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. :)