Life on Planet Caddick

Ugh! I'm so ready to start the new year. I don't have too much longer either! We are actually starting July 1st. That's usually the plan, but my husband kind of balked at this information the other day. See, this is the first year he's home during the summer. Or really at all. And this may be off the homeschool topic (ok, it IS off the homeschool topic), but my husband is on terminal leave from the AF. Which means he's done working for the AF and now will be home while he looks for a job. After all the separations over the years I'm really glad to have more time to see my love's face, but he kind of interferes with the homeschool schedule. He gets Zach all riled up and distracted. Which is sometimes funny, but usually just, well, distracting. So, I guess we will be learning how to learn with dad hanging around. If he interferes too much I'm going to put him to work teaching Science and Art! Maybe Spanish too! Oh my, this could really end up being a great...

We finally did it - we went on a cruise! Not just any cruise either, we went on a Disney Cruise! It was all that we expected it to be fun, great food, beautiful weather, and absolutely relaxing. Honestly it was the first vacation that I didn't have to worry about anything - and that is wonderful! We sailed on the Disney Dream out of Port Canaveral Florida on a four night Bahama getaway. This was the tiny ship next to ours This is what you see when you first walk on the ship Up Close  Almost at eye level - yes I was obsessed with this  There were of course Mickey touches everywhere - but I'll not bore you with a ton of pictures! OK I lied, I will - but they will be fun pictures, promise!  Our first stop was Nassau, we went a glass bottom boat tour (OK - we weren't impressed but we did get to spend time on shore too). If you go - just walk around the town. While the tour sounds fun, it really wasn't all that. Here are some things we s...

The Bat by Jo Nesbø My rating: 4 of 5 stars I was a little skeptical about reading this book. I read The Snowman a while ago and was not that impressed. I thought it was too wordy. But I'm always willing to give an author a second chance so I decided to go for it. I'm glad I did. This book was really good. It gave me a sense of who Harry really is which I enjoyed immensely. It was also so well written - with twists and turns, red herrings, startling surprises, and in the end realizing that you had "who did it" wrong all along (even after changing your mind several times!). In short, the way a good thriller/mystery should be written. I also enjoyed that this book took place in Australia. Nesbo didn't stick to just one place either, we traveled a little though the continent that I'd love to visit. The touches of Aboriginal history and politics were also well done by incorporating them into the backstories of the characters rather than just throwing th...

What: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Who: Seth Grahme-Smith What it's about:  Indiana, 1818.   Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness." "My baby boy..." she whispers before dying. Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire. When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, " henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose ..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House. While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, ...

Written By: Jenny Lawson Narrated By: Jenny Lawson (AKA The Bloggress) What it's about:  Internet star Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, makes her literary debut, and narrates this audio version. Jenny Lawson realized that the most mortifying moments of our lives - the ones we'd like to pretend never happened - are in fact the ones that define us. In Let's Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson takes readers on a hilarious journey recalling her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas, her devastatingly awkward high school years, and her relationship with her long-suffering husband, Victor. ( view source ) What I thought: I really enjoyed listening to this book. Jenny's homey Texas twang is fun to listen to and some of her memories will make you bust out laughing. Which is a good thing - unless you're listening while shopping (which I do), and then it just gets you some stares from semi frightened people! When I got done I sometimes replayed (in my head) some of h...

What it's about:  Cotton Malone is back! Steve Berry’s new international adventure blends gripping contemporary political intrigue, Tudor treachery, and high-octane thrills into one riveting novel of suspense.   Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.   At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene.   Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception.   Run by the CIA, the op...

It was an eventful Memorial Day weekend this year. I tried not to be too sad and snotty because my dad's birthday is the 26th and my sisters is the 27th. I miss them both dearly. We started the weekend bright and early Saturday morning - with our Scouts, placing flags on the graves of our local veterans. We had one of our best turn outs that I can remember. I love the fact that we get to teach these young men {and boys} the true meaning of this holiday and what freedom really costs. To make this weekend even more awesome, our small slice of South Carolina was honored to host the Traveling Wall. Even in small scale it was heart stopping, one day I hope we make it to D.C. to see it full scale. What another great opportunity for teaching history up close.