Sunday, June 29, 2014

Killer Frost - Jennifer Estep

I've been enjoying the
Mythos Academy series
for some time now.
I almost forgot it was a series
that would eventually end.
I was all excited
to continue reading about 
Gwen, Logan and everyone at 
Mythos Academy
that it wasn't until I was about
half way through
that I realised
Killer Frost
was the end.

This is the final battle with the Reapers.
Loki is determined to come back to life
and Gwen knows the only way to stop him
is to kill him.
But how do you kill a God?
What do all of Nike's riddles mean?
Is Gwen strong enough to be Nike's champion?

While I'm sad to see this series end,
I have to admit I enjoyed this one.
It ended on a high note.
It wasn't a series that dragged on
leaving you waiting for the end.

If you like YA
and Greek mythology,
this is a great series for you.




Thursday, June 26, 2014

Writer's Workshop - Summer

So June 21st,
was the official first day of summer. 
Also known as Summer Solstice.
And this year,
we were in Seattle.

There were many things happening
in Seattle on this day.

There was the Rock and Roll marathon.

I hear the Summer Solstice parade
in Freemont is quite the site,

But our first day of summer,
had an excitement of it's own.

June 21st marked my graduation day!

Woohoo!!!

For the last 2 years,
I have been working full time,
being a mom
and a student.

And it finally paid off.

On Saturday, 
I graduated with my 
Masters of Education
in Reading and Literacy.

It was truly a day
all about me!!!!




Friday, June 20, 2014

The Wishing Spell - Chris Colfer

I'm not sure how I found this book.
I think a few summers ago,
Ethan and I were watching TV
and Chris Colfer
(yes the guy from Glee)
was on some show and he mentioned 
he wrote a book.

I decided to buy it.
Then never read it.
Until now.

And I'm wondering why I waited so long.

This is a lovely book.
For anyone who loves fairy tales,
you'll love this.
And if you don't love fairy tales,
after reading this
you'll want to check out some fairy tales.

Connor and Alex are twins.
Before their 11th birthday,
their father dies.
This past year has been rough on them.
They remember the stories he use to tell them.
He loved fairy tales.

Right before their 12th birthday,
their grandmother gives them her book
The Land of Stories.
Suddenly Connor and Alex find themselves
in the book!

To get out, 
and return home,
they learn about the wishing spell.
But in order to get the spell
they need to collect 
a number of magical items.

And so this scavenger hunt begins.

Along the way,
they meet
Snow White,
Cinderella,
and Sleeping Beauty.
They learn that Jack (Jack and the Beanstalk) is sad
as he's lost his love.
Goldilocks is a fugitive on the run.
Little Red Riding Hood isn't as sweet
as we thought she was.
Oh, and the evil Queen
from Snow White,
well she's escaped from her prison!

There's no way you cannot love this book!



Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Phoenix - Dawn Rae Miller

Well... the end has come.
Phoenix is the last in 
The Sensitives trilogy.
I'll admit,
I was nervous.
I have loved the last two books
and was very sad it see it come to an end.
Mainly,
I was terrified I'd be disappointed.
Don't get me wrong,
Dawn Rae Miller 
has never disappointed.
However,
the last few trilogies I've read
have left me feeling disappointed.

This one did not!

Phoenix answers all your questions.
And it does so,
beautifully.
You know someone close to Lark
is responsible for her mother's death
and the attacks on her.
And I had to read it very slowly.
These are characters I love.
What if Beck, Ryker, or Kyra was behind all this?
Could I handle it?
And Annalise,
well, I started not liking her,
but then liked her.
What if she were behind it all?
Could I go back to disliking her?

Not to worry.
The way it's written makes the shock
less hurtful.
You feel betrayed,
but understand it.

And the ending,
well,
it's perfect.

So,
if you're one of those people 
that have yet to read this trilogy
well, 
what are you waiting for?
Head over here
and get started!



Father's Day Interview

PA few years ago,
I started a new Father's Day tradition.
It's the interview with Ethan.
He answers a series of questions
about his dad. 
It's cool to see which answers have changed
and which have not. 
You can see last year's responses
here

What is something Daddy always says to you?
"Listen!"

What makes Daddy happy?
When I listen to him. 
(maybe that's why he keeps asking you to!)

What makes him sad?
When I don't listen to him.
(Shocker!)

What does he do that makes you laugh?
Sometimes he makes funny faces at me.

What was he like as a child?
He was nice. 
(Last year he was smart - I guess he's no longer smart!)

How old is Daddy?
He's forty...no...
I don't know. 
(He didn't know last year either!)

How tall is he?
I'm just guessing.... 
26 feet?
(a shorter giraffe than last year)

What is his favourite thing to do?
Watch Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
(I'd have to agree with that!)

What does he do when you're not around?
He works!
(same answer last year)

If Daddy was famous, what would it be for?
Playing football, because he's good at football.

What is he really good at?
Playing football!

What is he not really good at?
I have no idea.
He's good at everything.
(must mean he now knows how to play UNO!)

What does he do for his job?
He sends trucks to places.

What is Daddy's favourite food?
That's actually a hard one.
I think it's pizza.

What makes you proud of him?
That he does work for us. 

If Daddy were a cartoon character, who would he be?
Jerry.
From Tom and Jerry.
(so he's a mouse?
that's as tall as a giraffe!)

What do you and Daddy do together?
That's a hard one.
Oh, we play football.
And swim.
Yeah, swim!

How are you and Daddy the same?
We both like pizza!

How are you different?
Ummmm.... 
he's taller than me.

How do you know he loves you?
He always races me up the stairs.

Where is Daddy's favourite place to go?
News Cafe.
Just guessing.

I wish you a Happy Father's Day!
I love you. 



Add caption

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Writer's Workshop - Laugh

What was the last thing that made you laugh?

My darling son
has a fantastic sense of humour. 
He makes me laugh everyday.
Even when he frustrates me,
he does it with humour.

My darling son,
also believes he can dance. 
Yes,
I say he believes he can.

For Ethan's end-of-the-year
class party,
it was decided they would have a
little talent show;
2A's Got Talent.
For three weeks,
Ethan and two mates 
practiced a little dance.
Then one mate
dropped out.
Then the day of the party,
the second mate was sick.
But that didn't stop my boy.
Oh no!

Ethan's dance,
and I use that word loosely,
will brighten anyone's day.

So if you're in need of a good laugh,
please have a look.






Wednesday, June 11, 2014

The Friends I've Never Met

When I was pregnant with Ethan,
a friend of mine introduced me to 
She told me how they had these birth groups
according to when you were due.
Ethan was due in July 2006,
so I joined that board.

For the longest time,
I lurked.
Most of the women here lived in the US
or Canada.
I did not.
But it was great to read 
what they had to say.
Many had concerns and questions 
like me.

I then noticed a separate tread,
for women due the 1st week of July.
Ethan was due on the 8th. 
That counted,
right?

As the months went by,
I grew to really like this group of women.
But were they my friends?

On July 2nd, 
my water broke at 9am.
Most women would call
the hospital 
or their best friend.
I went online. 
Within 5 minutes
I had 10 responses
all telling me to get my behind off the computer
and call the hospital.

Only a friend would be so blunt!

Even after Ethan was born,
I would go to Babycenter
to read every one's birth stories.
We would share baby woes.
Milestones.
Scares.
Achievements.

Then Facebook came along.
And we moved there.
We sent Christmas presents
and birthday gifts.

I use to call them 
the girl from Babycenter.
Then they became 
a "July mama"
or "Seed mama".
Then they earned a name
with their city behind it
(Sarah from Chicago).
But now..
I just refer to them by their names.

This must mean we're friends
right?

Granted,
I'll probably never meet them
in real life.
But no one can tell me
my internet friends
aren't real friends.

They have been there
for the good,
the bad
and the ugly.

Each time I move
they are still there.
They never promise to keep in touch,
but then we loose touch with each other
(and I'm not knocking those friends
I've lost touch with).

Somewhere along the way,
it was decided by who-knows-who
that online friends aren't real.
But these mamas
disprove this.

Even with my Masters,
I've had great online chats with some cohorts.

I'm giddy with excitement
to be able to meet at least one of them
this summer.
She went from being a cohort
to a friend.
A friendship I'm confident
will continue 
even after graduation.

So to the friends I've never met.
Thank you for being such great mates.
I love you all.

MWA