43 Days

Why do we expect to obtain an instant mellowed out state of mind with the summer season?  Our lazy summer days became busier than expected and are fading far too quickly.  My "to be accomplished" list tends to have more on it than I'll ever have time to accomplish.  Similar to "my eyes are bigger than my stomach" when it comes to delicious foods.  Everything seems to be bubbling out of my brain and swimming around in my head.  Summer break is not as relaxing as planned.  

The school free time with my boys was intended to be full of fun.  Except at times they decide not to cooperate.  I love my boys dearly and do enjoy extra time with them.  Yet, we deal with more sibling squabbles when school is not in session.  Any parent knows that won't bring you extra peace.

I'm focusing on the times when my boys do cooperate.  We've made some great memories so far and have more yet to come.  Some of the greatest accomplishments this summer involve encouraging my boys to continue reading, writing, and even doing some math.  I may constantly remind them to make their beds or pick up their toys, but I rarely have to fight to get them to pick up a book.

There is plenty left to be done before summer ends.  Time will continue to tick by.  My boys won't be princes of perfection.  Yet, I wouldn't trade these not-so-lazy summer days for anything.  Time with them is precious and before I know it, they'll be grown.

My days become my own in September.  I'll have more time to work on that to do list and I'll miss my boys immensely during the school hours.  Including today we have 43 days left of school break.  Forty-three days is enough time to create some unforgettable summer memories and I intend to do just that.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Mother Son Book Reviews: Double Dose of James Patterson

Outstanding O's Book Reviews

Middle School The Worst Years of My Life

by James Patterson & Christ Tebbetts

Illustrated by Laura Park

Rafe Khatchadorian is a normal kid in middle school with a fantastic story to tell.  In the book "Middle School," Rafe deals with Miller the Killer and problems with teachers.  He creates a game called Operation R.A.F.E. that is about breaking the rules.  My favorite part of the story is when he made a joke in his notebook about Miller the Killer Chicken.  The book is a chapter book with pictures that show a lot of expression.  I loved "Middle School" and would read it over and over again.  Rafe's story made me laugh so hard.  I recommend "Middle School" to every kid that loves James Patterson's books and Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Tag your it!  

Mom's review of the latest James Patterson novel for adults is next...

A CMOMProductions Book Review 

Now You See Her 

by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

If I could only use one word to describe this book, it would be INTENSE!  I did have some difficulty throughout this story.  Putting it down!  So as not to ruin the storyline, I'll be staying away from too many details.

Nina, the main character, has secrets that she can't share with anyone.  Not even her teenage daughter.  When the story begins, we briefly see today's Nina, a successful lawyer and mom, before diving into her past.  

A heart break during a college spring break ultimately leads Jeanine to marry a handsome police officer.  While sharing a relaxed Key West lifestyle, disaster strikes, a secret is revealed, and she must leave to save herself and her unborn child.  In doing so, Jeanine also changes her identity to become Nina Bloom.

Flash forward to present day Nina.  When presented with a pro-bono case through her law firm, she discovers an innocent man has been framed for murder.  To help him, she has to travel back to Key West,  risking the life she has built for herself and daughter.  

My mind was racing during this book.  As a mystery lover since childhood, it is not often easy to surprise me, but James Patterson pulled it off.  I did not see everything coming!  If you like suspense, mystery, and unsuspected twists, you will not be disappointed!  This story is fast paced and could easily translate into a great movie.  Don't miss out on Now You See Her.

I'm a fan of James Patterson and now my oldest son is too!  Other books I've read by Mr. Patterson are the 10 books in the Women's Murder Club series and Private.  He has many more books that I have yet to discover (of course they are on my to read list).  As a parent who believes in raising readers, I'm impressed by his Read Kiddo Read website (also on Facebook).  If you have kids, I encourage you to check it out!  Evidently Mr. Patterson is more than just a great author too.  He is cool enough to be a recurring guest on ABC's Castle.  How can I get in on those poker games? 

It was O's idea to do a double Mother/Son book review for my blog!  This was a fun experience to share, even if we were reading different books.  A"one for you, one for your child" double book release was a smart move by James Patterson, or his people.  O and I will watch for more opportunities like this one.  Don't be surprised to see my fellow eager reader (or maybe both of my boys) giving more reviews in the future.  We may even read the same kid friendly book and tell you what we think from a parent's & child's perspective.  Stay tuned!

Where Did Monday Go?

Taylor Swift Photo by C.  * October 2009 * Sweet Surprise

I admit it!  I forgot about Monday.  It didn't exist to me.  Today is already Thursday.  It's just been one of those weeks.   You know the kind, the "Wait! How did I get from Sunday to Thursday?" type.  My mother-in-law was visiting from out of state for a couple of days, so if that's not a good excuse I don't know what is.  I do have plans for a stampin' out the work week post tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Did I mention that my husband and father-in-law made our youngest son's whole year?  My husband snagged tickets to a local Taylor Swift concert this Summer!  While it had been previously known as a SOLD OUT show, a few tickets were recently released.  My youngest son had been devastated when we missed out on the pre-sales and official first round of tickets offered.  He was heartbroken that he wouldn't be able to see his absolute favorite singer/performer this Summer, so we kept this new ticket potential on the down low.  It's true that SuperDad snagged the tickets, but it is this year's wonderful birthday gift to all 4 of us from my father-in-law.  In M's book he is absolutely the BEST GRAMPA EVER!

Pinky And The Brain 2011

Pinky

 Wow!  It's been two weeks of non-stop go, go, go!  Not only did we finish out our school year and celebrate a birthday, but we tackled pink eye (back to back with both boys) and a head injury.  While M was hit with 2 pink eyes, O had an issue at school that resulted in a head injury.  These circumstances caused us to dub them "Pinky" and "The Brain."  During a recent trip to our local library, the boys found the nicknames even more entertaining after spotting a dvd collection of the tv cartoon.  Sadly, our "Brain" developed pink eye within a week of his younger brother and we couldn't determine if he was still considered The Brain or another Pinky.

We have found a little humor in the frustrating and scary moments of our past couple of weeks, but the initial impact we felt from the head injury was not in the least bit funny.  In fact, it was terrifying and upsetting.  When the truth of the matter came to light, we discovered it was not merely an accident.  Our son was purposely hurt by another classmate.  It's hard to believe that a child under the age of 10 would go out of their way to attack a peer (unprovoked).  Yet, it happens.

Believe it or not, my sons aren't averaged sized kids for their age.  With a pixie sized mom and a dad of average height, they don't exactly fall into the big & tall category.  This fact alone makes it easier to become a bully target.  My oldest son has had a tough time when he is sometimes teased for being vertically challenged.  I have had 32 years to own my shortness, but it's a whole different ballgame in elementary school... and even more so for a boy.  Last year he had a fabulous principal, Mr. F., who helped him through some of the inevitable taunting.  I'm grateful for the difference he made to my son.  As rough as his small size can be, it wasn't even a factor in the recent incident.

Being everyone's buddy is important to my kind hearted eldest son.  He generally treats everyone the way he would want to be treated.  With exceptions being made at times for his younger brother.  O enjoys playing sports, even if he's not a star athlete, with his friends.  His determination often amazes me.  When all of his buddies were playing football at school, he wanted to be a part of it.  SuperDad tossed the Nerf ball around with him, as he insisted on improving.  Eventually, he was catching some pretty good throws.  Imagine his excitement when he managed to snag a ball in front of his friends.  That's exactly what happened on the day of his not-so-accident take down.

The "friend" who had tossed the football came up to my son, full of excitement from the catch, and let him know that he hadn't intended for the ball to be caught by O.  He insisted that the ball was meant for another child.  Knowing my son well, I'm certain this hurt him immensely.  Yet he didn't have to time react to the words before his legs were grabbed and he was flipped over, landing on his forehead.  With no adults in viewing range, he tried his best to get up and shake off his embarrassment.  Little did he realize that he'd be dealing with the physical effects approximately 45 minutes later.  His teacher was informed that he had been hurt, but didn't know the entire circumstances at the time.  O wasn't looking to get anyone into trouble.

The Brain

When I picked my son up from school, I noticed he was acting a little unusual.  As we walked out the doors, I asked if something had happened that day.  That's when he grabbed his forehead, in tears, and told me he "got flipped" at recess.  After our 5 minute drive home, he proceeded to run to the bathroom and throw up.  A phone call was placed to our family doctor and I waited and watched my son until his dad came home a short time later.  Before long, it was clear that we would be heading to the emergency room.  The vomiting continued and my normally talkative and energetic son was struggling to stay awake and not responding in conversations that would normally have him full of excitement.  My husband took on his former racing persona as we headed to the hospital.  Our fears were well hidden as we continued to do everything possible to keep our O man awake.  During this time, I posted to Facebook from my phone and placed some calm phone calls to grandparents.  We were not without prayers during this time and for that we are truly grateful.  THANK YOU to all who were praying for us, especially O.


As our silent prayers continued, we went through the ER routine of checking in and waiting our turn to be seen.  A CT scan was ordered and completed, and O was monitored for some time.  His vomiting stopped (thankfully) sometime during the hospital visit.  With the diagnosis of a mild concussion, we were cleared to head home.  We left with instructions to return if the vomiting came back or other signs presented themselves.  I took on the job of monitoring O through the sleepless night, by waking him every 2 hours and being certain he responded.  The following day consisted of more watchfulness before allowing him to return to school the day after that.  During this time is when I discovered the full story of what I assumed was a "got too rough" recess football injury.


I spoke with my son's teacher after finding out the rest of the story.  She made sure that the incident was handled at school.  No matter where you go, you'll always find bullies.  Having people around that care enough to work toward dealing with and preventing future incidents is important. 

The Brain's new gear for school.  

Realizing that not everyone is going to be a true friend is a difficult lesson.  When you are kind to others, you don't always stop to think that someone else might not have the same intentions.  While my son learned a valuable lesson, it hasn't stop him from being a friend.  As a mom, I want him to be more guarded, but also wish he didn't have to be.

How do you help your child through situations such as bullying?  Have you found any ways to help your child avoid bullies?  Has your child ever been bullied or been a bully?  What do you feel we can do, as adults, to make a difference?

**FRIDAY:  Watch for a "Stampin' Out The Work Week" post all about teacher gifts!**

Two Weeks Later...

Without notice, I took a 2 week blog break.  My loyal blog followers (that would be y'all reading these words) are considered friends or family.  Nobody shouted "HEY! Where did you go?"  The world didn't end, although some felt it was destined to happen this past weekend.  Life went on.

Over this short break, I focused on my family and kept active with various happenings in our lives.  Thinking about the time spent away from blog land, the words "when I last left you..." and "two weeks later..." popped into my head.  It made me smile and chuckle to myself, as I conjured up comic book style visions.  

A single moment can change a life forever, so 2 weeks can surely bring on changes.  What changed for me during the past 2 weeks?  Let me put it this way...

Two weeks later...

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's Day arrived on May 8th, and on May 10th I became another year older.  My wonderful husband (and boys) picked out a priceless gift... floating paper lanterns!  If you haven't watched the movie Tangled, you'll need to see it to fully understand why this is such a beautiful & thoughtful gift.  Rain was expected, so my husband presented me with the lanterns and I get to choose the date and location to set them off.  I've been caught singing "I See The Light" with a smile on my face since we saw the movie, but the smile is a little bigger now.

My absolute favorite show, Smallville, went out with a super series finale.  I'll admit it, I'm a complete sappy nerd.  I cried.  As a fan from the very beginning (10 years ago), it was bittersweet to watch, but it was brilliantly done.  The creators, cast, and all those involved with Smallville have my admiration.  I hope the cast & crew find success in whatever they take on next.  Thank goodness I can watch them together on dvd, because I'll miss seeing their on screen talent & chemistry all in the same place.  I'd list my favorite actors/actresses from the show, but it would end up being a cast list.  They all brought their individual WOW factor to each character.  Did I mention I'm going to miss this show?

During my hiatus I once again realized that we are in warp speed.  At times I feel so rushed and it's difficult to give 100% to everything.  My hopes & dreams tend to sit on the back burner more often than I care to admit.  Ultimately though, being the best mom I can be right now means so much more.  Taking the time to just be near my husband, even if I'm reading and he's working on a project, is more important than accomplishing something the world finds amazing.  At the same time, remembering that I set goals for a reason and doing what I love is a part of who I am.  The pressure of perfection cannot overtake simple joys.

Nothing life changing occurred, but I enjoyed the chance to just breathe with one less "to do" item on my list.  

Do you love it when you get a glimpse at beloved characters "two weeks later," or years later, when a movie, tv show, or story ends?  Do you put your own spin on things and use your imagination when no "what happens next" turns up?  If a sequel comes out later, do you most often feel disappointed or excited by the portrayals?  

Check Out Sara Bareilles song, "Breathe Again," that was used in the Smallville finale!  

One of my favorites... the song and the artist!

Thoughts For Today

Today I remember those we have lost in this war... and why it all began.  I'm very proud of our military.  My heart & prayers are with them and their families.  Thank you for your many sacrifices.  Today we feel some justice has been served for those lost in the 9/11 attacks and since that horrible day.   Even with the heartbreak of losing a friend in this war, I'm not celebrating.  Am I glad this terrorist is no longer hurting innocent people?  Yes, I am relieved.  Yet I think about one thing.  When we lost our loved ones, they cheered & celebrated.  It makes me sick to think of them celebrating our loved ones deaths.

No matter how innocent or evil, is it okay to celebrate a death?

I'll leave you with a powerful quote that has been floating around Facebook this evening...

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
-- Full Quote from Unknown Source, portions taken from MLK's "Where Do We Go From Here" speech.

Quote-able Monday

“My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet.”

~Gandhi