Any Horror Genre Experts out there?

I need a horror recommendation for a 12 year old that thinks he wants to read Stephen King (so not happening!)

Congrats White Sox!

A huge congratulations to the White Sox for winning the Majors City Tournament First Place! 







"Man-Stuff" (Coach is telling him he's been swinging really well)



Let me tell you - these kids were INTENSE! Have you ever seen a team with FIVE coaches? They all worked really hard - practicing every chance they got, never compaining.  As they got further and further up in ranks they became more and more competitive - rain, snow, freezing wind and all! You earned your medals boys!

Hey Hey Boo-Boo, Is that a Pic-N-Nic basket I see?

Lettin' off a little steam at Yellowstone National Park....

Old Faithful - but according to the impatient boy next to us - Ol' Unfaithful!

Castle Geyser

Checking out this boiling pool next to the road

And the most amazing part was the Grand Prismatic Spring which I wasn't able to photograph because it was raining but here's a stock photo so you get the idea. This spring we actually felt the heat from and it was so steamy and rainy it felt like we were walking through a portal to another dimension!

....And what could be better than.....

Buying a fabulous new release 
  AAAANNNND  your SISTER buying Entwined.....(for me to borrow, eventually)

Lookie what I snagged at B&N today....

To quote Elana Johnson, "DUDE!"

Check it out on Goodreads

Elana's Blog

Mom Monday .....And back to the Raisin' Boys part....

Okay - I shared the part about the angels in the outfield, but maybe I should be praying over the playground!  Being a mom of an up and coming athlete as well as a kindergartener and 2nd grader left me standing in between the playground area and the opposing team's side of the baseball game for a bit of the game. I wanted keep an eye on both to let the younger ones burn off some energy before we took our seats and they were playing with another boy. The other team was up so I went to tell the younger boys that I needed to go deliver a water bottle to their brother in the dugout and not to worry I'd only be 45 seconds. (They tend to freak if I move from my designated spot).

I noticed that one minute Wyatt was hanging from thelittle monkey bar dome with his legs around the other boy's chest but he was laughing. Next time I look over, the boy is wrestling Wyatt to the ground on the grass but no one seems to be yelling for help - boy play. I figure they must know each other from school to be so physical.

Unneccessary Roughness!

Walking over to the monkey bars on the pea gravel, my 8 year old, Wyatt comes tearing in my direction yelling to his younger brother, "Just go!". I don't think he really saw me but was running for my direction. I looked up and here came the other boy crying and swinging his fists at Wyatt - huh? I said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa - what's going on here?" and got the boy to lower his arms and explain what was going on.

He claims that Wyatt "beat him up". Since Wyatt's  a "tuffie" I am aways sure to get all versions of incidents like this so I can correct fairly. Wyatt (and my younger son as witness) claimed that Wyatt dropped himself onto the boy from the  monkey bars and squished his chest. The other boy agreed that's what happened too. So, I tell all the boys we are going over to talk to his mom and apologize.

Talk about the hot seat - she was sitting front row in the bleachers for all baseball parents from both teams to witness our explanation, apology and her teary-eyed son. I felt so bad for her son seeing his crying face and swinging fists, he was truly upset.  I explained that it started out as rough play and got out of hand. It certainly took me by surprise. One thing for sure....you can never let your guard down when raising boys!

Have your boys taken you by surprise by getting physical or damaging property? Have they put you in the hot seat?

e-Book Review: Solstice by P.J. Hoover

Okay, I love to gush about good books but this time you're getting a geyser! 

Author P.J. Hoover has written a thrilling, twisting-turning story about Greek gods living in the near future - two of which are fighting for the love of Piper. Piper's seemingly dull, sheltered life erupts into a fast-paced journey back and forth between the Underworld and her present-day teenage life. To say it was a journey of self-discovery is putting it mildly. P.J. Hoover BLASTS you with a shocking surprise about her main character and has you wondering night and day if she'll end up with Shayne or will Reese trick her into his arms? Oh, wait - maybe Reese is who she should be with?  Idunno - I'm with Piper, one minute I'm certain, the next not sure. All of creation depends on her choice. And for you adult-teenagers that love YA, Hoover ads just enough steam to keep the romance real and earth-crackin' hot.

And the settings - the seemingly-dystopian world (or is it really suffering a dystopian effect?) Piper keeps you imagining the heat, the protective domes over the city, and the urgency of seeking shelter from the sudden heat waves all give your imagination a work-out. Add to it the other happy/creepy she visits to the Underworld and you will be in fiction-opia yourself! 

And the Mythology - while I don't worship Zeus, I always loved Mythology - aren't they really just stories that we share with centuries past? Strong characters built in- imaginative stories passed on for generations to enjoy. I love that P.J. Hoover has resuscitated them and brought them new life - making them relevant in modern times. A refreshing change from vampires and dystopia.

An added thumbs up to the fantastic writing here. She kept me so engaged -  I read this on my phone! This was my first experience reading an e-book through and I read it everywhere  - at baseball practice, at work during lunch,  and even after work at 1:30AM. Dr. Seuss would have write a rhyme about me! I can't believe I got this much entertainment out of a $2.99 download that took me only seconds to purchase.

I can't say it enough don't throw away another $4.99 to rent a movie - download this book! Your summer reading list is begging you to put the cherry on top!

I give Solstice  in Orion's belt!

You can find Solstice at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Roots In Myth.  Also, if you are like me and can't get enough - you can sign up to receive a scannable trading card with story-extras. We're talking fun now! You have got to see these cards! Tanni (creepy-girl) and the beautiful Chloe and her beaus Shayne and Reese and more. See Roots In Myth for a chance to receive a card.