Posts tagged kids know stuff

A Confession

6
November 17, 2008
by Abby in

I think I might be a sci-fi/fantasy fan. I don’t know. I’m not sure. There are signs. My love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, for instance. I thought that was just dabbling, you know? Everybody dabbles, right? But then I read an interview with Neil Gaiman on Goodreads and I thought, “My, but Good Omens sounds like a wonderful book.” And so I read it. And it was the best book I’d read in a long time. And I read Preludes and Nocturnes. (A comic? Shut your mouth!) And now I’m reading everything Neil Gaiman. After Good Omens and Preludes and Nocturnes, it was Coraline. I made the girls listen to the audio version on the Halloween road trip to Michigan. They were creeped out, but once they heard the ending, they wanted to hear it again and I was filled with glee. I’m not a re-reader or a re-listener, but I couldn’t wait to listen to Coraline again. And then Lena found a graphic novel version of it at the library and did a review of it on Kids Know Stuff. In the meantime, I checked out American Gods (excellent) and Neverwhere (extra excellent).

You would think that just the fact that I’ve been reading all of these books would tip me off to my new genre obsession, but it wasn’t until I saw that Neil Gaiman linked to Lena’s review of Coraline that I realized my true feelings. The thrill I felt upon seeing that was completely uncalled for. First, I did a little dance. Then, I sang a little song. Next, I reserved more Neil Gaiman from the library. Finally, I admitted to myself that I am a sci-fi/fantasy fan and it’s time to watch Battlestar Galactica and the complete X-Files.

I’m just surprised because I usually read Ya-Ya Sisterhood-type books, you know? Because that’s who I am. But it’s super refreshing to read these books with plot points that don’t revolve around an abused woman/child who finally learns her worth and sets her husband/father on fire or something. It’s a whole new world.

So fill me in. If I like Neil Gaiman, who else will I like?

And another giveaway at Kids Know Stuff will post today at noon. I’m not revealing anything, but it will have something to do with super healthy, tasty and fun Goji cereal. (Cereal for Christmas? Shut your mouth!) Trust me, you want to win this giveaway!

Miles and Miles of Smothers Brothers

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November 11, 2008
by Abby in

I’ve been listening to the Smothers Brothers on my runs lately. They give new meaning to the phrase “fun run.” I love them. I giggle. And I love running in the fall. When it’s cold enough that you need gloves at first, but then you can take them off after a little while? That’s the best time of year. And my forehead sweat has stopped blinding me by pouring into my eyes. Thank you, cool weather.  In the summer, if I forget to make a little barrier with various petroleum-based products then I go blind with my drippy, drippy sweat. Have you ever tried to dry your eyes with a tech shirt? It’s not comfy. It’s supposed to wick sweat away, but I guess that doesn’t mean you can use it for a towel.

Ok, so I’m pimping Kids Know Stuff again because we’re going to be doing lots of giveaways over the next couple of months and I love you guys and I want you to win some stuff so you don’t have to buy stuff for the holidays. We’re running a two-fer right now even! Dawn made the site all gorgeous. Thanks Dawn! (Dawn from Open Book Strategies, not Dawn from This Woman’s Work. Wait, maybe they’re the same person. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen them in the same room together even though I’m good friends with both of them. And they both have the same last name. Weird. Must look into that.) Anyway, go look at what Dawn can do. And then bow to her.

It’s About Homeschooling, I Swear.

2
November 6, 2008
by Abby in

You could put that Will.I.Am Yes We Can song on a cat food commercial and it would make me cry. Here it is trying to make Lena and Liberty’s review of Nikki Grimes’ Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope review less, well, boring. It was the end of the day and neither of them was really into doing the review, but just like the Gosselins, we don’t have child labor laws in this house so I made them do it. And it was boring. And I told them it was boring and they were like, “Yeah? Well? It’s a boring book.” And then I called them racist and sent them to bed.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter if it’s a boring book. It’s important to learn about important people in history. And now that he’s our president, I felt comfortable putting it on Kids Know Stuff. I didn’t feel comfortable before because I thought somebody would see it and then make me review that John McCain book by his heir-head daughter. I just can’t support Meghan McCain. As a daughter from my dad’s first marriage, it enrages me that she excluded Sen. McCain’s first marriage and her own half-brothers (half-, not even step-) from the book. Plus, she’s super rich and not that talented. I heard her once on NPR and she was all, “Like, yeah, it was super sweet writing that, like, book about my, um, dad and stuff?” And then I punched the car radio in the face.

Why am I still talking about politics? I’m not, I’m talking about my kids. That’s why this post is going under the “I Homeschool” category and not “I Like Politics?” I homeschool. And part of homeschooling is Kids Know Stuff. And part of homeschooling is being called racist by your mother. They have to learn.

Tired of Politics? Pass the Time by Winning a Book!

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November 4, 2008
by Abby in

I know you’re tired of politics, but too bad! One more day!

In the meantime, go sign up for the giveaway at Kids Know Stuff. I’m sure there are kids in your life that you don’t really like, but you have to buy something for for whatever winter holiday you celebrate, right? Perfect! Win something and then you don’t have to waste your money. I’ll never tell! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling the kids what your favorite children’s book is and you could win The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry. You can even have your kids leave a comment, too.

By the way, my husband got to the polls (at Overbrook church for you locals) this morning at 6:15 and didn’t get out of there until 7:10. I voted weeks ago and couldn’t convince him that the lines would be horrible. I’ll be gloating some.

Sprout Soup Made My Ovaries Quiver

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October 24, 2008
by Abby in

Maya has a new review up over at Kids Know Stuff. And, if you’re into that kind of thing, there’s a free printable Sudoku-like puzzle for the little ones. Or for big ones who have trouble with that sort of thing. Like me. It gave me a surge of pride when I completed the puzzle after a few tries on my first try. Print one out for yourself and your kid and you could race and then gloat because you won. Unless you’re me and you’re racing against Maya. She’s smarter than I am. It hurts.

Last night, we checked out the new Sprout Soup mother, baby, and child store. It gave me baby lust. Well, baby product lust, anyway. The slings, the diapers, the baby leg warmers. *sigh* It all makes me want to start over with a brand-new, fresh, un-ruined baby. Especially the baby leg warmers. If you are having a baby and I am obligated to buy you a gift, it will be baby leg warmers. And don’t tell Maya, but I’ve got my eye on the Wooden Spinny Speller for a stocking stuffer for her. Actually, I think she might outgrow 3-letter words by Christmas. Maybe I’ll go get it today. I don’t want the last baby to outgrow Sprout Soup before I have a chance to buy up the joint. They also have some cool stuff from Baying Hound, another local entrepreneur. Local! And for those of you who aren’t local, don’t buy local! That’s silly. You’re not helping anybody when you buy local. You could just buy from the sites that are local to me.

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