Dragon Slayers' Academy

I remember mentioning that we are now reading a new chapter series.  This chapter book series is called Dragon Slayers' Academy by Kate McMullan.  Most chapter series books now a days do not require you to read in sequential order but we found book 1 and began with that.  When we finished, MD happened to pick up book #14 during our library visit (we go twice a week after he gets out of school to pass the time before we pick up MG).  They had a blast reading book #14 because it went in detail on how to speak Pig-Latin.!

You see, Wiglaf, the main character of the story in book #1 goes off to Dragon Slayers' Academy to become a somebody -- a hero.  His parents agree, hoping he will being gold to the family (because apparently, dragons have gold hidden in their caves and if you slaye one, you can keep the gold!). Wiglaf is a kind young boy, with 11 brothers who torment him, so he finds comfort in speaking to the family pig.  While heading to the school, Wiglaf and his pig, Daisy, run into a "not so wise" wizard, who puts a spell on Daisy and now she speaks Pig-Latin!

This is a great series!  We have decided to go back and read the books in order -- it's easier to keep track that way.  We've read 1-5 and looking for #6 still!  Just this weekend, we finished 7 and 8.  They are now interested in learning more about knights, castles, and dragons!  So Saturday morning, while daddy had to go into work (don't get me started!), we began building our castle... out of recycled materials!

More to come.....

This Morning... Little Amadeus

Matt and Leo bought this for the children for Christmas and they LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!  Since M&M are a bit under the weather -- mostly because MG brought home "something" from school Monday afternoon... so we are taking it easy.

I love that the children appreciate classical  music more these days. (Even E walks around humming the music!)  Overall, it's kind of funny and somewhat silly.  Little Amadeus is a bit adventurous and often gets into trouble.  Sometimes it's hard to really see what is factual and what is made up for the sake of entertainment.  I do not know enough about Amadeus so I probably should read up!  (We are planning a quick trip to the library this afternoon, you know what I will be checking out!)   There is also a villain in the story that I don't particularly like because he is always trying to sabotage the family when they are on a trip or getting ready to perform. He uses the words, "stupid" and "idiot" often and I am NOT a fan of those words, so we discuss them ahead of time.  I remind them that movies have to use these words sometimes, but WE do not use them!  We discuss that in every story line there must be a villain so that the main character (Amadeus) must somehow solve the problem and then the story can have a happy ending!  

Today we are going to use the accompanying CD-Rom full of activities and lesson plans (for me!).  I will continue to review.  But this is a great introduction to classical music.  Thank you, again, Matt and Leo!

Dry Hands?!

Most of you know me and have seen first hand how dry and cracked my hands are... I call them my "man hands."  Although I should be embarrassed because I bet most men have better looking and feeling hands than I do!  (Vince, for one, has better hands than I do!)  With the changing of the seasons, the wind blowing (spring is awful on my hands!), cleaning meat (I hate touching meat!), taking a shower (maybe the bar of soap I hold?), being near children (CONSTANT hand washing!), hot water (because I have this theory that hot water cleans everything?!)... etc, etc, etc.

Clare gave me this last year... it was from her friend Arlene.  I think Clare said Arlene bought it at a farmer's market.  I LOVE it!!!!  My hands have never felt better.  I use it once a day - as I am waiting at a red light on the way to school in the morning to drop MG off.  I lather it on and my hands stay pretty soft the rest of the day!  It's pretty amazing!

I will have to order my own once I use this all up -- maybe in a few more months.  So, it has lasted a whole year!  That my friend, is well worth the price!  And I saw that they have lip moisturizer too!  I could sure use that!

Natural products... why not?!  You should give it a try too!

I should email this company and thank them!