I started this blog with one daughter, kept it up with the other, to spend time together doing something we enjoyed.
However, things change and people evolve. My daughters are older, busier, and not as interested in writing.
From now on this blog will be mostly mom with occasional contributions from my daughters and maybe even my husband.
Nothing else will change. We'll still focus on sharing fun places to go, fun things to do, and more, and we would  still love to hear your views too

Monday, September 30, 2013

Seafood

Me - Seafood, maybe wow. I like some seafood but not that much. In fact, I am sure there is plenty of seafood I have never heard of. I eat lox.  I like to put a ton of it on my bagel. Everyone always gets mad at me and says I don't leave any for anybody else. I like shrimp. One time my Dad forced me to eat a sample in Sam's. I didn't like it at first, but now I do. I like tuna fish with lots and lots of mayo. My cat, Gigi loved tuna fish too. Whenever she smelled it, she would come running. She sometimes would eat food off the floor, but not as much as a dog. She would sometimes comes running when somebody was eating, but not all the time like a dog. Most of the time when we are sitting at the table eating she just ignored us. However, whenever anybody was eating tuna, she immediately came running. I like New England clam chowder. I have never had Manhattan clam chowder, but I like the creaminess of New England clam chowder. My Dad loves seafood. He is obsessed with crab cakes. He loves it more than I have ever seen him love any other food, and he loves a lot of different foods. Now, he used to use his love of crab cakes to annoy my friend and I. We'd ask his favorite food and he'd say  "Crab Cakes". He'd says his second favorite food was crab cakes too. He'd  says his third favorite food was crab cakes too. He'd says his fourth favorite was steamed crab. It was so annoying that it made me not ever want to hear about crab cakes again.

Mom - I hate seafood. My girls don't like it that much either. I only like tuna fish and clam chowder. The tuna fish has to be out of a can and has to have lots and lots of mayonaise so it doesn't taste like fish. The clam chowder has to be New England because I love that creamy taste. I like New England clam chowder by itself. I also like it over spaghetti. Melia likes the seafoods I like and a few other things. Aurella only likes lox and fish sticks. I used to like fried clams, but I haven't eaten that in years. My husband likes a lot of different kinds of seafood. He doesn't get to eat a lot of it though because we never have it in the house since the girls, and I don't like it. He could get it for himself, but he usually doesn't. He grew up in Maryland, and he really likes crabs. When I was little, I didn't like lobster because I didn't like things that still look like they used to when they were alive when you are eating them. I still am not crazy about that, but I don't dislike lobster just because of that. I just don't like the taste of it.Also, they are too much trouble to eat.  I remember once when we were little my parents were eating lobster my sister kept covering them because she said they were looking at her even though they didn't really have any eyes anymore. Anyway, when it comes to surf and turf, you can keep your surf, and I'll just stick to turf.

And that's our view. What kind of seafood do you like?

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Saturday Special -VonThun Country Farm Fall Events

VonThun Farms

http://www.usfamilyguide.com/_logos/11344/Logo.gif

Central New Jersey's favorite 

pumpkin patch, 

apple orchard, 

corn MAiZE!! 

One price fall weekend admission allows you to stay longer, play harder, spend less, & make more memories together as a family! Open through Halloween. Visit their Country Farm Market for fresh homegrown produce, pick-your-own pumpkins & apples, and enjoy lots of fall fun weekend activities! See below to visit their website for all the details!


For a special two for one discount for our readers, click on the below link

www.trentonkidsguide.com/coupon.php?bid=11344&dealid=1405&regionid=242



Our review of VonThun's Farm will be featured on an upcoming Where-To-Go Wednesday post 
or pumpkin & apple picking, a hayride, our corn maze, & all our fun family activities! - See more at: http://www.vonthunfarms.com/#sthash.hRpa4xe8.dpuf

Friday, September 27, 2013

Funny Friday - Joe Girardi

Me -

My Mom turned on the news and saw the channel 4 meteorologist so she said "There's Janice Huff."

So Aurella said "Who cares! She's not Joe Girardi,"


Mom -

We were talking about Joe Girardi, the manager of the New York Yankees and Aurella said "There's no such thing as Joe Girardi"


We welcome you to share your funny stories with us.

Tune in tomorrow for a Saturday Special.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Nancy Drew and the Bobbsey Twins

Me - Nancy Drew and the Bobbsey Twins, wow! I love mystery books. I love Nancy Drew. I have read some of the older Nancy Drew books as well as some of the newer ones. I like the Nancy Drew movie too. Nancy Drew is really brave. I don't think I could ever be that brave. I don't have a favorite Nancy Drew book. I like them all about the same. I like the Bobbsey Twins too. I read books 1 -12. My Dad got them for me. My favorite characters are Nan, the older sister and Flossie, the younger sister. Flossie and her twin brother, Freddie are really cute. Nan and her twin brother, Bert are really smart. It is hard to believe that kids could really solve mysteries, but I still like the books.

Mom - I have always enjoyed mysteries. The first mystery series I read when I was young was Nancy Drew by Caroyln Keene. Of course, I learned later that there wasn't really a Carolyn Keene. The Nancy Drew books where just one of the series of books written by the group that also did  The Hardy Boys, and the Bobbsey Twins among others. I enjoyed the Bobbsey Twin books as well, but I was never really into the Hardy Boys.  I didn't really like reading books that were only about boys. However, knowing there really wasn't any Carolyn Keene or Laura Lee Hope didn't make the books any less enjoyable. There was a time in my life when I was particularly in to Nancy Drew books. When I picked them up, I literally couldn't put them down. I would read through a whole book a day. Other books by the same group were The Rover Boys, Tom Swift, The Dana Girls, Tom Swift Jr. and The Happy Hollisters. I did read The Happy Hollisters, but I never read any of the others. Some of the series I never even heard if until I was already older. The original Nancy Drew books were written in the 1930's although a lot of the books were later updated. However there have been various other Nancy Drew series books over the years, and of course, there was Nancy Drew the TV series starring Pamela Sue Martin in the late 1970s and later Nancy Drew the movie starring Emma Roberts in 2007.

And that's our view. Did you or do you enjoy Nancy Drew and/or the Bobbsey Twins or any of the similar series? Why or why not?

Tune in tomorrow for Funny Friday.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Where-To-Go Wednesday - County Parks

What: County Parks

Where: Various Locations

Who: All ages

Our view: A nice place to go at this time of year when the weather is usually not too hot and not too cold is the park. County parks are especially nice because they are a little bigger than local parks, and they have often have things that local parks do not. Where we live at least, county parks offer a wide variety of classes for all ages including adults. Classes cover a wide vary area including art, cooking and/or sports. County parks usually have a variety of sports fields, such as, baseball fields and soccer fields. They may have picnic areas.  Picnic area may or may not require a reservation so if you are interested in having a picnic check before you go. Some county parks even have swimming pools and if so, swimming lessons may be available in the summer. Most county parks at least  the ones we have been to usually include at least one playground. These days playgrounds generally include an area for older kids and an area for younger kids. We will be talking more about specific county parks we have been to and like in future Where-To-Go Wednesday posts. In the meantime, if you want to know more about your local county parks, a good place to start is to look up the parks and recreation department for the county where you live or the county where you are interested in finding a park. Another place to go is to ask at your local library, and they can probably steer you in the right direction.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Tips for Tuesday - Movies: Smurfs 2 and Sydney White

Me - Today I am recommending Smurfs 2. Smurfs  2 was a good movie. It was about how it doesn't matter where you come from but you choose who you are going to be. It was cute and funny, but it wasn't as good as the first one. It is still worth seeing though.

Mom -Today I am recommending Sydney White. Though these days, it's getting harder and harder to remember, there was a time when Amanda Bynes was just a nice normal and very talented girl. If you want to remember her like that, this is the movie for you. The movie is a modern day take on the Snow White story about a young college student and a group of seven misfits that take her in. The movie is very enjoyable. It is also very unique while there have been many versions of other princess stories like Cinderella there have not been as many versions of the Snow White story, and there definitely haven't been any others quite like this one. Sydney White is available from Amazon Prime Instant Video and from Netflix.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Monday, September 23, 2013

I hate it when...

Me - I hate it when, not wow! I hate it when my sister or brother get what they want and I don't.  I hate it when my brother sits on me. I hate it when my sister copies me. I hate it when I have a lot of homework on a night that I am really busy. I hate it when my kittens scratch me. I hate it when I really really want something but I am not allowed to get it. I hate it when I have no money. I hate it when my Dad makes fun of me. I hate it when birthday is on a school day which it usually is. I hate it when people rush me. I hate it when people put too much pressure on me. I hate it when people expect me to be perfect every time I try something. I hate it when people say shush. I hate it when people yell at me. I hate it when I am really excited for something to happen and then, it doesn't end up happening.  I hate it when I have a specific outfit in mind, and then I can't find it. I hate it when my hair won't do what I want it to.  I hate it when I can't think of way to wrap up a blog post.

Mom - I hate it when my kids don't listen. I hate it when I have to say the same things over and over again. I hate it when my husband and I have an argument. I hate it when I have an argument with anyone.  I hate it when I cannot find anything to wear that looks good on me. I hate it when I am having a bad hair day.I hate it when I feel really fat.  I hate it when I feel rushed. I hate it when time goes by too quickly. I hate it when time goes by too slowly. I hate it when I think something is going to happen but it doesn't. I hate it when I don't want something to happen but it does. I hate it when a movie or book doesn't turn out to be as good as I think it will. I hate it when they ruin a good TV show. I hate it when I can't decide what I want to eat. I hate it when my kittens keep getting into the same trouble over and over again. I hate it when I have too many things to remember. I hate it when I lose things. I hate it when I walk into a room and forget why I am in there. I hate it when I think about how much time has gone by in my life already. I hate it when people think they know me, but they really don't. I hate it when I cannot do something because I am doing something else. I hate it when I have to make choices. I hate when I have too many things to do. I hate it when I cannot finish everything. I hate it when there are just not enough hours in the day which is pretty much every day.

And that's our view. When do you hate?

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Saturday Special - Fall Festivals

Are you interested in some great fall fun? 

We have some great offers for you. We have put together a great list of Corn Maze Coupons and Fall Festival savings nationwide. 
  
If you live in any of the following states see below to download valuable coupons for Corn Mazes, Pumpkin Patches and Fall Family Activities:

Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland/DC, Massachusetts, Missouri/Kansas, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia or Utah 


Arizona
Schnepf Farms - Queen City 


Tolmachoff Farms- Glendale

California
Forneris Farms - Mission Hills

Colorado
Anderson Farms - Erie

Flat Acres Farm - Parker
Fritzler Maze - La Salle
Sunflower Farm - Longmont
Mile High Farms - Bennett
Wishing Star Farm - Calhan
Harvest Farm - Wellington

Texas
Devine Acres Farm - Devine
Fiesta Farm - San Antonio
Yesterland Farm - Canton
South Texas Maize - Hondo
Dewberry Farm - Brookshire
Brazos Valley Maize- Brenham

Louisiana
CM Farms - Dry Creek

Georgia
Lane Southern Orchards - Fort Valley
Poppell Farms - Odum

Michigan
Farmer Charley's Corn Maze Adventure - Monroe

Indiana
Amazing Fall Fun - Waterloo

Guffey Acres- Kokomo
Harvest Tyme Pumpkin Patch - Lowell
Hobson's Fun Farm - Rockville

Illinois
All Seasons Orchard - Woodstock
Kuipers Family Farm - Maple Park
Odyssey Fun Farm - Tinley Park
Siegel's Cottonwood Farm - Lockport

Maryland/DC
Summers Farm - Fredrick County

Massachusetts
Sauchuk Farm - Plympton

Missouri/Kansas

KC Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze - Gardner
Shuck's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch - Pleasant Hill

Mississippi
Seward Farms Maze - Lucedale

Minnesota
Afton Apple Orchard - Hastings

Montana
The Maize at Grandpa's Farm - Billings

Nebraska
Camp Fontanelle - Nickerson

NewJersey
VonThun Farms - Monmouth Junction
Sahl's Father Son Farm - Egg Harbor City

New York
Wright Family Farm - Warwick
Harbes Family Farm - Mattituck

North Carolina
Patterson Farm Market and Tours - Mount Ulla

Ohio
The Corn Maze at the Sharp Run Market - Millersburg
Meadow View Growers - New Carlisle 


Oregon
The Maize at The Pumpkin Patch- Portland, OR
Guffey Acres- Kokomo, IN
Tolmachoff Farms- Glendale, AZ
Pennsylvania
Hurricane Hill Farm - CoatsvilleTriple B Farms - Pittsburgh
Reillys Summer Seat Farm
 - Pittsburgh

 
Rhode Island
Confreda Greenhouses & Farms - Hope (Western Cranston)

Virginia
Cows-N-Corn - Midland
Wayside Farm Fun - Berryville
Belvedere Plantation - Fredericksburg

Utah
Cornbelly's Corn Maze & Pumpkin Fest - Spanish Fork

For Daily Updates on these coupons and coupons for other family attractions please visit and bookmark: http://www.usfamilycoupons.com

Friday, September 20, 2013

Funny Friday - Rain or Shine

Me -

We went to a baseball game and our team lost 7-0. On the way home, my Dad commented that we were lucky that it never rained like we expected it to. My sister said. "The game was so bad even the rain didn't want to see it."

Mom -

When one of my daughter's was little, she thought Rain Rain Go Away went like this "Rain, Rain Go Away Come Again on Mother's Day."


We welcome you to share your funny stories with us. Tune in Monday for another Talking Topics.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Animal Babies

Me - Animal babies, wow! Animal babies are so cute except for rats which I hate. I also don't like ferrets. I love kittens. I love puppies. I love bunnies. I love guinea pigs. I love hamsters. I love mice when they are in cages at the pet store. I don't like mice running around my house. I love chinchillas. I got to pet one once. They are so fluffy like the unicorn in Despicable Me. We have two kittens now named Callie and Pippi. They are really cute. I have never had a puppy, but I have seen a lot of really cute ones. They are super cute. I don't like big dogs. My friends had a puppy that was really cute. When it got bigger I didn't really like it anymore. Bunnies are so cute. I never had one, but my Mom had a couple before I was born. They are really fluffy. We had a couple of guinea pigs, but not at the same time. We had one named Olivia. When we got her she was so tiny, but she got big really fast. Hamsters are cute, but I have never had one. One time, I went to PetSmart. There were two Hamsters. One was sitting on the Hamster wheel but he wasn't running around. The other was running back and forth in the cage. He was going so fast. He looked like he was on some kind of medication. Mice to me are a lot like small hamsters. They are cute in the store, but I don't like them in my house. Chinchillas are cute and fluffy but I don't know anyone who has ever had one. I love animals babies and our kittens are the cutest.

Mom - I just love animals especially cute little baby animals. I love looking at pictures of cute little baby animals. I love seeing cute little baby animals on TV and in movies. I love seeing cute little baby animals in zoos and on farms and various other places. Most of all, I love owning my own cute little baby animals. When I was little we had a puppy. I was pretty young myself when we got him I was only about five so I don't remember much about his puppy days. We only had our dog about five years altogether although in some ways it seems longer and in some ways it seems shorter. I had a  a couple of rabbits. I am not sure how old my first rabbit was when I got him, but I am pretty sure he was not more than a year. My second rabbit was a baby when I got her. I don't remember the rabbits growing that much from the time that I got them. We had lots of guinea pigs. Our last guinea pig, Olivia was just a six week old tiny baby when we got her. She got so big so fast. My cat Gigi was also a six week old tiny baby when I got her. She used to follow me around when she was a baby and cry every time she didn't know where I was. Now, we have two new little baby kittens. They were a little older (nine weeks) and a little bigger than Gigi was when I got her when we got them. Still, there were really cute and little. Some day sooner than I'd like they'll become big cats just like Gigi and just like all the other baby pets grew up and got bigger. I didn't love any of my pets any less when they got older and bigger, and I won't with our new kittens either. However, sometimes, I will miss their baby days just like I sometimes missed my other pets baby days and sometimes, I miss my daughters' baby days as well.

And that's our view. What is your favorite baby animal?

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Chelsea Market

What: Chelsea Market

Where: 75 9th Avenue (between 15th and 16th Street)
            New York, New York

Who: All Ages

Our view: Chelsea Market is located at the site of the old National Biscuit Company. It is full of unique and interesting restaurants and shops. If you are tired of fast food and cookie cutter chain restaurants that are all basically the same, Chelsea Market is the place for you. They have everything from Hale and Hearty Soups to Amy's Bread to The Lobster Place . They also have authentic ethnic foods including Thai Food, Italian Food, and Mexican food. These are just a few examples of the restaurants and types of food you can find here. If you are interested in architecture, this is also the place for you. Instead of being just another modern looking building, Chelsea Market is full of brick walls and exposed pipes. It is made to resemble the factory that it used to be. There is even an artificial waterfall. Aside from the restaurants and stores, there is also office space in the floors above and many media and broadcast companies are located here including the Food Network. The Food Networks Studios are located here as well. Many but not all Food Network shows are taped here including Guy Fieri's Big Bite and Iron Chef. Unfortunately, however, Tours of the Food Network studios are not available nor are tickets to tapings of the shows available to the general public. Chelsea Market is open Monday to Saturday from 7am to 10pm and Sunday from 10am to 8pm. For more information about Chelsea Market go to chelseamarket.com.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Tips for Tuesday - Books: The Clique Series and Why Can't I Be You

Me - Today I am recommending The Clique  series by Lisi Harrison. It is a series about popular girls and one girl who is at first not so popular. The girls are fashionable and mean. It is a young adult series but I think it is good for ages 13 and up.

Mom - Today I am recommending Why I Can't I Be You by Allie Larkin. This is a quick and fun read about a case of mistaken identity.Have you ever wanted to be somebody else for a while?  Jenny Shaw is a a girl who actually gets to live that fantasy. Is the grass really greener living somebody else's life? Find out by reading this book. When I read it, I literally couldn't put it down.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

New York Mets Game

Me -New York Mets, wow! Last month, I went to Citi Field for my second time to see the New York Mets play. We went with my Mom's friend from Kansas. The Mets lost to the Kansas City Royals. I had good pizza, a really good pretzel, and really good ice cream that melted really fast. We took the bus and the subway to get to the game. I had fun talking to my Mom on the bus. I had fun on the subway on the way there because I was sitting and talking to my Dad and my Mom. On the way back, I didn't like it as much because my sister made me stand with her on the subway, and my legs were tired. The stadium was huge and confusing. I like minor league stadiums better. Our seats were okay, but I am not used to being so far away from the field. I had trouble keeping up with the game because we were so far away. I really liked the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum. It was really interesting. However, my sister was really bored there so I hardly got to see anything. I really enjoyed going to the Mets game.

Mom - I used to be huge Mets fan, and then I was a Yankee fan. I am still a baseball fan. I like the Mets and the Yankees, but I am not that attached to either. I used to go to over 20 Met games in a year. The Mets have now been in their new stadium, Citi Field for four seasons, and last month I went there for only my second time. There are a lot of nice things about the new stadium. However, in some ways I kind of miss the old stadium. I was kind of used to it. It was like a home away from home to me. My favorite part of the new stadium is the Hall of Fame and Museum. I love all the memorabilia from the Mets history. My favorite is David Cone's jersey from his 20 game winning 1988 season. David Cone is my favorite player of all time. My current favorite player is David Wright. Unfortunately, he did not play when we went to Citi Field because he was hurt. Melia and I had each been to Citi Field once before. However, my husband and Aurella had never been there. The girls were really excited to go not only because we were going to the game but because we were going with my friend from Kansas. We hadn't seen him in 10 years so Aurella had never actually met him. She just heard a lot about him. I think she was actually more excited about meeting my friend and riding on the subway then she was about the game. It was hard for her to pay attention at the game anyway because she is not used to being so far away from the action. She is used to minor league games. The only other major league game she went to was when she was really little. She did manage to have fun at the game though. We all did even though the Mets lost to the Kansas City Royals.

And that's our view. What is your favorite stadium?

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Funny Friday -Who's in charge?

Me -

When I was little, I said "Mom charge,"

My Dad said. "I'm in charge too."

I  promptly burst into tears.


Mom-

When my husband said we were going to do something my stepson asked him if he checked with me.



We welcome you to share your funny stories with us. Tune in Monday for another Talking Topic.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

The End of the Summer 2013

Me -The end of the summer, eh. This summer was good. I had fun spending time with my family and hanging out with my sister and  friends. I liked spending time with my kittens. I liked getting to sleep late. I saw a few movies. I went to a bunch of baseball games. I watched a lot of movies and TV shows on DVD. I went to a Broadway show. I went swimming a few times. There were bad things about the summer too. We didn't go to every place we wanted to. There were too many bugs. It was too hot, but with the air conditioning blasting it was too cold.  I am looking forward to cooler weather. I am looking forward to  my favorite shows coming back. I am half  looking forward to and half not looking forward to go back to school. However, I am not looking forward to homework. I am not looking forward to not seeing my kittens all day long. I am not looking forward to not being able to stay up as late. I'll miss being able to go places as much. I'll miss spending as much time with my family. Overall, I have mixed feelings about the end of summer.

Mom -This summer was okay. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We went to a lot of baseball games, We went on a cruise around New York City. My daughter and I went to a Broadway show. We watched a lot of movies and all of Get Smart. We did other things as well. One thing I did not do much of is go swimming. This summer I hardly went swimming at all.  I think I went once or twice. My kids went a few more times than I did, but they didn't go that much either. None of us went to the beach at all. We are not really big beach people anyway, and we usually only go once or twice a season anyway.  That didn't really bother me as much as other things we didn't get to do. However, overall this summer was nowhere near as awesome as last summer. I doubt we will ever have as awesome a summer as that again. There are a lot more things that I would have liked to do this summer that we didn't get to do than there were last summer. Like, my daughter I have mixed feelings about the end of summer. I look foward to getting back to the usual routines and yet I don't. I look forward to the kids going back to school and yet I don't. In those moments, when everybody is getting along or when the kids are being really helpful or sweet or something, I really enjoy having my kids around. In those moments, when they are fighting or whining or carrying on or just generally not listening, the school year can't come fast enough. We already have a lot of things to look forward to for next spring and/or summer. The problem is so far we do not have so much to look forward to for this fall and winter, and we have to get through the fall and winter to get to the spring and summer. Oh well, I am sure at least some good things will happen in the fall and the winter as we go along.

And that's our view; How was your summer?

Tune in tomorrow for Funny Friday.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Annie

What: Annie

Where:Palace Theater
           1564 Broadway

Who: 5 and up

Our view: There have been several revivals of Annie over the years all of them quite similar. This one is different. The changes are not impressive. It is somewhat darker in tone. The choreography looks like a mish mash. The sets are too overwhelming. The orphans are less distinguishable from one another than previously. They also lost some of their best bits as well as their big dance number. Some of the acting was not quite up to par. Two girls alternate in the role of Annie. We saw Taylor Richardson. Her acting and singing were  good, but I am not quite sure she showed the appropriate amount of spunk for the character. The other singing voices were good too. However, all of that being said,  at heart the show is still the same Annie we all know and love. It is still has an enjoyable story about little orphan Annie and billionaire, Oliver Warbucks and how they find each other and become a family. It still has great singable songs which is rare in a musical these days. Kids especially girls will love this shows so if you truly want to go see something for them, Annie is still a good choice.

And that's our view. For more on Annie in general see our 1/24/2013 post.  Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Tips for Tuesday - Apps. and Web-Sites: Hi Guess The Riddle and SwapaDVD

Me - Today I am recommending Hi Guess the Riddle. It is a  free app. You are given a riddle you have to figure out the answer. It gives you a bunch of different letters. Some are in the riddle. Some are not. It is a fun and challenging game.

Mom -Today I am recommending SwapaDVD.  It is similar to paperbackswap  which I previously recommended, see our August 7, 2012 post for more about that.  However, instead of trading books, you trade DVDs. When you join the site and enter 10 DVDs to swap, you get a free credit to get one DVD. After that, every time somebody requests one of your DVDs and you send it, you get a credit to get a DVD from someone else. You only pay postage for the DVDs you send not for the ones you request. It is a great site for people who like to own DVDs but don't necessarily want to own the same ones for a long time. It is also good if you like to watch the extras which you cannot do if you watch something on Netflix or Amazon prime. The site has both DVDs and Blu Rays. There is even a VHS, Betamax and laser bazaar where you can make arrangements with other members to exchange movies that are in these formats for credits. For more information or to sign up go to swapadvd.com.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Back to School

Me - Back to school, wowish! I am excited to start over in a new school. I am excited to make new friends. I am excited to decorate my locker. I am excited to not be bored. I like going shopping for school supplies. I have no idea why, but I just like it. I  like going shopping for new school clothes. I'm excited that in my new school I will not have recess. I love the new school library. It has so much more chapter books than my old library. I like having new brand school supplies. I like when all my pencils are sharp. I like when all my markers are full of ink. I like when my crayons are pointy and new. I have a nice new backpack with around seven compartments. I am looking forward to switching teachers for every subject. I am looking forward to getting home earlier. I am not looking forward to waking up early again and even earlier than I had to last year. I am not looking forward to not being able to stay up late at night and get up late the next day. I am not looking forward to schoolwork and homework. I am not looking forward to mean teachers and mean kids. I am not looking forward to a new routine. I am not looking forward to so many kids I don't know. The school year is exciting and scary to look forward to.

Mom - I look forward to my kids going back to school because we get back to our normal routines. I also am not looking forward to my kids going back to school for the same reason. In the summer, we have so much free time, and we are not really on a schedule. During the school year, I have more time to myself, but we are on more of a schedule. Even though my kids still read and do school related things during the summer, it is not so much pressure because we can do it at our leisure. During the school year, homework is a lot of pressure. I am not one of those parents who does homework for my kids, but even just making sure they get it done can be stressful. With my stepson, by the time he got to middle school, he refused to do his homework at all. Melia usually does her homework on her own although for a year or two a lot of time she kept forgetting to do certain things and getting missing assignments. Aurella does her homework, but she tends to linger over it, and she likes someone to sit with her. She was only in first grade last year, but already she had quite a lot of homework. I'm afraid to think about what it will be like now that she will be in second grade because I know it will get worse. Also, my other two kids started getting a lot more homework from second grade on, so I worry about what it will be like with Aurella since she already had a lot of homework in first grade. I hate shopping for back to school supplies. Luckily, my husband usually takes charge of figuring out where to get what. Also, we usually have a lot of stuff left from the previous year because my kids treat their school stuff well and don't lost it so much. We don't usually buy a lot of clothes for back to school. It is usually warm when school starts so we tend not to go through their clothes  and see what they need until school has already started. My Mom usually buys them new outfits for the first day of school. Anyway, I guess the kids going back to school is like most other things. It has its good points and bad points.

And that's our view. What do you like and dislike about the kids going back to school?

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Saturday Special - Laurie Berkner's New Album

As we previously discussed one of our favorite children's musical artists is Laurie Berkner. Laurie Berkner is going to be putting out a new album. It will be a lullaby album and you can be a part of it as the album will be created through Kickstarter.  If you make a donation towards making the album, you will get rewards. Rewards will include such things as a pre-release copy of the album, having your children's artwork on the cover of the album, and/or private concerts. For more information about Laurie Berkner see our February 18, 2013 post or go to laurieberkner.com. For more about Laurie Berkner's new album go to http://www.laurieberkner.com/about/press/7-about.html. For more about Kickstarter go to kickstarter.com.

Tune in Monday for another Talking Topic.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Funny Friday - All About Love

Me -

When my brother was little, he asked if our cat was ever going to have babies, My mom told him she wouldn't and tried to explain that we had her fixed so she couldn't have babies. He said "Yeah, first she'd have to fall in love."


Mom -

Aurella used to call the movie Going the Distance "The Luv Movie. "



We welcome you to share your funny stories with us. Tune in tomorrow for a Saturday Special.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Peanuts the Comic Strip

Me - Peanuts, wow! I don't like to eat peanuts. I don't like any nuts. However, I love the comic strip peanuts. My favorite characters are Snoopy, Lucy, Sally, Linus, Pig Pen, Peppermint Patty, Marcy, Charlie Brown, Schroeder and Woodstock. I really love them all. I can't really pick favorites. I love how Sally calls Linus her "sweet babu." I love how she has a crush on him. I also love how Lucy has a crush on Schroder. I like how Charlie Brown can never fly a kite. I like when Snoopy pretends to be a pilot. I also like that Charlie Brown can never kick the football. I wish something would go right for him though. Nothing ever goes right for him. I feel bad for him. Peanuts is one of my favorite comic strips. I have also seen a few of the TV specials. I would like to see them all some day.  I would like to see the movies too. I would also like to see the show You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. I also have two Peanuts books. One is a big treasury of Peanuts. I got  it this past holiday season. It is a really big book.  I'm really excited to read it.  I love Peanuts!

Mom - One of my favorite comic strips is Peanuts. Even though Charlies Schultz has been dead for almost 13 years so much of what happens in the comic strips is still relevant. Just about everyone has been like Charlie Brown at one time or another where absolutely nothing in life seems to go your way. I always hoped that one day something would go right for Charlie Brown and he would get to kick that football or that little red headed girl would like him back. I remember reading Happiness is a Warm Puppy when I was a kid. I never saw the show You're a Good Man Charlies Brown although I would have liked too. I do remember reading it in Middle School though and hearing the music. I think I like the longer Peanuts movies like A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home better than the shorter ones. Also, I like the older ones better than the newer ones. Peanuts reminds me of my childhood because it was there then and it still there now. I heard that are going to be making a new Peanuts movie in the next few years. I am not sure how I feel about that just like I am not sure how I feel about any Peanuts movies or specials that were made after Charles Schultz died. I wonder how Mr. Schultz would feel about them. If I had created characters that were as beloved as the Peanuts gang, I am not so sure I would want people doing new things with my characters after I died.

And that's our view. What is your favorite Peanuts character?

Tune in tomorrow for Funny Friday.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Central Park

What: Central Park

Where: New York, New York

Who: Everyone

Our view: There is truly something for everyone at Central Park. There are so many places to go in Central Park. There are concerts. There are plays. There is a carousel. There is a zoo. There are playgrounds. There is so much to do in Central Park. You can walk. You can skate. You can ride a bike. You can take a horse and carriage ride. The Mom half of Says Me Says Mom actually got engaged on a carriage ride around Central Park just about a month over 15 years ago today and  got married exactly 14 years ago today. The wedding was not in Central Park, however, many people do get married in the park. The park is not just for the warm weather either. It is open all year around. Winter activities include ice skating and cross country skiing. If you don't want to do anything, you can do that too. You can just lie out on the grass and relax and/or take a nap. You can participate in just about any kind of sport or activity you can think of in Central Park. The only thing bad about Central Park is that it so big it might be overwhelming for some people. The only people who wouldn't like it are people who don't like to be outdoors or people who are afraid of big open spaces. Other than that, Central Park truly is a place that has something for everyone. For more information or to plan a visit go to centralpark.com.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Tips for Tuesday - Misc.: Wendy's Pretzel Burgers and Sonic's Pretzel Dogs

Me - Today I am recommending Wendy's pretzel burgers. They are really good. It is like a baconator only better because it has a pretzel bun. The bun tastes so much like a pretzel. It is so good.

Mom - Today I am recommending Wendy's new pretzel burger and Sonic's pretzel dog. One is a cheesy, pretzely, bacony burger delight.The other is a cheesy bacony dog delight.  Finally buns that tastes as good as the stuff you put on them. They are both simply delicious.

And that's our view.

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday

Monday, September 2, 2013

Fun in the Sun

Me - Fun in the sun, wow! I like to play frisbee and catch. I like to climb trees. I like going to the beach and the pool. I  love the beach.  I also love to go swimming.  I like to have picnics. I like to go on walks with my family. I sometimes go to the playground but I don't enjoy it as much. I liked it better when I was younger. I also liked to catch bugs and dig in the dirt when I was younger. I don't t do those anythings anymore either. I like to ride my bike. I don't really like to ride my scooter, but I used to. I like to roller skate but I don't have a pair of skates that fits me. I have never been rollerblading, but I might like to try it sometime. When I was little I used to play soccer. Now, I don't play any team sports. I like to run around outside with my sister. I like to lie out in the sun and tan. I really like being out in the sun.

Mom -I like to be out in the sun, but not for too long and not when it is especially hot.  I like to sit out on my porch and read a book while my children play in the front yard. I like to take walks with my family. We have walked to Walgreens, Baskin Robbins,  and the flea market. We used to live in a different part of our town. There were even more places to walk too over there. I like to have picnics on our front lawn or at the park. When my girls were little, and they took classes at the county parks, we used to have even more picnics. I sometimes like to go to the beach or pool. One thing I don't like about the beach though is that I don't really like sand. I never really played organized sports although my brother and sister both did and my kids used to. I did play wiffle ball with my Dad and my brother on our front lawn when I was a kid. I also liked to climb trees when I was a kid. I could climb up in the tree, but I couldn't always get out. I would have to yell down to my brother or sister to go and get my Mom or Dad to get my out of the tree. I also used to like to go to the playground when I was a kid. Playgrounds these days are a lot different than they were when I was a kid. The way they make the equipment is different and the materials they use are different and the playground equipment is different. About the only things that are the same is that both then and now there were swings and slides. Back then, the slides were metal and got hot in the sun. Playground fun in the sun is one thing that has definitely gotten better since I was a kid.

And that's our view. What do you like to do in the sun?

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.