Coast 2 Coast Mom

Don't Let The Pigeon Run This App by Mo Willems Launches from Disney

On Friday we had the opportunity to lunch with Mo Willems and learn more about his darling new Pigeon app, "Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App!" from Disney Publishing Worldwide.

You may know Mo Willems as the Caldecott Honor-winning author of Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale,

A Watched Hermit Crab Never Crawls

This post is inspired by the book The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. I received a copy of the book to read as a member of the From Left to Write virtual book club.

A few weeks ago the Kiddo was able to put his desire to be an animal rescuer, and all of his patience to the test. We had the opportunity to pet sit our neighbor's pet: a hermit crab. I thought it'd be good practice to see how dedicated my son would be in case Santa acquiesces to his requests for a dog this year.

As soon the door closed behind our neighbor dropping off the crab, my son was pressed up against the dry aquarium. He watched and waited. He waited and watched. Five minutes passed and the hermit crab hadn't moved.10 minutes passed without movement. We turned off the lights and left the room.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That!

On March 2nd, be sure to take a moment to silently wish Happy Birthday to Theodor Seuss Geisel, otherwise known as "Dr. Seuss." In honor of his birthday and all of his efforts to encourage and promote literacy, PBS is holding a two hour marathon event of The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!, including two brand new episodes: "Incredible Journey/Bamboozled," and "Teeny Weeny Adventure/I See Seeds."

Stalker-ish In-Person, But Not Online?

This post is inspired by the From Left to Write book club choice, Following Polly by Karen Bergreen. Karen met with some members of our group in NYC last month and she was delightful in person.

From Left to Write members chatting with Karen Bergreen at booksigning at the Flatotel in NYC.
 

I'm addicted to technology - not just for the shopping and keeping in touch that I do with my phone and laptop, but because it's an enabler for my curiousity. I surf to confirm schedules and information/addresses, solve mysteries and get answers - and while the main character in the book Following Polly doesn't carry a cell phone with her (I know, what?? How does she SURVIVE?!), she basically does the same thing, but in person. So do I think it's weird that she chooses to follow someone around? YES. Could I relate? Hmmm....

What Else Can We Do With Dinosaurs?

This post is inspired by the From Left to Write virtual book club choice, Dinosaurs On The Move by Cathy Diez-Luckie. I received a copy of the book as part of my participation in the monthly book club.

I suppose I should have just started a "dinosaur" category for my blog. Once my son became interested in dinosaurs, we flocked to dinosaur toys, puzzles, exhibits and events like mad. Someone gifted him a book listing 100 dinosaur species and he has learned them all. (Honestly, I am shocked to have learned that there are 100 species in the first place!) For creatures so ancient, I never would have guessed that there'd be so many dinosaur-themed activities and travel opportunities these days.

Here's a smattering of where we've been and what activities we've done for Li'l Boo's love of dinosaurs thus far:

1. Li'l Boo watches the Dinosaur Train on PBS every day. Every. Day.
2. He has the two-DVD box set ofthe "Walking with Dinosaurs" BBC Series, AND attended the live arena show at Madison Square Garden.
3. We visited the Detroit Zoo last year for their Dinosauria exhibit. It was thrilling - even on a hot, humid day. We'd walk through it again if it comes to a zoo near us.

Leading a Quietly Risky Life

This post is inspired by the From Left to Write virtual book club, and this month's book, The Stuff That Never Happened by Maddie Dawson. I received a copy of the book as a participant in the book club. It's the story of young newlyweds moving cross-country from LA to NYC, where the young bride has an affair and the couple survives it by agreeing not to discuss it. . .until she runs into her old flame 26 years later.

A couple of years ago while attending my middle sister's wedding, one of our close family friends made the comment to me that he admired c2cDad's and my ability to take on risk with our cross-country moves. He was impressed with our ability to pick up, relocate and immerse ourselves into a successful happy life wherever we were, despite knowing no one beforehand. The comment stopped me in my tracks and I responded with something completely unintelligible I'm sure. The thought of c2cDad and I being risk-takers caught me completely off-guard. (Me? I wanted to look around to make sure he was talking to ME. You know I order the same dish every time I return to a restaurant for fear I won't like something else as well? Or that the riskiest thing I do most days is open a Diet Coke can next to my laptop?)

Right then and there I experienced what I can only imagine as one of Oprah's Aha moments. Never before then had I ever considered my life to be full of risk. Was each move an exciting new adventure and chapter in our life together? Most definitely. Was each move saddled with levels of anxiety and uncertainty? You bet.

Relying on Each Other for Happiness

This post is inspired by Laura Munson's This Is Not The Story You Think It Is . . .A Season of Unlikely Happiness, this month's book club choice for the virtual book club From Left to Write. I received a copy of this book as a participant in the group.

We've lived far from family for over a decade now - not just a town or state away - but a necessary flight or full day's drive away. When we relocated from Michigan to California, my mom's words still echo in my mind that I shouldn't be too sad or anxious about the move, that it would be a good thing for my husband and me because it will bring us closer. That's we'd only have each other to rely on - in emergencies, for daily emotional support, as a spouse and also as best friends. We wouldn't have Desperate Housewives-like relationships with life-long friends we could pop-in on at a whim. We wouldn't have resources, and doctors and stores and babysitters we were familiar with or could find other friends to verify for us - we'd be exploring and testing them out ourselves. She was right of course, that we do have a different relationship than our married friends whom have not struck out completely alone. I don't know if that's better or worse, but it's definitely different. We've been each other's only cheerleaders, firestarters and celebratory partners for as long as I can remember. I don't really know "us" without this best friend-parent-lover mishmash that' we've become.

The Curse and Privilege of Having A Daughter

This post is inspired by this month's From Left to Write book club choice, If You Knew Suzy by Katherine Rosman. I received a copy of this book as a participant in the From Left to Write virtual club.

As with the majority of the books I purchase (or read for this book club), I pass them along to my mom, a sister, or friend - whomever I think would like it most. I have so many people whom I think would LOVE this book that I'm considering ordering a case.

Having JUST returned from the Metro Detroit area to visit my in-laws this weekend, I'm familiar with the locations and social norms that Rosman includes in the book. At least to this WASP-y outsider, the descriptions seemed spot-on and I giggled as I re-read some passages aloud to my husband to jog his memory, strictly from the novelty of having this geographic connection to the book. (I asked after reading about Franklin Village, "Hey - isn't that where we took Li'l Boo for doughnuts and apple cider at the Franklin Cider Mill?") Funny enough, my husband would have been bar mitzvahed the same year as the author and I'm sure that even if my in-laws don't know all of the people mentioned, that they have a friend who does. (I shouldn't be surprised each time I'm reminded how small of a world this is after all of our travels, yet I am.)

Meeting Dr. Scott and Learning Dinosaur Train Secrets

On Sunday we drove into NYC to visit the World Science Festival Street Fair for a screening of the PBS children's series The Dinosaur Train, as well as a booksigning and discussion with Dr. Scott Sampson (aka Dr. Scott to many 2-6 year old kids!). L'il Boo was so excited! On our drive in, he was all "I'm going to meet my first paleontologist!" Which made me giggle hearing that in his little four-year old voice.

Most of the audience was families with kids around Li'l Boo's age, and Dr. Scott was clearly impressed, but not surprised, to be talking with kids using such big words. I think about every preschooler or early elementary kid in the audience could name Triassic, Jurassic and Cretacious when asked, and knew the difference between herbavores, carnivores and omnivores. Li'l Boo answered a warm-up question saying his favorite dinosaur was the Velociraptor. I was shocked that he didn't say the T-Rex. Perhaps he's maturing beyond the T-Rex? I mean, he has a book listing over 100 dinosaurs . . .about time he became interested in one of the others ;-)

Getting Married at 9 - Similar to Getting Married at 4? Ridiculous, right?

This post is inspired by the Silicon Valley Moms Group book club choice, I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. It tells the story of Nujood Ali's childhood marriage to a man three times her age, and her courage in becoming the first child bride in Yemen to win a divorce. . .she went on to become a Glamour Woman of the Year in 2008. I received a copy of the book as a participant in the book club.

The saga of Li'l Boo and his preschool girlfriend continues . . .

At dinner last night we were talking about this being Li'l Boo's last week of preschool this year. I told him that the bigger kids in his class were going on to kindergarten, and he would stay with his teacher and a couple of the other younger kids next year. I let him know that his "girlfriend" wouldn't be in his class next year. Li'l Boo surprised us by saying that he'll see her when they get married. It appears that they already have their wedding all planned out. Here's what he told us: