by Sarah | Feb 5, 2014 | All About Family, All About Ripley, All of Us
For a few years now I’ve wanted a dog. I just thought our family was one-shy of completion.
A month ago we made an attempt to adopt an adorable little girl. The shelter was rude, horrible, and left us with a bad taste in our mouths and worries we wouldn’t find another.
Then last week I dared peek again at a different shelter. I found an beautiful mixed breed mutt that seemed perfect. We filled out an application and went in to meet the lovely lady at the adoption center. However, when we walked in, I saw this face:
I knew right then.
She was the one. It helped that when we looked at the list of available dogs–Erik wanted to meet her, not the pup I had my eye on.
Within 24 hours we brought her home.
We’ve renamed her “Ripley” (as in Ellen Ripley of the Alien movie franchise, Erik’s favorite movie).
She’s smart.
Sweet.
And a total mama’s girl.
I’m in heaven.
The kids are too.
And despite her sad history, I think Ripley is fitting in perfect into our little family.
We feel complete.
Like a hole has been filled.
I think you’ll be seeing a lot more of Ripley around these blog parts. 😀
As a side note, I also would have been happy w/ a cat, but my allergies would never allow it. ~sigh~
Also, I’m now going to look into volunteering at this shelter. They were so amazing.
by Sarah | Nov 30, 2013 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Clever Girls
Up until now our Wii got most of its use from watching movies, or the teenager playing one of his games. There was only one or two games that we could all get into.
Then we got a hold of this one…Just Dance Kids 2014.
I have to admit when I first read the back I got a little excited when I saw “Make it Shine” from Victorious on there…plus a song by Ariana Grande. I’m such a closet (or not so closet anymore) Victorious lover. It’s one of the shows I miss now that we aren’t on cable. 😀
So this week we brought out the Wii for something we all could play – and play we ALL did…even the teen!!
The girls, of course, got first run and boy did they tear it up, to several songs, including “Make it Shine”.
Then it was time for Erik and I to play.
And wouldn’t you know…we did THE HUSTLE!! Â It was a laugh-riot getting Erik into the mix and doing The Hustle with me. Both of us were laughing by the time it was done, and were reluctant to return the remotes back over!
Then, with a little nudging and encouragement we actually got the teenager to play along. It was only for a game, but I know that he’d never admit how much fun he had.
The girls kept playing for another good hour before we settled down and got ready for bed. By the next day they were begging to play again…and we were all too happy to oblige. Â The game is addicting, and clean fun, and everyone enjoys playing it. Â I have a feeling the Wii will stay out of hiding for a good long while now.
As you can see, the girls LOVED it. Â They were all too happy to lend their review once I managed to get their attention away from the game!!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
by Sarah | Nov 20, 2013 | All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Books, Clever Girls, Giveaway, Giveaway, Reviews
We LOVE reading in this house.
I mean really, REALLY love it.
The day I told the girls I had brand new books for them to read was a party and a half. They were so excited, and when we cracked open the books from the “Travels with Gannon & Wyatt” series it was all over.
I mean, it’s ANIMALS!
The girls immediately dove in and scanned for pictures first, because the pictures of the live animals (the alligator was a big hit for our little alligator), and they couldn’t wait to see every one of them.
Once they’d settled down we sat down to read.
The stories are told in journal form, with separate entries by both Gannon & Wyatt, which make for short “chapters” perfect for my ADD readers.
I also love that each of the entries start with a great learning opportunity (or 2). Â They list the location – with a longitude and latitude. Temperatures and weather listings are there too. Â These gave me and the girls some great chances to talk about what these things are, and find a map (~cough~ or a computer ~cough~) to look them all up. Of course, there’s all the animals, which my kids LOVE. Â Oh, and at the end, there’s a few pages with spots for journal entries. Â The girls are dying to take a trip to the zoo to use them!
Kennedy got to read first and eagerly dove in, and by the time she was home, she was dragging Molly over to join her.
Hearing Kennedy say words like “Botswana” and “Kalahari Dessert” at her young age, is so much fun. She’s having fun, she’s reading, and she’s learning.
Kennedy has taken a shining to the Botswana book. Â It has all the animals she loves. Elephants, alligators, rhinos and cheetah’s.
We love sitting down and devouring chapters as fast as she can.
I have a feeling these books are going to be long lasting around here, so much to read and learn, and the older they get, the more they’ll understand!
As you can see below, the girls HIGHLY recommend the books and want you to win a set of your own. (Look below the picture for how to win)
Gannon & Wyatt have a Facebook Page and a Twitter account you should really follow to keep up on their latest adventures!!
Giveaway Time!!
Entry is easy…
1. Leave a comment telling me what you love about these books and why you want them for your kid!! (required entry)
2. For an extra entry, tweet the following exactly (copy & paste should do it). ~optional extra entry
Travels with @GannonandWyatt, a review & a #Giveaway. Great books w/ learning opportunities! #GannonWyatt http://bit.ly/1ej1dZG @sadiecass
3. Pin this post using the giveaway picture & leave a comment with the link to the pin! ~optional extra entry
That’s it! Â The giveaway ends on 11/25 at 9AM. The winner will only have 24 hours to get back to me, as I must turn in your info by the 26th! Â There will be no second chances, as I have a deadline!
There is another giveaway over at my dear friend, Emily’s place if you want more chances to win, head on over there!
You should also know that Gannon & Wyatt are having a Kindle Fire Giveaway on their Facebook Page the month of November!! There’s still time to enter, so head on over!!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
by Sarah | Nov 10, 2013 | All About Denver, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us
by Sarah | Oct 28, 2013 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us
I’m a long time self-admitted geek of the Star Trek variety. Â I fell in love with Star Trek: TNG when I found it during its 4th season, and have never looked back.
Erik is both a sci-fi Aliens, Predator, Star Trek sort of Geek…and a horror Geek…and a few other Geeks I don’t understand.
Denver found Star Trek with the re-invention of Star Trek. He’s moved on to go back in time (thank you, Netflix) and watch EVERY episode of EVERY incarnation, swiped Erik’s movies to watch EVERY movie. The documentaries and anniversary specials, too. Â Since then he’s moved onto Battlestar Galactica, tried Dr. Who, and so on…
In the past eight or so months there’s a new sort of Geekling coming up in this house.
The girls are obsessed with all things Avengers.
Not just Avengers, though.
Comics.
They are making comics left and right – the one in this post was one of their first. One page, simple, with the battle of their beloved Avengers.
The obsession has grown so that their coloring books are painted on the front and back covers with comics. They swipe my printer paper and draw panels to fill in their stories. Â From super hero tales to stories about their cats…they are comic booking it up.
I, admittedly, am slightly clueless about comics. My Geek flag didn’t fly that far, even when I began my X-men addiction. I only have a few of those comics.
So we’ll venture into another realm of geekery.
Now…excuse me while I try to find some art classes for them…and seek out the perfect first comic for them both.
And considering their propensity to tear up anything they own, it will have to be one that it doesn’t matter if it ends up damaged.
by Sarah | Aug 15, 2013 | All About Denver, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Molly, All of Us
Yesterday I put the kids on the bus.
Denver is now a Sophomore. Â AÂ Sophomore.
Molly is now in Third.
Kennedy in Second.
Shortly after I put them on the bus, in the midst of de-lousing my house (a favorite activity when I have quiet) I discovered some pictures from when Denver was little – as far back as minutes after he was born.
Now he’s learning to drive (I weep).
Molly has big dreams of being a model and a superhero (Because they live in NYC, you know).
Kennedy is determined to be a teacher (and an author, bless her heart).
They are big, independent, strong and beautiful little girls.
Denver is almost a man.
They’re slipping away.
And I’m so conflicted about it, I never know when to be proud, or cry.
I knew right then.
