A New Year's Reunion by Zhu Cheng-Liang-OPTIONAL

Cheng-Liang, Zhu.  Li-Qiong, Yu.  A New Year’s Reunion, 40 pgs.  Candlewick Press, 2011.  $15.99.  Inside cover:  “Maomao’s  father works far away and comes home only at Chinese New Year.  When Papa arrives, Maomao hardly recognizes him at first.  But before long, the family is making sticky rice balls, hearing firecrackers, and watching the dragon dance in the street.  Maomao loves doing ordinary things with Papa- getting a haircut, fixing things around the house, and sleeping tucked between her parents.  But all too soon it is time for Papa to go away again.”  This book explores the different celebrations surrounding Chinese New Year and is informative in that way.  We were sad while reading this story knowing that Maomao’s father would be leaving soon.  I am sure this is true of some families, but it wasn’t a very uplifting story. This book could be used in a unit celebrating Chinese New Year.  Pre-K.  EL (K-3).  OPTIONAL.  Reviewer: SL. 

Don’t Stop Now by Julie Halpern - OPTIONAL

Halpern, Julie  Don’t Stop Now, 232 pages.  Feiwel and Friends, 2011.$16.99 Language PG-13 (31 swears, no “F”); Mature content PG-13; Violence G.  Lil and Josh have been best friends since they were freshman in high school, but now that it’s the summer after graduation they don’t know how their relationship is going to change with Lil preparing to go to college and Josh dreaming up his latest plan for a musical band.  When their friend Penny stages her own kidnapping, Lil and Josh decide to go on a road trip to find Penny, and to have one last adventure before responsibility kicks in.  This book has likable characters, fun dialogue and a realistic ending, but it is not a must read.  HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson, teacher.

This Child, Every Child by David J. Smith - OPTIONAL

Smith, David J. This Child, Every Child, illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong.  Kids Can Press, 2011.  $19.  Following in the footsteps of “If the World was a Village”, Mr. Smith tries to present a overview of the lives of children around the world.  With each subject he gives an overview, and then he gives a more detailed look into the particulars of one child.  The book also reviews the Rights of Children, a document that was created by UNICEF at the United Nations.  This particulare book is a little unwieldy – I wish the format were more like “We Are All Born Free”, which goes over the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from the U.N.  EL – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

Black Friday and Reality

It is Black Friday.  Frank and I got up at 4 so that we could be at Lowe's when they opened at 5.  No big flat screen TV for us....nope...I am not camping out at Best Buy for ANYTHING!  But....Walmart had a printer (on sale at midnight) and the winner was Lowe's.  They had a table saw bargain we just could not pass up.  Frank needs it for his scroll saw work to rip his wood.  I loved getting up and enjoyed watching his face as we procured one of the five table saws this particular Lowes was given.  VICTORY is sweet.  We headed back to the beach house, fixed breakfast, I took some family pictures of Kat and Brian (they were leaving before breakfast)....and Linda and Victor (she did not want to ruin her shirt)....you see...my family (especially the women) tends to feed their chests when we eat. I call it, "Feeding the girls."  Frank always chuckles at me when I do it.  It has become a standing aside.  I am not the only one who does it...all of us girls have the same issue.  We are headed to Destin Commons in a few minutes to continue our Black Friday event.  Why you ask?  I am almost through with my Christmas shopping....I just love the initial start to the Holiday madness.  I love not having to buy anything....just people watch.  We did nothing but buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks and I had my very first ever whoopie pie. We went back to the beach house....we were gone 2 hours.  I made pictures of the rest of the gang and we head to Hobby Lobby and then home.  I hope your Black Friday is productive, I hope the rest of your weekend is wonderful, I hope you did not eat too much turkey so that you can make turkey sandwiches to enjoy, I hope you enjoy your guests....and I will see you on Saturday with another crazy story....of my crazy life....and my very special....one hundred percent, certifiably crazy and wonderful family and life.

How Did It Go?

Look!

Edible food!

We had Thanksgiving on Wednesday and I’m proud to say that everything turned out.

How was your Thanksgiving?

Do you go Black Friday shopping?

Tom and I were going to go to Wal-Mart. And then we remembered the site peopleofwalmart.com and realized what kind of patrons dwelled at the store and changed our minds.

I found some deals online, in the comfort of my home.

Still, I love to hear Black Friday stories. So if you have any, please tell me all about it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Natalie had to tell her teacher how to cook a turkey.

This is what she said:

I think she inherited my love of sparkly things....


Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving To All!

Happy Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I am safely ensconced in the Coach House at Rosemary Beach and this place is to die for.  It is for sale for a cool 1.5 mil.  Any takers out there.  Believe me if I win the lottery this weekend...this bad boy is mine.  As I promised threatened here is my story for this special day.  Thanksgivings in the past have always been done by my mom and my Aunt Shirley.  It was always held at my aunts and they did all the major cooking.  The daughters all did sides and there was more food than you could shake a stick at.  We could have fed the Valley with all the food....several days before the big day we were discussing the president of the AFL-CIO and his mysterious disappearance.....problem was....none of us could think of his name.....we all gathered in our prayer circle to bless the food at my aunts and my dad said, "Let us pray" when I blurted out...."Jimmy Hoffa!"  All 30 people in the circle looked at me as if I had two heads.  I was so embarrassed.  I looked around at all my family and apologized for interrupting the prayer  I explained the scenario of several days in the past....and we all got a good chuckle out of it.  Man I miss those days....this is our first Thanksgiving without my mom....or my aunt.  I miss them a lot....but we still have much to be thankful for even if this has been a bad year.  Amanda and I were talking earlier today and we decided on what we want for Christmas.  WE WANT ONE GOOD YEAR!  It has been so long since we had one....I don't know if I would recognize one if I saw it.  Hears hoping.  So, I hope this post finds you all healthy and happy and wrapped in the warmth of good friends and family.  Happy Thanksgiving to all from the shores of Rosemary Beach!
My Thanksgiving Day Recipe and Pintervention(I am a Pinterest addict and I have to actually do some of my pins...so here goes):

Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients and Directions:

8 oz of cream cheese(softened)

1 cup of peanut butter

Mix together well....

Slowly add to the mixture

1 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar

Mix well....then mix in 16 oz of cool whip.  Pour into two graham cracker pie crusts(I used an oreo and graham cracker(my SIL does not eat chocolate).  Garnish(optional) crushed nutter butters, crushed butterfingers, chocolate syrup drizzle.  It takes about 15 minutes to make, it can be frozen, it is to die for.