Cooper and Me and the Military Giveaway

They sit snuggled side by side grinning and talking Micah-nese to each other. Kindred spirits. Aunt Deb is one of the few who understands his language, and Micah loves her for that. And for the stories of course. While Seth knows a visit from Uncle Bob almost always includes a partner for chess, Micah equates their company with one-on-one time a la Aunt Deb. We had a new book to choose from this time too. Cooper and Me and the Military had just arrived for review. What better way to check out a fresh book than to enlist an auntie's help?  A sweet illustration of two kids and their dogs peered from the shiny cover. This is just a temporary front, though. Books mailed to winners and available for sale will look differently. No matter. The same good story is on the inside. I can't help but be impressed that it is a preteen, Alexa Peters, who has teamed up with her mom, Monique, to write and illustrate Cooper and Me books.

Aunt Deb reads in a sing-song voice, asking questions along the way and encouraging Micah to turn the pages. They meet Gracie and Joe, whose parents, along with a dog, Trooper, serve in the military. It seems both parents are deployed. Joe and Gracie live with Grandma and miss their parents very much. When Mom and Dad come home on leave, what a surprise! They bring Trooper home with them. Trooper had been hurt and needed a place to recover and to call his own. As mom and dad head back to work,  Trooper stays to help Grandma take care of the kids. What special surprise do Gracie and Joe send Mom and Dad? Why don't you enter to win your own copy so you can read about it for yourself? Just leave a comment or click "like" on Facebook and you'll be entered. (We have to keep it to U.S. residents, though, for shipping purposes.)  "Share" a link to this post and you'll get an extra entry. Don't forget to leave me a comment, letting me know you've shared. ( Helpful Hint: sharing works. It was what helped Barb S. to win last time!) This giveaway will be open until February 24, 2012.
One really cool thing to know about Cooper and Me is that they donate a portion of the proceeds to both the Happy Hearts Fund, which helps provide education for children living in natural disaster areas, and to the Lustgarten Foundation for pancreatic cancer. You can learn more about Cooper and Me books at www.cooperandme.com AND download a free song at www.cooperandme.com/gift

Now for the disclosure. Take a deep breath aaaaand...
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Hmmm. I bet we could turn this disclosure into a song...

A Mile In His Shoes Winner

Congratulations to Barb S. who won the movie! Maybe she'll let us know what she thinks of it later.
The next review and giveaway will be a children's book, so visit back soon!

A Mile In His Shoes Review and Giveaway

Popcorn? Check. Jammies? Check. Toasty fire? Check. Four Greene beans cozy up in a row on the couch for family movie night. Tonight's feature is A Mile In His Shoes.
The opening scene is a very familiar one: Green, grassy pastures, a barn with fading paint. Behind the old, wooden fence a horse trots by as farmers bale their hay. The camera then cuts to a baseball diamond. Tractors are at work there too, preparing the ground for a new game. These scenes take turns setting the back drop for tonight's story. There's a team on the field now. The River Rats. It looks like they are used to losing. Soon we meet Coach Murphy. He is being sent on a trip to search for new talent. Along the way, is it an accident or providence that causes him to stop by an old farm for help? No reception for a cell phone where he ended up. We chuckle. Yeah. That is what it can be like out here too. Coach gets more that a phone call, though, when he meets Mickey Tussler, a boy with Asperger's Syndrome and a mean pitching arm. In the adventure that follows, we are inspired and encouraged. We can relate to this story in so many ways. We sympathize with his gruff father's tendency to overprotect, fearing how his son will cope and how he will be treated away from his family. Yet we have to agree with his mom that he should be given the opportunity to try. There are ups and downs and ups again. The movie ends. We stretch, shake kernels from the blankets, and discuss what we've seen. All in all, four Greenes agree we are glad for the chance to see this movie. The underlying feeling is hope. Hope for the future when things seem uncertain. If you love someone with special needs, A Mile in His Shoes will be extra special to you. The coolest thing is, you can enter to win a copy here! Just leave a comment on this post or on Facebook for your chance to win. "Share" it for an extra entry; just let me know you did that too. I'll get your mailing info from you if you win. (Gotta keep the giveaway just for US residents, though, for shipping's sake.) The movie is presented by Thomas Kinkade and comes with a postcard-sized print of a painting he made called, you guessed it, A Mile In His Shoes. It is rated PG and is Dove Family Approved. We'll be wrapping up the giveaway on January 30, 2012. Good Luck!

Now for the disclosure. Take a deep breath aaaaand...
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Whew. Try saying that three times fast!

The Tie That Binds Old Times Past

"Should old acquaintance be forgot something something la la mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot la la la la auld lang syne..." Maybe I should learn the lyrics to this song someday. The few occasions I've had to use it didn't really settle the words to this traditional Scottish tune in my mind. My growing up years rang in the new year holding hands in a very small church with a few other people singing a different song:

Blessed be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above

There were other verses, but that was as far as we ever got. I never knew about the others until looking this one up to make sure I had it right. Apparently I didn't know this one all that well either! Those other verses sounded good too. Common goals, sharing burdens, perfect love... all so much easier to sing about than to put into practice. It's a good thing Jesus is the tie that binds.
Last night Lucas had to work, so the boys and I rang in the new year with a quieter bell. We snuggled under a blanket on the couch, fireplace crackling away, reading stories and cracking jokes. "What did the windshield say to the bug?" I ask Seth. "Happy New Smear!" This brings major peals of laughter.
"Hey, Mom, I got one," He counters. (We are making these up as we go.) "What did the fist say to the mouth? Help yourself to the punch!" He's laughing so hard he can't breath. Okay. If these corny jokes seem this funny it's getting late. We settle down with a Bible story and songs. Micah's eyes droop. "Go ni-night, Mama?" Oh well. He gave it his best shot. Soon he's all tucked in and sawing logs. There is still a little while to go until 2012. Down to just one in his audience, my jokster decides he needs something else to laugh at. I agree to an episode of Life's Funniest Moments. Seth loves this special time with just Mom to himself. Me too. Guffaws turn to chuckles turn to an occasional giggle. This boy is fading fast as well. The phone rings and my hubby's sweet voice is the first I hear in this new year. After we hang up my mind runs back to all those years ago. I try to remember the blessing song. I don't quite have it, but it's close. How about Auld Lang Syne? No where near, but a few lines do stand out from the others. Someday, these precious moments will be our Auld Lang Syne, our old times past. They will never be forgotten, either. The Tie that binds us will make certain of that.
Happy New Year from the Greene family!

Snips-N-Snails

Eeeee! The water was freeeeezing! Just the way they liked it, I suppose. Wiping water from the camera lense would have been a whole lot easier if the tape holding those batteries inside the camera would have stayed put. Or if the boys would have stayed put for that matter, but there was no chance of that! They were packing as much cousin time as they could get in the scant days they had to play together. One minute they were generals surrounded by an army of Legos in the bedroom, and the next minute found two scheming, pint-sized tycoons bent on taking over Boardwalk and Park Place in the basement. We didn't get to see much of our nephew Mikey for a couple days as he and Seth stormed here and there playing at all things rough and tumble. A late night snack raid a the local grocery store took care of that. The boys trucked up one aisle and down the other, half chasing each other and half picking out treats. As we piled into the van with the boy's loot in tow, we noticed an elderly man fumbling for change in front of a pop machine. His layered cloths, unkempt hair, and overstuffed backpack by his feet spoke volumes. Lucas's eyes met mine, and we looked back at the kids. Without complaint they offered up their snacks. The man began to move on. Lucas quickly picked out what he thought the guy could use, grabbed some bottles of green tea, and ran across the parking lot. The boys peered from the windows as the man said something to Lucas and they shook hands. Seat belts clicked in and we headed on our way. Mikey held the depleated bag of goodies and offered up a contented sigh. "I wish you guys lived here all the time!"

Oh boy. This one is just going to have to come home with us someday too. Maybe Jay and Sal need a nice, quiet house next summer?

Sugar -N- Spice

"Ca'mere an' let me tuck you in, Auntie Leah, we are goin' to bed." I could only shake my head and smile at the sweetest little sweet pea who took me by the hand. Never mind that she'd called me by my sister's name for the umpteenth time. She was just so cute I didn't have the heart to correct her again. She prompted me to lay down on the rug and covered me "all up" with her special blanky.

"I'll get you a snack. Some human cheese, I think." She pattered off in search of her mom. Human cheese? I was afraid to ask. Besides, I'd already been stuffed full of imaginary strawberries and tea.

"Uh, we don't have anymore so you can have this," She handed me an empty, plastic plate. I pretended to gobble up whatever it was, thankfull not to have to try whatever "human cheese" was.

"Not yet! you need another nap before pie!" One teeny hand rested on her hip while the other wagged at me. Then, again with the covering of the blanky. I could play with Maddie all day, which, I think, was her plan. I tried to steer her Uncle Lucas's direction but she wasn't so sure about him yet. I was already under her tiny tot spell. It was Lucas's turn.

The next morning found Maddie, Macy, and I blowing huge hand bubbles in the front yard. Macy made the best ones I'd ever seen. Later they actually let me paint their faces. (Bring out the face paints at our house and the boys scatter.) Maddie wanted flowers down one side of her face and a green heart... on her chin.

"I just love fish. I want a fish. A fish in the ocean. How about a lot of fish! As many fish as you can fit. Now paint a fish on my other cheek. A fish in a bowl. Oh! I know! A fish in a bowl on this side, dreaming about being a fish in the ocean on the other." I painted as fast as I could to keep up with her. Macy has a great imagination. "Now could you paint a fish on my hand?" She blinked up at me with her big baby blues. How could I resist?

"Ca'mere," Maddy grabbed my hand again. "Let's go watch Angelina Ballerina, Aunt Rachie." Oh, wow. I could have taken her home with me! They wouldn't have missed just one would they?

And Away We Go...Er... Went

Ha ha, yes. Feathery wisps of snow fall in slow motion past the window and I've got summer on my mind. I'm trying to play a little catch up here since choosing an almost blog free summer and fall. Sis, Marmie, Nessa, Jess, and Tiff want the back stories and they're gettin' 'em! ((Brrr)) But not before I grab some socks. And maybe a sweater. That's better.

He looked so good in his sandles, shorts, and summer shades, all kicked back in the driver's seat. I love seeing Lucas like this. Relaxed. No work on his mind. No worries. Half grin. *swoon*

"How ya doing back there, Seth?" I peered over Micah's head as much as possible, straining to see past his wheelchair strapped in the middle of the van. We'd stuffed every available corner of Micah's "low rider", and there wasn't much room to wiggle. Seth's lap full of half put together Lego creations let me know he was doing just fine. Micah happily waved his hands in time to the music. I turned my attention back to the beautiful scenery. Thick woods on either side, an open country road in the middle, Ah. It was a long way to Marmie's place, but we had a good start. This would be the longest road trip we'd taken since Micah was tiny, and we'd planned his positioning carefully. Generally a day at home includes a lot of rotation. A little time in the wheelchair is followed by some tummy time. Later, he stands with the aid of a stander, and then rests on his back for about an hour with some range of motion exercises for good measure. Then the routine starts over, giving him the chance to use his muscles, prevent bone damage, and soothe away the aches and pains that come from spastic cerebral palsy. That routine wasn't gonna be happening in the van. That's why we'd purchased a special seat belt allowing him to lay in the back seat from time to time and still be safely buckled up. Of course this meant that Seth got to see what it was like to be strapped in the wheelchair as it was the only seat left. I think he kind of liked it. So this was how we traveled, stopping every three hours to change positions, exercise Micah's cramped muscles, visit the changing room (unless one wasn't available in which case the van in a vacant parking lot became the diaper station) and on the road again. Everyone was glad to stop overnight, not quite as far on the map as Lucas would like to have been, but close enough. One more day of the same, made us question our judgment on this whole road trip idea, but then we were there! Marmie stood in the driveway, her eyes shining, the hugest smile on her face. There were tons of kisses and hugs, and... what was that? The smell of fried chicken, buttery taters, and freshly made sweet tea wafted from the windows of the house. Mmmmmm. Bring on the road trip anytime!