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Tuesday Tales – Closing out the 2012 Summer Reading Program

Posted on August 21, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

The summer of 2012 has been a fantastic summer of reading. Not only have I read some great new books for myself, but the boys have kept the love of learning and reading about things alive. TechyDad has been reading the Harry Potter series with NHL. Right now, they are in the middle of the third book. My fourth grader (yikes), has read many other books, magazines, and items on his own and to his little brother.

JSL and I started the Magic Tree House books at the end of May. Once he finished school, we really got into the series. Over the months, we have sailed on from book 1 of the series to starting 37. We have traveled with Jack and Annie all over the world, in many different time periods, and even gone into the world of Camelot. As you can see in the photo below, we have more books to read before kindergarten begins after Labor Day. We may catch up to where Mary Pope Osborne has written. The latest book release is A Perfect Time for Pandas #48.

When the summer reading program opened at our library, we signed up online. It was quick and easy to log in, record the titles of the books, and minutes the boys had read. Of course, the reality is that the kids read more than we managed to log. Still, they managed to have a lot of reading for the program which just ended over the weekend. Check out the stats:

I know the reading amounts at home will decrease as the boys head back to school, but I will cherish the memories that we have this summer.

With some more time until the official end of summer, do you have any reading plans? I would love to know how your summer reading tuned out. What books are you reading right now? I would love to know. Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Categories:
books Educational jsl nhl photos summer Tuesday Tales

Hagrid’s Hut LEGO Construction

Posted on August 20, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

For months now NHL, has wanted to add to his Harry Potter LEGO world. Finding these items locally has been a bit tricky since the popularity has declined a bit with the completion of the movie series. Of course, you can still locate them if you know where. Truth be told, NHL was more interested in the Harry Potter mini figures. To get those at a reasonable cost (not on eBay), you had to get the sets. His favorite character aside from Harry Potter has always been Hermione Granger.

In the sets that are currently available to purchase in retail stores, Hermione is only found in two of them. She is in the GIANT LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle set that retails for $129.99. He will continue to dream about that one. She is also in another great set that includes Hagrid, Harry, Ron, and some other fun friends. Yes, the LEGO Harry Potter Hagrid’s Hut set looked like a great possibility to allow him to have some fun new figures and test out building something with instructions.

On his birthday, we went to have cake with Nana and Papa. Before we had The Cake Boss creation, NHL opened up his birthday surprise. Check out his reaction as he realized what was inside.

Parts of the weekend have been spent constructing Hagrid’s Hut so NHL can use them to play. The camera has been out to document the progress (more on that later from TechyDad), but I have a little sneak peek.

TechyDad and NHL have been spending a lot of time following the step-by-step directions to make this part of Harry Potter come alive.

This means the summer of Harry Potter continues in our house and probably will for a few more week – or possibly longer.

Are you a fan of Harry Potter LEGO sets or others? Which are your favorite to build?

Disclosure: Two Amazon affiliate link are included and, should you purchase the LEGO sets mentioned, I will receive a small percentage from the sale. As always, all opinions are my own.

Categories:
birthday books family fun Movies nhl photos play time TechyDad

An Italian Style 9th Birthday

Posted on August 18, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL,

I do believe that your ninth birthday was a success. We managed to surprise you with all of your presents. I genuinely think we did a great job getting items that you wanted and were into. We spent the day at home testing out your new goodies (which I will write more about later). Then, it was time to figure out where we would go for your birthday celebration.

At first, you were said you wanted to go to The Cheesecake Factory, but get cheesecake at another location to celebrate with Nana and Papa after. Then, we listed some other possibilities. Once we were able to get you away from the Dunkin Donuts idea (not sure where that came from), you said you wanted to head to Buca di Beppo for the second year in a row. We had a great meal.

Then, it was time to head to get a quick birthday cake. Since we were not close to a grocery store, we went to BJ’s Wholesale Club to look for a cheesecake. On the way over to the cheesecake area, something caught my eye.

You kept right past it, but had looked at them briefly. Then, you decided you wanted a marble cake more than a cheesecake. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any of those that were not monster size. So you asked to go back to the other display. When we read the cake description, you were sold.

It’s My Party: Moist yellow and velvety chocolate cake layers are married together by an indulgent fudge filling.

Of course, there was also the fun design on the outside. Before we knew it, the cake was heading to the cash register to go to Nana and Papa’s house with us. We realized we forgot candles, but we improvised. Thank goodness there is an app on the phone for that.

The cake was really delicious and everyone enjoyed your selection. It was a relaxing and fun day to celebrate you turning nine years old. Now, I look forward to watching how the next year goes.

Love,

Categories:
birthday Dear Kid Saturday decisions family food glorious food fun nhl Phone Apps photos yummy

Ninth Birthday Wishes for my Big Kid

Posted on August 17, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL,

Nine years ago seems like such a long time, but it really does feel like you were just born. Thanks to you coming into the world, my life became even better than I imagined.

Your sweet little face melted my heart. That day I understood what everyone said about being willing to fight to the end for your child. There is nothing in this world that I wouldn’t do to help you to be happy and make your dreams come true. This year, you have taught me so much about so many things. You will have to trust me that one day you will understand this more.

Now, let’s continue with our tradition of looking back at the last year. Your eighth year was filled with a lot of things and I want to highlight some of them here.

After your birthday, you were supposed to head to spend time with Bubbe and Grandpa while Daddy and I went to Disney World for our anniversary. Instead, our plans changed thanks to your first experience with a hurricane heading up to our parts. We also spent the end of the month enjoying time relaxing before you went back to school. (August 2011)

The start of third grade was your first full year in the new school. You were excited to see how this would be and I loved that you were so enthusiastic. We also took advantage of the warmer fall weather and went to Hoffman’s Playland one last time before it closed down for the season. (September 2011)

Halloween may not have been the biggest item in October. That was the month that you started to play band. With the help of your amazing band teacher, you selected percussions and before we knew it you loved practicing and showing us all that you had learned. (October 2011)

A lot of November was spent with family. Bubbe and Grandpa came to visit and we did fun items with them. Cousin A’s Aufruf also took up a weekend with extended family from Papa’s side. Then we had a quiet Thanksgiving with Nana and Papa. It was a great month with many memories. (November 2011)

Muppets and Smurfs were part of our world for much of the month with the movies, fun items, and Build-A-Bear. We also spent time getting ready for Chanukah. Thanks to a new drawing book, we figured out that you were a fan of creating character sketches like they do at Disney Hollywood Studios. (December 2011)

The new year and winter brought cold weather, but hardly any snow. Thanks to this, we spent a lot of time inside reading, playing games, doing homework, and getting used to the bunk beds that arrived for the start of 2012. (January 2012)

As the winter continued on, we had a trip to Disney World to look forward to. You were studying up and working on your Mickey drawings when there was some time over winter break. (February 2012)

Headaches were the key to us solving a problem. The spring meant you were ready for your first pair of glasses. It was fun watching you pick them out and realizing how much you looked like a young Harry Potter. Perhaps that is even more fitting given our summer theme. (March 2012)

Matzah, Seders, and Passover preparations filled the time as we got ready to go to Walt Disney World. You conquered multiple fears while in Orlando which included riding your first upside down roller coaster. (April 2012)

Once we were back from Disney World, you settled back into school. A highlight of your time was a day away with Nana and Papa. You went to Howe Caverns and went zip lining with Papa. I wish I had been there to see your face, but the photos are priceless. (May 2012)

As the school year was winding down, we were keeping busy with other enrichment activities. You love science and seeing how things work. The CMOST museum was a great place for you to explore a lot of different items. (June 2012)

The summer was filled with activities at the library, crafting, and Harry Potter. You started reading the book and your love for the young wizard grew even more. We also spent a the 4th of July mini-golfing with Nana and Papa. Then, you and Daddy went back with me there when JSL spent the day with Nana and Papa. It was fun watching you play in a location that I had gone to as a child. (July 2012)

Now it is your birthday month again and I am trying to figure out where the time has gone. You have grown up so much and are such an amazing kid. You amaze me with all that you have learned, created, and dreamed.

I hope that you know how very proud I am of you and how much I love you. You are such a sweet boy that adores helping others that you love. I have a really good feeling that the upcoming year is going to be a stupendous one in fourth grade and beyond. Less stress, more smiles, and lots of watching you spread your wings and become more of the person that you are meant to be.

Love,

Past B-day posts to NHL:

Categories:
arts and crafts birthday Disney fun looking back milestone nhl parenting photos school travel vacation

Pesky Baby Tooth Be Gone

Posted on August 16, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Raise your hand if you are not a fan of teeth that are wiggly and about to come out. Imagine me hiding under a blanket. I’m not proud to admit it, but I have never been a fan of teeth once they are loose. It bothered me when I had them in my own mouth, when students would show them to me, and now as a parent.

NHL has had his fair share of bad luck with teeth loosening up and coming out. One day, while looking in his mouth, I noticed stubborn tooth #8 that had move into an outward facing position. To add to the “fun”, the new adult tooth was already coming up behind it. This tooth was stubborn and did not want to give up. The orthodontist finally made the decision that NHL’s 8th tooth had to be pulled by our pediatric dentist.

Yesterday, NHL went to see Dr. N to have that pesky tooth taken out. He was nervous, but he loves Dr. N and I do believe that, with her in charge and the amazing staff in their office, he was ready to go. Even with a few surprises tossed in, they told me he did fantastic. He was very lucky and did not require a shot of Novocain. With enough of the topical numbing medicine and just the right pulling, that tooth could not be a resident of NHL’s gums any longer. I am so proud of my big kid and how well he did. Of course, I have to admit I am thrilled we get a break in tooth adventure with him for a while. On the flip side – JSL is five and will probably have some of his coming out soon.

So my question to you this week:

How do you handle wiggly teeth? Cope with them, hate them, or are you fascinated with them? FYI – I know it isn’t Friday today. I am posting a day early because it is NHL’s birthday tomorrow. I always do a special birthday letter to the boys on their big day. If you have a minute and want to stop by on Friday to wish him a Happy Birthday, I know he would love it. I will link up later when that post goes live (here it is).

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.