Disneyland Birthday Bash!

For my husband's birthday in March, we took a trip to Disneyland (one of our favorite places to go and to celebrate birthdays!). Here are some of the highlights from our most recent adventure there.

We were very excited as we got to the Main Gate before the entire park opened and they let us gather around on Main Street until they lowered the rope and let everyone loose in the park.

As customary for us, we headed off to Space Mountain as the line for that ride gets really long later in the day. It was practically a walk-on for us and it was so much fun.

Then we headed over to Space Blasters (our new favorite ride – we are both really competitive and this game allows you to compete against each other to see who can get the most points)


Note: This was the best picture of us on this ride but it was the one time we road it without competing because we were trying to find some of the ride's secrets :)

After some more rides and around lunch time, we went to the Blue Bayou, our favorite restaurant and the only place we think is worth the price if you are going to eat in the park. In case you aren't familiar with it, it's a restaurant inside the ride The Pirates of the Caribbean. So as you are eating, you can watch the boats in the ride float by. It's a very fun and romantic atmosphere.

After lunch, we officially discovered that we are getting old. We took the ferry over to Tom Sawyer's Island, found a comfortable bench near a tree house, sat down, and fell asleep for at least an hour. Then we moseyed around the island for at least another hour just enjoying the relaxed environment we were in.

After the island and some other rides, we went to Splash Mountain. It was a little after 6pm and boy were we lucky that it was a warm day out because we got drenched! On Tom Sawyer's Island, you can get a pretty good view of the logs coming down and see just how wet everyone gets from the ride. On a previous visit to Disneyland while we were watching the logs coming down, we were trying to figure out if there was any cycle to how wet people got on the ride.

In the middle of pondering this, an Island security guard started talking to us. He had been working for Disney for a while and told us that there isn't any cycle to the water and there is no way to determine how wet each log and its riders will get. And they do not turn down the water levels in the winter or turn them up in the summer. They are consistent all year long. So if you think about riding this in the winter months, make sure to be prepared to get soaked cause there is no way to tell how wet you will be after coming off this ride.

The only thing that really determines how wet you can get is the distance of the logs between each other in the rides. If your log goes down that drop soon after the log in front of you, there is a good chance you will get drenched since your log will be hitting the displaced water from the previous log. If there is plenty of distance between when the log in front of you goes down and when your log goes down, then you probably won't get too wet.

Well, since finding out this information, we have made it a routine to always sit in the back of the log where you get the least wet, even if your log is one of those "lucky" ones. Earlier on in the ride, the riders in front of us got pretty wet from the smaller drops and my foot had a big splash of water hit it as well. We all should have known that these were signs of danger to come. We started up the track for the big drop and I noticed that we weren't too far behind the log in front of us. I knew this wasn't going to be pretty.

We reached the top and started down. We smiled for the picture and then I ducked with my hands over my face as we neared the bottom of the drop. The next thing I know, I'm dripping wet and everyone is screaming. We got completely soaked. My husband kept his eyes open for the drop to witness the whole thing and he said that the water came completely over the boat, above the height of our heads! Fortunately, we didn't get it as bad as the four passengers in front of us but almost all of our clothes had water marks on them. So, even though it was getting into the evening, we were very fortunate that it was a warm day and the warm air was still in the air. We dried off relatively quickly and now have great memories of that infamous drop.


More rides ensued and we finished off the evening with a train ride a few times around the park and the Disneyland Fireworks while on Thunder Mountain Railroad.



All in all, this was a wonderful day and a great way to celebrate my husband's birthday!

Lost In Austen - Book Review

For a Christmas present this past year, I received a book from an old friend Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure by Emma Campbell Webster. She knew how much I love Jane Austen and thought I might get a kick out of this.

It really is a choose-your-own adventure and you get to play none other than Elizabeth Bennet. The storyline follows the main plot of Pride and Prejudice, but through decisions that you can make, you may interact with the some characters of other Austen novels, including Captain Wentworth, Catherine Morland, Mr. Martin, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Elton, Mr. Tilney, Willoughby, Mr. Churchill, Fanny Price, Miss Bates, and Mr. Benwick (for fun, leave a comment to this post and name which Jane Austen novel each of these characters is from – I’ll post the answers a little later!).

You keep track of different aspects of what a lady during that time was valued for, accomplishments, fortune, confidence, intelligence, connections, and failings. Throughout the book and depending on what “path” you choose, you can either add to your score or deduct from it. At some junctures in the story, where you go next depends on your score in a particular area.

Overall, the book was fun and enjoyable. I started out keeping track of the above-mentioned items but them gave up ¼ of the way through as it took too long for me to keep stopping and writing things down. Instead, I just read through the book. When it came time for me to make a decision about what to do next, I thought about which one I would choose and then read all the different scenarios to see where each one would lead. Some progressed the story, while others led to The End.

If you make all your decisions based on what happens next in Pride and Prejudice, you can probably guess how the book will end. But, if you explore other avenues, some twists and turns will keep the story interesting and different from the original.

I would recommend this as a quick, mindless read that’s a good diversion.

If you’ve read this book, please leave your comments below and if you would like to play the trivia game mentioned above please comment as well.

A Different Approach to Sparking Interest

When you give your child something new to do, they can have a variety of reactions to it. They may completely hate it and count down the seconds until they can stop doing it or think it’s interesting but not really want to do it again or think it’s interesting and like to do it a few more times, but nothing too involved on their part, or really like it and can’t wait until their next chance to do it again.

With reading, I’m sure we all want our kids to have that last reaction because we know how much more successful they can be in life if they are first, able to read, and second, well-read as that helps them form opinions and stances on many different issues in life, be it politics, education, religion, hobbies, etc.

One way that I get more interested in something is if I can actually get involved with it in a hands-on way. I learn best when I can participate. No matter how many times you explain something to me verbally, I will not fully get what I am supposed to do until I can see it and then do it myself.

Since boys are typically visual/kinesthetic learners as well, I think they fall into the same category as me. Involvement can be a huge key in getting your child interested in something…including reading.

With that said, I want to turn your attention to something you may or may not have heard about: Living History, also known as Reenacting. This is an amazing way to get involved in learning. It is all about history, but in a very real and hands-on way.

This past President’s Day weekend, I had the opportunity to join up with a civilian reenactment group that was attending an event hosted by Knott’s Berry Farm in Southern California. The group I was with, Oak Street, portrays residents of a street in a small town somewhere in --- Carolina during the Civil War. Each resident creates a persona and during the event they act out their persona not only to each other but to all the spectators that visit the event. Through this persona, they are able to teach others what it would have been like to be a civilian during that time. This is a great way to get kids interested in history.

So how do you use reenacting to get your child more interested in reading? Well, if you go to an event as a spectator and they show an interest in it, encourage them to learn more about it after the event is over. Don't let it be a one-day thing.

Go with your child to the library to pick up books on something they saw that was interesting. Perhaps a civilian had a telegraph machine and demonstrated how it worked and what it was used for. Maybe this will spark something in your child's mind or imagination. Maybe this will get him interested in learning more about how people communicated during the war. What a great topic to look up in the library and discover more about together!

A really good question I heard a spectator ask a reenactor was, "How often would you hear from your relatives who were fighting in the war?" To which she answered, “I am lucky if I hear from my brother once a month. It greatly depends on if there is someone coming to our town who has seen my brother on their journey and was able to get a letter from him. We can not always depend on the post for reliable communication.” Can you imagine?

Would that spectator have had this question if he had not been at that event? How interested would he have been with the answer if he did not feel like he had actually time traveled back to an important time and place in our history?
Involvement can spark interest, interest can spark questions, and questions can spark learning. Help your child find something they can get involved in and watch how this snowball of learning grows.If you would like to hear more about this particular event or how to get more information about future events, please my blog post immediately below (February 28, 2008).



WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

Big Guy Books is a children's book publishing company dedicated to solving the problem of boys not reading. We call it Stealth Literacy®, the cure for the reluctant reader. Visit www.FreeDinosaurBook.com to get your FREE e-book now and receive more tips and info on boys and reading.


Copyright 2008, Sara Cornthwaite. All Rights Reserved.

Fort Knotts - February 16 & 17, 2008

On President's Day weekend, I joined the Historical Citizens Association for an exciting time of Civil War reenacting, hosted by Knott's Berry Farm. I've participated here and there in the past as my sister is a history buff and a very active reenactor and has been for quite a few years. (I mainly go because I love to get dressed up in clothes from the past!). But this was my first event where I spent the night in a tent and participated more. And let me tel you, it was a blast!
(I'm on the very left in the blue and white)

We set-up the Friday before and, boy, was that a task. There were 4 of us who were able to help set up and it took all us to get each of the 5 tents (or flys as the ones without walls are called)up. (All in all, there were around 20 of us in this group and a few hundred reenactors in total at the event.)

Then we moved on to unpacking all of the boxes of dishes and silverware. That may sound unusual in a camping setting, but not for this group. You see, they portray what it would have been like to be a civilian in a small town during the Civil War. They represent the residents and passer-bys, who got stranded in the town for one reason or another, of a street in this town...Oak Street. My sister, Miss Violet, runs the Johnson Oak Inn so it is necessary to have all the dishes and silverware (it's real silver too). (Go here to learn more about Oak Street and its residents.)

Each reenactor develops a character and portrays that character in the 1st person at each of the events. Then, through their characters and the setting they create, they teach visitors what it would have been live to live back then...to cook over an open fire, wash dishes by hand in big dish tubs, go to school (in both the North and South), go to finishing school, and operate a telegraph machine.

While it is very exciting to see the military reenactors display their armor and have staged battles, it is just as exciting - and sometimes even more - to see the Civilians with their 1st person personas.

It's an amazing learning environment as each of these reenactors know their history so well and exactly what was going on in the year they are representing.

If you ever wanted a hands-on learning evironment for your kids, especially your boys, this is the place to go. There are events all over the country all the time so it shouldn't be hard to find one near you.

We had a family come by as we were washing our dishes from our dinner meal (what you and I would actually call lunch) and the kids wanted to help us wash them - even their young son! They really got into it and the mother was telling us that this was her 2nd year homeschooling her children and that this event was a way for her kids to get credit for a fieldtrip, school credit, and learn about history all in one.

She was thinking that her son would be the one who would really get into the event with the military aspect all around and that the rest of the family - including their 2 daughters - were just coming along for the ride. But she was pleasantly surprised as all of her children really enjoyed themselves. Before they came to us, they had just finished visiting with another group of reenactors with whom they helped do their laundry! They all learned a lot and have a great time together as a family.

If you want to find out more information about reenacting either for yourself or for your children or to find an event to bring your family to, please visit the Historical Citizens Association website. They are a non-profit organization with the mission of spreading the word about historical reenacting in order to promote history and education.

You can see some pictures from the event below:

Dinner Time!

Yes, even the men do dishes.

Watch out for the Calvary!

Ah, all the pretty ladies lined up in the kitchen.

Miss Violet showing off the coffee grinder to a young spectator.

For more pictures, please visit the
Historical Citizens Association website.

Tip of the Week (2/28/08)

How to Nurture a Growing Reader

Source: Helping Your Children Become Better Readers Brochure from RIF/VISA
Ages: 0-4, 5-8, 9-12


Summary: Reading doesn't just happen. It is a skill that must be nurtured from a child's earliest years. Once children know how to read, they still need gentle coaxing and support to reach their full potential as readers.

Here are a dozen tips for nurturing your growing readers:

1. Read with your children at least once every day.


2. Make sure they have plenty to read. Take them to the library regularly, and keep books and other reading materials in their reach.


3. Notice what interests your child, then help find books about those things.


4. Respect your child's choices. There's nothing wrong with series fiction if that's what keeps a young reader turning the pages.


5. Praise your children's efforts and newly acquired skills.


6. Help your child build a personal library. Children's books, new or used, make great gifts and appropriate rewards for reading. Designate a bookcase, shelf or box where your children can keep their books.


7. Check up on your children's progress. Listen to them read aloud, read what they write and ask teachers how they're doing in school.


8. Go places and do things with your children to build their background knowledge and vocabulary, and to give them a basis for understanding what they read.


9. Tell stories. It's a fun way to teach values, pass on family history and build your children's listening and thinking skills.


10. Be a reading role model. Let your children see you read, and share some interesting things with them that you have read about in books, newspapers or magazines.


11. Continue reading aloud to older children even after they have learned to read by themselves.


12. Encourage writing along with reading. Ask children to sign their artwork, add to your shopping list, take messages and make their own books and cards as gifts.

The Best Book Topics for Boys

Here is an article from Robert Gould, founder and CEO of Big Guy Books:

You want to encourage your son to read, but also want to steer clear of The Transformers, G.I Joe, Star Wars and all the other over-marketed, too-violent usual suspects from Hollywood to Hasbro. Well then, here's a selection of topics that boys will love - and actually have plenty of redeeming educational value to boot (go figure)!

Space
Granted, with NASA's recent funding trouble, astronaut is not the career track it was thirty years ago, but still, there's nothing a boy likes more than reaching for the stars. From distant planets to rocket launchers, astronomy and space exploration hold a particular kind of magic for the young male reader.

Cool icons: The Space Shuttle, Apollo anything, planets of the solar system, black holes

Great books from the genre: Georges Secret Key to the Universe, Me and My Place in Space, The Usbourne First Encyclopedia of Space

Dinosaurs
The gold standard of boyhood passions. Not only do dinosaurs help build vocabulary skills, they teach kids about biology, history and geography all in one fell swoop! Plus they pull off the rare feat of crushing/killing stuff while staying somewhat cuddly at the same time.

Cool icons: T-Rex, Velociraptor, Pterodactyl, Stegosaurus

Great books from the genre: How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, Dinosailors, Danny and the Dinosaur, Time Soldiers Book #1: Rex, Time Soldiers Book #2: Rex2, Big Stuff: Dinosaurs

Construction
They grow out of this one at a pretty young age, but oh how little boys love big things that move smaller things over to other things. Got that? Big picture books filled with giant trucks and construction sites are an excellent entrée into reading for boys.

Cool icons: Earth movers, Bulldozers, GIANT bulldozers

Great books from the genre: The Construction Alphabet Book, Building with Dad, Big Stuff: Giant Earthmovers, Big Stuff: Tractors

Pirates
Pirate stories do spark a child's imagination -- transporting him to a distant land on the open sea, filled with treasure chests (and free of parent restrictions). Did somebody say "y'argh"?

Cool icons: Tall ships, canons, eye patches, loads and loads of treasure

Great books from the genre: How I Became a Pirate, Treasure Island, Pirate Pete, The Night Pirates, Time Soldiers Book #3: Patch

Ancient Egypt
Here's another category that's got it all. Ancient Egypt always holds a special place in boys' hearts because, well, they wrapped people up and mummified them back then. It's hard to find a boy who doesn't say "whoa" when they learn that little factoid.

Cool icons: Mummies, the Pharaoh, the Sphinx

Great books from the genre: If I Were a Kid in Ancient Egypt, Mummy (DK Eyewitness Book), Mummies Made in Egypt, Time Soldiers Book #5: Mummy

Whichever topics you choose to focus on, the important thing is that you read to your son every day and install in him a love of reading at a very young age. In return, you get a smart, successful well-adjusted child who is just plain great to be around!

Robert Gould
Founder and CEO, Big Guy Books

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Big Guy Books is a children's book publishing company dedicated to solving the problem of boys not reading. We call it Stealth Literacy®, the cure for the reluctant reader. Visit www.FreeDinosaurBook.com to get your FREE e-book now and receive more tips and info on boys and reading.

Copyright 2008, Robert Gould and Big Guy Books, Inc.

Merry Christmas!