Here I am ....

Seriously, I've been reading like a fiend.  I have been a little slow on posting reviews which is BAD.  Which is also why my blog is inundated with book reviews at present.  And, either fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, there are more to come!  I've been reading all types of books over the past few weeks.  What has everyone else in the fam been up to, you ask?

Well, for starters, school is out!!  We have kidlets who will be entering 4th and 5th grades in the fall.  I am very proud of them both!  Our newest 5th grader pulled all As, Bs and 1 C on his final report card.  Not bad!!  Twink, all A's.  Pretty impressive for what was a challenging school year for both of them.  They're both still busy kidlets.  DinoBoy (I can't help but still call him that even though he is so not into dinosaurs anymore) is busy playing District Baseball, a select team of 9U players from our town who are playing in tournaments this summer.  This is his first year trying out for the team.  He's happy that he made it and I'm hoping that he overcomes some of his baseball fears - he can do so well - but he needs to connect the bat with the ball a little more often (for his father's sanity as well as his own confidence!!) Twink made her gymnastics team, officially.  She is no longer pre-team and is learning new routines for competitions which will be in the winter and spring. 

The Potty Update:  Things are moving right along with SweeTart (knock on wood!!)  She seems to not have any many accidents in her big girl panties these days.  One of the problems we have, sometimes, not all the time, is the bowel movements.  She will now sit herself down on her potty and try to poop.  Unless she is otherwise preoccupied (at the pool for instance.)  So I do have to say that the doctor was right, I think she'll be fully potty trained by the end of the summer.  Whew!  I was a little concerned about that one. 

The Hubs:  Still busy as ever!!  Have you checked out their website? http://www.beechwoodlandscape.com/  They're operating out of Southern New Jersey but currently have jobs going on in two other states as well.  He's been working crews 7 days a week for the past .... at least month ... probably longer than that.  I think this past Sunday was the first Sunday he's taken "off" in over a month.  If you count stopping by the shop after Church yesterday to "check on things" and "water the plants." 

The dogs.  Do you care?  I'll tell you anyway.  Guinness broke into Yoda's food container last night while we were at DinoBoy's game and proceeded to dine on freeze dried grasshoppers, crickets and various veggies.  He then proceeded to drink half of the bowl of water - out of the toilet; guess he was full after that!!  Maybe we have found the perfect diet for him?  Dried food for the lizard.  Nice.  Jack bum back legs.  More specifically:  knees the size of softballs on both sides.  He has been on an anti-inflammatory and pain meds for 2 months now.  Problem is, when the medicine is working he acts like his crazy self, running through the yard and after the neighbor kids.  When the meds wear off or after a particularly fun day of chasing rabbits, he tries to balance himself on his front two paws.  Seriously, its breaking my heart. 

Finally, besides reading reviews, I am going to be doing the review of the all new Once A Month Cookbook - for TODDLERS and young kidlets! Ok - the real name is Survive Before 5: Toddler Meals for Your Busy Days an ebook published by Once A Month Mom, Tricia Callahan. I am excited to do this and thank her for the opportunity. I have a coupon code for you that ends tomorrow, 7/1/11.  Use OAMM599 at checkout to get the book for just $5.99, a savings of $2.00!!   

The Survive Before 5 eCookbook contains:


•A choice of preparing for 1 child, 2 children, 4 children or 6 children.
•Step-by-step instructions for cooking all of these meals in one (or several) days.
•Grocery lists for the 1 child, 2 children, 4 children or 6 children.
•Customized labels for each of your prepared items.
•Recipe cards containing photographs, step-by-step photos and toddler tasks as well.
•A sample calendar to make feeding meals easy.
•Toddler tasks on each recipe cards so that your kids can help you while you cook.
•Recipes included in this one month plan:

◦Breakfasts
■blueberry pancakes**
■toddler french toast sticks
■fruity breakfast burritos

◦Lunches
■homemade spaghetti o’s**
■individual mac & cheese cups
■corndog muffins
■homemade cheesy rice
■apple chicken nuggets
■individual pizzas**

◦Snacks
■frozen fruit cups
■homemade yogurt
■peanut butter banana yogurt pops**
■peanut butter granola bars**

•**Indicates NEW Once a Month Mom recipes not found on the website – 5 new recipes in total!
 
Look for my review in the coming weeks as I plan on trying these out this weekend (between baseball games, that is!)