family – Page 29 – Peaceful Reader

Saturday Round-up

(biking image courtesy of Robert F. Balazik)

I am supposed to be off during a biathalon with my family but we had some bike problems this morning so my stepdaughter is riding my bike. My poor husband is really disappointed that I’m not with them but I’m only a tiny bit sad-personally I love it when they go off on adventures (sometimes) with out me. This is one of those days. I have a wedding shower to get ready for and dinner to prepare for my stepmother who will be at my house right after the wedding shower so the bike race was just adding to much to the mix. I owe him a bike ride, just the two of us, later in the week. Like he can talk-he’s been in a play recently and every night he’s been gone-thankfully tonight is the last performance and he’ll be back home in the evenings.

This free time allows me to shower for the shower, prep for dinner, read a litte and blog…can’t beat getting all that done while the family is off biking.

I finished Three Wishes by Carey Goldberg, Beth Jones and Pam Ferdinand a week or so ago and even though I’m not a big fan of bio’s or memoirs, I enjoyed this book. The women are strong and their stories, told in alternating chapters, are touching. All three women were very successful in careers but had not found love. All three came to a turning point where, while they wanted a partner in life, they knew they wanted to be mothers. They all go about it from different angles and they don’t all even know each other yet but, through vials of sperm purchased by Beth, they eventually meet and form supportive friendships. The story of how the spearm vials work as a catalyst for many goals is often humourous and reflective. I loved reading their individual thoughts on love and what it feels like to want to be a mother as well as what it was like as they become mothers.

Two things that struck me was the option of adoption never entered the conversation,and money was never an issue for them (at different times they are constantly heading to tropical islands, secluded cabins or climbing destinations) and most people during times of stress don’t get this carefree option. I myself am an advocate of the natural birthing process so there were some birthing choices made that bothered me but this is, of course, an individual choice. All three experience tons of genetic testing, which I wasn’t aware of all the possibilites and ramifications late-age births would create. I liked this book but I didn’t love it; if any of these topics interest you though-give it a try! The cover drew me in and the women’s stories made me finish it.
Pam’s Personal Reflections review (thumbs up)
Beth’s Book Review Blog’s review (thumbs down)

I still need to share my Dalai Lama experience and review Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven. Right now I’m reading The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice. How can I not love a book with a main character named “Groovy”?

Have you played a round of pac-man on google yet? Gotta try it!!

Happy blissful Saturday…

Fairy Tale Fridays

     Okay yes, I know Friday is almost over but I have had a very busy day! Not quite a Cinderella kinda day but busy. I didn’t get home until after seven and my first assignment was to finish Three Wishes so I can give it back to my friend, Tina. I can cross it off my list-check.
     Tif at Tif Talks Books hosts Fairy Tale Fridaysand she wrote about Three Billy Goats Gruff, one of my very favorite tales. She talks about how that story just begs to be read aloud and I agree. My son-you know, the 15-yr-old, when he was little, loved acting out that very tale at a nearby park that happens to have a wooden bridge over part of the playground. He would giggle uncontrollably as we traipsed over the bridge taking turns as the troll. Oh, the good old days when he was easily amused!!
     My fairy tale project with second graders is winding down with several dramatic re-enactments of Little Red Riding Hood talking place in the library this week. We have two more stories to cover from There’s a Wolf at the Door but I do plan on fitting in Three Billy Goats Gruff at the tail end. Acting them out I think, has really helped students remember the sequence of events. I don’t have a favorite version of this and I think that is because I prefer one that you might find in a big, old, dusty fairy tale book. I did find this toe-tapping, hip hop video…too bad I can’t show it to students. They would love it.

Happy Birthday to you

My son turns 15 tomorrow at 7:11 in the evening. I drove myself to the hospital-this is something to brag about. He’s turned out to be a smart, handsome, and very humorous young man. He is also a wiseacre and quite often too smart for his own good. I am glad he is still curious about the world and he has his own unique outlook. I whipped him up a homemade angel food cake for dessert tomorrow night. He asks for the same cake every year and sometimes I’ve purchased it (really, really short on time) and sometimes I’ve made it from a box (just a little short on time)-a few times though I’ve made it from scratch and this year peaceful girl helped me out. She was a little miffed that I didn’t let her crack any of the twelve eggs but I explained that I needed each and every one of the egg whites to be separated just right from the yolk. She helped with lots of other parts though and it is now successfully in the oven. I still have to wrap a few of his gifts and then I will be reclining to finish Look Again.

I still have to write about She’s So Dead To Us by Kieran Scott and Little Bee by Chris Cleave. I had a post composed in my mind about my experiences at the Reading Conference I attended last Friday-and I promise to get all those done. Today my thoughts are focused on this almost monumental birthday celebration. It is only almost monumental because 16 is hanging in the air so close I can feel it in my bones-that, and he reminds me of it frequently. This child is in a hurry to drive and we differ on many topics but mostly this one. It terrifies me to have my baby alone in the car driving off, me waving! I say-Hell, No!!! So somehow after tomorrow I have 365 days to get adjusted to that or convince him the laws have simply changed. It will help ease my worries that it will be required of him to keep his GPA up in order to get said licence but you can see my fear.

So tomorrow say a little prayer for me as we wish this little boy a very

happy 15th year of life and as we cut that delicious angel food cake (dipping it into chocolate sauce)

I’ll be wishing this year to slowly creep by, like the year of the turtle!

Snow, Snow, Snowmen

A Really Good Snowman

Daniel J. Mahoney

2005

This is a sweetly told story from the polka-dotted snow ball endpapers to the story inside. Jack is busy building a paper airplane when he hears his little sister, Nancy clomping toward his room and Jack is not excited.He hides his paper airplane behind his back, away from her eyes. The next pages show why Jack isn’t enthused to have Nancy’s help with his plane. She’s messed up other projects of his but luckily, Jack remembers he needs to help his friends at the Shady Woods Snowman Contest. He distracts her by taking her with to the park.
When Jack’s friends, Angie and Melden remind him the rules say only three to a team, Nancy gets pushed to build her own snowman. Everyone’s having fun building their snowmen until Jack hears some older boys teasing Nancy. Jack comes to her rescue and then decides to help her instead of his friends.
Peaceful Girl and I read this moments ago for a bedtime story. Even though the characters are bears, foxes, rabbits and mice she could fully relate to Nancy’s heartbreak over her brother’s quick abandonment and her glory when he returns to assist her.
I’ve tried to explain this often to my teen-age son, the hero worship little sisters place on big brothers and he doesn’t take it to heart as much as I hope. My peaceful girl said this was definetely a two-thumbs-up story and she had some interesting thoughts on the brother/sister relationship. Hits on issues of teasing, bullying, family relationships and winning. Daniel J. Mahoney’s website-click here. After exploring his website I realize I have none of his titles on hand in my school library-I need to change that after reading this one.

Highly Recommended-Elementary

5/5 peaceful stars

Housecleaning-End of the Year thought for 2009

I finished my last book for 2009-The Blind Faith Hotel by Pamela Todd-review is not finished. I’ve gone through both my blog and my Good Reads account to verify what books I read this past year. I read 70 total books this year with most titles concentrated in the elementary, middle and YA levels.
Of course, going through my lists I reminisced over my favorite reads this year.

Here is my list-In no particular order:

Gone by Michael Grant-think all adults dead and teenagers need to run things.
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson-American Revolution and slavery-one girl’s story.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins-A new America with sections, each section sends two players to the “games”.
Catching Fire (sequel) by Suzanne Collins-next phase of The Hunger Games-Team Peeta!!!
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan-young boy learns he is part human/part god, son of Poseidon.
The Help by Kathyrn Stockett-Amazing tale of Mississippi during Civil Rights movement.
Red Glass by Laura Resau-immigration issues dealt with win Sophie’s family shelters young Pablo.
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout-many stories about New England small town, quirky characters, great blend of stories.
Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff-tear-jerker about Annie and the death of her brother, good neighbor award.
The Luxe Series by Anna Godbersen-the jet set in 1899-great plot twists, would make a delicious movie.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly-1899, Callie Vee and her grandfather find their own connection while discovering a new plant species in early Texas.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein-esoteric dog thoughts, evolving through one man’s life.
Found/Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix-what happens when a select few play around with the boundaries of time.

My reading increased from last year and will have to increase even more for me to accomplish the challenges I’ve signed up for in 2010.
We always have a family party on New Year’s Eve. A few times we have dressed up in fancy clothes to ring in the year. This year we had a fun finger-food dinner (pig’s in the blanket that Peaceful Girl and I made, asparagus with lots of crackers, bread and brie) and we played a rousing game of Scattegories while we munched. Several of us love this game-lots of giggling with serious thinking in between!! We also do a whole list of predictions for the next year and add to our own bucket lists.

How do you spend your New Year’s Eve??

Tree Farm

Now that Thanksgiving has passed us and with such lovely Midwest weather we decided to go Christmas tree shopping yesterday. The day was so filled with friends and enjoying the outdoor weather I forgot about blogging until my head hit the pillow last night!
We did find a beautiful tree!