Linking up networked blogs!

Hope it works.
Trying to be more 'linked up'.

Kids Can Be Lawyers?

Mentor Mommy S, the kids, and I headed off to Grandma L's house this weekend. We parked ourselves in the back yard, underneath the giant trees, in the hammocks and lounge chairs with water by our sides. We all took out our books. Cousin M came running out of his house to the back where we were with his book in hand. He is reading, Theodroe Boone: Kid Lawyer By John Grisham.

Cousin M, who is a 4th grader and a big fan of Harry Potter, loves it! Says that, "It's the best book he has read in awhile!"

Looking for a great book because the kids you know have read everything? This sounds like a fun one! Don't miss it!

A New Series to Read

My friend Writer A, has come out with a new series for kids to read! It is about a little girl who loves office supplies and is ready for her first career! If you are looking for a new series book for your 7-10 years old, this will be a great one!

Enjoy the read!

Getting Ready for Baby #2

I have a bunch of friends who this spring will have Baby Number 2. I am baby number 2 in my family and I know that families spend a lot of time wondering about us. Will we sleep as much much as baby #1? Will we fuss and cry more? What about eating? I can tell you this for sure- being baby 2 and watching countless friends have more than 1 baby- you can bet that the baby will be different and their own person. Not necessarily for the better or the worse, just different!

Little Mai-Mai will soon have a new baby this spring ( we don’t know if it is a boy or girl). We are all preparing her with, 'Big Sister' helpful tips and thinking about ways that she can help out. Often when I give a baby gift I give a gift to both kids. Little Mai-Mai is 2, on her way to 3!. So to see her new sibling, showered with attention and gifts seems really hard to understand, unless she too is celebrated in this new family event.

As the number 2 baby, I am also quite sensitive that number 2 receives some things that feel special and unique for them. 'Hand me downs', from one family to the next, can be given in such a way that can be beautiful and feel new. It is true that they are babies and they don’t know the difference. But just the thought of special present for the baby, that wasn't once the older siblings, will feel special.

Having some new books- a fresh connection to people – something that will bond you and the baby together is also a nice and important statement to make- and to continue making.

When Little Sister L was born- Little Boy J got a couple of new books from me and I gave to LSL, Won't You Be My Kissaroo and Won't You Be My Hugaroo.

LBJ read many of the books alongside Mentor Mommy S and LSL. Bonding over a LSL’s new books. Not so bad having a new girl or boy in the family.

Musical Theater

I think I have posted before about my family's long car trips from Michigan to the Atlantic Ocean. year after year, we would pile into the jeep and head east for some ocean beach and fun. For the two day road trip my mom packed up little goodie bags, treats, books, and gigantic tape cassette box that held hundreds (might be a slight exaggeration) of our favorite tapes. Of course we had my mom's favorites, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, and John Denver. We also had my dad's, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte. There was always plenty of classical tapes and there were musicals. Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Annie, A Chorus Line and the list goes on. I think the show tunes were always our favorites. At least I think we sang them the loudest.

Well, last summer, Baby C watched his first musical on DVD with his cousins, the Sound of Music. It was an immediate favorite and has become a cornerstone in many conversations in their household. This past December, my nephew watch Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, starring Donnie Osmond, with his friend 8 year old J from North Carolina. They watched it over and over again. Singing and dancing together. They would even perform little shows for the moms to watch. Go, Go, Go Joseph! Was the talk and 'shout' of the town. Everything was about Joseph. My nephew ate it up!

Musical theater! Toddlers love it! Great visual literacy at work! Enjoy the watch! Enjoy the read!