Go Long! Barber Game Time Books by Tiki and Ronde Barber

The 411 by (14 year old son)

The boys enter their second year of Junior High ready for their second season playing for football team, Hidden Valley Eagles.

When their beloved coach needs to leave school the team is reluctant to accept the new coach, Sam Wheeler.  Tiki, knowing Mr. Wheeler because he had him as a science teacher the prior year is ready to give him a chance.   Coach Wheeler would do video sessions with the team which enabled them to see how other teams played which eventually helped them win and gain team acceptance. 

I think kids would like this book because it teaches them that you can still win even if you have a few loses. 

Pitching Tents A Coming Of Age Comedy Set In The 80s Is With A Watch

The 411: 

I didn't love it and I didn't hate it.As a child of the 70s. I loved the 80s and there were a few times I thought Awww, there was a few times I thought Ewww.

Danny doesn't want the dead end job his dad has lined up for him. He isn't sure he wants to go to college either.  We follow him and his friends as they Pitch some tents and head off for their last hurrah after high school graduation.  It takes a run in with a beautiful stranger to set him on his future course.

I am a fan of BooBoo Stewert (Twilight fan girl). I didn't recognize Jonathan Lipnicki! Jim Norton as a guidance counselor? Enough said
 
There is some nudity, there is some underage drinking, they DO smoke weed and there is some sexual instances BUT I didn't feel it was over the top.  It does feel like the 80s and if you find yourself with time on your hands, give it a whirl but not with the kids.

Red Zone (Barber Game Time Books) by Tiki and Ronde Barber

The 411 by my 14 year old son 

Tiki and Ronde and the team are ready for the playoffs. They have 3 or 4 games until they make the State Championship.  The guys are nervous that chicken pox will affect the team as it has been going around the school. The twins end up contracting chicken pox which side lines Tiki for a game. Fortunately both brothers play the State Championship and if they win this will be their second win!

This book was great because the boys played proud and they never gave up.

Kids will love this book because Tiki and Ronde make reading interesting, fun, and entertaining. I have been reading this series nonstop. I love Football and as the twin's mom says, "Play proud and never give up".

Wild Card Is Great For Reluctant Readers

The 411 by (14 year old son)

I loved this book.

Wild Card is about the Tiki and Ronde Barber having 5 games remaining in their second year of Junior High.

The team is having trouble after their kicker (Adam) ends up on probation for bad grades.
The Twins help Adam bring up his grades and get back on the team.

The book is great. I loved how the team showed determination to do great without their star kicker (Adam). This is their chance to make it to the playoffs and they will do whatever they can to prove they are the champions.

Wild Card will make you want to read the whole series.

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Children's Books Of The Week

I read these to my preschoolers this week and they loved them. It is never too early to read to your kids. My class is filled with kids 2-3 years old and they love being read to. Rainy days, a blanket and a clear voice is all these guys needed to sit and listen to three books meant for older kids.

The 411:

Billy Bloo Is Stuck In Goo was definitely a favorite this week. I must have read it at least 12 times. Billy gets himself good and stuck in some green goo substance.  Everyone tries to help but they all get stuck into the goo. The ending had the kids laughing hysterically as well as all the little quotes from the goo folks. Who had to use the loo? Who lost their pants?  It was really cute and I love doing voices for the kids when I read. I could hear them trying to read the story back to each other all week. The moral of the story? The book kept asking if the reader would help Billy, "would you?" My kids were smart enough to say no!

  

The 411:

I loved everything about this empowering book for girls. Princess Truly is an adorable child who wears her hair in fun, colorful ponytails and also wears a purple tutu. BUT, that is not all she is, in her imagination she can be anything. She is a rock star, a doctor, she likes frogs, and climbing trees. She is smart, studious and a high achiever. She is clever, curious and an engineer, etc. YES! YES! YES! Our girls can be anything and the more they believe they can they will achieve. Empowering book for girls and should be read as often as possible.

My New Favorite Place To Be And A Few Pieces of Repurposed Wood

This past weekend my husband decided to create something from some old pieces of wood that has been under the deck for the past 14 years. The wood used to be part of a bridge that went across our creek until a tree took it out. A new bridge was crafted and this wood just sat there until now.

My husband created the most beautiful planter and I am in love with how it turned out right down to the rope accent handles. It looks like a dresser sitting on the deck.

The beginning...

Prior to this project he created a table for the deck using the same old wood. I love when we can repurpose instead of tossing out.

He used a torch to burn the wood. My daughter and her friend got to try it out. 

Next he took some white paint and water and just kinda scrubbed it into the wood!

New life for old wood that was sitting under the deck, under dirt for as long as my son has been around.  We use it to eat and to use the laptop on the deck. We don't even remember what we did before it.

How to Create Fancy Smanchy Letters

The 411:

This book is so inspirational and gets me excited to try my hand at some fancy smanshy lettering.  The step by step tutorial is easy to follow and a great way to add your own flair to lettering. 

I love the art work and have just started following Olivia Kneibler on Pinterest

 

 

To Purchase: The Art of Drawing Dangles

It's My Momma

Mommy died when I was 12 years old. She is maybe 10-12 years old here. I am not sure if this is a school photo but it is possible. She went to a catholic school and I see a cross and what could be a uniform.

I love how sweet her face is with her blue eyes that I didn't get although I do have her hair.

Looking at this photo I wonder if this girl had big dreams for herself. I also wonder what they were. Did she think she would die at the age of 34 with three girls under the age of 12? It breaks my heart to know that her life was fast and I wonder what kind of relationship we would have had. I will never know but I am so happy to have found this photo in my grandmother's house. I have never seen it before.

3 Generations Review

The 411:

This movie is about a transgender (although the term is never used) boy named Ray who at 15 has decided now is the time to make the transition to boy.  Not an easy decision but even harder when you need the consent of your parents and mom is dragging her feet on signing and dad is not in the pictures.

I enjoyed the movie so much. It was well done and while I see some reviews talking about how late to the party this movie is and should have been released back in 2014 when it was made but I found it refreshing. I loved the heavy decision and sensitive subject balanced with the quirky, eccentric comedy of Ray's grandmother and grandma's girlfriend trying to wrap their feminist heads around the change. "Why can't she just be a lesbian?" Grandma's girlfriend fight against global female genital mutilation and feel this is a form of mutilation.

There were so many subtle points of the movie that I would imagine many transgenders would need to deal with such as bathrooms, crushes, wanting to get away from folks who remember you  when you were the sex you were born as, etc.  I loved the scenes when Ray visits her "dad" to get the signature on the forms. "Are you this way because of me?" "I am many things because of you but this is not one of them."

There were some emotional parts of the movie but nothing is too heavy and this family standing behind their child is what I pray for all transgenders.

The movie is rated PG-13.

Go Ahead and Play with HOOT for Kids - Customized Boxs For Little Ones That Focus On Occupational Therapy

The 411:

This is a great monthly subscription for kids from 0-6 that focuses on fine motor, gross motor, sensory, strength, oral motor, and visual perceptual.   Each box is unique and the items are selected based on your child’s age and developmental stage which is all based on a questionnaire you fill out when you start your subscription.

Each box costs $34.99 with the price going lower depending on how many months you subscribe for. If you go for a year long subscription it would cost $29.99 a month which also includes shipping.  You can even add additional toys, clothing, hats, socks and gifts to the Hoot Box from the Hoot Online Shop.

The Treasure Box comes with new toys and personalized activity cards containing tips for play and fun ideas to share with your child.

Our Box!

  

 

Haba Peekabo Zoo ($14.99) - Comes with thick painted wooden animals and houses for the animals. Such a great price for this adorable set. I would totally be proud to give this as a gift.

 

I love the idea of this. The toys were quality. I love that they are all wood and that you receive an activity sheet with each box.

Totaled up the items came up to $29.48 which is $5.51 less than the cost of the colorful box which is $34.99. They say shipping is included but the $5.51 would basically take care of that . Maybe a book or another toy would make up the difference. Because of this I give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars based on the price but the quality of the items brings it to a 4 out of 5.

My Grandfather and My Great Grandparents

This past Friday we headed over to my grandparents house. I was fortunate enough to find this photo of my grandfather and my great grandparents. I love everything about it including the frame. My grandfather was receiving his confirmation and his parents look as proud as he does. I keep looking at the smirk on my grandpa's face and his father's high chin.

Summer Is Coming; Keep Little Ones Busy With Peppa Pig from TCG Toys!

If your little one is a fan of the hit preschool series, Peppa Pig, then they’re going to “oink” with excitement about these irresistible products from TCG Toys!  The Peppa Pig Jumbo Mega Play Mat and Magnetic Wood Dress Up Puzzle have made their way into retail stores nationwide, including Toys R Us and Kmart, and are perfect for keeping little ones busy during the summer season – especially during rainy days (when you’re through jumping in muddy puddles, of course)! 

I work in preschool and there isn't a day that at least one student doesn't have Peppa Pig on in fact one little one wears all Peppa. Shirt, shoes, socks, hair clips, back pack, lunch box and more. She is simply adorable and I wish I had permission to post her playing with these two products because it was adorable.

PeppaPig Jumbo Mega Play Mat

Kids can laugh and snort with Peppa Pig and her little brother George as they ride around the neighborhood! Printed on over 5 feet of Eva foam, this full color Playmat lets users have a picnic in the park, make sandcastles on the beach or join Peppa's friends in the bouncy castle – they can do it all! SRP $29.99

The mat comes rolled up and wrap in plastic. Attached are two characters in cars. Peppa and George.

 

Getting it to unfold was difficult and I recommend placing a few toys on the corners until it straightens out. I used four large blocks and it was fine within 10 minutes. I have rolled and unrolled over 4 times in the past week and while it still rolls a bit we love that it is easy to store.
 

My class love playing with the cars and driving through the neighborhood. They talk about the characters and have even taken to using other cars on the mat which is important since I only have the 2 cars and 10 two year olds.  We have started using a timer because they all love it and all want to play so a 3 minute timer during "gym time" has been working with some but with others not so much.  Fortunately Toys R Us has some other Peppa Pig figurines and vehicles you could probably use with the mat.

The mat is quite comfortable and very colorful. It measures 5' x 3'.5" We love how easy it is to wipe down and we love how the kids ask for it every time we enter the room. 

Peppa Pig Magnetic Wood Dress Up Box Set

This Peppa Pig Magnetic Dress Up Kit is absolutely adorable and my preschoolers loved it. It comes with Peppa, a stand and 8 Tops, 13 Bottoms & 4 icons.

As a teacher and a parent I loved it.  Peppa is adorable, the clothes are outfits kids will remember from episodes of Peppa Pig. The items are thick enough that my 2-3 year old students can't bend them easily which means longer life. 

What we would change. We would love it if Peppa took up the whole character piece but realize when dressed she almost does. The magnets are for kids and we love that there are no small pieces but wish that they were a little stronger as they slip a little bit.

We also wish the wood case came with a cover or a plastic sheet to keep over it because we are afraid the kids will lose the pieces. We are keeping the whole thing in a plastic bin to keep it together.

 We think it is priced perfectly and we all highly recommend this.