The Octonauts & the Frown Fish

Immedium Publishing recently send me The Octonauts & the Frown Fish to peruse and review with my girls. If you are a fan of Hello Kitty/Sanrio type art and cute little Japanese-style animated characters, this book should be right up your alley.

The Octonauts are eight little quirky characters that work together in the Octopod - their underwater vessel. For example, there is Sauci Dog, Nurse Peso Penguin, and Tweak Bunny just to name a few. Each character is cute and cuddly and looks like there should be a line of stuffed animals with their names on them. :) In this story, The Octonauts & the Frown Fish, these undersea travellers come across a new-to-them fish that is frowning. In their quest to help this fish, and wipe that frown off his face, they try all sorts of activities and work as a team to try and cheer him up!


My girls enjoyed this book and wanted more of these cute animal adventurers. There are three books in the series - this is the third - so I'll be on the lookout for them. If you have a little one that likes to color, I also recommend heading over to their website where you can print off color pages of different scenes from the book.

What's on My Nightstand :: July

Way too many books. That's the short answer of what's on the nightstand this month. I mentioned yesterday that I have been thoroughly enjoying the Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Child, but as a consequence, everything else is stacking up. I'm itching to get into some of those non-fiction books there soon, so I think several of them will be on tap for August starting with the one on the top : Elizabeth George's A Woman's Call to Prayer. (I've read this before, several years ago, but felt the tug to pull it off the shelf as we begin our first year of homeschooling next week.)

For more nightstand posts, and suggestions of what to read if you are at a loss, head over to 5 Minutes for Books.

(For those that can't tell the titles in the above stack they are, from top to bottom: A Woman's Call to Prayer, Not So Fast by Ann Kroeker, A Mother's Heart by Jean Fleming, The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson, For the Family's Sake by Susan Schaeffer McCaulley, Thrush Green by Miss Read, Chamomile Mourning by Laura Childs, The Duggars: 20 and Counting by The Duggars, and The Frontierman's Daughter by Laura Frantz.)

Previous Nightstands posts, if you still need more ideas of what to read:
May
February
January
November 08

Current: July 2009

Current Books: the Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Child. Thoroughly enjoying them. Can't say the same for her scrapbooking mystery series ... much edgier (set in New Orleans) and more profanity. Rats!

Current Playlist: Aaron Copland ... when I'm not listening to kid-tunes.

Current Shame: Great Value Trail Mix. Yummmmmm.

Current Color: Dark Orange. A color I can't wear at all, but I am wanting it everywhere else.

Current Fetish: Dreaming of things I want to do with the girls as they get a bit older ... road trips to take, places to see, activities, books to read, etc. Not that I am saying we are done with babies, but I've dreaming of things yet to come. :)

Current Drink: Diet Dr. Thunder from Walmart. My Diet Coke has been ridiculously expensive lately.

Current Food: Tomatoes and more tomatoes. The garden is flourishing in that department!

Current Favorite Favorite: This picture of my crew. Taken right after picking Daddy up at the airport from a long trip for work.

Current Wishlist: The return of my old routine of getting up before the girls. I've had a few weeks off but wishing won't make me get up in the morning. Only setting the alarm will do that!

Current Needs: Thanking God that there is nothing that we are without that we desperately need. I would like to order N1's science books this week, but I can be patient if necessary. :)

Current Triumph: Planning 6 weeks of fun social studies reading and such for the kindergartener. We. are. so. excited!!!!

Current Bane of my Existence: Procrastination. (Myself ... not others).

Current Indulgence: My husband. He's pretty darn fabulous. And the fun stuff we are working on for our anniversary this weekend. The big SEVEN. :)

Current Mood: Sleeeeeeepy.

Current #1 Blessing: My family.

Current Slang or Saying: ShoMama! (Something my husband says that now my girls say all. the. time.)

Current Outfit: capri jeans and a white t-shirt.

Current Excitement: Celebrating the anniversary this weekend. Plans are in the works...

Current Link: I think I posted all my good links on Saturday, so if you missed them, go here. :)

Weekend Links

~ I love these downloadable coloring books from Flipflops and Applesauce. They are perfect for the three year old that wants to do school with the big sister ... and she learns a letter or two along the way. :)


~ If you like having handwriting fonts on your computer go here ... and they are free. :)


~ a nifty tutorial on making small blank books. These would be perfect to make for party favors or small blank books for my girls to tote around with them!


~ homemade crackerjack ... what a super cool summer time snack or party snack for a child's birthday!


~ N1 and I have thoroughly enjoyed making lapbooks over the last year or so. Homeschool Share has a TON of new lapbooks, chapter book studies and little workbox projects for preschoolers on their site. I've spend a good bit of a rainy morning this week browsing and printing for the girls. :)

~ is it ever to early to think about Christmas? Links to a neat Daily December project/album both here and here.

Friday Felicities

Things that are making me happy this week:

• sleeping in a wee bit ... not my norm at all (and I'll be back to my early wake up time when school starts next week), but BBoo has figured out how to sleep until 7 a.m. and I've enjoyed that the last two mornings. :) (Note that I am not mentioning that my children have not figured out how to sleep through the night completely ... I'll take what I can get!)
• this unseasonably cool July weather.
• a husband that provides for our family so diligently and without complaint.
• these Tea Shop Mysteries! Besides being super fun mysteries they have RECIPES in the back! I'm dreaming of hosting a mother/daughter tea this fall around a certain soon-to-be-6-year-olds birthday. (Currently reading this one.) :)
• coffee and mini bagels.

Happy Friday! (Friday Felicities is hosted by Becky!)

The School Room

Laura left me a comment a few days ago about the maps that we put up in our school room ... I purchased our maps at Office Depot: Rand McNally's Laminated World Map and United States map. I wanted the laminted so we can write on them with transparency markers and stick them too them ... and hopefully get them off a little easier. :)

Maybe next week I can take pictures of our school room such as it is and post those ... this week we have been enjoying a few playdates with cousins and in my spare time I've been prepping school stuff. We start in a week and a half! :)

Things Left Unspoken by Eva Marie Everson

A simple mystery set in the south ... a family and a small town with a history that goes way back ... and an old house that sheds some light on the story while being restored. This was an enjoyable book that I would recommend if you are looking for something to finish up your summer with!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Things Left Unspoken
Revell (June 1, 2009)
by
Eva Marie Everson
ABOUT THE BOOK

Every family--and every house--has its secrets. Jo-Lynn Hunter is at a crossroads in life when her great-aunt Stella insists that she return home to restore the old family manse in sleepy Cottonwood, Georgia. Jo-Lynn longs to get her teeth into a noteworthy and satisfying project. And it's the perfect excuse for some therapeutic time away from her self-absorbed husband and his snobby Atlanta friends.

Beneath the dust and the peeling wallpaper, things are not what they seem, and what Jo-Lynn doesn't know about her family holds just as many surprises. Was her great-grandfather the pillar of the community she thought he was? What is Aunt Stella hiding? And will her own marriage survive the renovation? Jo-Lynn isn't sure she wants to know the truth--but sometimes the truth has a way of making itself known.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Things Left Unspoken, go HERE

Weekend Links

~ An easy way for me to lend a hand to my friends (while still caring for my family ) is to make meals to take to others. I'm not a cooking pro at all, so any tips that I find are ones that I store away for later, like these from 4 Reluctant Entertainers.


~ Speaking of meals, I can't decide about this Sausage & Gravy Breakfast Pizza. I'm tempted to try it! :)


~ I've read several posts this week about travel - from scrapbooking products inspired by travel to trips you can take through children's literature. I'm itching for a road trip. :)

Happy Weekend. :)

Through the Fire by Shawn Grady

Again, I haven't read this book yet ... I haven't received a copy yet! However, per my agreement with CFBA, here's is their summary and links for the book if you want to check it out. :)

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Through The Fire

Bethany House (July 1, 2009)

by

Shawn Grady
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shawn Grady signed with Bethany House Publishers in 2008. He was named “Most Promising New Writer” at the 39th Annual Mount Hermon Writers Conference. Through the Fire is his debut novel.

Shawn has served for over a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in northern Nevada. From fire engines and ambulances to tillered ladder trucks and helicopters, Shawn’s work environment has always been dynamic. The line of duty has carried him to a variety of locale, from high-rise fires in the city to the burning heavy timber of the eastern Sierras.

Shawn attended Point Loma Nazarene University as a Theology undergrad before shifting direction to acquire an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science Technology as well as Paramedic licensure through Truckee Meadows Community College.

Shawn currently lives in Reno, Nevada, just outside of Lake Tahoe. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife, three children and yellow Labrador.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Firefighting burns in Aidan O'Neill's blood. The son of a fireman, O'Neill has a sixth sense about fire and often takes dangerous risks. When one act of disobedience nearly gets a rookie killed, O'Neill is suspended. His weeks off are supposed to be a time to reflect but instead he escapes to Mexico, where another rash act of bravery actually kills him. But only for a few minutes.

Called back to Reno, he's now haunted by visions of hell and paralyzed in the face of fire. And at the worst time, because an arsonist is targeting Reno. With a growing love interest with one of the investigators complicating everything, Aidan must discover where his trust rests as the fires creep ever closer.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Through The Fire, go HERE

Friday Felicities :: July 17

~ T is coming home today!!!!

~ a good week with the girls!

~ coffee & diet coke ... what has kept me awake this week with a few late nights

~ new maps for our schoolroom

~ school starts in 2 weeks!

Link up at Becky's!

Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey

I just received this book in the mail and have not had time to read it ... I leave CFBA's review here for your perusal. This looks like Indiana Jones meets the high seas in a modern adverture novel to me. :)

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingPirate HunterBethany House (July 1, 2009)byTom Morrisey
ABOUT THE BOOK

High Seas Adventure Meets a High-Tech Quest for Pirate Gold West Indies, 18th century Young Ted Bascombe is rescued by notorious pirate Captain Henry Thatch, finding himself caught up in a world of crime, adventure, and a daily fight for freedom.... Key West, 21st century Marine archaeologist Greg Rhode embarks on a treasure-hunting expedition in the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys, but he's as beguiled by a beautiful diver with different-colored eyes as by the lure of pirate gold...The Hunt Is On! Interweaving these two stories, pro deep-sea diver Tom Morrisey spins a multilayered tale of two young men's quests to escape their past by losing themselves to adventure on the high seas. Romantic and thrilling, this unique novel explores the timeless truth that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

If you would like to read the first chapter of Pirate Hunter, go HERE