Kansas City

It seems like I never find the time to sit down and update much anymore.  I have never gotten back into a groove after our move and not being on the TOS Crew anymore keeps blogging further back in my mind I think.  I keep thinking I'm going to do better and then the next thing I know - 2 or 3 weeks have gone by with NO update...   I'm working on that!  I promise!

 Anyway, last week we headed up to Kansas City.  We had to meet up with our adoption caseworker.  We are still slowly working on our homestudy and heading toward the adoption process.  Yes, I know it has been over a year since we started this process...  I'm not sure why we are moving so slow?  I guess we are just not feeling a sense of urgency?  But, that is a blog posting for another time.  This week we went to Kansas City, met up with our caseworker and then made an afternoon of it.

LDS Family Services in Independence is within walking distance of the visitors center.  Since there was nothing to do for the kids but wait, I walked down with them to the visitors center while James had his personal interview.  (Poor guy, he waited in the waiting room for me while I had mine.  I heard the kids cried over sharing the iPad and then had to have a time out...)  Anyway, the vistors center in Independence is really amazing.  They had a play area that made passing the time very pleasant.  A small playhouse, covered wagon, a "well", a chicken coop, etc had the girls role-playing "pioneer children" for an hour.

 

 

 

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson {Deseret Book/Shadow Mountain Review}

Ooooh!  I LOVE a good romance novel.  You know I do.  I was so excited to see a couple of things with this new book.  First it was a new book in Shadow Mountain's "Proper Romance" line.  You know what that means....clean yet wonderfully swoon-worthy!  Not only was it a new Proper Romance but it was a new book from Julianne Donaldson!  You may remember my review of her last book Edenbrooke?  Well-- this one is amazing too!  I'm excited to tell you about it!

Kate "Kitty" Worthington is determined to never marry.  She bides her time waiting to go on a promised and long desired trip to Blackmoore, the estate of her dear friends Henry and Sylvia, Kate knows that once she escapes the confines of her home and the weight of her oppressive mother she can at last be free.  Free from marriage to a wretched old man, free from her tedious life and free to go to India with her aunt Charlotte. 

Kate's sly mother has other plans for her though, telling Kate that she will be free to go to India only if she receives 3 proposals of marriage and declines them during her visit to Blackmoore.  Kate thinks that her mother's bargain shouldn't be too hard...until she arrives at Blackmoore.  Upon arrival she discovers that she wasn't really invited and Henry's intended bride is there as well bringing long suppressed emotions to both Kate and Henrys friendship.   Afraid that her plans to travel with her aunt are in jeopardy, Kate asks Henry, her friend, confidante, and the man who has secretly held her heart since childhood to help her...with unexpected results.

I really don't want to tell you much more for fear I will spoil the book!  

A true Regency romance, Blackmoore is an 

addictive read that will have you 

laughing, crying and romantically sighing...

Blackmoore currently retails in paperback on DeseretBook.com for $14.39, as a Bookshelf eBook for $8.99, or as an audio book for $29.69.

To learn more about the author, visit Julianne Donaldson Facebook page!

Disclaimer: Thank you so much to Deseret Book and Shadow Mountain for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book to review.  All opinions expressed herein are my very own!

The Not Even Once Club {Deseret Book Review}

The Not Even Once Club is a cute children's book that helps kids make good choices when it comes to the commandments.  Written by Elder Russell M. Nelsons wife, Wendy Watson Nelson, and fantastically illustrated by Brandon Dorman, this book is perfect for children of all ages.

In this picture book, new-kid-in-the-ward, Tyler visits his new primary friends in their tree house club for the very first time.  At first perplexed by the "NEO" carved on the door he quickly realizes that the carving stands for "Not Even Once," the secret code word that gets him in the door to this club his friends are inviting him to join.  After entering the clubhouse Tyler's new friends offer him some surprising things....like coffee and alcohol!  "Haven't they heard of the Word of Wisdom?" Taylor wonders.  Then understanding dawns as he hears his friends answer to the coffee, tea, and alcohol.  "Not even once!" they respond emphatically.  Happy and relieved to hear his friends agree to the Word of Wisdom Tyler realizes he passed the test to join the Not Even Once Club.  He receives a special certificate with a pledge agreeing to follow the commandments and is officially welcomed into the club!

This book is a perfect fit for family home evening!  The final page offers a guide for parents and children where the principles of the gospel, modesty & pornography, obedience and repentance are broken down into sections for discussion.  Quotes, references to talks from The Friend, and scripture references offer a lot of insight into just how important it is to our Heavenly Father that we stay away from the things that will cause us spiritual and physical harm.  A free downloadable certificate (like the one above) is available as well as more comprehensive questions for older children!

The Not Even Once Club currently retails as a hardcover at DeseretBook.com for $17.09. 

Disclaimer:  Thank you so much to Deseret Book for providing me this cute book in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my very own.

PreK in Pictures with Maggie

Here are some fun pictures of Maggie doing her "school work."  She loves it and she is smart as a whip!  She can count to 20, she knows all her colors and shapes.  She knows her alphabet and all of her letter sounds.  I'm really proud of her!

 "Shape Up Time" with Miss Liston...from her BJU K4 video class.

 

 

 

 

Character Corner Facebook Party!

I love, love, LOVE this time of year!  All of my favorite curriculum providers start having their annual Facebook Parties!  They always have fun Q & A, Product Reviews, interviews with authors, and best of all Giveaways!  I just wanted to quickly share in case anyone is interested in attending this one.  Hosted by Character Corner the Facebook Party is tomorrow (September 5th) from 7-9pm Eastern Time.  All you have to do is "like" the Character Corner facebook page, and meet there during the party.  Hit refresh often and have fun!  See you there!