Things I don't post on Facebook

I value honesty, but when it comes to facebook I sometimes feel like I'm lying somehow because I mostly seem to be post the happy positive things in my life, thus deceiving people that my life is all sunshine and roses.  Well I just want everyone that I am not perfect and neither is my life.  I certainly have my ups and downs and I usually tend to document the ups and avoid the downs.  But today I'm going to allow myself to be vulnerable.  Here glimpse of the not so happy things in my life right now.  I'm not looking for pity.  I'm just trying to be honest.


I don't post pictures of...

• My parking ticket
• My son, Sam, throwing a fit when he can't watch Dragon Tales
• The pee puddles my dog Ginny leaves on the kitchen floor.
• Selfies of me shaving my mustache in the bathroom mirror. (yes I grow a few hairs on my upper lip)

I don't post statuses like:

• I HATE football season!!! I just want to watch movies and play games with my husband, but he is having an affair with football (particularly with the OU Sooners.)  Can you blame me for getting jealous? 
• I seem to spend half my life looking for things. I feel like I have Alzheimer's or something. Yesterday I found my camera in the kitchen food cabinet and the book I'm currently reading in my underwear drawer!  I cannot blame Sam for these misplacements.
• I wish I wasn't so addicted to facebook. It's pathetic the way I hover over the computer waiting for people to like or comment on my stuff.
• The other day Samuel knocked a little two year olds toys away from him just to be mean and make him cry. I just wanted to walk away and pretend he wasn't my son. 
• Sometimes I feel unreasonable contempt for the world and everyone in it.

Whew!  Glad I got that off my chest!  This post is a bit of a downer so let me just say that most of the time I love my life and I love my family and I love this mad, crazy world we live in.  I just want everyone to know that I have my moments.  We all have them.  That's what makes us human.

Picture Book Picks of the Week

 My Pick of the Week

Title:  Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Author and Illustrator:  Simms Taback

Review:  This book is terrific.  The story is about a Jewish man whose overcoat gets old and worn so he turns it into a jacket, then vest, etc, etc.  It inspires one to be resourceful while simultaneously learning about Jewish culture.

Sam's Pick of the Week

Title: Looking for a Moose

Author:  Phyllis Root

Illustrator:  Randy Cecil

Review:  Samuel wants me to read this book over and over again.  I wouldn't mind only this book gets me all tongue tied!  I was reminded of Dr. Seuss's "Fox in Socks."  Otherwise it's great!  The illustrations are unique and eye catching, and obviously kids love it.  

Morning Tranquility

Prisms in the window

Rainbows on the floor

Dishes on the counter

From the night before.

Muffins in the oven

Coffee in the pot

Sleepy kitten nestled

In a sunny spot.

Tulips on the table

Friendly smile at me,

And outside on the porch

Sings a chickadee

With slippers on my feet

And curlers in my hair

I grab a book of poems

And curl upon a chair

Peace is hard to come by

But it is often found

In the morning sunrise

And dewdrops on the ground.

Picks of the Week

I've moved on from the "R" section of the library to the "S's".  Here are mine and Sam's two favorites from this week.

My Pick

Book Title: Where's Walrus
Author & Illustrator:  Stephen Savage
Review:  This wordless picture relies fully on it's illustrations.  Usually I like picture books that I can actually read aloud, but this one is the exception.  The walrus is so incredibly adorable and the illustrations are so simple and unique that I can't help falling in love.  

Sam's Pick of the Week

Title: There are Cats in this Book

Author & Illustrator: Vivian Schwarz

Review:  Utterly delightful interactive book .  Inside the book are three adorable cats who tell the kids things to do like “turn the page!” or “Open the box.”  Samuel just could not get enough of this book!  The book is cleverly written in a style similar to a cat’s behavior, distracted and playful.  It’s perfect.

Picks of the Week

My husband, son, and I have recently moved to Champaign, Illinois where my husband is pursuing his Ph.D in economics.  One thing I absolutely love about this city already is their public library!  I am certain I have never seen so many picture books in one place my entire life.  I was in heaven.  Starting with the "R" section I brought home 16 picture books for this week's reading.

I decided to do a weekly picture book review of gems I find at the library every Monday.  Each week I will feature my favorite and Sam's favorite.  I hope you'll enjoy.

 My Pick of the Week

Title:  Michael Rosen's Sad Book

Author: Michael Rosen

Illustrator: Quentin Blake (the same guy who illustrates Roald Dahl's books)
Review:  I would say this is more of a picture book for adults rather than a children's book.  The book is about the author's struggle after the death of his son.  It is so beautiful, so simple, and so incredibly sad.  I actually started crying right there in the library.  I have never known a picture book to affect me so powerfully.  When I am not the poor person I am now I will certainly be buying this book to add permanently to my collection.

Sam's Pick of the Week

Title:  Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

Author: Sherri Duskey Rinker

Illustrator: Tom Litchenheld

Review:  This is a story about trucks going to bed.  What little boy wouldn't love this book!  The illustrations are adorable and it is written in perfect rhyme.  I can certainly see why it was a #1 New York Times Bestseller. 

Thanks for reading!  I would love to form some kind of community where every Monday we share reviews of terrific picture books.  Come share your favorite picture books with me.  The more people on board the merrier!   

Football Practice

As I waited to pick my sister Shelly up from soccer today I watched the high school football team practice, and was inspired to write this poem.

Dirt smeared jerseys the color of piss

stretch over bowling ball deltoids.

Chunky legs are packed tight into grass-stained leggings.

Let the putrid mass of sweat 

and physical colliding of bodies begin!

Photo courtesy of the Colorado Springs Gazette

Classics Picture Books: the ones I love, the one's my son loves, and the ones I could do without.

As many of you have probably noticed, I love to make lists.  I also love to read picture books.  This post is the result.  Today I will be focusing on the classics, but stay tuned because tomorrow I will be posting lists of hidden gems.

Classics I Love

1. Chrysanthemum - Kevin Henkes
2. The Stinky Cheese Man - Lane Smith 
3. Bedtime for Frances - Russel Hoban
4. Strega Nona - Tomie dePoala
5. The Velveteen Rabbit - Margery Williams
6. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas - Dr. Suess
7. Blueberries for Sal - Robert McCloskey
8. On the Night You were Born - Nancy Tillman
9. The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein
10. The Mitten - Jan Brett

(More Importantly) Classics My Son Loves

1. No David - David Shannon
   
2. Ferdinand - Munro Leaf
3. Go Dogs Go! - P. D. Eastman
4. Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak
5. The Big Red Barn - Margaret Wise Brown
6. The Napping House - Audrey Wood
7. Love You Forever - Robert Munsch
8. Freight Train - Donald Crews
9. Are You My Mother - P. D. Eastman
10. Brown Bear, Brown Bear - Eric Carle

Before you read this next list I feel like I should apologize if you have a favorite book on here.  I realize these books have been made classics for reason, but I'm just not crazy about them.  My son doesn't seem too eager to pull them off the shelf either.

Classic I Could do Without

1. Goodnight Moon - Margaret Wise Brown
2. The Very Hungry Catepillar - Eric Carle
3. The Cat in the Hat - Dr. Seuss
4. Curious George - Margaret Rey
5.  Jumangi - Chris Van Allsburg
6. Caps for Sale - Esphyr Slobodkina
7. Harold and the Purple Crayon - Crockett Johnson
8. Corduroy - Don Freeman
9. The Little Engine that Could - George and Doris Hauman
10. Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel - Virginia Lee Burton