Life on Planet Caddick

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins My rating: 4 of 5 stars I really like this series - too bad I wait too long in between books that sometimes I have to search my memory for what happened before! In a world in love with vampires, werewolves, and zombies I've always been partial to witches and warlocks. Maybe because I grew up watching Bewitched? This is a YA book, but the writing is still good. The storyline has a lot of twists, which I enjoy in any book, and the ending left me wishing I had the third book on my shelf so I could find out what happens next! I haven't felt that way about a series since I lost a whole weekend to The Hunger Games Trilogy. In this book, Sophie heads to England to spend the summer with her father. There she learns a lot about her history, and the history of The Eye, which is trying to eliminate all people with power of any kind. An old time custom leaves Sophie betrothed to someone she likes, but does not love. I told you - angsty teenage stuff! Overal...

Dead Run by P.J. Tracy My rating: 4 of 5 stars I love the Monkeewrench series. Usually I read them, but I decided to do an audiobook this time. I'm glad I did - the narration was great! While the storyline may seem implausible, chances are it's not - not in today's world. I love how the Monkeewrench crew is starting to expand with some outside characters that are adding more to the overall sense of who the people really are. The fact that most of the story takes place in Wisconsin is different from the others which focused on the main location of Minneapolis. It is a very good book and a series that I will see through to the end. If you love intrigue, suspense, and technology you'll love the Monkeewrench series! View all my reviews

Today I'm linking up with the Hip Homeschool Hop! We have started our second week of 7th grade - woo hoo! So far things are going well. I'm using my new scheduling system and homemade planner, four days in I can say I'm enjoying using them both. Here's how I'm using my new system right now (we all know how us homeschoolers tweak everything as we go ~ at least I do!): This is what our week looks like scheduled out. I do my scheduling over the weekend - and yes, we only work four days a week. I use one sticky for each assignment, that's why there are so many! All our LA is on the green squares - so one says spelling, one says reading, and so on. It looks like a ton of work, but really, it's doable! Once the work is done I either write it in my book right away OR I stick the stickies into my book and write it in later. This usually happens at the end of the day when we are going full steam!  Eventually everything gets written in the book and my record keeping i...

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, ...