Harry Link Up!

It's HERE! The Happee Birthdae Harry Book Club is going live. First off all, Happy 35th Birthday Harry Potter! Secondly, here are my answers to my questions. 

1. Which was your favorite book to read? 

This time around? I loved Deathly Hallows. It spoke to me in a way it hasn't before. So much sadness, yet hope. I love hope. I love that goodness prevailed. I even love the last chapter where we meet the Potter kids. I loved it. 

2. When I re-read books, generally, a line or two pops out at me that specifically speaks to me and my life at the time. Did any specific line jump out at you this month? (If not, do you have a favorite quote?) 

"Words are in my not-so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it." Dumbledore. Deathly Hallows. 

I know it kind of reads like a literary Cher "If I Could Turn Back Time" but it is also deeply profound. 

3. What surprised you the most while reading? 

There's not a lot that surprises me anymore, but I am always seriously impressed by the great amount of foreshadowing that the series posses. Like in Phoenix when they find the locket they can't open a whole book (almost 2) before it even becomes important to the story. That impressed me back then, but it is still impressive now. 

4. There are a great many sorting hat quizzes out there on the interwebs, plus some pretty good descriptions of the houses. Where do you think you would honestly be sorted if you were to attend Hogwarts and what insights to yourself do you gain from that knowledge?

Every quiz, good ones and bad ones tell me I would go into Slyetherin. I think it's because I really am pretty resourceful. Or maybe I am cunning? I don't know. But I  would have entered Hogwarts the very year of Deathly Hallows, and I'd like to think that my parents would have held me home that year because of all the violence and unrest. But who knows? I also like to think I'd be a non-evil Slytherin, since I don't think that they were all bad. (They couldn't possibly.) 

5. Which Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher do you think was the most effective? (I do think there is an argument for every single one of the 7.) 

Like I said, a total argument to be made for all of them. But I'm going to go with Delores Umbridge. Hear me out, she was awful yes, but because she was so awful they invented Dumbledore's Army and they learned. The best learning comes through passion and that is why they were so successful! 

6. I believe one of the major overarching themes of the series is the love and the power it possesses, what is the best example of this in the series? 

The love of the Weasly family. How they pseudo-adopt Harry, how everything they do is about love. I maybe just love the Weasly family. I am so glad that Harry became an actual member of the family even though he practically was anyhow. 

7. Why do you think the series was and remains so popular? 

I think it's because it can be read over and over again and the books stay true. When you read them when you're 11 it's fun and exciting with the magic, Magic is fun. As you get older you can see all the layers and all the insights and just... how can they not be so popular?

Okay so link-up and win prizes! I can't wait to get into discussion with you! I could talk Harry all day.

An InLinkz Link-up

A Peek into Preschool: W

Well I am happy it is Thursday afternoon, thank you very much. This week has been incredibly rewarding and fun for me but I am TIRED. Husband was on a business trip overnight Tuesday and I did my first overnight with my kiddos all.by.my.self and it was just fine. I probably could've ripped that band-aid off a lot earlier but I am also glad that I didn't. 

This week was also our week to host preschool since we came back from summer break last week! We're still kind of easing back into the whole thing so occasionally one or all three of them weren't super cooperative but that's kind of how you roll with the 3-year-old set. We had W! Of course we did, because Walrus starts with W and you better believe I claimed that letter during our "draft" of deciding who got what letter. 

Tuesday I kinda didn't do a good job taking pictures so you get only one from our Tuesday activities. We read Where's Walrus and Red Wagon. We made our Walrus craft by gluing the pieces on the body and coloring. (With W tusks of course.) For snack we had Watermelons and Wheat Thins. We also did Erupting Watermelons with Watermelon Rinds full of baking soda and a little squirt of dish soap. We used kitchen squeeze bottles with Watermelon Kool-Aid, water and vinegar and watched the reactions. It was messy and fun and Preschool Science! Preschool Protip: The Kool Aid itself didn't make very good reactions and I added vinegar to the bottles halfway through. I followed the instructions but I must have diluted it too much I guess. 

Today I was a little bit more prepared with my phone so I could snap pictures of the fun! Our opening activity was a George Washington coloring sheet. Because Washington starts with W of course. 

After reading Humphrey the Lost Whale we water-colored whales. Preschool Protip: Use painters tape to hold the paper down on the table so it doesn't move around on them. As a bonus, you can hang them on the wall to dry and save counter/table space. 

I made George Washington finger puppets  last night. Only I used craft foam, a paint pen and hot glue because we did an activity where George Washington crosses the Delaware. 

Here is our tin foil Delaware River with ice cubes, because it was December and cold. Preschool Protip: Buy heavy duty tin foil. We did not have that in the drawer and I foolishly proceeded anyhow. This activity was VERY popular with C. So popular in fact that as I write this, he is playing George Washington crosses the Delaware again with a small baking pan river and ice cubes. He keeps saying "I will not tell a lie" so I guess he retained some of his Washington facts. This activity was not as popular with one of the girls and she did not want to play at all. As you can see by her Washington puppet just sitting in the water. I called the coloring sheet, puppet and activity Preschool History! 

For snack today we had waffles and worms. (Grape Kabobs.) 

Today was water day because again, w word. And we did a "car wash" with the cozy coupe. Just some shaving cream, rags, the kitchen squeeze bottles again and towels.  This was another fun one, the girls did not like getting messy with the shaving cream but liked the cleaning it up with water part. C liked the whole thing. M got in on the squeeze bottle actions too. This was a win-win which is a W phrase. *giant lame-o winking face* The Cozy Coupe was dirty anyway so it needed to be cleaned and Wash starts with W. 

After that we did Whales and Water Table. I dug out every toy whale we have and plopped them in the water table. They liked it a lot. This wasn't much of an organized activity as much as guided free play. We ended by having free play in the yard, with the car, water table, sprinkler, chalk, bubbles and just general running around. 

These are the W materials we used this week for learning. Sandpaper Letters for learning how to write a W. (Down Up Down Up) and the President placemat for our talk about George Washington. 

My two days were pretty successful but I am still happy I have two weeks off before it's my turn again!! That's what we've been up to at our house this week. 

What a Weekend!

The last weekend of July in my town is a hectic busy crowded one. There are several athletic events that all take place in town and a street fair. We typically avoid all the crowds and this year was no different.

C had his final swim lesson on Saturday morning. It was pretty good. C really likes the water and his teacher Mr. Josh. The class he was in was for all 3-4 year olds and it started about a week after C's birthday. He was the youngest in his class by far, and it showed while he was in the pool, but when it actually came down to the skills they learned (as opposed to some of the games they played) he did very well. He is very good at blowing bubbles and kicking!!

The rest of Saturday was a family day as we celebrated Christmas in July. We listened to Christmas music and I wrapped presents during rest time. When they woke up we opened them! I put them under this little Norfolk Pine that we have and called it the Christmas Bush. Now of course, that is the name of it. We had a "holiday" dinner and it was delightful. Post dinner we had Christmas ice cream (because it's still July after all) and watched Elf.

Yesterday was M's 9 month photo shoot and cleaning day. A lot of fun! Well the photo shoot was fun, cleaning was less so. But we got some cute pictures and I'm pretty happy. We used M's fancy seersucker dress for pictures, which is actually funny because without planning it, C's 9 month pictures were in his fancy outfit with a seersucker jacket. Also, we took pictures with a rocking chair that my mom got for her first Christmas. So the painting on the chair is very 1960s. C used the same rocker with his

All in all, I am pretty impressed with how my weekend went. I certainly hope it carries on into the week!! 

AMT: The Final One

It's the very last Answer Me This of the summer because Miss Mary Jane made her appearance yesterday. So go offer well wished to Kendra and link up while you still can! 


1. What's your favorite grocery store splurge? 

I don't really go grocery shopping because I cannot be trusted to stick to the list. So I will say any kind of pop. We don't really buy it, because then I'd drink it. But I often can't resist when I'm shopping.

2. How's your penmanship?

Depends. It's not horrible but it's not great either. I am a lefty so honestly compared to some lefty writers I think my handwriting is pretty good. Obviously, it's better if I'm thinking about it than if I'm writing a really quick list for myself.

3. Do you have a summer bucket list? 

Yes. It was supposed to be a very managable list with only 10 things. But here we are going into the last days of July and we've accomplished 2 things. We'd better get our act in gear. Though admittedly one of the things is our family trip we're not taking until September so we're probably okay.

4. What's the best thing on the radio?

Besides what my 3 year old refers to as "Our Song" (Shut Up and Dance with Me) or "Up Down Funky Up" (Uptown Funk) I really like Stiches by Shawn Mendes and Want to Want Me by Jason Derulo.


5. Ice cream or frozen yogurt? 

Okay.

No really, I don't care. They're both tasty. But I rarely have frozen yogurt so I guess ice cream.

7QT: Velociraptor Returns

one. Don't let this face fool you. My Velociraptor baby has been back full force this past week and a half. If anyone has any suggestions on how to calm a Velociraptor please let me know. Things that don't work include: nursing, a bottle, snuggling, being held, being put down, being in her crib, taking a bath. 

two. Last weekend we went to my cousin's wedding. It was the first time that all the great-grandchildren had been together since the birth of M and Baby Ryan (born a week ahead.) Before that it was at the baby shower when C was a month old. It was also the first time that the cousins had all been in the same room since the summer of 2008. It was a really fun time, C really liked the dance party. They played his  favorite songs right away. Shut Up and Dance With Me and Uptown Funk. (Or... if you're three, "Up Down Funky Up.") 

three. We are in the fun stage where C says "take a picture mom." Of whatever random thing. This is the toy shelf and the penguin zoo for your viewing pleasure. 

four. This week was busy. We got back on Monday and preschool started back up this week. (Though only one day due to illness at the host's home.) The last swimming lesson is tomorrow. Next week also looks to be a busy one as we host preschool. 

five. Billie Jo celebrates Christmas in July and I want to too! So we are. We are going to watch Elf and have a roast and everyone gets a present! I am actually kind of excited. I love new traditions. 

six. I posted the Happee Birthdae Harry Book Club Questions yesterday if you're interested in joining in. It's not too late!! 

seven. My Velociraptor is blessedly sleeping in her crib so I am going to go bake with my boy. 

Have a great weekend friends! Link up with Kelly. 

Happee Birthdae Harry Book Club Questions

Hey! I am hosting a virtual book club. It's pretty easy: read the Harry Potter series in July. Answer the questions. Link up! Lot's of fun will be had by all.

It is way not too late to read some Harry Potter Books, since the link-up does not open until Friday July 31. But for those of you who are overachievers and like to write your blog posts in advance here are the questions for the book club. (Or maybe you just like to meditate on the questions while reading.)

1. Which was your favorite book to read? 
2. When I re-read books, generally, a line or two pops out at me that specifically speaks to me and my life at the time. Did any specific line jump out at you this month? (If not, do you have a favorite quote?) 
3. What surprised you the most while reading? 
4. There are a great many sorting hat quizzes out there on the interwebs, plus some pretty good descriptions of the houses. Where do you think you would honestly be sorted if you were to attend Hogwarts and what insights to yourself do you gain from that knowledge?
5. Which Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher do you think was the most effective? (I do think there is an argument for every single one of the 7.) 
6. I believe one of the major overarching themes of the series is the love and the power it possesses, what is the best example of this in the series? 
7. Why do you think the series was and remains so popular? 

So there you have it folks. I tried to make the questions slightly vague, so if for instance, you only got through 3 books you could still contribute. Or if maybe you didn't reread all of them in July. That's okay!! I just love HP and am fascinated by other's opinions on the books. 

The link up will open next week on July 31, right back here. It will stay open until August 7. Did I mention there will be party favors? Yeah. Awesome. 

9 Months!

Well... there's a lot of changes from last month. Night and day difference.

Rather than bore you with lengthy paragraphs where I discuss each milestone and precisely how I feel about each one, I think we'll go with list form to rattle off all that Miss M accomplished in one little month of life.

• Took swimming lessons with her daddy and really liked them. Took them super seriously. 
• Can stand unassisted. 
• Can get herself up to standing unassisted.
• Walks between 1-15 steps on her own. 
• Her first tooth started coming in. (Second one is just right there but not out yet.) 
• Can wave, play peek-a-boo and sign "More"
• Says "Mama" "Dada" and "Hi" 
• Climbs the stairs. 
• Her shoes fit. 
• Got a case of Roseola which was not much fun but in the grand scheme of childhood illness wasn't too bad. 

Seems crazy she has now been out for the same amount of time she was in!!

We haven't done her photo shoot yet but that is just around the corner. :) 

AMT: The Super Quick Version

Sunday. AMT Day. Kendra. 

1. What's currently on your to do list?

Not much. I need to trim the hedge on the side of the yard. But that's about it. Of course there's things that I could do as well but they're the normalish things and not list worthy. 

 2. Better type of superhero: magic/radioactive powers? Or trauma/gadgets/hard work?

I have no idea what this question means. I have read no comic books and I pretty much haven't seen a superhero movie since the original 3 X-Men and the Spider Man with Toby McGuire. I do like X-Men but since their powers are genetic I don't know which category it falls into... 

3. Finding out if baby is a boy or a girl before birth: Good idea? Bad idea?

Good idea. I totally respect if you want to go old school. Do what you want. But I do not understand the logic, since it is the EXACT SAME SURPRISE regardless of when you find out. I like knowing my specific kid and talking to my specific kid and using personal pronouns as early as possible. But again, do whatever you feel right with.  

4. Have you ever appeared on a stadium jumbotron?

Not that I know of. Also, I am pretty sure I wouldn't like it. 

5. Are you more book smart or more street smart?

I feel like I'm tied. I am book smart in the areas I care about, but those don't usually apply to most things in life. But I am also good with directions and adaptable. I do not like looking like a tourist. So tie. 

6. Did  you have that baby yet? 

Yep. About 9 months ago. She kinda rocks. 

Some Stories to Tell

I've got some things to tell you. 

Let's start with my girl. What a weekend(ish) she's had. 

Thursday she graduated from her swim class. She has to be 3 to actually move up to the next level but she really did amazing, even the instructor said so on her little certificate. 

Friday, she got her first tooth. Her lower right one. 

Saturday, she stood up all by herself without any help from anyone or anything besides the floor. 

Sunday (yesterday) she took her first step. It was just one, she fell on her second. And she has been unable to repeat this feat. I don't call it "walking" until she can really stabilize herself well and takes more than 5 steps at a time, but man she is on her way. I knew she'd be right there with her brother walking pretty early, C walked at 9 days shy of 10 months old. Miss M is still 13 days shy of 9 months and I did not anticipate her moving so soon. She is one determined little girl. I hope this is an attribute that sticks with her as she grows. 

Now, let me tell you a little story about small miracles. 

On Wednesday as we were leaving the house and I was loading the kids in the car I noticed I wasn't wearing my wedding band. I thought that was odd, but we were in the garage and we needed to leave. I don't wear my engagement ring often as it can scratch M and I don't want to do that but I almost always have my wedding band on. I take it off for some really gross things but usually not. 

I honestly didn't think of it again until dinner. I asked Husband if he had seen it. I said "I honestly haven't even looked for it yet, but I don't remember taking it off." 

I looked on Wednesday, I looked pretty well. I didn't find it. So I said a little prayer. Asked St. Anthony for help and went to sleep. I wasn't too worried. 

Thursday after bedtime, we moved furniture in our room. When I do take it off, it live on my bedside table so it almost certainly just fell on the floor somewhere. We deep cleaned our room. I started freaking out. What if M had taken it off the table and swallowed it?! Then we threw it in the trash because it was in a diaper? I didn't sleep so well that night. 

Friday I spent the entire day, and I mean the entire day, cleaning the house. Our room was looking pretty good. M's was spotless. I rearranged furniture in C's room looking for it. And his room was also all tidied up. After bedtime I cleaned the kitchen really well. I ordered a cheap metal detector off Amazon in case it had wound up in the yard or the trash. It would be here on Sunday. But obviously we'd find it by then and I would just return it. 

Saturday I was flipping out. St. Anthony and I had been talking pretty consistently for a few days now and my house was getting to be pretty clean. We started moving big things. Taking the fabric off the bottom of the couch. Etc. The really frustrating thing was I just didn't remember taking it off! I kept trying to mediate on that and I couldn't figure it out. C had known for days that I was looking for it and would periodically say "Where's Mom's ring? Mom is sad." It was true. 

Sunday mid-morning the metal detector arrived. I was pretty sure it was in the trash by this point. And that glimmer of certainty was the the hope I was clinging to. 

At rest time I went out to the trash. To really get a feel for the day you should know it was about 90 degrees with like 80% humidity. So it was gross anyway is what I'm saying. Sorting through our trash was easily the grossest thing I have ever done. WAY WAY worse than the great retainer in the school lunch garbage of 5th grade incident. 

I found every lid, twist tie, piece of foil and anything that would make a metal detector go off. I sorted through trash from our room that had been sorted through days before in this hunt and garbage that had been carefully gathered during the search. 

I didn't find it. And I broke down. 

I had been holding on to the fact the reason we couldn't find it in the house was because we must have accidentally thrown it out. It hadn't been in any of the diapers we'd seen in days. It wasn't in M currently. (Because yes we sure did metal detect her.) 

Husband talked me down and I calmed a bit. I took a short nap and I made the pie I had been planning on making. Beth posted this pie the other day and it looked so good the ingredients needed went on the grocery list. Beth had, without knowing it was my wedding band, just a lost thing, told a story about how she asked for St. Anthony's help along with her own little Saint Rebecca Irene's help and had found what she was looking for. 

So as I baked, which is something I find relaxing anyway, I said a Hail Mary. I asked for St. Anthony's help again and I talked to Rebecca Irene. I told her how I was making the pie her mom liked and her sister had just made. I told her how much my ring meant to me and why. I told her how excited I was about things that were going right in my life. Basically I just talked to her. As I put the pie into the oven, I asked it she could pray for me and help me out. 

The pie baked for just shy of an hour. Husband distracted me while it was baking and wouldn't let me keep looking. We had dinner. Then Husband and C went upstairs for a potty break. And the shouting started. They came running downstairs and C ran my ring over to me. "Mom's ring!! Be so happy! We found it!!"

I cried I was so happy. I literally bawled. I hugged my boys. C was giggling with delight he was so proud of himself. It was lying smack dab in the middle of the floor in his room. A room we had searched many times and a room that had been vacuumed and dry mopped since the whole saga began.

The Saints are real folks. Heaven is real. As a nice bonus, the pie really is that good. And I'm never taking my ring off again. 

AMT: Cold Temps, Cold Drinks and Other Stuff

Again it is time for Answer Me This! The hottest new game show link-up where you can find your bloggy soulmate or just read about how vastly different we all are. Unless you're talking about favorite fictional characters, then there's a 96% chance you like Pa Ingalls or Atticus Finch. Regardless, it's fun to see how people compare and hear funny stories of people's pasts. 

Let's all give Kendra a big ol' round of applause for hosting and giving us all things to do. 

1. At what temperature do you keep the thermostat set? Summer, winter, day, night?

Summer: Somewhere where I am comfortable. Usually around 70 because we have an old house and the upstairs is still pretty hot. 

Winter: 68 

I don't like being hot. And the heating in winter is still significantly more expensive than cooling our house is. True story. 

2. What is your favorite frozen beverage?

Like a frozen margarita? I don't really know what constitutes a frozen beverage as I can only think of slushies, daiquiris, and frozen margaritas and even margaritas and daiquiris are slushies with booze in them. I really like frozen strawberry margaritas. My first post-partum adult beverage was those frozen strawberry margaritas up there when my baby was 5 months old. 

I also really like the blue Icees. (Not red.) And since I drink approximately 6 times a year, I guess we'll go with Blue Icees. And I can't even remember when I last had one of those so clearly frozen beverages are high up on my list. LOL! I don't even put ice in my fountain pop or keep ice made at home. 

3. Where do you keep your keys?

In a little basket on the "stuff" counter. I feel like most people have a "stuff" counter, sort of the dumping ground area for papers, keys, pens etc. Funny enough I am on a decluttering quest that has not been inspired by the tidying book and my Friday night was so exciting that I spent it cleaning out the little key basket, the bigger pens/scissors basket and sorted through what papers were currently living there. 

4. Have you ever really been lost?

I have a pretty good sense of direction. And I am really good in a crisis. So no. And if I was I wouldn't have admitted it to myself. 

5. What is the last movie you saw in the theaters?

I think it was Mockingjay Pt. 1. Funny story, we had every intention of seeing a movie last night but the only options that started anywhere near the time we got there were Magic Mike XXL or Inside Out. I don't do Pixar. And I haven't seen the first Magic Mike so neither were viable options. 

7QT: A Major Mishmash

Since everyone is all off at Edel and apparently there isn't even going to be one in 2016?! I am guessing no quick takes this week. But #sorrynotsorry I'm, still going to because this format works for me. Aha. Bonnie is hosting. Cool beans. Hi Bonnie! Thanks! (And congrats!)

one. Have you seen the "controversy?" Apparently, one of the Minion McDonald's toys says a swear. As it happens, we love Minions in this house. And also as it happens, we have set out to collect the toys and have people in 3 different states trying to help. We only have 2 and one of them happen to be "Caveman Minion" the offender.

And I agree with McDonalds. Calm the heck down. First of all, it comes with a script of what they're saying so if one looked at the package insert they'd know perfectly darn well. If anything, I disagreed that Caveman Minion was saying "Para La Bukay" because it sounds way more gibberishy than that. It wasn't until I read the article about the sort of offensive Minion that "hahaha" turned into anything but "hahaha" and even then, it's a stretch. I played it for both Husband and my mom to see if they could tell what it was saying (they hadn't read the article) and neither one of them got it.

Whole lot of fake controversy if I've ever seen it.

two. In related news Minions is now in theaters and we are planning on taking C as his first movie theater experience. But we are also waiting a few weeks and going to the first show of the day kind of thing. I think he'll really dig it.

three. You most likely haven't heard about Patti Lupone grabbing an audience member's phone during her show on Broadway because that isn't the news that you read. But I think it's hilarious. Also you probably didn't hear about the audience member who WALKED ON STAGE to plug his phone in to charge in the set's fake outlet during "Hand to God." Holy moly you guys, I laughed so hard I snorted, then cried a little for humanity that people that dumb can afford to go see a show in New York while it is wholly more impractical for me. (The whole Midwest thing means any $100 ticket also involves a hotel room and airline ticket and other expensive add ons like that.)

four. My kids are currently playing Cat and Mouse around the coffee table. Because C's bowl of dry Cheerios is that much better than the one M has. M is cruising right behind him and getting very angry. It is kind of funny. I'm surprised they're not getting dizzy because they keep going around and around.

five. You know, up above I expressed my shock that there will be no Edel 2016 but I think...I think that's okay. Not that I'm sure a weekend getaway with the blogging elite isn't super but even as much as I think it'd be fun, I really haven't had a great desire to actually go. I think, and this is my true confession here, that Jennifer and Hallie put too many eggs in their baskets and became less relateable. I'm sure their book deals are profitable for them. As is a radio show. Good for them!! But since their blogs have all but died they've become a lot less real to me. Though there are definitely some attendees I'd love to hang out with not going to lie.

six. I am still missing something incredibly important to me. I have been asking St. Anthony for help since Wednesday night now and also a litany of others who may help. Gah. I am heart sick. I fell asleep last night just repeating over and over again "I will find it tomorrow."

seven. This just may be the best song I have ever heard.

I am definitely biased because I still love Hanson and have since 6th grade. And they're basically singing about my childhood. Only from a boy perspective. Since they're obviously missing Polly Pockets (the real ones) and other good girl things like that, but still. Nail on the head with this song. And it's catchy. They're going to be on The Today Show on Tuesday and I'm excited to hear how it sounds live. C has been singing it around the house which is adorable as well.

Okay all. Happy Friday!

Ball Pits and Bald Babies

Who lives in Washington DC or nearby? Because I am way jealous of you and want to be you to experience THIS. It's a 10,000 square foot ball pit and I want it. Okay I will settle for the one I'm planning someday but still...I love ball pits. I find them relaxing. My kids obviously feel the same way. We have just a small one but M love love loves it. 

It's so fun watching her experience the world. She is getting into toys and really exploring her surroundings. That is when she can get to the things she wants around her brother. 

She got a Cabbage Patch Doll for Christmas and she just got to open it yesterday. I was bald bald bald until I was like 2. M has WAY more hair now than I did but she still is slightly follicly challenged at this point. I had (have) a bald Cabbage Patch Doll too and it was my favorite thing ever so I am hoping she loves hers for as long as I did. She really likes it so far. 

So did C if you want to know the truth. Luckily for M, since it is in fact her doll, she gets first dibs. There are very few things that he wants of hers so it was a whole new ballgame for us. Usually it's reversed. 

She's starting to be able to stand on her own now. I was in denial for a while there but no, it's true. It's only a matter of time before she is off and running around the room. She is so proud of herself when she manages it. She desperately wants to be able to stand up all on her own without using any furniture or toys but isn't quite that skilled yet. 

I'm going to go hit publish right now before the dance party wakes up little miss napping. You know, normal things. 

WWRT: More Books.

I fell back into reading and I have some more things to tell you about.

Last week I read Judy Blume's In the Unlikely Event. The book follows the actually true story of 3 planes crashing in the town of Elizabeth, NJ and it's effect on the lives of the fictional masses. The main perspective of the story is that of Miri, a 15 year old girl. That surprised me, but didn't all at the same time. This is clearly Judy Blume for adults but it still came from a teenage point of view for most of the book.

The voices in the book become a large chorus, giving the reader snippets from many many people, which can be a little confusing at times but it somehow works out. Blume has this way of writing where you never ever think. You just become immersed in the world and nothing seems out of place or overhanded. I can't say all ends well or that even everything wraps up completely, but when does life ever really do that?

This is the most autobiographical book of Blume's career, as she was the daughter of a dentist in Elizabeth, NJ when all the planes went down. Bottom line: if you like Judy Blume you'll probably like this. If  you don't, you probably will not.

Also this week I read Eyes on You by Kate White. This one was the Big Library Read which is a really interesting idea if you ask me, but this book was just okay.

It was the typical thriller only I thought it was fairly obvious early on who the "bad guy" was. And for that matter, I kept trying to figure out why the main character Robin hadn't figured it out as the first threat left her with a very short list of possibilities. It was a very fast, not particularly thrilling thriller. Apparently Kate White is actually a pretty good writer so I'd be willing to try another book of hers but this was a solid C. 

Linking up with Jessica again for her July WWRW. Because okay. :)

I also knocked out 2.5 of the 7 Harry Potter's for the first Happee Birthdae Harry Book Club. 

But I still have a lot of reading to go! :) Have a great Wednesday!

Potty Training Boot camp

We are rounding out day 2 of potty training boot camp over here. We are doing the whole potty train in 3 days thing and so far I tentatively say it's going well.

He wears a Pull Up for rest and sleep time but has stayed dry and clean for almost 2 full days now. No accidents at all. We're less than an hour to bed time now so I am hopeful.

The only downside is the fact I am sick of sitting on our second floor. (Where our bathroom is.) Today we moved downstairs for a while and it hasn't given us any set backs so tomorrow we'll maybe try being downstairs for more of the day.

Our first scheduled outing is on Wednesday morning so we will see how that goes.

C is kind like "no big deal" about the whole thing, which leads me to believe he was just ready. Surprisingly he has not wanted to wear his Minion big kid underwear but has taken to the plain colored boxer briefs just fine. (And he looks adorable in them.)

AMT: The 4th, SPF and other things of interest.

Well it's Sunday again already! Which means 6 more questions at the virtual cocktail party hosted by Kendra. It's a good time, you should probably participate. Unless you don't like to talk about yourself. 

1. How did you celebrate the 4th of July? (Or, for you international types . . . Do anything fun this weekend?)

In pretty darn low-key style. M's new best friend Brynn was born last week and we went to visit as a family so Husband could take newborn pictures for them and C could play with his friends Mason and Owen. 

We had an indoor 'Merica party. Hot dogs, beans, fruit, pasta salad, chips.. all the standards. 

Then because my guy got all bit up yesterday from the many many mosquitoes that apparently are the result of the June Monsoon, we opted to stay in and watch fireworks on TV. But both kids got a glowstick because we're cool like that. 

They were cool to watch regardless. 

2. Do you sunburn easily?

Yes. Pale Polish skin for the win. I do have a meeting with my dermatologist regularly to make sure that I don't have skin cancer. So far I'm good. I like a good SPF 50 these days. 


3. Hot dogs. Yay or nay?

Yay. I like them at ball games and on the grill. I like the Kosher ones and Portillo's. They are a sometimes food for sure but I like 'em. *see our 'Merica party above. I also prefer them with squishy white buns with no nutritional value because the way I see it, go big or go home. 


4. Have you ever personally set off fireworks?

Nope. I did those popper things once but I really don't think those count. 


5. Have you ever jumped off the high dive?

When I was like 12. At a lake beach. Truthfully, I don't even know where a high dive is these days. 


6. Do you do anything weird in your sleep?

I don't think so. I dream but that's not weird. After consulting with Husband he says and I quote, "Not particularly." I do know that I sleep deep and he is in charge of listening for crying babies because there is a very good chance I will sleep through it. 

WWRW! I finally read!

June was a good month for reading. I jumped back in with two feet. It was time to really really get back on track with the reading consistently and so I did. Which means I can link up with Jessica!

My best friend and C's Godmother went to Disney with her family and I was in charge of bringing in her mail. No big deal. She is a teacher librarian by trade so... she had a lot of children's books in her home. In the office area of her house she had a lot of Andrew Clements. I liked Frindle so I thought I'd grab a few and read them.


Things Hoped For

It wasn't until I put the book back on the shelf that I determined that in fact this is a sequel to the book Things Not Seen. Which might have been helpful only I doubt it because while I thought it was pretty ridiculous that this Robert (Bobby from the other book) character knew all about this going invisible thing and claimed it happened to him. It was really really random and not necessary to the plot of the story at all. But it was like Clements was like, "oh crap, this was supposed to be a sequel, I should add that invisible junk back in." A really strange book. Also we never find out if either Gwen or Robert make it into the schools of their choice which just seems wrong since it is the build up of the entire book.

And after knowing that the whole first book is about the invisible thing I have no interest in reading that. Weird. Like trying to be a sci-fi fantasy but not well... skip them. There's even ANOTHER one too, to follow this. Clements just needs to stop.

The Report Card/No Talking

Andrew Clements at his basic level. The man has a formula and it works. Similarly to Frindle, both of these books feature kids as the main characters trying to stick it to the man with some creative plan. The plan backfires and after a heart to heart with a trusted adult everyone is wiser and things go back to relative normal. Super quick reads but enjoyable.

The School Story

Similar to the Andrew Clements formula, but instead of trying to stick it to the man, the plan was just to work the system and get a book published without parents finding out. Enjoyable, though doubtable that a New York publishing house wouldn't be able to tell a book had been written by a twelve-year-old. Fun to read though. This one had a lot of heart. 

So the other part of reading again was beefing up mi library queue and getting on wishlists for books I'd like to read. I am smack dab in the middle of two that I really wanted to write about so expect a secondary linkup in the nearish future.  But I did finish one from this category.  

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

I don't know if I hyped this book up in my head or what, but I was expecting a lot more from it. It was not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination and I definitely continued to read. It follows the 1936 Olympic crew team from Washington and their development as a team. At the same time the book somewhat mirrors the boat's rise to power with the Nazi's rise to power and their propaganda. But after reading In the Garden of the Beast it was kind of a let down.

When you know perfectly darn well what is going to happen it takes phenomenal talent to keep you at the edge of your seat. This book had that in waves but not throughout I'm afraid. It was not a poorly written book and I did find myself invested in Joe Rantz especially. Worth a read but definitely one to get from the library and not spend money on.

Last but not least as it is now July I feel like I should remind the world about this:

If you ever were looking for a chance to join in a Harry Potter book club you're in luck! I am hosting one! It's just 135 pages a day!