Sacramento Zoo

A crazy thing happened recently:  Paul and I found ourselves alone with only one child.  We could hardly believe it all came together, but it did.  So, we took just Katie to the Zoo.

Here she is, checking out the flamingos.  Funny thing, every time I took her OUT of the stroller to see the animals better, she wanted to get right back IN the stroller as soon as she was done looking.

No running off with this kid.  She is content to be wheeled about like a princess from exhibit to exhibit.

Daddy lifting her up to get a better view of the munching giraffe in the background.

Sacramento Zoo is a small zoo.  It doesn't take very long to walk around the whole place.  They don't have the variety or the quantity of the larger zoos.  But we did have some fun sightings, like this snow leopard, above.  And we did get to see one of the large cats getting a check up and blood draw in the veterinary hospital viewing windows.

Female lion, cat napping

Male lion, pacing and looking at Katie and another small child like they would make a tasty snack.

Somewhere, I have pictures of my big kids all lined up on this snake slide.

Miss Katie was hesitant at first, but she went up a couple times.  They have a new playground on the other side of this structure now, although they've taken out the spider web rope climber.

It was a nice morning out, just the 3 of us.  Paul said people probably thought we were an infertile couple, out with our only child.  Made me laugh to think about, but then when I was made eye contact with a very pregnant mama, who was chasing 3 stair step boys, I realized how true it was.

Although we had fun together, Katie was happy to see Hannah when we picked her up from school.  She's not used to being alone.


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Dolphin Tale 2 #giveaway

Friends, I just got home from a really sweet movie.  Dolphin Tale 2, the continuation of the story of Winter, the dolphin with the prosthetic tail.  

Friday, September 12, is homeschool day for this movie.  Let's show the movie industry that we want family friendly movies!  Vote with your wallet and see a great movie.

Honestly, one of my favorite parts of the movie was during the credits at the end when they show all sorts of people wearing prosthetics getting to meet Winter.  As the mom of 2 girls with limb differences, it made me want to pack the whole family up on a field trip to Florida to go meet Winter in person.

Walking out of the air conditioned theater into the warm summer evening, I had a big smile on my face.  Driving home, I realized why.  Winter's story helps normalize limb differences.  Maybe the kids who see this movie won't be the ones who come up to Hannah and Katie at the park and say, "Why do you have a robot leg?"

Along with the release of the movie, there is a supplemental homeschool curriculum you can access online!  It goes over everything you could ever want to know about dolphins in video or .pdf form.

Check out the cool Dolphin Tale 2 sunglasses!  Brianna's favorite character was the crazy pelican who followed the sea turtle around.

Along with this cool t-shirt that Eli wore to the movie tonight.  Eli liked the prosthetist the best.  I have to admit, his line, "I have jars of peanut butter older than you," was pretty hilarious.

Enter to win your own Dolphin Tale 2 t-shirt and sunglasses in this prize pack giveaway.  Open to US and Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

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Christmas at Rose Hill Farm book review and iPad #giveaway

I'm not much of a gardener.  I tend to kill plants.  Christmas at Rose Hill Farm was interesting to me, because I didn't know anything about roses, and I learned a lot about them from the story.

Despite the title, this was not an especially Christmas-y book.  I think it would be fine to read any time of year.  Aside from references to snow, cold, and one star shaped cookie, you won't notice the holiday at all.

This book is the story of Bess, who never got over her first love--though she's engaged to his best friend.  When Billy turns up again, old feelings flare up, and she leaves Amos at the altar.

My favorite character in this book is George, and actually, one of the scenes with him in it brought me to tears.

Author Suzanne Woods Fisher manages to wrap the story up with a bow at the end, but (and maybe I'm overthinking this) I think there's the very real potential for resentment and "If only..." for the two couples down the road, should one family be in better financial circumstances, or one couple be unable to have children, for example.


Join best-selling, award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher for an Amish Christmas to remember. Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, Christmas at Rose Hill Farm will charm readers into the holiday spirit.

Suzanne is hosting a "Christmas Rose" iPad bundle giveaway and a nation-wide Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch in November. Enter the giveaway below and sign up to host a brunch HERE.

 

TWO grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• A Rose-patterned iPad case
• A Rose-patterned phone case (for any model phone)
• A Christmas wreath
• A set of Christmas hand-towels
• Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Five second place winners will receive:

• Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 28th. All winners will be announced September 29th at Suzanne's blog.

Host a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch! This fall Suzanne is inviting book clubs across the nation to throw a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch. Sign up here between now and September 29. If you’re selected as one of the 50 hosts, you’ll receive a copy of the book plus two other Revell titles (give them away as party prizes or door prizes or keep them for yourself), a complete party kit, and a discount code to purchase copies of Christmas at Rose Hill Farm for your book club at a discount. Suzanne is also encouraging each book club brunch to collect non-perishable items for their local community shelter. She will be making a donation to her favorite charity (helping abused women and children) for every brunch that meets their goal. Click here for more details and to SIGN UP!

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 29th to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

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Pictures of Brianna

The other night, when the light was just right, I headed outside with a couple of the kids to take pictures.

Brianna is a fun and cooperative model, even when the sun is right in her eyes.

It seems like a good idea to capture a few shots of her, as she changes from homeschooler to high school kid.

School is going well for her so far.  There's always a new story or some drama to hear about on the way home.

Shall we get artsy and call this "Teetering on the Brink of Womanhood"?

My pretty girl.

She doesn't realize how beautiful she is.  It's got to be hard to be in Annaliese's shadow.

The next four years will be full of ups and downs, I'm sure.

But at the end of them, we'll have another grown up.

I wonder who she will be when she emerges from her chrysalis.

A lovely, talented, fun young woman.

Ready to face the world.

Wherever it may take her.

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All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes KINDLE GIVEAWAY

Seriously cute book.  I devoured this one in just a couple of days. All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes is the story of Kat, who feels unappreciated by her family, and perhaps a little pale in comparison to her pageant-winning sister, and Lucas, her best friend ever since school days, who coaches the small town Louisiana high school football team.

Kat is bored.  She wants to be a baker, a real baker, and she creates interesting flavor combinations on her own time.  But at work, in her aunt's cupcake shop, it's vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.  Every.  Single.  Day.

Until Lucas enters her into a contest.  When Kat gets the email saying she's been chosen to be on Cupcake Combat, a reality TV show, competing against other bakers to create the best cupcakes, she's stunned.  Turning the tables on her old friend, she selects him to be her assistant on the show.

This will mean a week together in Los Angeles.

The problem is, they're each attracted to the other, but afraid of saying or doing anything, because neither wants to risk ruining things between them.

There's a ton of suspenseful tension between the characters as they second guess everything the other does.  There are also sweet moments, such as when the show flies in Lucas' team for the taping of the final episode, and they help produce dozens of cupcakes against a team of ballerinas in the final showdown.


Don't miss Betsy St. Amant's latest fiction release, All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes. A "sweet" tale of two best friends and the choices they make between dreams and a possible "sure thing," St. Amant's novel is sure to satisfy your romantic-fiction craving.

Betsy is celebrating with a fun Kindle giveaway and a Love & Cupcakes Facebook party! One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle
• All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 18th. Winner will be announced at the "Love & Cupcakes" Author Chat Party on 9/18. Betsy will be hosting a "sweet" book chat, giving away prizes, and answering questions from readers. She will also share an exclusive sneak peek at her next book project!

So grab your copy of All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes and join Betsy on the evening of September 18th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

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Our Second Week Of School

If I were to look at our second week of school merely from what we'd accomplished, I'd say it was a disaster.  Everybody was off on Monday, so no homeschooling happened then.  I was sick in bed Tuesday, so no homeschooling happened then.  Friday, Katie had surgery, so no homeschooling happened then.

Brianna has been playing the keyboard more lately, and in fact, changed from art to band at school last week.

Oh, the boys did draw pirate ships while we listened to Under Drake's Flag.

And math and spelling happened.

When asked what they learned this week, the boys talked about Julius Ceasar:  "I learned that two groups of people wanted to kill him!"  "I learned that Augustus Ceasar was Julius' nephew."  Okay, then.  I guess we did more than I realized.

In art, we learned about perspective and adding depth to a picture.

We drew train tracks receding into the horizon line, and Wally the Worm.

It's a good thing I can laugh at myself, because my example "artwork" always leaves something to be desired.  

The kids have been enjoying the Fruit Shoot drinks we got recently.  They've been saving up the bottles as they drink them, and have done bowling, target practice, and even taken the bottles on the trampoline (which they decided was not as fun as they thought it would be).  PLEASE CLICK HERE to find out more about the Stunt Hunt and learn how you can get a free bottle of Fruit Shoot and/or a free Waboba ball.

Looking forward to next week, we start homeschool co op tomorrow!  Luke has appointments at the MIND Institute and at Shriners, as well as Picture Day at school.  Hannah will be tracking off Friday (half day), so she'll be home for 3 weeks starting the 15th.  It will be nice for Katie to have Hannah around the house to play with.

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