If You Give A Mom A Book: Waiting For Baby

I found this book almost 5 years ago, shortly before Sir Honey was born.  I was pregnant and at the library book sale.   Overly concerned how my first born would react to being a big brother, I desperately wanted to prepare him for the radical change that was about to occur. 

Over the years, this book has become one of our VERY favorite stories.

So, we read it as a family last night.  I think we all thought it would bring on the birth pains that God talks about occurring when you least expect it. 

Anyhoodle, the book is about little Max who is impatiently waiting for his sister to arrive. 

As the days become a week, finally the family goes on a long walk . . .

Which we did . . . (partially because I wanted to capture the fall colors with Willow, my camera.)

**********

**********

    
**********

**********

And I even made some cookies, just like in the book.

**********

(Which actually taste better as frozen dough, not that I just had some dough or anything.)

Moral of the story:  If you give a mom a book, she just might bake some cookies, go on a walk, or have a baby (not!). 

What did you read to yourself or to your child this week?  See my guidelines to link up!  Leave me a comment when you do! 

Actually, due to the fact that I rarely have anyone link up with this meme, I’m not going to include a MckLinky.  But if you have read a fun book and blog about it – be sure to leave your link in a comment! 

If You Give A Mom A Book: Ruby’s School Walk

 

The walk to our school room isn’t very far . . . really not even long enough for the imagination to create a fairy or a snowstorm.  A spider web lurks here and there and it isn’t uncommon for a tumbleweed of Mussie’s hair to blow across the tile. 

Ruby’s School Walk ($16.99)

by Kathryn White and Miriam Latimer

Regardless, the Granola Boys had no problem joining Ruby on her walk to school with her mom.  When we take walks around the neighborhood it isn’t uncommon for us to make up elaborate tales of people we pass by or the flight of a stray leaf. 

Our tales aren’t quite like Ruby’s, though.

In general, I am like a detective in the library searching for any Barefoot Book that I can find.  So I was a little bit surprised by some of the darker thematic elements in this particular book. 

Now, I’m not saying I wouldn’t still seek out Ruby’s Walk, but  initially I did change a few words and glossed over a page or two . . . only because my sons’ imaginations are like mine.  If they capture a slightly scary image, it will only continue to grow like a weed unless it is tamed.

But what I do love about this book (and don’t love) are the fantastically bright and delightfully colorful pictures.  The illustrations do spark the imagination, mine included.  The text does deal with real issues – overcoming the fear of the first day of school. 

So instead of totally shying away from some of the words, for the second and third readings  I used the words I typically avoid (witches, ghosts, things jumping out at them, etc.) as a springboard to discuss deeper issues . . . dealing with fear and overcoming it. 

In reading this book with the Granola Boys, we discussed the importance of knowing what is reality and what is fictitious.  When they are confused or scared, they need to talk to us (mom and dad) about their fears so that we can pray for them and point them to Scripture. 

Barefoot Books is a pretty cool company.  My sister is actually the person who first introduced me to them . . . and since they look like eye-candy to this book snob, I have hunted them down in the library ever since!  (Secretly, I hope they send me a whole collection of their books to review – there are over 400 you know!  They looks, smell, and feel like sustainable books.  Gets me all excited!)

(Oh, and by the way . . . I was sent this book to review in conjunction with my connection to MamaBzz.  I do not have to return this colorful book nor do I have to return it. It will stay in our home library, thankfully.)

----------------------------------------------

What have  you read to yourself or to your child since I last did this meme?  See my guidelines to link up!  Leave me a comment when you do! 

Technorati Tags: Ruby's School Walk,Barefoot Books,MamaBzz

If You Give A Mom A Book

After my marathon day of blogging yesterday . . . I am typed out.  But it is If You Give A Mom A Book day. 

And I didn’t want to disappoint you all . . . because I know that more of you are going to link up this week! 

In our household, it has been VBS week.  Two huge praises that are a direct result of our church having VBS are

1. I have gotten to spend way more time with Mr. Smiley – something that he almost never gets except for bed times.
2. Mr. Smackdown and Sir Honey have talked MORE about the songs and stories at VBS, than the snacks.  That is HUGE!  They are feasting on the Word of God instead of man-made snacks!  YES!!!!!

OK . . . one more. 

I have gotten to fellowship with other moms significantly more this week. And it has been nice. 

School?        . . . has pretty much been nonexistent. 

We did go to the library yesterday . . . got some points . . . sold those points for one of those nasty-geko I’m overly processed and going to upset your stomach because of my fake colors pieces of candy, a bowling pass, and one wiggly porcupine that Smiley refuses to touch.

So we’ve read some books . . . but I’m blogged out.  I’m photo-edited out.

I’m going to make it easy on myself. 

These are the books we read this morning before VBS:

• Billy Twitters and his Blue Whale Problem by Mac Barnett (slightly humorous book about a boy who is forced to drag a blue whale around due to not obeying his mother).
• Froggy Rides A Bike by Jonathan London (I really think that Froggy is an unthankful creature, but Mr. Smackdown thinks Froggy’s way of saying thanks in frog-speak is “yippee.”
• A Kiss Goodbye by Audrey Penn (part of the Kissing Hands series I told you about – great book if you are getting ready to move to a new home).
• Delilah D. At the Library by Jeanne Willis (fun book about a little girl’s imagination at the library, obviously).

And on my personal shelf, I started SEVERAL books and plan to start the ones I haven't started.  Will I ever learn?

• The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
• The New Hide or Seek by James Dobson
• Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
• Say Goodbye to Whining by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller
• Keep the Sibling, Lose the Rivalry by Todd Cartmell
• The Sunny Side by A.A. Milne
• The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews
• Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Susan Buckley
• Bringing Up Girls by James Dobson

What did you read?  Check out my guidelines and be sure to link up!

Technorati Tags: If You Give A Mom A Book

If You Give A Mom A Book: In My New Yellow Shirt

 

This book was for Honey.  He loves the color yellow. 

I happened upon it when we were searching for books to fill the bottom stroller compartment.  More books mean more points, you know.  More points mean delicious, sugary, processed, dye-filled lizards and geckos that the boys only get to eat during the Summer Reading Program at our local library.

It is the story of a little boy who gets a yellow shirt for his birthday.  However, said little boy’s best friend (Sam) thinks that it is a stupid gift.  A “no fun” sorta gift.  

Not to the birthday boy.

This shirt allows him to become all sorts of things . . .

a lion . . .

a taxi . . .

a caterpillar . . .

a butterfly . . .

even a firefly . . .

and the moon at night, big and bright.

What shirt color would you want?  What would you become?

Me?  I’m content with a pink shirt.  It lets me be a mom.  And it allows me to dream about the little girl kicking my belly. 

But one day . . . maybe a mixture of brown, green and gray.  Then, I’d be a soaring mountain.  I would tip-toe so high up into the sky – stretching to smell the clean, crisp air.  I’d provide an adventure land for my family to camp and climb in, relax, and find refreshment. 

What did you read to yourself or to your child this week?  See my guidelines to link up!  Leave me a comment when you do! 

Technorati Tags: If You Give A Mom A Book,Summer Reading Program,library,In My New Yellow Shirt

If You Give A Mom A Book: I Know An Old Lady

This book really is slightly disturbing. 

We are supposed to be filling our children’s minds with wholesome goodness and yet on every page of this book featuring the old folk tune that showed up in the 1940’s, the illustrator depicts a little girl flippantly saying, “I guess she’ll die.”

Death does come to all of us while the Lord is tarrying and working on His harvest . . . but that doesn’t mean we need to read books to children that show a coldness or numbness to what death REALLY MEANS in eternity.  We get that enough on TV.

I know.  I’m being sensitive. 

I just found myself wondering why I was reading this book to Honey this morning.  Yea, I get a little competitive when the Summer Reading Program hits at the library . . but that doesn’t mean that my standard of quality literature needs to deteriorate.

It is a silly song.  Of course no one could eat a whole cow at once.  But what would stop a toddler from attempting to eat a spider or fly?

And then they will assume they are going to die.  Next, they will be so scared they won’t tell us.  When they don’t tell us, we will notice they are acting funny and assume they didn’t get enough sleep, or are just being ornery.  So they might end up getting punished or worse, spanked.  We will get mad, pop a vein, call our husbands to resign . . . all because we read this book to our children and didn’t realize that they thought they were going to die because they accidentally ate the fly on their hotdog.

So, if you choose to read this book, make sure that you explain who Jesus is and that He is bigger than a fly.

Or else, they might think someone is going to come along and put X’s on their eyes.

What did you read to yourself or to your child this week?  See my guidelines to link up!  Leave me a comment when you do! 

Technorati Tags: I know an old woman

If You Give a Mom a Book: The Kissing Hand

(I think I might be bringing this weekly post back! Read HERE and let me know if you would be interested in participating or reading my post weekly.)

We have a nighttime tradition in our family called hand kisses.  It appears that our silly little boys CAN’T (more like won’t or refuse) to fall asleep unless both Brian and I have kissed their hand and curled their fingers around said parent hand kiss for them to use sometime during the night. 

Later, I discovered that there is actually a book all about this very tradition in our family.  We inspired a book!  (Just kidding.)  I guess there are a whole slew of these books.  Look out PaperBackSwap!

And because I knew that I had a review due for SafetyTat . . . it gave me the perfect excuse to buy this book and show you a great way to use a particular  SafetyTat product called Tat Kisses!

 

 

Tat Kisses are “simply designed to be placed on your child's hand as a reminder that you are always with him, wherever he may be. Great for first day of school or anytime your child needs a little extra TLC.”

Easy to apply, these kisses have been a huge hit in our family because now they can visually carry their kiss around all day long.  To use, make sure the applicant’s had is thoroughly dry . . . I really can’t stress this enough.  Peel clear backing and apply face down on your child’s hand for one minute, applying a damp washcloth before removing white backing.

The Tat Kiss stays on approximately a day or less, depending on how often you wash your hands, though the website claims it can stay on up to 5 days.  Additionally, for us it rubbed off with a little elbow grease and water.  You can also purchase them with other phrases for $9.99. 

Also included with our sample kisses were the products that launched this company.  (Bottle not included.)

The story is well told on the Safety Tat website . . .

The idea for SafetyTat temporary child ID tattoos was born of necessity one weekend at an amusement park. On Labor Day Weekend, Baltimore Mom, Michele Welsh and her husband, there with their three small children, felt out-numbered. To stave her panic, she quickly wrote her mobile phone number on each of their arms with a ballpoint pen. As she did this, she thoughtfully explained to each of them the importance of staying close to Mommy and Daddy. She also told them that if they were separated that the number on their arm was a way to reconnect with them.

Throughout the day of fun, Michele had to rewrite the number several times as it smeared or washed off. Several parents in the park stopped her to ask if that was her number on the kids' arms. Each time, they loved the idea.

Once again, the idea of receiving a tattoo was novel to the boys.  For privacy purposes, I have not included my phone number.  Therefore in lieu of writing God or Jesus, as I have, you would write your cell phone number.  What you see on the boys’ arms are the new Quick Stick Safety Tats that don’t require water and a waterproof marker is included.  Simply peel and stick. 

However, you can actually purchase the original Safety Tat that has your phone number printed on the tattoo for  $19.95 for a set of 24.  Options for customization are possible. 

Novel idea?  Don’t you think?

Oh, and the book – The Kissing Hand . . . what a precious story.  As the mommy raccoon gives her little beast a kiss on his hand before he tromps off to school, he returns the love.  In a special moment following reading this book and applying our kissing hands, Mr. Smackdown said to me,

“Mommy?  How can I give God a kissing hand?”

I replied . . . well, kiss your hand and then raise your hand up to the heavens and tell God that you are giving your kiss to Him.

Mr. Smackdown’s response, “No.  I’ll just kiss my hand and put it right on my heart for Him.  Because that is where He is.”

Precious.

Oh, and then he added that his heart was behind his lungs.

Yes.  Yes it is. 

I was not paid for this post, nor do I have to return these great products.  Thanks to MamaBuzz for allowing me to be a part of her group!

Technorati Tags: MamaBzz,Safety Tat,The Kissing Hand,If You Give A Mom A Book

What Am I Reading?

There are a few things that the Hottie Hubby has kidded me about ever since I have known him.  But I think these are the very things that he finds charming about me, if I do say so.  But they also drive him up the wall.

• I leave my water glasses everywhere.  Just yesterday, my mom probably brought down 7 glasses from my bathroom.
• I love to go to public places like the mall, farmer's markets, or the Monon (a bike trail in our city) and make up stories about people.  In fact, I am often guilty of that during our dates . . . but he typically joins me in my story crafting!  
• Everything is a "known fact."
• It isn't uncommon for me to have MULTIPLE books going at one time.

Due to the fact that I often have a lot of books going on a once, I am finding myself maybe a little overwhelmed at the moment.  So, I think that I am doing this post for my benefit.  But in case you were wondering this is a list of books that I am currently reading.  Maybe I'll write a little ditty about each book after I finish them.

• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickins

• Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson

• Living With Less So Your Family Has More by Mark and Jill Savage

• Miniskirts, Mothers, & Muslims by Christine A. Mallouhi

• This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano

• Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze

• So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore

• The Divine Mentor by Wayne Cordeiro

• The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory

• She's Gonna Blow by Julie Ann Barnhill

• The Complete Guide to Staying and Getting Organized by Karen Ehman

• Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt

• Muslims, Christians, and Jesus by Carl Medearis

• The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher

• Soups and Muffins by Sue Gregg
• An Introduction to Whole Grain Baking by Sue Gregg

• Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby

• Last but not least, my Bible.

And there are actually a few more books that I have that I WANT to read that are just laying around.  Sigh.