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Tuesday Tales – 2012 Summer Reading

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

The summer months are a beautiful thing for children. It is a time where they are typically more free to select books that they want to read. Rather than being focused on literature that a teacher like I used to select, they can pick items that hit their unique interests.

JSL is not reading on his own just yet, so we have spent a lot of time reading together. He still likes to pick out an occasional picture book, but the Magic Tree House books have become a new favorite. He loves learning where Jack and Annie are going to head next. I love that he helps me read the books, guess outcomes, and retell the story and details when finished reading. Here’s a little fun video that I captured the other night when JSL helped me read his favorite part.

The educational value in the series is huge, while telling a great story with two believable characters. Since JSL ended preschool about a month ago, we have read 24 of the books. We started reading about half a book a day. Then, he begged me to finish off the books. In about 45 minutes before bed, we can go off on an adventure in the Magic Tree House to places near and far, and often very long ago.

Last summer, NHL was busy reading the A to Z Mystery series. They helped him to get rid of the chapter book phobia. This year, he is catching up on some of the last Magic Tree House books. As a gift for the end of third grade, I also bought him the book on the left. Looks funny doesn’t it?

Thanks to his love for all things Muppets, and a very unique writing style from Kirk Scroggs, he quickly read Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet. Listening to him laugh made me add this to my list of must reads. I will be ordering the second book and soon to be released third book shortly. I hope that NHL will also do a video review of the book for me shortly.

In addition to this, TechyDad and NHL are reading a book together. The boys had never read any of the Harry Potter series. (I read them all years ago.) TechyDad has seen all of the movies, and NHL has seen the first two films. Now, the two of them are almost half way done with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

We have told NHL that to continue on with the movies, he must first read the books. TechyDad and I feel that the level of darkness rises up a lot from the second to third movie.

What are you and your family reading this summer? What have you read recently? 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.

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

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Looking Back at Grandparents

Posted on July 8, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

My boys are very lucky to have all four of their grandparents living relatively close to us. They typically see Nana and Papa several times a week. They have also gone with us to Walt Disney World twice. Since TechyDad’s parents live several hours away, the boys do not see Bubbe and Grandpa as much during the winter months.

Growing up, all of my grandparents lived in the same city. I have so many memories of going to my Nana and Papa’s house as a child. They had a giant in-ground pool. We would often walk to their house with neighborhood children to spend hours in the pool, eat watermelon, BBQ, or just hang out until it was time to swim again.

I really need to find some of photos that we have from the times spent there with family and friends. So many amazing memories that I want to share with all of the boys. TechyDad never met either of them and I want to let them know more about the people that they are named for.

We also spent a lot of time with my Mimi and Poppy. They lived close to us as well. I remember the swing set that was in their old house, playing with their dog Snoopy, and having countless Shabbat dinners with them. TechyDad was able to get to know Mimi and Poppy. A few months after we were married, I remember heading up to Saratoga to the track with my parents, Mimi, and Poppy. We had an amazing time in the sun. We were able to relax, enjoy the time together, and watch the horses.

When NHL was born, he had three great grandparents. Jason’s grandmother, along with Mimi and Poppy were important parts of his life. As the first great grandchild for all of them, we made sure he visited them often. NHL still recalls going to see Poppy at the nursing home where they would eat Dunkin Donuts and ice cream together. JSL met Great Grandma a few times before she passed away, but never met Poppy. Instead he proudly carries on his name. I smile each day knowing that the boys are named for Nana, Papa, Poppy, and Jason’s grandfather.

Today we will be spending time with Mimi. She is a special part of our lives. The kids adore being with her whenever possible. She honestly spoils them, but that’s what great grandparents are for. I know today we will be making more memories together that the boys and I will always cherish.

P.S. Mimi – this post was not meant to make you cry (though I am sitting here with tears in my eyes as I type). I know you read this and wanted to do something special since I just found a lot of great photos from years ago.

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Tuesday Tales – The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook

Posted on June 26, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As a little girl, my father introduced me to the joys of cake batter. I enjoyed that, even if we were warned about the danger of raw egg. Then something else came into my world. Cookie dough was even better to me. I loved the taste, the texture, and the flexibility. I was obviously not the only one that enjoyed cookie dough, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and then others added cookie dough to their repertoire and it became an instant hit.

One year, for my birthday (before kids), I asked TechyDad for a tub of cookie dough for my cake. Skip the other items, I wanted something that really called my name. Much to my surprise, he did this. It should not be a surprise that I have a Cookie Dough World board on Pinterest.

Recently, a lot of my pins were focusing on recipes by Lindsay Landis and her new The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook: Cookies, Cakes, Candies, and More. I have to admit, just looking at the beautiful photos in the book kept me happy and content. One day, TechyDad made a batch of the egg-free raw cookie dough for us to try. It was delicious and I was thrilled. Then, for our anniversary, he bought me the book.

I am definitely intrigued with a lot of the recipes. A few that sound fun to try sooner, rather than later are:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge <—Hello gift making!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwich Cookie <— Best of both worlds
Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Layer Cake
Cookie Dough Mosaic Cheesecake
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bread Pudding
Malted Cookie Dough Milkshakes
Invisible Cookie Dough Ice Pops
Cookie Dough Oatmeal Pancakes
Cookie Dough-Stuffed French Toast
Cookie Dough Crispy Treats
Cookie Dough S’Mores

If you love cookie dough, or know someone that does – this is a great gift for them. Lindsay has a great variety of treats that play on old favorites with a splash of cookie dough. Oh and FYI – you can check out other recipes and goodies on her website Love & Olive Oil.

If you love cookie dough, what would be your dream cookie dough recipe creation? As always, Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books. What have you read recently? 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.

Disclosure: TechyDad bought our copy of The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. One Amazon Affiliate link is included in this post for the book mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy any of the books through my links.

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11 Year Wedding Anniversary

Posted on June 24, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Most of the events from eleven years ago today are hard for me to remember. I have a feeling a lot of brides will probably admit that to you because they are so caught up in the moment and making sure everything goes just the way that it was planned.

The day that I married TechyDad is mostly a blur. So many hours of preparations all came down to one magical day when I became JL’s wife. Our family and friends were all there to help us to begin this part of our lives together.

Thank goodness for photos. I can look back and smile and know that it was the day that I married my best friend and the father of our beautiful boys. It was also the time that we would take our first adventure to Walt Disney World, where I would convert TechyDad into a member of the Disney Driven Life.

Last year, our tenth anniversary trip had to be canceled thanks to Hurricane Irene. Of course, that was only after the plumbing debacle that caused us to move out of our house on the night of our actual anniversary for several days (fumes were that bad). Luckily, we were able to head back to Disney World in May where we celebrated our next anniversary a little early.

Thanks to the Disney PhotoPass photographers for suggesting that we do a few couple only shot. These are items that we will always cherish.

JL, I love you with all of my heart and am so lucky that we have had these eleven years together. I look forward to many more adventures, magical moments, and memories together.

For more wedding photos and memories:

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2000 Post Blogging Milestone

Posted on June 22, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Several weeks ago, TechyDad noticed on my WordPress admin page that I was closing in on post number 2000. He actually noted that it would fall on a Friday, so I knew it would show up for an Aloha Friday topic. In February 2007, I started The Angel Forever as a Live Journal blog which eventually moved to a self hosted domain with the same name in October 2007.

Over the 2000 posts, I have written about being pregnant with my youngest, giving birth, my oldest starting school, my oldest switching schools, and soon my youngest heading to kindergarten. We have celebrated countless birthdays, events at school, and lots of Jewish holidays. The Angel Forever has documented our travels to Walt Disney World for the first time as a family in May 2009 and multiple times since then. I write about health topics (febrile seizures, getting your first mammogram), education topics, arts and crafts, and knitting. Since we adore books and I am a certified reading teacher, I started Tuesday Tales to focus weekly on books that we adore, reviews, meeting authors, literacy topics, and beyond.

As my children get older, and life changes the topics within The Angel Forever will morph and grow with me. So my question to you this week:

How has your focus changed during your blogging tenure? Do you tend to go more with the flow, or do you have a certain niche that you write about?

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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.