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Happy 7th Birthday NHL

Posted on August 17, 2010 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL,

Seven years ago today, my world changed. The instant that you were born, I fell in love. You were and are such a special little guy. No matter how old you get, you will always be my baby. It is so hard to believe that you have grown into quite the young boy. In a few shorts weeks, you will be off to second grade to learn new and exciting things. It seems like only yesterday that I held you in my arms rocking you to sleep. Now, you are quite the independent kid who is shying away from hugs and kisses in public. It’s okay, I understand since I was a kid a long time ago. I know that when you smile your silly way, or give me a zerbert that you love me.

Now let’s take a walk down memory lane at the last year – NHL at 6.

About a week and a half after you turned six, you lost your first tooth. Sure it was filled with drama, but you did it. That night when we got ready for the Tooth Fairy you were so proud. (August 2009)

The school year began and you were ready to go with your new backpack from Bubbe and Grandpa. (September 2009)

The flu hit hard just before Halloween. Luckily, you were finally well enough to head out to a few houses that Goulish night. Your love of Mario Kart Racing showed with your costume selection. (October 2009)

Twas the night before Thanksgiving and you had a blast at a hockey game. You lived up to your initials of NHL and had a blast watching warm-ups down by the boards. (November 2009)

December was a month filled with many items. On my birthday, you ended up in the Emergency Room to have a cut by your eye glued. There was Chanukah and playing in the snow. Thanks to Hebrew school, you wanted to say the prayers each night that we lit our menorah. (December 2009)

January was a very cold month. There were some days that we decided to stay in our PJs and play. Some of the happiest memories were watching you and JSL together. Loved brotherly tickle attacks. (January 2010)

In February, you became another official Disney addict. When we planned a quick trip to Disney World for a conference, you fell in love with everything – including the characters and getting autographs. (February 2010)

In March, you were able to say some of the four questions for Passover in Hebrew. You rode your bike like a pro when it was warm and were even interviewed on television about saving your school the day before a rally. (March 2010)

April marked a first for you, you cut your own hair. The scissors are now a lot higher, along with the Sharpies. The end of the month was also when you officially finished the Alef Bets at Hebrew School. We were so proud of you and your love for Sunday School. (April 2010)

In May, you helped us plan JSL’s third B-day party looking for all things Winnie the Pooh. You also had fun at another building clinic at Home Depot. (May 2010)

June marked the end of first grade. You were sad to leave school for the summer. Earlier in the month, you went to a family wedding. You declared that you wanted another wedding to go to soon since you had so much fun. (June 2010)

The start of the summer was fun filled with movies, being silly outside with water, camp, cherry picking with family and spending the day at the lake. Oh and thanks to your super skills at potty training, JSL is no longer in pull-ups! (July 2010)

So far this month you have wanted to keep things a bit more quiet. You love using the computer. Most days we will allow you to have some time using it. At home, you have my old laptop that you love playing math games and doing puzzles on. Here you are at Nana and Papa’s house. (August 2010)

This year, we have learned a lot about you and together we have grown. I hope that this year is even more fun and care free than last year. Please know that Daddy and I will do everything in our power to be in your corner cheering you on. I know that you can do and be anything that you want. This year is going to be great and togetehr we will make sure it happen. May the magic of your birthday continue the whole year through. NHL, always know that I love you with all of my heart.

Mommy

Categories:
birthday Disney family fun looking back milestone nhl photos school

Tuesday Tales – Potty Animals (Giveaway!)

Posted on July 27, 2010 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

One of the hardest things that I have done as a parent is to potty train my youngest son. I should know, we are almost ready to say he is officially potty trained after the adventure began last Wednesday. That same night, when we were starting the process, I took out a book to read with the boys. The book was Potty Animals by Hope Vestergaard. I figured a little lesson learning about potty etiquette would be fitting given what we would be doing over the next few days. This is another of the books that I had received from Sterling Children’s Books.

Rather than explain what the book is about in my own words, I think Hope Vestergaard and illustrator Valeria Petrone did a fabulous job with their Book Trailer for Potty Animals. Make sure your volume is turned up and get ready for a lesson in What to Know When You’ve Gotta Go!

While the little guy was off playing between reminders to head to the potty, NHL read Potty Animals to me. As an almost seven-year old, he is pretty good with his potty etiquette. He laughed at the scenarios and we talked about why these things are important for little kids to learn, especially once they go to school. We both liked when we read about Arnold and his troubles being accurate with his aim in the bathroom and reminder to lift the seat. There really was something profound about seeing Wilbur, Wilma, Freddie and friends make the wrong choices and then get reminded about things. Of course, as the girl in the family I secretly wished there was a reminder to put the seat back DOWN when finished. You can see NHL reading the story to me here.

A little while later, we were trying to calm JSL down. He was upset about using the potty and did not want to bother. I sat next to his little Winnie the Pooh potty and read him Potty Animals. He laughed at the reminders at the end of each section. I was not sure if he really understood some of the items. He will be going to nursery school in September and I think at that time it will be more relevant to him. Still, a day or two later when he was using the potty, he reminded me several times of the items we had read about in the book. He told me he had to wipe each time, to close the door when he was using the big potty, and not to forget to flush. Even at three, the fun rhyming verses with colorful characters on each page had made an impact.

More about the book from Sterling:

Meet Wilbur, who won’t wash his hands after going potty. Wilma, who waits too long…and sometimes doesn’t make it in time. And Freddie, who’s afraid to flush. These are just a few of the preschool animals who need a little help with their bathroom etiquette! With wit and good humor, Hope Vestergaard presents a unique “toilet basics” guide for toddlers. It covers everything from lifting the seat and closing the door to planning ahead when you’re on a trip. All told in cheerful rhyme, with hilarious illustrations, it’s a fun way to handle a serious subject. PLAN AHEAD! DON’T WAIT TOO LONG! GO POTTY BEFORE YOU SLEEP! EXCUSE YOURSELF! KNOCK FIRST! BE SURE TO LIFT UP THE SEAT! CLOSE THE DOOR! DON’T LOLLYGAG! NEVER FORGET TO WIPE! WASH YOUR HANDS! ZIP AND FLUSH! ALWAYS TURN OUT THE LIGHT!

Sterling Children’s Books sat down with author, former preschool teacher and toilet training expert, Hope Vertgergaard, who gives us the bottom line (ha ha!) on her unique and lighthearted guide to bathroom manners and some useful tips for parents and kids. Read the Q&A

And download a free copy of the Potty Animals Bathroom Poster: it’s the perfect way to remind everyone about the “dos and don’ts” of bathroom behavior.

Potty Animals (Sterling Children’s Books; On Sale March 2010; $14.95; Ages 4+; ISBN: 1-4027-5996-7

We enjoyed Potty Animals and will be reading it again with JSL as we continue on our potty using adventure. I will also be asking JSL’s teachers if they would like to borrow it. I imagine it would be a great addition to read aloud to the children in the first few weeks of nursery school (and even into 1st grade) where many of the kids will be new to the social etiquette involved in potty time at school. There are even some adults that may benefit from some of the gentle bathrooms manners reminders within the book. As a teacher, I could tell you stories involving the bathrooms in kindergarten and first grade classrooms that would scare you!

Giveaway:

Thanks to Sterling Children’s Books, FIVE lucky readers will each win a coupon for a copy of Potty Animals and a bottle of "Potty Animals Hand Sanizer" to go with it.

Potty Animals

Rules for Giveaway:

MAIN RULE – Answer the following question: What was your favorite part of the Book Trailer for Potty Animals?

The following Bonus Entries may also be done. Please be sure to leave separate comments for each that you complete below to make sure you get the right number of entries.

1 Bonus Entry – Who will this book be for and why is it perfect for them?
1 Bonus Entry – Tweet about the giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include @TheAngelForever and Potty Animals Book Giveaway in the Tweet. Please leave a direct link to your Tweet in a separate comment for each daily entry. Example Tweet (feel free to use): Tuesday Tales from @TheAngelforever is all about Potty Animals. The best part, 5 will #win the book in #giveaway http://bit.ly/c5tcA2
1 Bonus Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.
1 Bonus Entry – Leave a comment on any of my non-giveaway posts from the month of June/July (Be sure to check out my other Tuesday Tales posts). Leave a comment here to let me know which one. This Bonus entry may be done only twice per person.
3 Bonus Entries – Add my blog button to your website and leave a link with the location. Be sure to give yourself 3 comments for credit.
5 Bonus Entries – Write a post on your blog linking to my blog about the giveaway. Be sure to leave 5 comments about this to get credit for all of your extra entries.

To enter, please follow the rules above within the comment section. Contest starts today July 27 and ends at 10:59 EST on August 13 , 2010. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but must leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you for mailing address once the giveaway is over. I will select the winner using random.org and contact you via e-mail. You will have 48 hours to claim the prize. If there is no response, another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

Disclosure: I received this book complimentary of Sterling Publishing in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. Sterling Children’s Books are also providing the giveawsay items to my readers.

Categories:
books giveaway jsl nhl photos Product review school Tuesday Tales

Drama at schools

Posted on July 16, 2010 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As a former teacher, I am quite used to drama at schools. It can happen at all levels and I even remember some as a child. Still, I was lucky enough never to deal with the scenario that is playing out for my son. You see, once again there is a threat to close his school down.Yes, they are threatening to close a school that has had a steady increase in enrollment, high state test scores and a phenomenal community spirit. I am blown away with the so called rationale and backhanded politics behind some of the reasons. Of course, none of these things are really new in the area. The problem is that the state of the economy in New York has made this boil on our bottom even closer to the point where it will burst. (Can you tell I am in a mood?)

So yesterday, after digesting more uncertainties at the school board meeting, I had to take a minute and get some things off my chest. I wrote about it here: Education funding crisis – save our school.

Obviously, I am being a bit vague about things. Since I try to protect my son, I can not go into all of the details, or it will be obvious which school he is in. So this week my question to you is:

Did you or your child ever go to a school that was constantly threatened to close down or get shut down? If you have any experience, I would love to hear suggestions on things to do to help our school and especially my son who will be devistated if this happens.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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.

Aloha #108

Categories:
Aloha Friday Educational losing my mind me moments school stupidity

Education funding crisis – save our school

Posted on July 15, 2010 11:23 am by TheAngelForever

When my son left school on his last day of first grade, we assumed he would be back there in September to see his friends, teachers and other members of this amazing school community. This assumption came to a screeching hault on Tuesday afternoon. After a fun filled morning out, I arrived home to a rather disturbing e-mail. Nothing could prepare me for this as I let out a rather frightening scream and tears fell down my face.

It seems our dear governor had pulled some powerful punches that would pretty much screw our entire school district. Rather than think about the children that this move would hurt, he kept signing off on item after item. Once again our district was being forced to make some rather disturbing decisions which may include closing one or more elementary schools, including ours.

I do believe that fire burst from my eyes as the anger increased. No, I never thought we were 100% safe until my child walked into school in September, but I NEVER expected this on going roller coaster. My son heard me and saw that I was upset. I had to explain in second grader terms that once again we did not know if his school would be opening again. My child asked me why. This was a tough one. I told him that for too many years members of the powers that be have sat back and allowed some businesses to come into our district and take children away from us. I told him that they pretend to be schools, but most of them are not. I promised him that I would do everything in my power to:

I asked NHL to go into the other room and play with JSL. I had some important phone calls to make. I started with the mayor and moved on down my list of community politicians. I left messages, talked with some people and then called a representative of our school district. I wanted to know what a concerned parent/citizen could do to wake up our community. Enough is enough! The truth needs to be heard and people need to stand together to stop the insanity. If we do not do this, not only will my son’s school be on the chopping block, but our entire public school system could be in danger. Our community needs to be the example to other parts of our state and I dare say the country. We need to get the right people to hear us and see how these money hungry businesses that are dressing up as educators are killing public schools across the nation.

Previous posts about the battle to save our school:

Categories:
bad news decisions Educational looking back losing my mind real world news school vent

Introducing Tuesday Tales

Posted on July 13, 2010 4:33 pm by TheAngelForever

I have a confession, I am addicted to books. These are just some of the books that our boys have. Some were mine from teaching, others ones we have bought or received over the years. There are many other chapter books and adult books in storage for another day.

Of course, this is not really surprising since I am a teacher, but something you may not really know about me. My favorite class while getting my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education was Children’s Literature. Where else could you spend an entire semester talking about favorite childhood books, characters and authors? In addition to reading a lot of children’s books for the class, we also had to do a presentation on a picture book author and one on an author that writes for older children.

Who would you have picked for each of these?

For the first of mine, I wrote about Arnold Lobel. He is the author behind the long time favorites Frog and Toad. While Lobel is possibly most famous for the stories about this famous duo, he also won the 1981 Caldecott Medal for his book Fables. I learned a lot about his career and grew to love Frog and Toad even more.

My second presentation was on Lois Lowry. When I was in elementary school, I adored the Anastasia Krupnik. They were the books that I went to when I was older and had finished reading Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series. While in college, I found another book of Lois Lowry’s that will forever be one of my favorite books, Number The Stars. This historical fiction book about the Holocaust won the 1990 Newbery Medal. It is a powerful book that teaches children about the topic on a level that is perfect for them. I adored this book so much that I did several projects in college about it and then did a unit on it when teaching Language Arts a few years back. After looking over her website, I now see that I need to catch up on some of her latest books.

For many years, all I read were books for college, my classroom, and my own children. Even when I had time over the summer, I would sit down with a children’s chapter book to see what my students had been reading – you know like Harry Potter, The Series of Unfortunate Events and the list goes on. These days I do stop and read my own books by Debra Macomber, Mia King or dive into a little vampire life with a Sookie Stackhouse book, but the teacher in me always moves toward books to read with my children.

So now each Tuesday, I hope to bring you some books that we have read. Whether they are old favorites, newly released or something a little different we will be sharing them with you via:

I hope you will join me each week to share a favorite story and link up what you have been reading, whether with your children, at school or on your own. All books are welcome. See you next Tuesday when we share with you The All-American Jump and Jive Jig by M.P. Hueston.