Focus....Learning to Read & Write

Such focus as he learns to write the words.


"Brave spelling" they call it.
I love that the word brave is involved.
It makes me feel like he's a little superhero, boldly embarking upon the glory of words.

And here's what he wrote:

Translation for those of you who can't quite make it out: "When I grow up I am going to be a rabbi. I will tutor with kids. I will work at Am Shalom."

It's a pretty neat feeling when your kids want to follow your footsteps. He's only 6, so who knows!

See more focus here...(and congrats, Stacy, on your new home...even though it wasn't exactly how you planned to get there!)

The People of the Book - A Must-Read!

Looking for my giveaway? Click here.

This week I read devoured a most wonderful book.

The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

The book tells a fictionalized story of the Sarajevo Haggadah, a book that was saved many times throughout its history -- through the Inquisition to the Nazis. The book jumped through many lands and time periods. In each, I held my breath, knowing that the Haggadah would somehow show up, would somehow tie itself into the story. The technical aspects of the book's restoration combined with the storytelling is just breathtaking. And the twist...! Divine.

And let me tell you -- I had only 2 chapters left when we turned out the lights. I laid in bed mulling over the book, I couldn't sleep! So I went downstairs, finished the book (20 minutes or so) and finally could rest. That's how good this book was.

This worked for me.
What are you reading?

Who's the parent, here?

This morning as I was getting ready to leave with David, my 6-year-old, he looked over my attire: a skirt, pantyhose, a coat and boots. About six inches of panty-hose-covered leg were left bare between the skirt and the top of the winter boots. (Mind you, it was 40 degrees out today)

He said: "Mom, aren't you going to be cold in that!?"

Me: "I think I'll be fine, honey."

Him: "Mom, I think you should put on pants."

Gosh, thanks kiddo...

It's wild to hear your words thrown right backatcha, isn't it?!

Don't forget my giveaway...right here!

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**DEADLINE EXTENDED***Princess Not in Need of Saving...Giveaway & BSM

**This giveaway is now closed. Check out my blog and come back in March for my Purim Party with another giveaway!** Winner announced shortly...

**UPDATE: Deadline extended to Friday, February 1 @ 8:00am**

As many of you know, my third child (after 2 boys) is a girl. As soon as she was born, pink stuff started to descend upon my house in glittery waves. Pink shirts, pink pants, pink shoes, pink socks -- pink, pink, pink. And along with it, things that said "Princess" all over them.

See more Best Shots here...

My feminist self reared up in annoyance. I looked over my own closet. There is only one pink shirt in there (and it's shoved to the back because I hardly ever wear it). Why did everyone feel a need to paint my baby girl pink? (in truth, her gorgeous blue eyes make BLUE her best color!) I'm worried enough about raising a strong, self-confident young woman... all this pink just seems to make me more stressed out, let me tell you. What exactly does "princess" entail? Not to mention that whole Jewish princess stereotype problem....

So I've thought about it. Because she sure is cute and let me tell you, some of those pink outfits are truly adorable. Here's my decision: I think that my daughter can wear adorable clothes and hair clips as long as I also give her strong lessons in girl power.

Which is why I'm so excited for this giveaway, which I feel blends adorable girl-stuff with a strong female role model!

What will you win?

Any 2 items of your choice from Oopsie Dazie...check out their adorable hairclips, headbands, bows, and headwraps. Aren't they cute? and affordable, too.

AND

one copy of The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch - my favorite princess story in which the princess stereotype is turned upside down! (And by the way it's my 2-y.o. BOY's current favorite. He likes the dragon.)
(shipped separately)

Rules and other Information -- How can you win?

1. Make a comment here. How do you instill confidence and strength in girls? This is your entry! U.S. shipping only, sorry Robin & other international folks.

2. For an extra entry, post on your blog or tell a friend about this giveaway and Oopsie Dazie and link back to me.

3. Don't forget to give me a way to get in touch with you if you win!

4. This giveaway ends on Thursday, January 31st at 9pm Central Time. Winner will be announced Friday morning!
**UPDATE: Deadline extended to Friday, February 1 @ 8:00am** Winner announced shortly afterwards.

See more Bloggy Giveaways here...

P.S. Like what you see? Subscribe to my blog's feed....

aren't you excited? and five places I've Been This Week

Random List of Things I'm Excited About:

• Bring it On: In it To Win It is on TV. Yes, I'm that girl. I actually missed the premiere on abcFamily because the Packers game ran over...but my husband (isn't he great) found another time to TiVo it...
• Tomorrow's big Bloggy Giveaway party. I'm joining in, even though I just finished my big Tu BiShevat party... in case you need help, check out this post on preparing yourself for the giveaways
  
• I leave for Israel in 17 days!
• We're celebrating my daughter's 1st birthday next week. Wow.
• My brother posted on his blog. It's an exciting thing because of how rare it is. (Harry, you reading this?)

What are you excited about???

----
five six places i've been this week
(it was a good week)

a 30-second plan for a better week

cupcake pincushion -- yummy!

unintended consequences

noodles with spicy tofu

100 books every child should read (*i* haven't read them all!)

sparkletopia beautiful and inspirational

from my del.icio.us ...add me to your network?

More on things that make me crazy...

Some of you read my post on this woman who was denied service at Steak N Shake because she is deaf.

Fox News Chicago picked up the story and so did a lot of other bloggers.

This is what she writes on her blog:
Last night, shortly after calling the corporate headquarters via relay, an employee from their Human Resources division called me. She sent me an email apologizing for the incident. She called again this morning to see if we could set up a meeting with the manager in question and discuss the issue. They agreed to provide an interpreter for this meeting.

What do you think? Will you go to Steak and Shake? I think I won't.

The BIG 10...in Haiku, of course

Yitro* of Midyan
(He was Mo's father-in-law)
heard what God had done.
*aka Jethro

He was very glad
that the Israelites were free!
So he came to Mo.

Mo's wife and kids came
with Yitro to celebrate.
Mo told the whole tale.

Now Mo was the judge.
Everyone came to ask him
how to solve disputes.

All day he listened
to all their problems and fights.
Jethro saw all this.

"This is not so good,"
Jethro had a better way.
"Delegate!" he said.

So Mo chose judges.
They judged what they could deal with.
Hard stuff went to Mo.

They got to Sinai -
time for God to explain laws -
A very big deal.

The people washed up
And made themselves very pure
to wait for God's words.

Smoke, fire, lightning crashed
The mountain trembled with fear
Loud blast of the horn!

God spoke these words here:
I am the Eternal God (1)
Make no other gods (2)

Do not swear falsely
by My Name or profane it. (3)
Observe Shabbat (4)

Honor mom and dad (5)
Do not commit murder and (6)
no adultery (7)

Don't steal anything (8)
No false testimony (9) and
no coveting stuff (10)

The people heard all
but were scared of God's presence
So Mo spoke for God.

God told them to make
an altar for sacrifice
without cutting stones.

A simple altar
will be fine for sacrifice.
The people listened.

Ah...do we follow all the laws? Stay tuned for the next few weeks...Exodus rocks.
More Haiku Friday...over here this week while Jennifer gets settled in Indiana.

Shabbat shalom!