Thanks to the One2One Network, I recently had the opportunity to review a great new debut novel by author Kaira Rouda called Here, Home, Hope! I really enjoyed this story, and would definitely recommend it to others!
"Kelly Mills Johnson becomes restless in her thirty-ninth year. An appetite for more forces her to take stock of her ordinary middle-American existence and her neighbors’ seemingly perfect lives. Her marriage to a successful attorney has settled into a comfortable routine, and being the mother of two adorable sons has been rewarding but exhausting. Meanwhile, Kelly’s own passions lie wasted. She eyes with envy the lives of her two best friends, Kathryn and Charlotte, both beautiful, successful businesswomen who seem to have it all. Kelly takes charge of her life, devising a midlife makeover plan."
This book really spoke to me, as the main character is about the same age as me. Though I'm not a stay at home mom and haven't had some of the life experiences she has had, I still can relate to some of the emotions she feels at this given stage of life. I have been through several bouts of depression, much like Kelly experiences in the book. I really liked the following description that her counselor gives of depression, and the effect medication has on the person in a depressed state:
"I like to explain depression like this. Imagine your brain as a bathtub, and it's unusually filled all the way to the top with endorphins. In a depressed person, the brain alone can fill the bathtub only halfway. With medicine, the brain is then able to fill the bathtub all the way to the top. The medicine will help you continuously fill the tub back up until you can do it yourself."
Rouda has several very well-worded descriptions of the characters to which I could relate, like when she has Kelly reminiscing on herself as the Engergizer Bunny going and going, but perhaps masking underlying unhappiness with constant motion. Another favorite is Kelly questioning why busy wives and mothers don't reach out to their friends in times of emotional pain and distress.
This book would be invaluable to anyone who has a loved one battling an eating disorder similar to that which the character Melanie is undergoing. The advice given and descriptions of Mel's inner struggles feel very real. The only suggestion I might make would be concerning her description of Mel's suicide attempt. However, I realize that this might be because it is one part of the story I can relate to from personal experience. Admittedly, my own experience may be coloring my judgement on this part of the story.
Ladies, I have found my new favorite item of clothing, and it is the Kymaro Cardi Wrap! Thanks to the Family Review Network, I was recently given the opportunity to review this remarkable item? accessory? top? It is all of the above! I was amazed at the many different ways that this sweater can be worn!
I had lots of fun trying out my hand at the different configurations, and though I thought sure it might be more difficult to get the arrangements done than they looked in the brochure, it wasn't! I was very pleased with the weight and feel of the fabric, which feels quite silky! It is a very good weight: not too heavy to wear on fall or spring days, but thick enough to keep out a chill in winter. I was also delighted by the included accessory kit, which adds much to the versatility of the Cardi Wrap!
To add to the versatility, quality, and high fashion that this garment offers, the price just makes it a no brainer to purchase!! ALL these lovely styles for less than $50?! At this price, it would even be feasible to purchase it in several colors!
Still not sure? Please be sure to visit the Cardi Wrap website and watch the video on how the garment can cover up problem areas of your body! If I wasn't sold on this product before watching, I would have signed up then!
I am certain that the Cardi Wrap is going to be worn many times over in this household! But don't take my word for it....go check it out yourself!
Disclaimer: This post was written for Family Review Network & Cardi Wrap who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.
I've had the pleasure of reviewing a precious new children's book called Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and a New Name. If you follow my blog, you probably know that I am a reading specialist, so children's books are near and dear to my heart! This book did not disappoint. Told from the point of view of a stray cat wanting to be adopted, I firmly believe that you and your child will fall in love with this story as quickly as I did!
You can learn more about Mr. Bo and his author on his website, MrBoBooks.com
Something else I really like about this book is that it comes with a FREE e-Live link to download the audio version of the book! This is a WONDERFUL idea! Not only can a child listen to the book alone this way, but this also makes the book much more helpful for students who might have difficulty reading. The more a child who struggles reading hears words read aloud, the more likely he or she is to remember the words and to be able to recognize them in print. There are many children who may struggle sounding out words successfully but can comprehend books well. This is ideal for that child! This also gives a child who is not yet a very fluent reader a good example of a fluent reading of the book. A child can then began to imitate the reading of the story, and thus become a more fluent reader in return!
I'm so excited that not only do I get to share the story of Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and a New Name with you, I also have a copy to give away!All you have to do to enter is tell me the name of one of your favorite children's books. That's it! I'll keep the giveaway open until April 2 at noon.
Thanks so much for dropping by and for entering the giveaway! I hope you enjoy the book as much as I do! Thanks again to the Family Review Network for the opportunity to review this book!
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book for review. All statements and opinions herein are my own.
Are you looking for an uplifting Christian novel about a young woman and the lengths to which she'll go to help others? Then I've got the book for YOU! Save the Date tells the story of Lucy, who in a spot to save her non-profit foundation, agrees to pose as fiancee for Alex to further his political career. Lots of interesting things happen along the way...I won't give away exactly what, but I promise it will keep your attention!
What I liked about this book: The storyline was totally believable and real. The characters were well developed and well thought out. I loved that it was about realistic relationships, and didn't contain any unnecessary sex, etc.!
What I didn't like about this book: there were a few points where I thought that it dragged, but obviously not enough for me not to finish it, which is saying quite a bit since I am bad to put books down if I'm not really into them!
If you're still not sold on the book, check out the author Jenny B. Jones website! She seems very cool! I'd like her to be my friend!
I recommend this book! Check it out sometime!
Disclosure: I received this book from BookSneeze in exchange for a review of the book. All opinions herein are my own.
Having recently re-entered the world of small toddler toys, I am starting to remember how frustrating it can be for my little one to not have toys or sippy cups available close by when he needs them, especially when his older brothers aren't in the car to help fetch said objects when Robbie drops them. The Kiddie Catch-All is perfect! It fits easily on the side of your child's car seat and is deep enough and has a wide enough opening to store all he or she needs within easy reach!
From the website:
Kiddie Catch-All™ is the perfect accessory for your car, truck or minivan! Fill it with books, toys, games, snacks, sippie cups...whatever your child wants is now right at their fingertips with the Kiddie Catch-All™. Never worry about picking things off the floor while driving again! And no more taking your eyes off the road! Keep your car organized, your family safe and your children occupied with the Kiddie Catch-All™.
We tried the Kiddie Catch-All out in my husband's car. We installed it on the side closest to the door, since both big boys also sometimes need to fit in the back seat with him. I was pleased to see that Robbie could reach it and the door handle cleared it, too! Perfect!
The website also is offering a buy one get one free offer, as well as a free bonus CD! Since Robbie has recently started dancing along to music, I'm sure we're going to get much use out of it, too!
These are not sold in stores, so to order one, visit the Kiddie Catch-All website! Thank you to Kiddie Catch-All and the Family Review Network for the opportunity to review this much-needed product!
Disclosure: I was provided with a product to review for this post. All statements and opinions are mine, unless otherwise stated.
Now if I could only get the big boys to control their clutter.....
Thanks to the Family Review Network, our family had the opportunity to try several Dei Fratelli brand products: two flavors of salsa, two flavors of pasta sauce, and pizza sauce. This is not a brand that we usually purchase, so it was a treat to get to try something new and different!
Dei Fratelli Salsa is notable for one feature that stands out immediately...fresh. The salsa has a very fresh tomato taste that is uncommon in bottled products. There is no hint of vinegar and no overcooked vegetables. The medium salsa has great flavor with just a hint of heat. The salsa focuses more on complex flavor combinations than on the straight jalapeno flavor of other brands. The medium hot is similar to the medium with more heat. It has a spicy kick but still does not overpower the flavor of the salsa. The black bean and corn salsa is truly a notable product. It is thicker and has a more robust flavor than the standard salsa. It has little heat but the thicker consistancy makes chip dipping easier.
Dei Fratelli Pizza Sauce is “saucier” than the other products. It has a good flavor, but has trouble standing out from other pizza sauces. It is smooth and spreads well. It is thick enough to set on the crust and not run during baking.
Dei Fratelli Pasta Sauce, like the salsa, brings one immediate feature to light, that of fresh tomatoes. The sauce has an excellent flavor. It my be too chunky for some customers, but compares well to national “chunky style” sauces. The sauce heats well and is good both on and tossed with pasta. The sauce stands well on its on or can be combined with meat, cheese, or vegetables.
I would recommend Dei Fratelli salsa to anyone. It is obviously a premium product that stands head and shoulders above the competition. The salsa is good in recipes or just on chips. Enough variations of heat and flavor are available to suit any pallet. Dei Fratelli pasta sauce is an excellent product, just not as superior to its competitors as the salsa. Dei Fratelli pizza sauce is a very good product, but has trouble standing out when compared to similar products.
This post was written for Family Review Network & Dei Fratelli, who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.
Today I received a delightful little book about friendship! Roger the turtle loses his way to his house when playing pretend. When his new friend Padraig the dragon happens along, he helps Roger find his home. Roger doesn't give up even when it isn't easy to be helpful. This is a great little book to share with children concerning about the ins and outs over friendship. It even includes suggestions on how to extend the story into discussion, and a related Bible verse. After sharing this story with my child, I look forward to sharing it with the children at our church! Thank you, WaterBrook Press!
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Karen Davis, Assistant Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rev. Dr. Robin Currie is the Early Childhood Librarian/Preschool Liaison for the Glen Ellyn Public Library and serves on the staff of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. She is also the retired pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn. Before and during seminary she was a children’s librarian for public libraries in Illinois and Iowa. She holds master’s degrees in Library Science from the University of Iowa and in Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, as well as a Doctor of Ministry in preaching from LSTC. Her published books include seven resource collections for librarians and over a dozen children’s Bible story collections.
List Price: $9.99 Reading level: Ages 4-8 Board book: 36 pages Publisher: David C. Cook; Brdbk edition (October 1, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 0781403685 ISBN-13: 978-0781403689
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER (Click on pictures to see them larger):
My review: I love love LOVE this book! Not only have I been reading it to Robbie, so have his big brothers! I love that I have a sturdy book with which to start introducing him to this beloved story of our faith! What a wonderful introduction for him to Our Savior! Highly recommended!
I was recently given the opportunity to read the book Then Sings My Soul: Special Edition by the kind folks at Book Sneeze. Oh, how I have enjoyed it, and will continue to for years to come! This book gives a short description of either the basis for the beloved hymn or a devotion on the song. It also includes a scripture related to the song, and a copy of the hymn that can be easily played or sung.
I find it very interesting to read about the author of a favorite hymn or what was going on in his/her life or the world at the time of its writing. I think it makes the hymn even more real, and we are able to relate to it even better. I am especially enjoying reading about my favorite Christmas hymns!
I first saw this book when my husband's uncle was reading it about a month ago. It looked interesting to me, and I commented as such to him. So when I saw this book being offered through Book Sneeze, I jumped on the opportunity to review it! I think anyone who loves traditional hymns or church history would love this book as well.
Though I was given a copy of this book to review, all statements and opinions herein are my own.
I recently received the book Little Star by Anthony DeStefano, and fell in love with it on the first reading. The story tells about stars learning that a king is soon to be born, and how they prepare themselves, hoping that each of them will be the chosen star to receive a special reward if it shined the brightest on the night the King was born. Little Star was sure he would not be the chosen one since he was so small, but he soon realized that this king, too was little. In fact, Little Star was the only star to understand the message that Jesus was bringing to Earth!
This book makes understandable to children the idea that Jesus chose to humble himself as a baby when He came to save us from our sins. It is simply yet beautifully illustrated, and the language is age-appropriate for a 2nd-3rd grade reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am sure it will become a family favorite in years to come!
I recently was given the opportunity to review Airwear lenses by Esslior. The only person in our family who is currently wearing glasses is Adam, so we got his prescription updated and sent off his glasses to be fitted with the lenses. We have been very pleased with the results! Being a 7 year old boy, Adam isn't the easiest on glasses, and they stay dirty...or at least they did before we got these lenses! According to the Airwear website, these lenses combine the Airwear material with Trio Clean, which makes them more resistant to smudges and scratches. I can vouch that this is true!
Adam has been very happy with these new lenses, and I am very happy that we are using materials that are more eco-friendly and lighter on his face! I also appreciate that these lenses are 12 times more impact resistant than standard plastic lenses.
Another factor that pleases me about Essilor is that they also support Eyeglass Recycling through Lions Club International. As the wife of a Lions Club member, I appreciate this effort. As a teacher and parent, I appreciate it even more!
As we all know, we need to protect our eyes from UVA and UVB damage. My parents are in their 70s and have both had cataract surgery, so this is a very real experience to me. I appreciate that the Airwear lenses have 100% protection from both UVA and UVB rays!
Do you or your child have need new lenses? As your eyecare provider to fit your frames with Airwear lenses by Essilor, and I am certain that you will be as satisfied as I am! I was provided with Airwear lenses to review, but all opinions are my own.
Late again! UGH! This working and having three children thing puts a serious cramp in my blogging time! :)
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Cat Hoort, Trade Marketing Manager, Kregel Publications for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rusty Whitener is a novelist, screenwriter, and actor. His first screenplay, Touched, won second place at the 2009 Kairos Prize at the Los Angeles Movieguide Awards and first place at the Gideon film festival. That screenplay soon became A Season of Miracles. The movie version of this book is now in production with Elevating Entertainment.
List Price: $14.99 Paperback: 272 pages Publisher: Kregel Publications; Reprint edition (August 3, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 0825441919 ISBN-13: 978-0825441912
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
I didn’t set out to believe in miracles. Nobody does. That’s what makes them miracles.
The events of 1971 would pick me up in a tornado of changes and set me down in an amazing place of grace. As with Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, it would be a kind of homecoming, except that I would be coming home for the first time.
Around the middle of March, about the time my hometown of Silas started to escape the gray Alabama winter, Little League baseball would crowd out everything else for my attention.
I wasn’t alone. Those days, Little League in our county was akin to a small-town parade down Main Street. Everybody went, not really expecting to see the remarkable so much as the familiar. Pretty near every boy in town played the game. And most every player’s parents went to watch, clap, groan, and cheer.
Little League is a game played by Charlie Browns and Joe DiMaggios. Most children that age are Charlie Browns, still struggling with how to handle an oversized pencil, let alone how to grip a baseball and hurl it a particular direction. They are likely to throw the ball farther from their target than it was when they retrieved it. They even look like you imagine Charlie Brown would, running in preadolescent distress to recover the ball they just threw in the wrong direction. On the weaker Little League teams, Charlie Browns mosey around the outfield, and DiMaggios man the infield. Players who hit the ball over the infielders’ heads usually have an easy double. Stronger teams have a DiMaggio anchoring center field, or maybe left. If anyone better than Charlie is in right, then either the team is stacked with talent or something magical is going on. Maybe both.
I don’t remember ever not being able to hit the ball into the outfield. I didn’t think much about it, really, except for the basics: relax, breathe, don’t swing so hard, don’t pull your head. Bring the bat to the ball and drive it on a line. I was a little tall for my twelve years, but I also had something much better than size. Confidence. I knew I could hit the ball, and hit it hard. Not every time, but most of the time. And batting over .500 with power will scorch any league.
I was the best hitter I had ever seen. Until 1971.
It was a cool Saturday in mid March. I called my best friend, Donnie White, and he called Batman Boatwright and Jimmy Yarnell. I really didn’t spend a lot of time with Batman and Jimmy throughout the rest of the year. Just spring and early summer. When Little League season came into focus, so did Batman and Jimmy.
I always took the back way to the old field, cutting through woods so thick and dark it was like traveling and hiding at the same time. My wicked cool Sting-Ray, with butterfly handlebars and a fat banana seat covered in leopard spots, gave me an edge in races with the guys. But in woods that thick, I’d just get to pumping the pedals hard before I’d have to dismount and negotiate the bramble bushes and low hanging, cobwebbed pines that duped nature by growing with so little sun.
Sawdust wasn’t real keen on those woods. A hound-collie mix, he had followed me home two summers before and decided I needed him. Through these woods, along the rough path of moss and bracken, he got nervous when I had to stop the bike and walk. He looked back and forth and around, seemingly wary that something might sneak up on us. He barked his approval when we climbed the last ridge and tumbled out of the sun-spun shadows crisscrossing our wooded trek and into the sun’s soaring shine over the ancient baseball field behind Mill Creek Fire Station.
It wasn’t a real baseball diamond anymore, just a big space of worn-down grass. But it was enough of a practice field for us. There was even an outfield fence of sorts, a lot of chain no longer linked. A backstop someone put up years before helped us out. If the ball got by the hitter, it caromed off the chain links and dribbled in the general direction of the pitcher. If it didn’t get a good enough carom to send it close to the mound, the batter picked it up and tossed it back to the pitcher. Who needed a catcher?
Donnie, Batman, and Jimmy were already there, tossing the ball in a triangular game of catch.
“It’s about time, Pardner!” Donnie raised his arms in a “what’s the deal?” gesture. “We’re startin’ to take root here.” He dropped his arms and threw the ball too high in Jimmy’s direction. Jimmy threw his glove after the ball, and then turned to look at Donnie like he couldn’t believe he put up with a friend who threw that poorly.
“Sorry,” said Donnie with a big smile. “Too high, I guess.”
“Zack,” Jimmy said, turning to me, “can you tell this guy about cool?”
“What do I know about cool?” I said, not really asking.
Sawdust barked at Jimmy and Batman, darting between the two. He made quick little circles around Jimmy, like they were old friends. They weren’t.
“Whaddya always have to bring the mutt for?” Jimmy sounded seriously miffed.
“Sawdust likes chasing the balls,” I said.
“I know that,” said Jimmy. “He gets ’em all slimy.”
Batman drawled, “He’s got your glove now, Hoss.”
Jimmy gave a squawk and bounded after Sawdust, who was running in large circles back and forth across the field.
“I’ll make a glove outta you, ya mutt!” Jimmy’s threat broke us up, and I laughed pretty hard until I saw the new kid. At first, I thought something was seriously wrong he was so still. He sat at the base of a tree, his back ramrod straight against the trunk, his legs straight out from his body, arms at his sides. He looked almost unreal, not moving his head, stock-still, eyes frozen. Not moving anything.
“Whatcha looking at, Pardner?” Donnie gave nicknames to people he really liked, and people he struggled to like. Come to think of it, that’s just about everybody. He once told me it was hard to call someone by a good nickname and still not like them. Donnie wanted to like everybody.
“That boy,” I said, “over there.”
“Oh man, he don’t look so good.” Donnie stared. “He even . . . is he alive?”
“What kind of a question is that?” I said, still staring at the kid under the tree, who still had not moved. “Of course he’s alive. I mean . . . don’t you think?”
Batman jogged up to us. “Are we gonna play or what?”
“Look at that kid over there.” Donnie pointed with his gloved hand.
“I see him,” Batman said. “So what?”
“Is he alive?”
“Whaddya mean?”
“I mean he doesn’t look alive.” Donnie said the words slowly, as if he were announcing something important, like the moral at the end of a story.
“Well he’s not dead,” said Batman.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“Because he sits there like that all the time. I’ve seen him before, when we come here to play.”
“Really?”
“Lots of times,” Batman said. “I think he’s a retard.”
“Come off it.” Donnie looked at Batman and shook his head, like he was disappointed in him.
“It’s the Forrester kid,” Batman said. “Everybody knows he’s touched.” Batman was blowing massive bubbles and struggling to move the gum to the side of his mouth so he could talk. “Don’t tell me ya’ll haven’t seen him at school.”
“I seen him,” said Donnie.
“I don’t think I have,” I said. “How come, you reckon?”
“Maybe ’cause you’re always looking at Rebecca Carson,” Batman joshed. “Anyway, he’s touched.”
Batman decided to pluck the wad of gum out of his mouth and hold it in his free hand, a rare move he reserved for emergencies. “Serious problems,” said Batman.
“Okay,” said Donnie, “serious problems, but we don’t have to call him—”
“Hey guys,” I said. “Guys, I think he’s coming over here.”
The Forrester kid was on his feet, walking toward us.
“Holy metropolis,” Batman whistled. “Look alert, Batfans.”
Jimmy ran up, holding his glove away from his body, between a thumb and forefinger, the leather shiny with Sawdust drool.
“This is so foul, ya’ll. I can’t play with this nasty thing. Do ya’ll . . . do ya’ll know that fella is coming over here?”
“Yeah Jimmy, we know,” I said.
“Do ya’ll . . . do ya’ll know he’s a retard?”
“He’s not a retard. He has some problems, that’s all,” said Donnie, loudly.
“His problem is he’s a retard—and his dad’s a drunk, ’cording to my folks.”
I really don’t think Jimmy meant to say anything mean. That’s just the way he was. Shoot from the lip and take no prisoners.
“Shut up, Jimmy,” Donnie’s voice was a sharp whisper now. “There’s nothing wrong with his ears.”
Rafer Forrester walked straight up to me, stepping up close, his face no more than a foot from mine. The other kids instinctively took half-steps back, clumsily trying to give me more space. Sawdust sauntered into the picture, sat down razor close to Rafer and put a paw on the boy’s shoe. Without looking, Rafer put his hand on the dog’s head and stroked it.
“Hey,” I said quietly. “How’s it going?”
I guess I hadn’t really expected an answer. But I did expect him to say something. After some long seconds he did.
“Hit.”
“You wanna hit?” I asked.
Silence.
“You wanna hit?” I said again.
“Hit. Rafer hit.” His face was still devoid of expression.
I heard Jimmy’s voice behind me. “I think the fella wants to try to hit the baseball.”
“You mean the ball?” I held it up in front of me, about six inches from his eyes.
“I don’t think he’s blind, Zack-man,” Batman said, his voice joining Jimmy’s in a nervous flutter of laughs.
“All right, guys,” said Donnie. “Hey, Pardner, why don’t you let him try?”
“Oh, come on, Donnie,” Batman said. “Jimmy and me gotta go in about thirty minutes. We don’t have time.”
“Let him try, Pardner. Just a couple of tosses.” Donnie was already walking toward home plate. “I’ll catch so we don’t have to keep fetching the balls.”
I looked right in Rafer’s eyes. “You want to hit the baseball a little?”
“Rafer hit.”
“Okay, Rafer. Do you wanna take the ball yourself”—I pressed the ball gently in his hand—“and just toss it up in the air and hit it?” I figured he could do that. Hitting a pitched ball didn’t seem plausible, no matter how slow I tossed it.
“Rafer hit.” He pushed the ball back at me.
Batman moaned and sat down on the ground. “C’mon guys, we’re wasting time.”
“Okay, I can pitch it,” I said.
Rafer walked slowly toward home plate and picked up the bat. Donnie was already crouched behind the plate calling to me. “Okay, Pardner. Toss it in, and Rafe here is gonna knock the cover off the ball. Here we go, Pardner.”
Rafer stopped in front of Donnie and said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Zack pitch. No Pardner.”
Behind me I heard Jimmy’s chuckle. Batman, sitting on the ground behind the pitcher’s mound, laughed so hard his gum started slipping down the back of his throat. “Oh . . . oh, my gosh. I almost swallowed it, ya’ll,” he managed to say.
Donnie just smiled real big at Rafer. “That’s right, Rafer, my buddy. He is Zack.” Then, rocking back and forth in a low catcher’s crouch, he called to me. “Okay, Zack, just toss it in gentle-like.”
So I did. I tossed the ball underhand, as slow as I could, across the plate. As fat a pitch as I could make it.
Rafer didn’t swing. He watched the pitch the whole way and the bat never left his shoulder. Donnie threw the ball back to me, and I tossed it again. Again, no swing.
From his spot now reclining on the ground, his head resting on his glove, Batman’s groans were like a sick boy’s. “Oh, guys. We’re gonna be here all day. And we gotta go home soon.”
“Batman,” said Jimmy, “if we gotta go home soon, then we can’t be here all day.”
Jimmy crashed on the ground next to Batman, resting his head on his glove. Then an odd expression invaded his face. He bolted upright, frantically wiping dog spit from the back of his head. “Oh, that’s stinking! Oh, that’s so raw!”
Batman just groaned again.
Donnie called to me, “Maybe you need to get closer, Pardner . . . I mean Zack. You know, toss it from a shorter distance.”
As I started to step off the mound, Rafer bellowed, “No!”
I froze.
“No!” he said again. “Zack pitch. Rafer hit.”
“Okay, okay.” I got back on the mound. I tossed it again, underhanded, only this time as the ball was crossing home plate, Rafer caught it with his right hand. He dropped the bat. For several seconds he did not move. “Zack pitch,” he said again as he started moving through an elaborate windup, turning his body like Tom Seaver and kicking his leg high like Juan Marichal, coming down with his throwing hand over the top. The ball rocketed from his hand to my glove, which I reflexively raised to protect my face.
Dead silence.
Then Jimmy drawled, “Well, good night, ya’ll.”
Donnie, barely audible, said, “He wants you to pitch it fast, I guess. God help us.” I wasn’t sure what to do. I had a strong arm from playing third base.
“Come on, Zack. Fire it in here.” Donnie was suddenly confident about the situation.
“Can you catch it?” I asked him.
“Oh, come on, of course I can catch it. You’re not that fast, you know.”
That was all my adolescent ears needed to hear. I wound up and released, letting the ball spring naturally out of my grip. The ball crossed the heart of the plate in a white blur.
At least it would have.
Rafer dropped the head of the bat, quick like a cat, just in front of the ball. Coaches tell hitters to focus on getting the barrel of the bat on the ball, and let the pitched ball do all the real work, ricocheting off the bat. That’s what Rafer did. And my perfect strike was now a perfect line drive, streaking into the gap in left center field. It had just started to drop when it banged off the old outfield fence.
“Throw him another one, Pardner!” yelled Donnie.
“He Zack,” said Rafer.
“I know, I know, he Zack! I mean, he’s Zack. Throw him another one, Pardner! And put some real zip on it this time.”
I wound up and put everything I had into the pitch. Again, Rafer swung as if he were simply dropping the bat onto the ball in one quick, measured motion. The ball left his bat and left no doubt. It cleared the fence in left field, disappearing in trees ten or fifteen feet past the fence. We had never seen a ball travel that far off this field. Not even when Jimmy’s brother, a starter on the high school JV team, had tossed a few in the air and socked them as far as he could.
“Don’t throw him any more,” Jimmy hollered, climbing over the fence with Batman after the ball. “These are my brother’s balls, and he’ll kill me if I don’t bring ’em all back.”
Donnie ran out to me at the mound. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking? We can get him. I bet he ain’t on a team . . . I bet my silver dollar he ain’t. We can get him.”
I walked up to Rafer, still standing in the batter’s box, expressionless. “Rafer, how old are you?”
“Rafer twelve.”
Donnie went into a silent victory dance, a kind of jump and twirl.
“Do you wanna play on our team, on our Little League team, the Robins?”
“Yeah. I play.”
“Great,” I said, trying to stay calm. “Great, Rafer. We’re going to have tryouts, right across the street, at McInerney Elementary School. I pointed in the direction. Right on that field, this coming Monday after school. Can you be there?”
He didn’t seem to get what I said. Just when I thought he wasn’t going to say any words, he said three.
“Mack . . . and Ernie.”
“Who are they?” said Donnie. “No, no, you tell him we just want him.”
Donnie was standing right next to both of us. I didn’t know why he thought I was Rafer’s interpreter, except that I kind of felt that way too. Like I was a bridge between Rafer and Donnie and whomever.
“Who are Mack and Ernie, Rafer?” I asked.
“Mack and Ernie School.”
“Oh.” I smiled. “I get it. Hey, that’s pretty funny, Rafer.”
Only Rafer wasn’t smiling, and I worried about him not showing up for the tryouts.
“Rafer, can you be here”—I pointed to the ground—“next Saturday?” I figured I could walk across the street with him to the actual tryouts.
“Mack and Ernie,” he said without expression.
Donnie started to laugh and I gave him a sharp look. I was trying to get something important done.
“Rafer, I will meet you right here, next Saturday, by your tree.” I pointed. “Then you and me will go to tryouts . . . I mean, play some baseball together. All right? Saturday morning. Is that okay?”
“Rafer hit.”
“That’s right. Saturday morning, you’ll hit.”
“I hit Saturday.” I probably imagined it, but it looked like his mouth was turning at the corners in a small smile. Then he turned and started to walk. He passed his tree.
Watching Rafer disappear into the woods, I heard Donnie’s anxious voice. “We can’t let the other coaches see him bat. We gotta find a way to make him a Robin without, you know, without the others seeing him bat.”
“I know,” I said. “I’ll think of something.”
From a long ways off we heard Jimmy, sounding like someone you hear hollering when you’re in your house with the windows closed.
“I found it. Hey guys, I . . . found . . . it.”
My review: GREAT book! I highly recommend it! It reminds me of my childhood, and would be willing to be that it has glimmers of each of ours in it. I could vividly picture the baseball fields of my elementary school when I was reading it. Check it out!
We had the pleasure of reviewing several products during this phase of the Infantino Moms Review Program! Below you'll see impressions of some, with more to follow in an additional post!
Freeze & Fill Puree Pops: If you've ever frozen Kool-Aid in an ice tray, you have the basic premise of the Freeze & Fill Puree Pops in mind. This basically a high quality “freezer pop” tray with nice chunky handles. That by no means indicates it is not a great product, because it is! It has four pop trays and four handles. The quality of the product is excellent. I tried these with apple puree. They work wonderfully. They are easy to fill and freeze. The product has a rubberized chunky handle that is easy for little fingers to hold. It is easy to clean as well. My son enjoyed slurping on his frozen treat without ever realizing it was good for him. The only downside is the portions are a little big for younger children. Fresh Food Mill: This is also an excellent product. The food mill is a plastic, roughly hourglass shaped, device with a plunger on one end and a handle similar to a pepper mill on the other. In the middle is a stainless steel grate with a metal propeller-type non-sharp blade that spins when you turn the handle. You put food into the bottom of the mill, insert the plunger, turn in over, and press down as you turn the handle. The food is pureed and any skins or other solids are removed. You end up with a smooth product that is and good as any commercial baby food. It works on cooked vegetables and soft foods like bananas. It is not good for juicy fruits and vegetables. I used a banana and cooked carrots in this product. Both worked wonderfully. The mill is easy to use. However, the handle gets in the way a bit removing the food. Also, it isn't easy to clean. You must clean it very soon after use. You can take it apart to clean, but it is difficult to put back together. Its best used with a sink of hot soapy water nearby and washed as soon as you use it.
Freeze Tray: One problem with making baby food is the time involved. Cooking, clean-up etc. The Freeze Tray eliminates much of this concern. The rubber “ice-tray” has a plastic lid. Both are high quality. The tray has deep compartments to fill with puree to freeze for later use. You can make you food on the weekend and freeze it for use during the week. I used the tray to freeze banana and carrots. Both worked well. The only problem is the shape of the compartments. If you fill them too full, the frozen product will not fit many containers and must be thawed before it is packed up for travel.
Stackable Food Pots: The Stackable Food Pots are baby safe (ie. BHP free)storage containers that can be used to store and transport homemade baby food. The pots are small square containers with matching lids. The pots and lids are designed to stack. You can put all of the pots together and top them with all of the lids so you always can find your lids. The pots otherwise work like high quality containers. Unfortunately, they will not hold frozen puree from the Freeze Tray unless you only fill the trays about half full due to difference in shape.
To see pictures of the high-quality products and learn more about them, please visit here!
My 9 and almost 7 year old sons had the opportunity to interact on a fun website called Time for Learning. My younger son really enjoyed the time he spent on the site, and would even ask to get on the site when he had 'game time'. My 9 year old was a little less enthusiastic, but I do not believe it was for anything that the site did or did not offer; rather, he likes to spend his computer time watching old cartoons!
I really liked that the site offered not only reading and math, but also offered science and social studies lessons and activities as well. From my experience as a teacher, this is not as easy to come by. There are several good sites 'out there' that work on math and reading, but less on the also valuable and sometimes more thought provoking subjects of science and social studies. I also like that the lessons are correlated to state standards. Though this isn't really an issue right now, it would be a wonderful addition to preparing my older son for his Standards of Learning tests in the spring!
One option on Time for Learning that I really like is the option for parents to print progress reports. These can be printed or just viewed online. This is a great record keeping option, both for homeschoolers and for parents who like to see how their child is progressing. There are also learning guides and lesson plans to help parents make the most of the learning that their child is doing on the site. Also included is a parent forum where one can get feedback from other parents about what learning is progressing!
Even if a parent doesn't want to sign up for a subscription, Time for Learning offers a free newsletter that has plenty of education related information for you!
Time for Learning is ideal for both gifted students and those who may be struggling in school, since it builds on previous lessons. If your child needs more help in a certain area, the levels are independently set!
At a low monthly price, this is certainly more reasonable than taking your child to a private tutoring center, and can be done at your convenience! I suggest that you check it out!!
I was given a free month's access to Time for Learning to review. All opinions stated in this review are my own.
I've had the pleasure to review the fantastic Infantino Flip carrier! You can't see it much in this pic, but it was taken the day that I wore it to our first local high school football game.
I have tried out two of the three ways that the Flip can be worn: front-facing and facing inward, both where he is being carried on my front. He isn't big enough to try out the back-carrying position yet, but I'm confident it will work well, too!
The carrier itself is lightweight and pretty easy to figure out. The directions that come with it sufficiently described the steps needed to get it on properly. Robbie was very happy with it every time we used it. It has made getting around in crowds much easier, and keeps my hands free to help maneuver my older two sons, too!
As you can see, the carrier is sleek and its color keeps it from clashing with whatever you or baby's father is wearing. I really like this feature, so that my husband can also feel comfortable wearing Robbie, too!
I've already recommended the Flip carrier to a friend! They are available at your local Babies R Us stores, Target stores and online!
And here's a treat: the Infantino EcoSash and Balance carriers are $10 off at Babies R Us through September 21st!
Thanks again to MomCentral for the opportunity to review this product! “I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products as part of my participation.”
Before I even found out whether or not I would be chosen to review these sippy cups, I was intrigued: the product was touted as a favorite in England, and the name was certainly interesting! I can honestly say that I was NOT disappointed once the product arrived.
I received two Tommee Tippee Explora cups designed for 9 months + children. Since Robbie isn't quite old enough to try these out himself, I decided to!
My first impressions were great! The cups are brightly colored with ribbed sides for easier gripping. The sides are also covered with a more grasp-able material, almost a rubbery or a silicone feeling material. Another feature that I really like from first sight is the built in hygiene cap, complete with a little indentation for the cap to fit into when not in use. THIS tells me that Tommee Tippee is not only concerned about keeping the cup germ-free, but is also practical and inventive! The hygiene cap is securely fastened to the lid, which should make for a long life!
I put a drink in the cup and decided to try it out. However, I made one mistake: I didn't screw the lid all the way down! (Can you tell it has been a few years since I had to think about toddlers and sippy cups?!) Therefore, when I turned it upside down, it did leak around the lid seal. Once I remedied this, it was totally leak-free. The spout is designed so that no liquid even comes to the top. The spout is much softer than any I've seen previously. It only releases the liquid when pressure is put on it. I tried to 'gum' it to see how it worked, and yep! No liquid came out unless I actually bit down. Very impressive!
I also went to check out the Tommee Tippee website. It, too, is impressive! I love that the company produces products that promote and support breastfeeding mothers! The Explora product line is designed to have different products "from first sipping to grown up drinking".
On a fluke I put the cup up to Robbie's mouth one evening with some water in it as I was feeding him a little solid food. Lo and behold, he was able to drink out of it! So when the company says that their product make it easier to transition from bottle or breast to sippy cup, I believe them! This is definitely a product I'd recommend and will purchase in the future!
*I was given two Tommee Tippee sippy cups for review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation. All opinions stated here are my own!*
As the pictures show, both my sons and my "biggest boy" enjoyed playing with the huge box of Kung Zu toys and accessories that arrived like a Christmas gift on our porch! The toys themselves require no assembly and are easy to use. The battle armor comes with two weapons that attach to the armor and slip on top of the Kung Zhu pet. The armor did not fit squarely on some of the pets, but was able to fit enough to allow the pet to move.
After getting the pets themselves put together, we started assembling the Battle Arena. In the Battle Arena, the Ninja armor was easier to flip over than the Delta Force armor. Because of this, the boys preferred to play with the Delta Force armor. The weapons did not attach well to either of the Ninja armors and fell off too easy. The four training ground kits gave the pet something to maneuver through similar to other Zhu Zhu Pet toys. The pets could not maneuver through them while wearing armor, but did so without. These can be attached to the arena. The entrance area to the arena stops the pet so weapons and armor could be applied. All of the training areas were easy to assemble and did not require decals. The area was easy to assemble and did not require decals.
The arena allows pets to enter and battle. The boys LOVED this part! We had Missile Launchers and a Dragon Hammer which could be mounted on the side of the arena and are activated by the pets. These accessories really added to the experience. The Missile Launcher and Dragon Hammer both come with a base so they can be used independent of the arena. The Missile Launcher and Dragon Hammer did not require any assembly. The boys used two Hamster Powered Battle Tanks that were pushed by the Hamsters on smooth surfaces. The tanks required very little assembly and were easy to use. Each tank featured different moving parts and/or launching missiles.
Overall, the Zhu Zhu Pets Kung Zhu sets are entertaining toys. They are designed to encourage more action-oriented children to play with Zhu Zhu Pets, and succeed in that area. The toys are exceptionally well built and very easy to assemble. The modular nature of the play set means it can be disassembled and stored and the ease in assembly means most children can put it together themselves or with a little adult supervision. The toys should not be used on carpet and should not be placed in a child’s hair because the wheels can tangle. There are plenty of clear warnings on the pets. The nature of the toys encourage collecting, so parents should be ready for a steady stream of requests for accessories and upgrades. Though they are military styled, there is little suggestion of actual violence in the toys.
What I didn't love: The Ninja armor upsets easier and the weapons fall off easier than the Delta Force armor, so conflicts can arise between children over the armor. When assembled, the arena and training areas take up a great deal of floor space--which with three children in a small three-bedroom house, is not easy to come by! Four training areas and the arena can be 10 feet long. The toys are rather noisy and have no volume control, which again becomes an issue in a smaller house with an infant.
Thanks again to Mom Select and Zhu Zhu Pets for the opportunity to review these toys!
Though I was provided with toys and accessories to review, the opinions stated in this review are my own. No monetary compensation was provided.
Though he may not look like it in this pic, Robbie LOVES this bouncer!
OK, that's a little better!
Seriously, we are enjoying the lovely Fold and Go Bouncer that Infantino has so generously let us try! We have even folded it and gone with it on two out-of-town trips! There are quite a few features that make me very impressed with this product, and it is also one of those "Why didn't I think of that?!" type things!
The bouncer was easy to assemble. I did it all by myself! :) The first time I tried to fold it up to travel with it, I did fail to notice the handy little straps included with which to keep the bar stabilized while transporting it, but once I found those, it stayed folded much more nicely! The bouncer is lightweight and folds down to a very compact size, and is not complicated to set up or fold down.
It has many nice features: an adjustable head-rest pillow, an adjustable and removable toy bar with two removable toys, several vibration/sound features, and THIS is something I really like: it cuts off after a few minutes so that I'm not constantly replacing batteries! This is especially nice with traveling, as this ensures that it doesn't get turned on and run while not in use.
The fabric is washable and is a visually pleasing tan, orange, turquoise, and green pattern. It is understated but still attractive! The head pillow can be attached to the seat by a velcro strip, so that as baby grows, the pillow can be adjusted. Since the toy bar is also adjustable, this not only makes it easier for travel, but also means that it can be moved so the toys are closer or farther away from baby as desired. I especially like that the elephant features a mirror on its side, as Robbie is currently fascinated with talking to himself in the mirror! It is also nice that the toys can be removed from the bar, so that other toys could be interchanged if the user wishes. (I've actually attached some other Infantino toys for variety!)
The control panel for the sound and vibration is easily accessed from the front of the seat.It has separate buttons for power, vibration, music, volume, and other sounds. The fact that it has volume control ROCKS! (Have you noticed that many baby toys are ridiculously LOUD?!?) The music button features three tunes, and the sound button includes a water sound, a heartbeat sound, and a white noise.
Robbie loves to sit in this bouncer. It is the perfect place for a baby to sit and relax!
See what I mean?!
Disclosure statement: I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products to as part of my participation.
Robbie LOVES this gym, as do I! I can't say enough great stuff about it. It was very simple to put together; in fact, my 6 year old helped me to assemble it. We did realize, however, that we had not properly set it up because we had not twisted the top! Once we did that, the toys were lower and more accessible for Robbie.
The bright colors are very stimulating for a baby, and the pictures are high interest as well. Robbie loves to kick at the Lion especially! The ball contains a bell, and he loves to make it ring! Over the past few days he has also noticed that I had 'velcro' the mirror near the top so that he can look in it when he is on his back. He loves to smile and coo at himself! I also love that the gym includes a prop-up pillow for tummy time.
I don't know if the creators did this on purpose, but another feature I've noted and LOVE is that the material doesn't show 'spit up spots' much at all! It also is made up a water (and thus, spit up) resistant material. It is plenty roomy enough for Robbie to push himself around on by his heels. He gets a different view and toy to play with at each corner, so he keeps himself entertained for quite some time.
We are getting ready to do some traveling, and we will be SURE to pack up the Twist and Fold Gym because Robbie loves it so much! The gym is easy to disassemble and reassemble, so it won't be difficult to set back up once we reach our destination or arrive back home.
I am very pleased with the quality and workmanship of this gym. Infantino toys are made of highest quality, and it shows!
I am a participant in a MomCentral campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products to as part of my participation.
