Take a stand

This morning while browsing Facebook I saw one of my friends liked a photo from the Dave Ryan in the Morning Show.  Dave Ryan is a popular Radio show on 101.3 KDWB out of the Twin Cities.

Here is the caption on the photo - "Arizona's Queen Creek High School has an undefeated football team this season . . . and the team's quarterback, Carson Jones, is taking a stand against bullying. Chy Johnson is a 16-year-old special-needs student at the school who was being bullied . . . because she has a brain disorder called microcephaly, which makes her head smaller than normal. Earlier this year, some girls threw garbage on Chy during lunch. So Chy's mother emailed Carson and asked him if he could find out who was picking on her daughter. Instead, Carson took matters into his own hands. He invited Chy to sit with the team at lunch the next day. She's had lunch with them every day since. They also keep an eye on her in the hall, to make sure there's no trouble between classes."

This story gave me goosebumps from head to toe.  What an amazing teenager!  Bullying is such a problem.  All it takes is one person to stand up for someone being bullied and it can change things.  What can you do?  Follow Carson's example and reach out to someone.  Be a friend to someone in need. 

Usborne has a new title about bullying.  I haven't had a chance to read it yet but the reviews have been wonderful about it.

Introducing: I am Jack by Susanne Gervay

Jack likes going to school until George Hamel calls him “Butt Head,” and all the other kids start to do it too. He’s in trouble. Will someone help?

Here are some reviews: 

What an amazing book! As the mom of a daughter who was bullied in middle school (I'm just know learning the extent of it, some 7 years later), I was moved by the powerful description of a boy desperately trying to maintain a normal face at home, while facing such indescribable abuse at school. This book will definitely have a powerful impact on its readers.

From: iheartbooks3@gmail.com | Date: 7/3/2012 8:36 AM

Every parent, teacher and student should read this book. It should be read together and discussed. It is so simple and yet so common. Being bullied is so very horrible for a young person and their emerging self esteem. Bullying is real. Read this book! Maybe, just maybe it will help a to be bully not say the joke that really is not funny. Or maybe it will give the friend the courage to tell someone that can help. Or what if the victim found the courage to look the bully in the face and say no.

From: Nicole.UsborneBooks@gmail.com | Date: 7/6/2012 11:57 PM

Touching, True Story! This is such a powerful, true story... anyone can relate to, no matter if you've been bullied, were a bully or simply have been around this type of situation. It's told from the point of view of this sweet boy who is being taunted at school and simply cannot take it anymore. A very timely tale that should be read by everyone!

From: heyjadebooks@gmail.com | Date: 7/14/2012 9:41 PM

WOW. My 7 yr old daughter and I just got done reading this book tonight. It is about Jack, a boy who is being bullied in school. Author Susanne Gervay brilliantly combined fun humor and brave truth to create a book that MUST be put into all kids' hands!! Over the last few nights of reading this book, we laughed out loud (HARD at times!!), we talked about bullying in an understandable way, and I fought back the tears through half the book.

Books are SO powerful...the journey they take us on can change our lives. I am not exaggerating the effect of this book...if you have school-age kids in your life, you will not only want THEM to read it, YOU will also want to! This will be an excellent tool for any school/organization that wants to bring awareness to bullying!

From: troachbooks@gmail.com | Date: 7/18/2012 1:38 AM

Today's Cyber Time

In today's Cyber world do you follow anyone?  You know, like their blog or listen to a podcast.  After a while you feel like you know them.  You check in with them weekly (or daily) and after a while you know them. 

I have several podcasts that I really enjoy.  Almost anything by NPR, Mothcast, and This American Life.  Another of my favorites is Manic Mommies.  I think I've been listening to them a long time.  They have 317 episodes out.  Like watching your favorite tv show... after a while you know the "Characters".  You can relate with them.  It's almost like you're in the room with a glass of wine and visiting with them.  I have laughed out loud countless times while listening to these wonderful women.  They are smart, professional, successful, loving, hardworking and inspiring!

Please take the time to check them out.  You will enjoy them too!!

Learning Letters

Amanda has been working hard at learning her letters.  She is so eager to learn her letters and be a "big kid". We've been using Handwriting without Tears as her lesson and practice book.  I wish I would have started this with Jacob when He was her age.  He has some bad habits in forming his letters.  We are working on them.

hum.....

so carefully!

Yeah!

Not on the right lines but making progress.

Dodge the ball

As a Crazy Book Lady it's hard to get one-on-one time with my kids.  On Tuesdays and Wednesdays Amanda has dance class at Vogel Arena.  Jacob likes to come along and hit the Racquetball in the court while we wait.  I have to admit I am very tempted to sit on my rear and knit during this time while he is busy.  If fact, sometimes I look forward to this 40 minutes of just sitting. 

Last week I reluctantly let him drag me into the Racquetball Court.  I AM SO GLAD HE DID.  We had so much fun and laughed so hard.  What a meatball!

Come on Mom!

Ouch!

Smash it as hard as you can!

Your turn!

and She swings!

Crazy Book Lady with a Racquet!!  Watch out!

Trying Hard!

Like this Mom!

Too much fun!!

Little Vikes have arrived!!

I am excited to announce a new book for Usborne Books & More and Kane Miller Publishing.  We now have "A Little Vikes Football Story"!  I am so excited about this book!!

It is a beautifully illustrated hard cover book by Richard Torrey.  32 pages and great for 4-8 year olds.  (or any of you die hard Viking fans!!  You know who you are!)  Who wouldn't love this under their Christmas Tree!!
 

Click the link below to order your copy today!!

The story is about Drew and Zach and their adventures on their Football Team.  There is also guest appearances from Viktor the Viking!!  Book is available for purchase at my shop online or by contacting me.  Mr UPS man brought 25 copies yesterday!! :)

Little Football Story and New Title Little Vikes Football Story!

Inside Little Vikes Football Story!  See Viktor, Drew and Zach!!

Book Delivery Day!

Last week I received the free books that were earned for St. Paul's Lutheran School in New Ulm, Minnesota.  It was so exciting.  Randall thought it was exciting too!  He signed one of the boxes and left me a note. 

The Note I received from Randall!

Sorting Books for each teacher

On Wednesday my BHH (Book Hauling Husband) and I delivered books during my lunch hour.  Now I know I've said it before but I love this school and all the teachers.  I love them fierce.  They are so wonderful!  Doing a bookfair is a lot of work this was totally a labor of love for me.  Each of the teachers received the books that the students and parents bought off their wish lists.  They also split the $700.00 in free books that was earned based on 50% of the $1,400.00 bookfair.  The teachers and students were so excited!!  Who can blame them.  New books for everyone. 

Mrs. Meyers - Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Morgan - Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Ring - Jacob's 2nd Grade Teacher from Last year!

Mrs. Schone - Jacob's Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Schroeder - 1st and 2nd Grade

Mrs. Wendler - 3rd and 4th Grade

Mrs. Wolf - Jacob's Kindergarten Teacher and Amanda's Kindergarten teacher this year!

Reindeer Fun!

Our Monthly trainings are so important for me. They always get me pumped up again and remind me of the different area's of Usborne that are available for me to work with. It is always great to see my Supervisor and one of my best friends, Tracey too! She is an inspiration and I love working this with her. She has such a passion for Literacy and children.

We had a training meeting last night at Tracey's house.  Oh what fun!  I love getting together with these ladies and talking about our Usborne businesses.  We share success stories from our last events and home shows and support each other.  We help train the new consultants and remind each other of the things that we need to do to help grow our businesses and to continue to get wonderful books into children's hands.

I love our activity books.  I think it's great product knowledge to do a project from each book.  Each month I will be leading a craft/make-n-take project during our training meeting.  This time we worked on Reindeer.

Amanda and I sat down Sunday night and made some ourselves. She did an amazing job. Her cutting, tracing and drawing skills are really coming along. This crafty Mama is very proud.

Amanda cutting out her circle!

 

 A little bit of glue!!

Tracing so carefully!

 

Amanda's finished Reindeer!!

 

 

 These pictures were from the training meeting. Jessica and Leslie had a great time making the Reindeer. Jessica is quite the little artist!!

 

Bonnie working on her Antlers!

 

 

Sara having a great time while cutting out her Reindeer head!

 

 

 Tracey putting the string through for the hanger and the feet.