Orange, Pear, Apple Bear.

Many of the best books I've read were recommended by someone to me.
There are so many books I love, that I thought I'd start a new feature - a book review each Monday.

They will most likely be Children's books. Although I used to be an avid reader, I don't get a whole lot of time for reading for myself these days and am happy when I manage to finish the book club book each month. I do read to my kids though, so that will be what you'll find here.
Up first -

Orange, Pear, Apple, Bear
by Emily Gravett.

This book is nothing short of delightful.
Four words in a different order on each page, with accompanying beautiful illustrations. We bought this last year, in Australia. I quite frequently am drawn to books for the illustrations as much as the text, and that was my initial reason for picking up this book.

I will ONLY buy a childrens book if I love it too. There's no way I'm going to read something that grates on my nerves over & over again to my kids. I'm convinced the secret to a successful children's book is one that will please both the kids & their parents. This book has it.

I love this book for the reasons above, for it's silliness and for the way it rhymes and plays with words in such an engaging way.

Cool Moves

Link to bek's blog (on my sidebar) & scroll down to "Coming Soon" to see her learning to sword fight for her upcoming lead roll in the school play. Pretty sweet!

Lego

Jacob is really into Lego's.
I'm SO happy. I think they are such a great toy, so great for the imagination. We've always had Duplo, but he was bored with them months ago. (Jane still plays with them.) When we were in Utah Jacob followed Alex, his 10yr old cousin, around a lot. Alex has LOTS of Lego. Jacob was fascinated by the things Alex built, and the way he played with them - he was hooked.

I know this is going to be sexist - but I think it's true - it a really great toy for a boy. Now, don't get all riled up, my girls have had Lego too - in fact it's where all our Lego collection to date has come from. Rebekah collected almost all of the Harry Potter Lego -but it was more from a love of Harry Potter, than the Lego. There's just something about building for a boy that they love. I think that there are also fewer opportunities for boys to engage in imaginative play, and this is one way for them to do that. I plan on wholeheartedly encouraging this new interest, and hope it lasts at least the next 10 years!

I love this ad. I see it in Jacob's play.

He really likes the Star Wars Lego. We got him a few small sets, and some that I've stashed away for his birthday. I got the 6-12 yr sets. He can't follow the instructions, of course - even though I showed him how. He does build his own stuff though, and does a pretty good job of it. If he says he's built a car - it does look like a car. He also likes to build spaceships, motorcycles, houses, boats, etc.

Mostly, I think he likes the Star Wars Lego for the "guys."
He especially likes the helmets.

If he keeps it up, maybe one day he'll be able to do this ...

Nathan Sawaya - so cool!

images via brickartist.com

I REALLY want to go see some of his stuff in person some day.
To check out more of his amazing Lego art go here.

New Food Blog

I started a food/recipe/organizing blog. Tons of my friends, who are true "foodies" have food blogs. I will never have anything as spectacular as that, nor do I aspire to it. Lots of people ask how I plan out our menu's, and I was going to do a post on it. It would have been the most gigantic post ever - so I decided to just add a separate blog. (Yeah, I pretty much copied Liesa.)

I'm still adding recipes, but will get there eventually.

Check it out at mymonthofmeals.blogspot.com

I'll also link to it on my sidebar.

Army of Mothers

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is one of my favorite quotes, and this is an appropriate time for it.


Did anyone catch Oprah last week?
The show about senate bill 1738? The "Protect Our Children" Act.
Did you see the map? Were you horrified like me?

One of her guests called for "an army of mothers" to help pass this bill. Mothers. That's who it will take. I never see another child hurt without tearing up myself. I recently reached a new level in embarrassment when I began to cry at hearing an announcement in a store of two little lost boys. Why? Why when we see images of frail little bodies starving in Africa do our hearts ache? Because all of us as mothers instantly think of our own children. We instantly identify with the fear/pain/anguish another mother is feeling for her child. We know that we would walk across hot coals, or give our very lives to protect our little one's. The safety of children is the responsibility of everyone.

I had no idea the extent and reach of child abuse on the web. I was heartsick. And physically sick. Law enforcement has the technology to track down those offenders praying on the innocence of children. They do not have the means. Pass this bill and give them the means. Every person they get will be a child / children saved.

To see more about the Oprah show go here.

To read the bill go here.

To find out who your senators are go here. (Click on "senators")

Time is running out. They recess on September 26th (Friday.) Do something TODAY.

** Note - If you live in NY, you don't need to ask Chuck Schummer to support this bill, because he is a co-sponsor. Still call his office though & tell him you give it your support.

Sticker Family

Vanessa featured this cute site. Make a sticker of your family.
I have address labels like these, and love them. Those labels are a bit cuter, because they are just our heads, and in color. If you want to make those, go here.

Want to make one of these yourself? Check it out here.

Ghost Town

We've all had a hectic week, and haven't seen Rick since he started his new job. I was in desperate need of a relaxing, lighthearted evening.
(With Wall-Street imploding around him, so was Rick.)

This was just the ticket. Very funny. Heartwarming, if somewhat predictable. Only 1 "f-word." Definitely recommend it.

In Training

Guess what we signed Pumpkin up for? They even gave us a sheet with a training schedule on it. We're all very excited! Our darling neighbor, Elaine, is even coming along to cheer her on.
The pre-school hamster (Cookie) is also entered.

May the best hamster ....

Guess who got a BIG, fragile package in the mail?

Taking Chances Tour

(image via CelineDion.com)

Rebekah & I have very little cross-over in musical taste, but one artist we both love is Celine Dion. Rebekah says it's because I "got her young." It's true, I have loved Celine since before Rebekah was born.

Rick & I went to Vegas to see her concert there when I was pregnant with Jacob. She truly has one of the best voices in the world, and seeing her perform live is a great experience. So, when one of Rebekah's friends from her ballroom dance class invited her to go to the concert at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, of course I said yes - even though it was a school night.

Imagine my delight when they said they had an extra ticket, and would I like to go too!!! I checked with bek first, to be sure it wouldn't ruin the experience for her to have her dorky Mother along too. I know she would have preferred I not go, but gets how much a adore Celine, and said yes, as long as I didn't embarrass her (Emily suggested I just not speak.)

It was AMAZING, as I knew it would be. Thank-you Maureen & Margaret for inviting me, and to Rebekah for letting me tag along. I had a great time.

1st Day of Nursery School

Big news at our house. Jacob & Jane started nursery school!

I've never sent any of my kids to school as young as Jane. I have typically done a co-op year first, 2 mornings a week 2 yrs before kindergarten, then 3 mornings a week the year right before kindergarten - and that's what Jacob is doing. Really it's not a break for me (and heaven knows I need a break) without Jane going too and she adores her "boy" and would be so sad if he went without her - so she'll just have an extra year of 3 mornings a week.

The "1st Day Pose."

They are such great buddies, I am so glad they have each other. Their cute little classrooms are right next to each other. Jacob will always be just one year ahead of Jane in school, and I'm so glad that she'll have her big brother to watch out for her.

"Hey guys, lets take a cute picture of you together on your first day of school ..."

"Jake, get your hands off Jane's neck!"

"C'mon guys, stand still a minute."

I abandoned hope of a great "together"picture, and took one of Jane with her backpack. She got this one for her birthday, because it looks like Diego's. There was nothing in it - she just really wanted to take it.

Once they got there, Jane went right to play with babies in her class.

Jacob headed straight for the water table in his, and stayed there almost the entire time.

They had a good day, and enjoyed their time there. They only went for 1/2 an hour (Jane) & 45 minutes (Jacob) on the first day. Over the next 3 weeks they phase in and go a little longer each day. By September 29th, they will be going the whole time - a whopping two hours. Phase in kind of kills me - but what can you do.

Hooray for Pre-School & 2 hours of free time for me twice a week.

My Joy

Where Jane's curly hair came from is a complete mystery. I love it, and will never, ever cut it for fear that those curls will not grow back. I even buy "curly hair" shampoo for her. When we were in the west, they turned more into waves. Now we are back in our native humidity - her curls have returned.

Janie you are such a cutie.

Vacations Over

If there had been any doubt in my mind that our vacation is well & truly over - the last 36 hours have solidified that I am back to reality.

The girls started school. Rick went to work. If you remember correctly, his start date isn't until the 8th. What can I say - he's a workaholic, and is going in "just for a few hours" (you know - like 8) each day this week. After sending them off I took Jacob & Jane to playgroup. We usually won't be able to go, because they have swimming on Monday & Wednesday mornings - but that doesn't start until next week - so they got to go one last time. Right after playgroup we headed out to the fabric store to get Halloween costume fabric. Now, you might be thinking that on a busy day, that should have been low on the priority list. Here's the story. I had to go yesterday so if they didn't have what I needed (a very likely possibility) I would be able to order swatches online, have them arrive, potentially order different swatch(es), finally order the fabric I want and still have time to make said costumes - which they usually need a good 10 days before Halloween - because all the class parties, etc are then SO I had to go yesterday. Fortunately they had exactly what I needed for Em & Jacob - now I just have to figure out what to do about Jane ...

Anyway, I digress. After the fabric store, we raced home to get Emily off the bus - which we waited 20 minutes for since I'm not exactly sure what time they'll arrive and they are slower on the first few days anyway. Then back home to grab a snack. Rebekah got home and we all headed out to Staples to get her supplies (in HS they don't get their lists until the 1st day in each class.) The line to check-out was insane! $200, three bathroom visits, "rides" on the office chairs and a long wait later we were headed home. We had a quick dinner, so Emily could have her piano lesson (new teacher - sob) at 6pm while I tossed the little one's in the tub.

Soccer orientation (20 minutes north of here) AND pre-school orientation (10 minutes south) AND YW's for Rebekah (in the middle) were all at 7:30pm. I asked a neighbor to watch the little one's (they were all in bed when I left) a YW leader to give Rebekah a ride to the church & back, and a friend to give me a ride to pre-school so that Rick could go to soccer (he's Em's assistant coach again this year.) Then the other coach told Rick he didn't think it would matter if he missed it, so Rick came with me to the pre-school orientation, which was lucky because they split us up into classes - so he went to Jacob's and I went to Jane's.

When we got home at 9:30pm I remembered I hadn't printed out a picture for Emily. She is supposed to take a picture of herself to school. I quickly uploaded one to our local Walgreen's (because it's close and open until midnight.) However, when I was done it said my pick-up time was 7:07am. Damn. The photo must close earlier. I thought it would still work, I'd just have to pick it up in the morning and then drive Emily to school again.

This morning we all got up and had breakfast. Rick wasn't leaving early, so at 7am I drove Rebekah to school (heavy supplies to carry) and then raced over to Walgreen's, where I discovered my picture wasn't ready. Apparently their online ordering system doesn't know that the photo lab there doesn't open until 9am. Double damn. The cashier tried to print it for me, but it took 25 minutes and was unsuccessful. If I'd known it wasn't going to work, I would have just printed out a lesser quality one at home - but now there wasn't even time for that! I hurried home, grabbed Em & took her to school, just in the nick of time - telling her to apologize to her teacher and promise I'd get one today. I'm sure her teacher doesn't care - but Emily does. She is such a good girl, and it bothers her when she knows she should have done something & hasn't.

The kids & I went grocery shopping today, so I just uploaded more to Costco (which I usually use) and also did one's for Jacob & Jane at the same time, since they'll need them next Tuesday.

After everyone was in bed (Emily lost another tooth after dinner), I sat down and did this -
Caught up on all the forms. Thanks goodness Rick got home from his scholarship mtg with left over cookies for me!

There was one form for swimming, which went right into the swimming bag. Then I made these piles - one for Rebekah, one for Emily, one for Jacob, one for Jane, one to file, one to add to iCal, one to recycle. Oh, and the pile I was working on. I wrote checks for two PTA's and two holiday festivals. I wrote my home & cell phone numbers so many times I got writers cramp. I signed my name and wrote the kids birth dates and current date so many times, I started to get it wrong & mix them up! I wrote extensive social history forms for preschool, and filled out a million emergency forms. OK, not a million - but 2 or 3 per kid. Isn't this information all going to the same place? Why so many? I filled out permissions to take a walk forms, and permission to be photographed forms. Permission to use the school computer & I promise I won't violate the rules forms. And I read all the one's that tell me not to send them when they are sick, or let them wear Crocs or send in trans fats for snack. The kids need healthy snacks. Really? Usually I give my kids candy wrapped in Crisco for a snack. Are you kidding me?

But now I feel on top of things - which is a feeling I need.

I'm pretty glad this is only a three day week.

First Day of School

It's the first day of school. Why is it that the summer months seem to race by? As I made Emily's lunch this morning, all I could think of was "It feels like I was just doing this. How have we had a 2 month break?"

Well, ready or not - it's here.

Last night we had a Family Home Evening on education and then Rick gave all the kids a Father's blessing for a good school year (Jacob & Jane are starting pre-school next week.)

I used this quote -

"Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become president ... "
- Nelson Mandela

I said the opening prayer & started to cry. I cried again at the quote and stayed weepy all evening! My tears were a combination of -
(1) Being sad to have them be away from me during the majority of the day. I miss them.
(2) Worry that they will be happy and safe.
(3) Happiness to see them learning, growing and developing.
(4) Gratitude that they have such great opportunities available to them to reach their potential - as there are so many the world over (especially girls) who do not have such a chance.

I pulled myself together in time to give them all lots of hugs and kisses and send them off to bed!

Rebekah started 10th grade. We still have that "no pictures of bek" rule in force around here, so you won't get to see her. Every time someone asks "What grade is Rebekah in now?" I want to say "6th", or maybe even "7th". How is it that she's in 10th grade already???? I think time is speeding up at an exponential rate! We had some last minute issues with her schedule - due to an unexpected time change in early morning seminary. Kind of a mean trick to pull a week before school starts, but I think we have a workable plan going for her now - only time will tell. She won't get a lunch period, but her ASR (Advanced Science Research) teacher said they can eat in his class, if they are careful & quiet. Phew!

Then there's my other big girl. Emily. All excited and off to 2nd grade. It's a new school for her (her last one was only kindergarten & 1st grade.) I always like to drive them on the 1st day. We walked up to the school together, and as we approached the playground she let go of my hand. I looked at her and said "You don't want to hold my hand?" She shook her head. "Don't want to look like a baby?" She nodded. Oh, it happens so soon. Far to quickly for me! At least at home I still get all the hugs, kisses and snuggles I need.

The great news is that I am one of Emily's class parents this year (there are two for each class.) Hooray! It's a lottery drawing, and I have put my name in each year, and not got it before. I am really looking forward to being more involved in her classroom. I don't really know the teachers at her school (Rebekah only went there one year), but I was told by someone else that her teacher is the one everyone requests - so that's got to be good. Emily is such a bright and well-behaved child, she will do well in any class.

All ready to head off for 2nd grade.

Jacob is really going to miss his big sister!

Have a great year my girlies!!