WTF?!

So I thought my biggest problem with outside potty issues was trying to convince my son that it is NOT okay to pee outside.

Who knew that my daughter would think it was okay to do the OTHER thing outside.

There are just times in your life when you realize that maybe you do need to explain e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.... no matter how absurd (or obvious) you think a subject might be. Oy!

Summer Reading Update #2

Well, we're down to the wire now...we only have another 9 days left to finish all of our reading. I'm done (I'm on my 3rd sheet now) but the kids have one visit left to go. We went this evening and picked up 10 more books for My Girl (we read TO her) and My Boy picked out a few more too. He's done pretty good - he has to read 200 pages each time and he's been doing it (with our help sometimes).

So as long as we get back there with our completed forms by July 31st, we're golden. And I think I mentioned this before, if we all wear our t-shirts into the library before the end of August, they'll give us a $30 movie gift certificate (woo hoo!). And of course, that's what the kids have been looking forward to (nevermind the free t-shirt too!).

I've been reading variety of books...and because I haven't been blogging I don't have the list to share. But I can tell ya I FINALLY finished the very short High Heels series I started last year. Just love Gemma Halliday's High Heels series!! It's about a shoe designer that keeps getting caught up in a murder mystery...all the while lusting after her hot Hispanic boyfriend Jack Ramirez and being tempted by the Brit tabloid report Felix Dunn. To check out the series, visit Gemma's website.

I'm happy to hear that Felix has his own series starting called Hollywood Headlines. I'll be happy to start reading this series very soon too.

I've also been enjoying books written by Mary Kay Andrews. I was smitten with the first book I read (Deep Dish). The next one (Hissy Fit) moved a little slower for me, but it was also enjoyable. Now I'm reading Savannah Breeze which is a sequel to Savannah Blues, but that one wasn't at the library so I didn't get to read it first. Apparently I forgot to read the jacket on Breeze because I was shocked (kinda) when the heroine got taken to the cleaners by a rouge beau. Now I'm eager to get through the book to find out if they catch him!

I have noticed a theme in most of the books I've been reading lately...they all seem to have a cantankerous old lady in them - I guess they bring a little comic relief to the stories. I thought it was just an Evanovich thing...but it seems to be in all the books I've been reading this summer!

At any rate - really enjoying all the reading I've been doing...just wish I had more time!

Summer Reading Update

Well, this summer is proving more difficult for My Boy this year. He has to read 2 books totally 200 pages for each session. We went into this with excitement, but he's been pretty distracted by summer camp and his reading has slowed down quite a bit. He chose Diary of a Wimpy Kid (200 pages on it's own) and he hasn't finished it yet.

My Girl is doing pretty good, she's about halfway through her books (of course, she only has to have someone read TO her, so that's quite a bit easier).

Me, well I've been plowing through and have read 4 so far (the goal is 5 for each visit). Here's what I've read:

1. Hot Stuff, by Janet Evanovich & Leanne Banks
2. Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich (a between the numbers novel)
3. The Grand Finale by Janet Evanovich
4. Rocky Road to Romance by Janet Evanovich
5. Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews (just started this one yesterday)

Hmm, apparentlyI have a slight addiction to Janet Evanovich, LOL.

I do enjoy her old romance novels, but they're just not the same as the Stephanie Plum series. I was desperate to quickly pick another one (that's how I ended up w/ #5) but next time I'll do some more research before I go to the library to see if I can find something more mystery/romance (hey, it's no fun unless there's a hot guy in there!).

Time for the Summer Reading Program!!

We love the Palatine Library's Summer Reading Program. I think in the beginning (for My Boy) it was all about the free T-Shirt at the end. Then last year it became more about the challenge of completing the form (because the year before that it was me reading to him & last year was his first year to be on his own). This year is different. Don't get me wrong, it's still about the T-Shirt and completing the form - but this time it's also about enjoying the books.

I had honestly started to think My Boy was never going to get into reading. But just suddenly he's decided to read for entertainment. He actually voluntarily decided to read INSTEAD of watch TV! I could NOT believe it. I'm still in shock!

We signed up for the library's Summer Reading Program last night and he is so jazzed to get through his first 200 pages (he has to read 2 books totalling 200 pages for each of the 4 visits before the end of July).

My Girl is also doing it again - she's still in the "read to me" group and so we have to read 10 books for each visit. My Boy has even volunteered to read to her too!

This is my second year to sign up. I got bit by the reading bug last year and didn't think I'd be able to read 5 books (the entire requirement for adults) but instead read 15 before the end of the summer! (adults have until the end of August).

So we stocked up on our books yesterday and I'm already almost done with my first book. I was bummed to learn that I've completed the Stephanie Plum series (I'm waiting for book 15 to come out this month). So now I'll have to find a new heroine to read about. If you have any suggestions - please let me know! I'm really into the romantic comedy/mysteries. If it can make me laugh out loud, has a mystery to solve and a hot guy in it - I'm there!

I also love love F Paul Wilson - I am desperately waiting for the 13th Repairman Jack novel to come out (due out this October). I would LOVE to find a copy of The Touch - can't find it anywhere (but online, but I'm a brick & mortar kind of girl!). I'm trying to read the Adversary Cycle in order (already read The Keep & Rakoshi, back when it was called The Tomb). May just need to re-read some of the RJ books before October - I felt out-of-touch when I read By The Sword last fall.

So is it weird that I now associate summer with reading? I love reading season! ;o)

Movie Review: Meet Dave

Being home sick has its advantages...so does having an 8 yr old that can run into the library on his own to rent/borrow movies! While My Girl and I sat outside, My Boy ran in to pick up some movies for us to watch today. I know, I know, it's a nice day & they should be outside...but they just got a bunch of legos for a gift so I can't get them to stay out there! Anyway, I digress....

So one of the movies My Boy picked out (on his own) was Meet Dave. It's rated PG and Movie Mom gives it a C- rating. I like the Movie Mom site because I can check out movies to see if they're kid-appropriate before we rent them.

Anyway, she gave it an "okay" review...but mine (albeit more brief) will be different.

We were laughing outloud from the start. There were many funny bits (how could there not be with Eddie Murphy!). There were quite a few moments of potty humor (how they "made" money, butt-referencing names, etc.)

And with most "family" movies, there is a moral to the story. Some movies just hint at a moral and some spell it out. Dave spells it out at the end: it's okay to be different and take pride in your differences.

So I do recommend this movie when you are stuck at home with the kids. It's a laugh out loud fun movie and very enjoyable for me, My Boy (8 yrs) and My Girl (5 yrs).

Movies

As I was getting ready to write a movie review, I realized that some people that read this blog (I know, no one actually reads my blog, but just in case) might not agree with the movies I let my kids watch. So I thought I'd better first say something about our choice in movies.

Our kids tend to see movies that are probably a bit more advanced than the ratings suggest, but at the same time, we're not the kind of parents that take our kids to rated R movies either. As a matter of fact, I deplore hearing stories about parents that take their kids, or rent movies for their kids that are rated R or worse (ie: horror movies, bloody gore action movies). Don't get me wrong, I love Quinten Tarentino, but it's not kid/family appropriate viewing.

But yes, they watch action fliks (ie: James Bond, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Batman, etc.) and sometimes they are rated PG-13. Sometimes I cringe at some parts, but most of the time, anything that they see that is even close to innapropriate goes right over their head.

So IF you are reading this post AND you feel the need to post a comment that is in any way critical of my parenting abilities because I let my kids watch a movie that is rated over G, let me first say, feel free to say whatever you like. I can always delete your comments if they get nasty and judgemental and I don't want to have them connected to my post. Now if you want to leave a comment that disagrees with me but you are diplomatic and polite, I may decide to leave your comments posted. Because as long as you're nice and respectful, I can be too. But be nasty and act like a booger, then I'll flik you away without another thought (just like a booger). :oP

Who is THAT dude?

So I wasn't that crazy of last year's (or was it the last two years?) Six Flags marketing campaign of "More Flags, More Fun". I way preferred the old guy dancing. He really cracked me up.

So guess what, he's back! But "who" is that guy?? That is NOT the same guy! AND he's saying the "More Flags, More Fun" slogan. Turns out the guy's name is Mr. Six - but I'd like to know - where is the real Mr. Six??

Can't anyone get more creative??