Summary of Freedom: by Jaycee Dugard | Includes Analysis

If you don't know who Jaycee Dugard is you have been living under a rock. I am in awe of Jaycee and cannot even fathom what she has been through and how she has managed to move on in her life since being kidnapped in 1991.

I read A Stolen Life, her first book, Freedom was written the same time and talk about all her "Firsts" Such as the first time she drove a car, cooked, shopped and other things that you and I learn along the way as we are growing up. That was taken from Jaycee by two despicable people who held her for 18 years.

My favorite part of the book is about Jaycee and her mother's relationship after an 18 year absence.

My Need To Read list is so long and I will never have enough time to read all the books I want to. Instaread allows you to get the main summary of each chapter of a book. Just download the app and be in the know with the best sellers out there. 100s of books to choose from with more summaries and "take aways" by chapter added all the time.    Instaread can be enjoyed in text or audio format through a world-class ebook reader and audio player.

My Kids Were So Proud Of Me

Monday I emailed a local daycare who was looking for Teacher's Assistants. Honestly, I figured my chances were slim because it is local and I figured the positions had already been filled. I know someone who works there so in my email I name dropped. This is not something I would do in the past but figured if it works it does and if they think I am a total tool for doing it, oh well I guess they won't call me. As a substitute TA in my kids schools I was happy just being able to do that and if the daycare never called, I would figure something else out.  I checked email and was surprised to see an email from the daycare asking if I was available to meet Tuesday and they would love to see me.  POSITIVE!

Hmmm...OK...I figured this was going to be good the only thing was the hours. I need to be able to drop off my kids and pick them up once school starts. I also needed to bring them with me on my interview. These are all things I would never have discussed in my professional life before kids or their need to be flexible with me in my 20s and 30s. They approved the kids coming to the interview. Woot! POSITIVE!

I told Handsome and Goddess that I needed them to be on board. I needed them to sit quietly, to not fight and to prove to the world I was a good mom capable of handling daycare age kids as well as my own. I told them why would someone want to hire me to handle a classroom if I couldn't handle my TWO?! They seemed on board. POSITIVE!

It's the summer and like all other siblings who spend every day together they are done with each other.

The interview went well. The Director I met with seemed very nice, like someone I would be friends with if we were not meeting in an interview. POSITIVE!

When a parent came in to talk to the Director in private, I left the room to the waiting area where my kids were. They were quietly looking at a book TOGETHER! POSITIVE!

After the parent left, I headed back in and the Director started talking about schedules, and when I start next Tuesday so I looked at her and asked, "so you are saying I got the job?" She said, "yes and I shook her hand and thanked her. When she left to get the stack of paperwork I walked over to the kids and said, "I got the job." They each stood up and hugged me and kissed me individually then as a group. They both told me they were so proud of me and how excited they were for me. It was so beautiful and sweet.

In that moment I realized again what I already knew;  as a parent I am a good one. This is what I was supposed to do. This is what healed me from the traumas of my childhood.

I included the kids in my life, shared just enough with them to understand the importance of making money that will  help our family while finding something I enjoy doing. They definitely have learned that in "real life" you don't always get what you want. You try but sometimes life doesn't always pat you on the back and say good job. That in real life you may walk away without a trophy. You don't always win. So as a parent I am doing a good job. They get it and their very grown up support of me taught me that they are not always in the moment just going with the flow as it appears sometimes.  They do listen when I talk and my kids have become what I longed for as a child. Someone to take notice, be there when the door opens, be my safe place, my sounding board, my support system. Really listen to what I have to say. Allow me to be myself and love me even with all my flaws. Which is exactly what I give them.  Proud parent.

Gift Guide 2016 - My Friend Cayla An Interactive Party Time Doll - Video Review

This is the talking My Friend Cayla doll that comes with fun accessories and works with or without  Bluetooth.

The 411:

We find the fact that Cayla knows what is in her hand amazing. She is an adorable doll however we could not get her to acknowledge us in any way. I have the original Cayla doll which was very interactive and we could get to respond to us. You can see my review and video here.

Unplug Your Family With A Little Game Time - Part 3 - Dr. Eureka

Dr. Eureka is a great game idea from Blue Orange that allows you to be a chemist and carefully arrange molecules for the scientific formula or lose the round. The first to match the formula on the card wins.

To Play:

Each player gets 3 test tubes/beakers and three sets of two different molecules in red, purple and green.

Flip the first card over and everyone must try to match the color and tube combination pictured on the card.

If you drop a molecule you are out of the round.

If you are the first to match the formula yell Eureka and the next card is turned over.

If you decide to view...lower your speakers as the girls were having a fun, loud, tween good time

Unplug Your Family With A Little Game Time - Part 2 - Gigamons

Yesterday I mentioned a new game from Blue Orange called Fast Flip that I high recommend for Family Game Night, today I have another called Gigamons.

Spending time with your kids is very important. They are here and gone before you know it spending time friends and eventually a significant other so make the best of your time together. Family Game Night is a perfect way for everyone to unplug and spend time in each other's company. This game is really fun and it took us about 2 games to learn it but since it is basically a 15 minute game that wasn't bad.

Basically it is a memory game with powers. Kind of like Pokemon and other card games but this one is scaled down to be enjoyed by everyone from age 6+

The girls definitely had a great time at last week's sleepover. Goddess loved that a box of games arrived just as they were having lunch. They quickly started playing which made this mom really happy to see them off their phones, computers and Kindles.

I highly recommend this game and all Blue Orange games

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Unplug Your Family With A Little Game Time

I love things that unplug my kids and their friends. Play dates and sleep overs are not like when we were young. Now the kids get together (in this case 3) and hang out in a room playing on their respective phones or tablets. What the hell is this? Goddess had 2 friends over which makes 3 girls in a room, there is not a sounds from behind the door sometimes because they are all playing separately and together depending. If the girls are all on the same game they are discussing. SOOOOO...I walked in a few times and mentioned they needed to put the phones down or I would take them for a while. Goddess doesn't have a phone but she has my old phone which she uses like an iPod.
 
In the afternoon I had the girls come out of the room and sat them at the table with a new game called Fast Flip. It is a game from Blue Orange.

Basically it is a card game featuring numbers and fruit. You stack the cards, flip it over and if there is a number figure out which fruit appears that many times or if it is a fruit shout out the number. It is a fun game and moves quick. There is also two other ways to play which uses tokens. The winner is the one with the most cards or the most tokens.

I had two great videos of the girls playing which I unfortunately lost when I deleted some files from my phone but fortunately I did share one on Instagram. So you can see it here

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Drawings from Goddess - My 11 Year Old Artist

Fountains, Fairies and Fiddlers Oh My

If you have never been to the Renaissance Faire in Sterling Forest you must go! It is truly a photographers paradise.  .

Back To School Is Coming Too Soon

It is that time of the summer when the kids and I start discussing "back to school" things like supplies, teachers, friends, missing each other and how much we don't want school to start. I am with them on this, I also don't want school to start. Not a big fan of formal education and as someone who works in the school I see how much wasted time there is and how much we could get done if they were home schooled but since it is the way it is for now we need to talk about it.

My kids are going into 6th and 7th grade and both are attending the same middle school. My Handsome who is supposed to be in the 8th grade in actuality (I held him an extra year you can read about our IEP Meeting Decision and No Kindergarten post here. )

This year the kids and I didn't do much. It is the first year we didn't head to the beach every day in fact we have only been three times so far. We did get fortunate to play in friend's pools which is what we all prefer. We did see a movie, go to Hershey Park, visit my grandparents, celebrate my birthday at a hibachi restaurant but other than that it was quiet. I wish we did more things but money always seems to be the reason why. Hopefully one day that will be better but this year I am just happy to be with them because as they get older these days will be few and far between.

Enjoy every moment.

Birthday Celebration Continued

This past weekend for my 50th Birthday my husband, kids and I headed to Mt. Fuji and Hibachi restaurant that is out of our price range but worth the experience.

My 11 year Goddess has been dying to go because all her friends have gone and talked about it so I was very thankful my husband agreed to it.

There is so much to look at and they do a great job of entertaining you while cooking although sometimes it is a little hokey.

I love the food and drink as well as the time spent with my family.

50 came quick so I am quite frightened of how fast the next 10 years will go but hope to enjoy every single one of them.
 

Unfortunately I was so busy eating I failed to get a photo of my dinner.

Taken by my daughter

My daughter's dinner

YUMMY Green Tea Ice Cream

It may be a while till we come back as the price is more than we can handle on normal family outings but one day....

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Kittens Oh Kittens....

Repost Oct 2008

My daughter the Goddess and I get to spend a lot of time together when my son is at school or in therapy. Usually we are sitting at the library or walking around our little town. On this particular day we headed to the bank to make a deposit (woot) and she asked if we could go to the pet store. Originally I said no but thought better of it and we headed it. Mostly I thought how sad that basically she gets to run a million errands or wait for her brother most hours so why couldn't I do this for her.

I am so glad I did. I adored watching her play with the kittens and walk around the store looking at various animals they have there. We chatted like girlfriends and played and pet the kittens. I loved hearing her talk to the kittens, calling them when they hid under shelves. "Kittens, oh, kittens, where are you?"

She had a blast and I took about 200 photos. We stayed for an hour and bought nothing. I am sure the store hates me but we will be back and she and I can't wait.

Moral, take time to do the things you didn't think you would have time for. Take the detour, stop and smell the roses or in this case pet the kittens you never know what wonderful memories you will be making.

Tulips From Friends

Repost from Memories Through Photography 2009

The first picture is one that I took of a yellow tulip from D and used an effect called Lomoish. Personally I like the original but think the Lomoish is interesting and colorful.

Last week I had a play date with my son's friend L and his wonderful momma D. She is the ultimate guest. I seriously need to take some tips from her. She came over with a beautiful bouquet of tulips and some Valentine cookies. I never bring anything when I visit people. (UPDATE: they now live across the globe and we only talk through Facebook)

She is the sweetest and liked her from the first day I met her. She instantly makes me feel comfortable and I love how she views the world. She is one of those people everyone should have in their life. (she is still one of the sweetest)

I am fortunate to have so many wonderful friends in my life. They are all good and different. There is the friend you call when you need a shoulder, or one you laugh with, discuss life with, who is your best cheerleader? I live with someone who can make me feel so small with just his presence never mind his personality. Friends make you feel important and worthy. My friends make me feel like I matter. This is used be more of a problem for me. I needed to feel someone cared and someone thought that what I had to say is worthy of listening to. I don't NEED this as much as I used to. My current philosophy is...we are all the stars of our own reality, so there is no longer a NEED for someone to validate me. If I waited for my husband to do this I would be waiting a long time and the way things affect me is based on how I handle it. I no longer let people affect me in negative ways. My husband can't make me feel bad about something if I don't allow it. Period! (At 50 I still love my friends, my husband CANNOT make me feel bad, I am in control and in charge of myself. There is no one but me that can put me in a negative mood)

So, back to the beautiful flowers...how the hell did I get on a tangent about validation anyway???

Caged No More - A Movie About Sex Trafficking

Caged No More

This is a movie about sex trafficking and how rampant it is. The frightening fact is this is happening in our own backyards and sometimes the person involved is a trusted family member. 

Caged No More tastefully handles without going to far the uncomfortable, scary reality many young people,  boys and girls will experience and how they are groomed and lied to. It also shows the vulnerability and trust as they feel something is wrong but don't know how to fight against it or even consider this may be wrong because of the trusted family member.  

We follow the story of two sisters and "Aggie" a family friend/grandmother figure who is fighting to get the girls back from their father. She does what she can to get someone to listen and help her because of a promise she made to the girl's mother as she died in her arms. Although Aggie is not fully aware of the "real" danger they are in she moves Heaven and Hell to get to "her" girls.

This is a good jumping off point to talk to your children about more of the very real dangers they will need to protect themselves against in this world.  My kids are too young but I plan to talk to them age appropriately and watch this with them in a few years.

Macro Monday - So That Is A Split End

This is a shot of one of my daughters hairs. I used a Handheld Digital USB Microscope Endoscope Borescope 10-200X Magnifier HD Inspection Camera to get these shots, link below.

This is a few hairs including a split end.

My 50th Birthday Mai Tai

Saturday I celebrated my 50th Birthday at Mt. Fuji - My kids have never had Hibachi but enjoyed it very much. I seriously enjoyed my one drink (to keep the bill from hitting $200. Why is this place so expensive?)

My daughter loved the little parasol in the glass which I gave to her after I was done with my drink. I remember being excited when my parents came home with parasols for me and my sisters after going out.

No other Yellow pics from this day except this one with some yellow on the building.

Good, Random And Fun

The Good - 50! Saturday I turned 50 years old. I can't believe I am 50. Time flies. My mom died at 34 years old. She was so young. At 35 I was officially older than her but wow 50. It's funny because at 12 I thought for sure I would follow the path of my mom. Cancer still scares me but I don't live every day feeling as if I don't stand a chance of seeing my kids grow up. My mom's parents are 98 and soon to be 99 and while I am not sure if that kind of longevity will be bestowed on me I hope to be here for a long time.


The Random - My husband works two jobs and in the morning of my birthday told me he wanted to head out to get me a card...he had thought my kids would have made one for me but I told him not to bother. Not that I didn't want one but the fact that he had to go get one and have them write in it with me knowing that was what they were doing kind of put a damper on it. When I showed my daughter all the lovely, sweet comments on my Facebook page she decided to do something for me on Facebook and it was as nice as any card they could have got me. My husband was impressed and said, "awww, she made this? really good job honey." My girl will take care of me when she is older. It is one of my favorite photos of her and I.

The Fun -I used an app called to turn me into this...whatever it is. My daughter hates it but I love the way it came out.   Same photo as above just with make-up overlay. I am digging the hair color. Need to look into that.

My Baby Dressed Up For My 50th Birthday

My daughter is almost my height which isn't tall.  I am only 4'11" but an increase of 6 inches this year has allowed her to do some clothing reviews for me. This blue and white dress came in this week and on Saturday for our birthday linner/dinner (lunch & dinner) reservations she came out of her room all dressed up. I was thrilled. It was the polar opposite of how my son was dressed which was perfect and representative of their personalities.

She is so cute! This is a woman's size small but since it is China sizes it fits her nicely.

I didn't think she would love it when we were first asked to review but it looks so much better in person...they have it in red too!