Book Review: The Knight and the Firefly

As I was clicking through some of my favorite blogs one day, I came upon an advertisement for The Knight and the Firefly.  It looked like a cute book with a Christian message, so I clicked on the link.  As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I wanted to get a copy of this book.

 

Oliver, the protagonist of this tale, is a boy with a vivid imagination.  {If you don't think this sounds like C, it's as if you don't know him at all.}  And like Oliver, C is afraid of the dark.  This past spring, C has called to us after being tucked into bed or during the night after a nightmare to share his fears with us.  Several nights a week, C was waking up in tears because he was frightened - of a monster who might live in his closet, of a creaky noise he heard, or of the poisonous tree frogs he dreamed about after watching an episode of Go, Diego, Go!  The longer it went on, the more innocuous the items that triggered C's dreams.

Daddy A and I were at a loss.  We prayed with C, we prayed for C, we talked about the differences between fantasy and reality with C, and ultimately, we continued to comfort C when he was scared.  Enter The Knight and the Firefly.  When my review copy arrived, I read it to C before bed.  He loved the storyline, but he was more than a little disappointed when no giant eagle/angel wings appeared over his bed!  After I read the book and we said prayers together, I tucked C in for a good night's sleep and was pleasantly surprised when he did not wake up ONE TIME with a bad dream.

The next night, we read The Knight and the Firefly again.  Again, C slept through the night.  After about a week of reading, C noticed the discussion questions at the back of the book and asked me what they said, which started a great family conversation.

We no longer read The Knight and the Firefly every night before bed, but it is still a regular read in our nighttime rotation.  C's nightmares are gone, and he loves to remind me throughout the day that God is always with him.  The storyline is cute and the message is wonderful, so I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a children's storybook with Christian principles {The Knight and the Firefly is based on Psalm 91}, particularly if you have a child who could use some encouragement about their facing fears.

Note: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions featured are 100% mine.

the book for me

This video was taken in early April, after only three months of piano lessons. Way to go, P!

Wa-hoo-wa

The weekend of Grandmere's ninetieth birthday was also a testing weekend at the boys' TKD school.  They graciously agreed to let the boys make up their tests the Wednesday after the party {because we weren't about to miss it!} and the boys were promoted to orange {C} and blue {P} belt ranks.

I wasn't sure C was quite ready to move past white belt... he knew the curriculum but he was still a little less than, ahem, focused.  His teachers assured me that with each belt they would focus more on self discipline, and they felt like his age was a factor in his behavior, so he went ahead and tested.

After their tests, the boys were sporting what P called "UVA belts".  I guess Aunt Tiffany and Uncle John's influence must be working.  Go Hoos!

fair weather weather

Remember how beautiful the weather was on the first day of our weekend in West Virginia? Well, when we woke up on Sunday morning, this had happened.

Still beautiful, but not what I was looking for at the end of March. P was quite pleased with the surprise snow.

Fortunately, it began to warm up and the roads were driveable, so we packed up as planned and headed to church for an afternoon celebration with Grandmere's friends.  I had a chance to visit with my cousins, who I don't see often, and we did some reminiscing.  The whole weekend was a success, and P has already told Grandmere he can't wait to do it again!

the ninetieth birthday party and another four generations photo

Happy birthday, Grandmere! We love you!

Take Me Home, Country Roads

This year, Grandmere turned ninety and we all gathered in West Virginia to celebrate.  We stopped on the way and met up with Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred for lunch at Tamarack.

Since so many folks were coming, Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred rented a house for our family.  It was so much fun to be under the same roof as my sister and her family and the grandparents for a weekend!  It was gorgeous outside, and we somehow convinced the boys to agree to a photo session.

I think the promise of freedom to climb and play with sticks may have had something to do with their cooperation.

Once we were settled, we went to Grandmere's for a visit.  I really wanted an updated Four Generations picture on Grandmere's couch, so Daddy A tried to take one.  Actually, to be accurate, he took many.  This is the best one we got.  Le sigh.  But hey, we do have the photo.

There's more fun to come, including the actual party, but the best part for me was the time with family and the opportunity to visit my amazing grandmother. I'm so glad the boys get to see and spend time with her, too. Not everyone is fortunate enough to know any of their great grandparents.

I am John White

Well, no, I'm not.  And P isn't, either.  But he did have a project for school that involved both an oral presentation and a "historically accurate" costume.  John White was the governor of the Lost Colony.  And, for those of you who are curious, after all of his research, P decided to support the White Doe Theory as to the whereabouts of Virginia Dare.  I mean, why wouldn't he?

He did a great job on his presentation. He was one of the few presenters that was audible. Also, if you watch the video, you'll see - and hear - the poster behind him {that was set up for a different student's presentation} come crashing to the floor. P did not flinch or turn around or what have you. He was focused on his presentation. And I am a bit proud. But since I am his mama, that's okay. I'm going to keep telling myself that.

Listen. I can't promise the bug bites aren't contagious.

One Saturday night, C came downstairs in tears and said that he couldn't sleep because a bug was in his room trying to suck his blood.  Knowing that this wasn't an impossibility since the screen had fallen out of his open bedroom window and we'd had the windows open that day, Daddy A went up to investigate.  He couldn't find any bugs, but he did get C settled back in bed.

Sunday morning, I got up and was getting breakfast ready when I heard feet padding down the hall.  C greeted me with, "See?  I told you an insect was biting my arm," and showed me a bug bite on his forearm.  I didn't think too much of the whole incident, and on Monday C went to school.

Tuesday, C went to school again, and within minutes of dropping him off, Daddy A got a call from the school saying that C might have chicken pox {even though he'd been vaccinated} and we'd have to pick him up, take him to the doctor to have him checked, and then he could return to school - provided of course, that he didn't have chicken pox.

We got in to see our pediatrician at 2:30pm, so I took C after work.  He turned out to have a very severe case of THERE WERE SIX BUG BITES ON HIS ARM.  I don't know how we missed it.  Dr. W. asked C to help him write a note for school.  :)

I do want to add that I love our preschool, and I appreciate the efforts of the staff to keep all of the students safe.  I also want to add that I did not unknowingly send my child to school with chicken pox.

ordinary days

C is ready to head to school in his favorite green vest, with his favorite Disney princess for show and share.

ordinary days

While at Lego Kidsfest, P decided that Lego Hero Factory characters were lots of fun to build.  Within hours of receiving this one as a birthday gift, it was up and running!

P's 7th birthday party

P decided to have his birthday party at his Tae Kwon Do school again this year.  He repeated his Ninjago party theme.  He wore his green ninja shirt, just like he did last year, and as you can see he was happy to get the party started.

This year the local dollar store was fully stocked on a variety of balloon colors, so more "Ninjago balloon guys" were able to attend our celebration.

A local bakery made our cake, and they also made ninja cookies again this year for us to send home as party favors... and I felt obligated to try them, even though they weren't Paleo, just to ensure the safety of our party guests. They were delicious.

There was a martial arts class, and P got to break a wooden board signed by all of his party guests.

Per P's request, the guests played dodge ball and got to make a craft similar to one he made at TKD camp last summer.

P had a blast, and his seven year old year was off to a great start!

birthday breakfast

The morning of his {actual} birthday, P was treated to a pancake at a breakfast establishment near the hotel we stayed in for Lego Kidsfest.  Yes, the pancake that's larger than the plate it's served on directly in front of him.  He was also given a biscuit with whipped cream and a candle.  {The giant pancake is regular fare, not a special birthday thing.}  Despite his efforts, P did not finish the entire pancake and win a free t shirt.  I was glad, because I doubt that would have made for a happy rest-of-his-birthday day.

Happy 7th birthday, P!

Lego Kidsfest

You know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words?  If that's true, you are about to enjoy a post that is the equivalent of thousands of words long.  P's seventh birthday present from my parents was a trip to Raleigh for Lego Kidsfest.  It was amazing!  There were more stations than I had imagined inside the convention center with tons of products to try.  The life size Lego models were incredibly impressive.  There was a master builders class {a little over the heads of my boys, but what Poppa Fred and I overheard was really cool}, and P made a Lego model to place on a giant United States map.  {He chose to make his grandparents' house and asked them to place it in Virginia.}  Lego Kidsfest was an experience I think everyone in our family would love to repeat.  Thanks, Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred!

Grandma Hen visits and we celebrate P's birthday

The last weekend of February Grandma Hen came to visit and we celebrated P's birthday for the first time in 2014.  We went out for Mexican, and P purposely chose a different restaurant than the one we went to for Grandma's birthday in January because he didn't want them to smear whipped cream on his nose after they sang to him.  I assured him that they wouldn't - they didn't do that to me when I celebrated my thirtieth birthday at this very restaurant.  Unfortunately, it is apparently a new birthday celebrating custom to smear whipped cream on the face of the honored guest, because I was wrong.  And for that I am deeply sorry.  But I did get this picture before that happened, when all was still well with P's world.

It certainly didn't hurt that P got to open his birthday presents from his paternal grandparents when we arrived home from dinner.

Both P and C also received these DIY treasure chests from Grandma Hen.  They enjoyed painting and decorating these wooden keepsakes almost as much as they enjoy using them to store a plethora of treasures.  I love having a place to keep the rocks, string, and other odds and ends from their pockets.

We had a great weekend and enjoyed celebrating with family.