Road Trip Anyone?

O.K., tonight I want to send you on a road trip. First off, you need to head over to Bia's spot at http://www.ladolcevitathesweetlifewiththreesons.blogspot.com/to see the sacred spaces in her home. Her home sounds like a sanctuary and safe haven. I asked if I could come visit - that's how inviting it sounded. I want to be more like Bia - no two ways around it. I want to create an atmosphere of ... well ... sanctuary, in my home. I'm nowhere near there. Chaos reigns supreme around here (intended to tackle some of the chaos today while MS was at PDO, but, alas, YS decided to bring up his supper in the middle of the night - first night sharing a room with MS - go figure - so instead, I napped with YS instead of creating a sanctuary). You gotta check out Bia's ideas (she also has wonderful things to share about their Friday night family nights).

Then, you just have to go to http://www.arewethereyet-davisfarmmom.blogspot.com/ . A few days back, she posted some incredible you tube footage of a ventriloquist named Terry Fator. I had to watch several of them. The guy is amazing!

Plus, I recently stumbled upon another blog I have to visit frequently now. I'm just nosy, I guess. This blogger at http://www.peoplereading.blogspot.com/ devotes her whole blog to what random people around her are reading. She doesn't just snap a photo of them reading their book, she also interviews them to provide a little background information (no names, though - every participant is anonymous and a willing participant). I love seeing what other people are reading. The person who told me about this site had a great comment about how reading is a very individual thing and yet very communal in nature, at the same time. Too true!

And, be sure to check out my niece's web site in a few days because this Saturday my youngest brother and my nephew will both be shaving their heads to raise money for cancer through the St. Baldrick's organization. I'm sure they'll have photos or maybe even footage at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ameliagorton some time after Saturday. Plus, if you go to their site, be sure to link over to the Colgate contest to vote for Amelia's hospital at http://www.colgate.com/starlight . Grab a beverage and enjoy the ride. I did!

I've Joined the Sallyblogger Blogroll

The other day, I discovered this blogroll and thought to myself, "Man, I'd like to be on that blogroll." My blog isn't really focused on the fact that I grew up in The Salvation Army, so I wasn't sure if my blog would qualify or not. Thankfully, they have graciously allowed my blog to be added to their roll. I do write about my times in The Salvation Army from time to time.

At the moment, I am wondering "Where. in. the. world. is. my. CBLI. application?" If you stick with this blog long enough, you will learn all about CBLI (Central Bible and Leadership Institute). I had a blast attending this camp back when I was a teenager. CBLI and CMI (Central Music Institute) were always the highlights of my year back then. Of course, back then, I only slightly noticed that there was a family track to the CBLI encampment.

When my ES was 3, and my husband and I were separated, my brother and sister-in-law were on the staff for the children's track at CBLI. My SIL was convinced that this would be a beneficial experience for us. This camp is so popular among Salvationists in the Central Territory that you have to send your application in as soon as you receive it (usually in January) to ensure the lodging you want to request. One year, we almost didn't make it. The camp had filled and we were next on the waiting list as of the day it was to start. Friday and Saturday, we moped. Sunday morning I headed out for a long walk and returned home to find my husband anxious to tell me that there was a no-show and we were welcome to come to the camp after all.

This year will be our tenth year in attendance, if we get to go. Many others have even longer tenure than us. My husband has requested off work, but we don't know if he will be able to join us. The camp is ten days long and usually begins the last Friday in July (last year it began on Sat. for the first time - when I was a teen, it started on Thu. and went to the following Sun.). There are many things I love about The Salvation Army and CAMP is definitely one of them!

Book Review: Regarding the Bees

Every time I see a new book from Kate and Sarah Klise in their Regarding the ... series of books, I jump for joy! I think I was the first person to check out our library's new copy of Regarding the Bees: A Lesson in Letters, on Honey, Dating, and Other Sticky Subjects. This is the fifth book in the series and I hope they just keep coming.

I love the use of letters, memos, newspaper articles and advertisements to tell the story. I love the endless puns. I love the lessons presented in such an up-beat, funny way. When I did read-alouds for a fifth grade classroom, I always wished for a way to bring Kate Klise's books into those times. Alas, until she markets overhead pages for teachers to use, kids will have to find these books and enjoy them for themselves. The illustrations and print always enhance the experience of the books.

This tale begins with the principal, Wally Russ, leaving Mr. Sam N. in charge for one semester. During this time, Florence Waters, will be teaching his class by correspondence course. They are preparing for state exams and a spelling bee. The seventh graders are knee-deep in middle school angst over dances, dating, friendship and tests. It was a delightfully fun book. Visually, it is every bit as appealling as The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, so perhaps even my ES would be willing to try this book. I can't recommend it enough!

Yesterday with YS

My YS discovered a new form of entertainment yesterday. I would like to think that he wanted the shoe rack to look uncluttered. Thanks, YS!

Alas, I KNOW this is just entertainment. Moreover, I KNOW that we will be seeing this form of entertainment quite a bit in the coming days. Somehow putting them all back on the rack isn't nearly as fun for me as taking them all off was for him! Not to mention, some of them went down these small stairs to the garage door, but some of them went down the stairs to the basement.

Yesterday with ES

Yesterday, my ES got braces (on his teeth - not suspenders, for any Brits who may be reading! - although, he could use suspenders now, since he has lost over 10 lbs. during this wrestling season). Poor boy is eating things like applesauce, fruit smoothies, canned pears and peaches. Flossing was a huge ordeal last night. Even with the help of his dad, they couldn't get the floss into the threader and between the braces and teeth. This morning he told his dad he couldn't eat a banana. Plus, I had to take him back to the orthodontist this afternoon (with the two little ones in tow -groan) because one of the wires was poking into his cheek. I asked if there is an easier way to handle the flossing (having made this $4000 investment, I want to make sure he maintains them properly) and they suggested we buy a Waterpik. So now, it is a $4060 investment (but, I'm thinking I may get an extra attachment piece and use this thing myself - since http://cardiogirl.net/ has gotten me more concerned about flossing and my teeth are too close together to floss without great difficulty and pain).


On the way home from picking my ES up from his wrestling practice last night, we saw a herd of animals out in our fields. I am such a city girl. I get all excited when I see any form of wild life around here (remember we live in an isolated area and we've lived here for a year and a half now - you would think it would be passe by now). I pulled the van over and we both got out to look closer. There were 15 0r 16 deer out there. We stood there for five minutes watching them. The closer we got, the more skittish they were and finally, they all ran for the woods behind the fields. If I had the time, I would do what the author of a book called Bean Blossoms did. She quietly entered the woods and hid out waiting to see the deer close up. As if I'll have time to hide out waiting to see deer in our woods (yeah, honey, I'm gonna go watch for deer for about four or five hours - you don't mind keeping an eye on the two little guys, do ya?!).

Book Review: The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff: You Wish, by Jason Lethcoe, was another book I chose to experience in the listening library form. The cover was reminiscent of Oliver Twist and I thought my boys might enjoy listening to this with me. I love the rhythm of the main character's name.

Benjamin is an orphan living at Ms. Pinch's Home for Wayward Boys, where, of course, his life is hard and he must clean out pots in the kitchen. He has even forgotten it is his birthday, until an old woman drops by with a small cake for him. Later that evening, he steals a piece of the cake, lights a candle and makes a dangerously clever birthday wish. Unfortunately, this wish sets in motion a deadly war between two ancient rivals, the Wishworks Factory and the Curseworks Factory.

This is definitely a book which will appeal to 9-12 year old boys. It has all the necessary ingredients: good vs. evil, an underdog hero, action, adventure, weaponry, flying chairs for transport, and monstrous creatures. I would love to see how a movie would portray the army of spider-monkeys from Curseworks and the battle action could be spectacular.

However, when I first began listening, I didn't think I would end up liking the book. At first, I thought my struggle was merely with the narrator chosen to deliver the reading. As I listened longer, I realized that primarily my struggle was with the setting chosen by the author. Given that the main character is an orphan living in horrible conditions in an orphanage, and given the narrator's British accent, I expected the story took place in Victorian England (one of my favorite periods). However, the story supposedly takes place in California in present times (yet all the characters have British or Scottish accents). I don't believe orphans end up in horrible orphanages here in the States these days. In fact, I'm pretty sure they end up in foster homes or well-run group homes, which emphasize goals and responsibility. In fact, I almost took a job at a group home of this sort in Rochelle, IL, several years ago. This choice of setting almost made me set the book aside. (I think the author could have pulled off the present time frame, if he had placed the character in a lousy foster home, instead of an orphanage).

But, once the action in the novel shifted to the magical world, I felt more at home with the book and the accents used to narrate it. In fact, the second half of the book was better than the first half. The realistic world wasn't very realistic, but the magical world was truly magical. I believe this is the first book of a pending series. I am hoping the rest of the books are set in the fantastical world of Wishworks and Curseworks.

I will probably pick this up again for my younger sons in 7 or 8 years, but I will read it aloud to them myself. My ES heard quite a bit of this one, but, alas, it "didn't entertain" him. Then again, you know how he is! In fact, I helped him type up another book report for school this weekend. In the final paragraph, he was supposed to tell whether or not he would recommend the book and why. I had to ask, "Do you ever say you WOULD recommend a book?" He said, "Well, I did one time. But, most of the books are just too boring."

Our Appearances are a-Changing!

I had briefly considered posting a photo of my haircut and highlights (yes, I did finally manage to keep the appointment and receive two hours of quiet and pampering). However, a few hours prior to my appointment, I was hit square on the nose with a heavy block courtesy of my YS's outstanding future pitching arm. This is, indeed, how I tried to put a positive spin on the event. In the heat of the moment, I screamed, "WE DO NOT THROW! (did I need to qualify that ... in the house, hard things at Mommy???)" I burst into tears and put him in his crib. I've told you before that I'm a wimp, so it will come as no surprise that I carried on about it for a good ten minutes. Thankfully, my MS came into my room and said, "Next time, Mommy, here is what you should do if someone throws something at you" and then he made a little jump aside! Thanks for the advice, oh wise little one.

My ES will be looking quite different next time I see him as well. Tomorrow morning, my husband is taking him in for an orthodontic appointment to have braces attached to his teeth. He has spent this weekend chewing his gum supply (oh how that boy loves the gum with the flavor burst liquid in the middle - he'll have to ask if he can chew sugarfree), raw carrots and popcorn.

My MS looks the same, but was also thinking about appearances this evening. He non-chalantly walked up to my husband at the table tonight and said, "Do you care to see my butt?" This guy keeps us all in stitches. I suppose at some point I probably said to him, "Nobody cares to see your butt!"