Honey For A Teen's Heart is in it's 1st addition and lists over 400 titles!


The Hand That Rocks The Cradle by Nathaniel Bluedorn was revised and updated about 5 years ago. This book includes summaries, reading levels, and settings for 400 classic read-a-loud books.

Happy Reading/Reviewing!!!!

The Book Or The Movie?

Being the bookworm that I am I usually read a book before I go see a movie based on it. This was true of the movie I saw 2 weeks ago, The Hobbit.

I love the book... The movie was just OK. I am not sure what they were thinking to make it into three movies when it's only one book and not a very large one at that. Usually the changes they make annoy me but it was entertaining and not different enough that I was bothered by it.

The movie I saw this past Saturday though, I have never read that book and I probably never will. It took me years to train myself not to be intimidated by the size of books, so that is not the problem. The problem, I think, is the language used by the author.

No matter the cause, Les Miserables is not a book I anticipate ever reading all the way through. I can't even claim to have any love for either of the movies that were based on the book. The stage production is another matter completely. I have been to see it on stage twice and am happy to admit that the newest movie is everything I could have ever wanted it to be.

It was a completely different feeling being able to actually see the actors faces as they sang and moved around in the scenes. The nosebleed section of the theater that I sat in for both productions in no way prepared me for the emotional ups and downs I was led through in the movie. Shocking as that my seem!

I hope you all get a chance to experience it!