7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 8)

My brain! It is stuffed as full as the Scarecrow's. And it needs to be unstuffed so I can enjoy the weekend. Ergo, I'm participating in Conversion Diary's 7 Quick Takes Friday, one of my favorite carnivals in the blogosphere.

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I didn't find my muse at Target.

Nor did I find the two additional glue sticks that I need. The Elmer's brand has been sold out for the past month, which is both understandable -- at 22 cents for two, it's a hard price to beat -- and unfortunate -- since our school stipulates the glue sticks MUST be Elmer's and MUST NOT be the weird gel paste.

But I did find my muse last night at Cafe Latte.

Or wait. Maybe that was just great blogging friends.

Those lovely ladies would be Heidi of Minnesota Mom and Heather of The Extraordinary Ordinary. We met for dinner, conversation and lemon turd cart lemon curd tart (seriously, you try saying it the right way) and had ourselves a ball.

Can I even tell you how much I enjoy the blogging community?

No?

OK. But I do. And Heidi and Heather are at the top of my list.

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Earlier this week, I realized I never finished the Connor's-getting-his-kindergarten-shots melodrama.

To sum up: I didn't tell him about the impending needle sticks until 2 minutes before they happened -- and that ended up being the perfect solution for my five-year-old boy. He wasn't terribly excited about the news, but he didn't throw a huge fit. I think the suddenness of the announcement didn't leave him time to work himself up.

The nurse was fast -- the whole thing was over in 20 seconds -- and while he cried for a while after the last shot, he was fine by the time we left the doctor's office and headed for Target to buy some new Legos. (Although he did limp a bit the next few days, and I believe he also said, "I'm never going to the doctor's again!")

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I had new appreciation for Connor when I went to my annual OB check-up a couple of weeks ago, and she insisted I get a tetanus booster that includes the whooping cough vaccine. Seems whooping cough has been running quite wild the past few years through the schools, so the CDC is asking all adults who haven't had a tetanus booster within the last 24 months to get the new DTaP as soon as possible.

And dang -- that puppy hurt. The shot didn't hurt that badly, but my arm ached for days. Ow.

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I'm not sure I've ever confessed this publicly, but hi, my name is Kelly, and I'm a children's book addict. The room Natalie and Connor share contains exactly two beds, one nightstand, one chair and one HUGE bookcase that houses hundreds upon hundreds of books.

So it wasn't a surprise, really, when Thomas Nelson sent me a copy "I Believe Bunny" to review. (The word about my addiction must be out on the streets. Maybe Corey is planning an intervention.)

Written by Tish Rabe, the "I Believe Bunny" is the first a new series of books designed to help young kids learn about believing, sharing and putting their faith into action. This particular books follows Bunny as he helps his friend Little Mouse who has fallen into a rain-swollen river. Bunny is overwhelmed with the problem and isn't sure what to do to mount a rescue. But he learns that prayer to a God who can overcome the impossible is always the place to start.

In all honesty, this book was a little too simplistic for Connor and Natalie (ages 5 and 8). But it will be perfect for Teyla as she gets a little older. The book is written in rhyming verse, which I love, and the illustrations are sumptuous. I would buy it for the pictures alone. And of course, the message is Biblically strong and easy to understand, which makes it a win-win.

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Speaking of books, the summer of Alexander Dumas continues. I just finished "The Three Musketeers," and I loved it. I rank it as my second favorite Dumas book, right under "The Count of Monte Cristo."

My husband, who is delighted that I'm following his recommended reading plan, says I should tackle Rafael Sabatini next, since his style and period are so similar to Dumas. I read Sabatini's "Scaramouche," a number of years ago when Corey said it was one of his all-time favorite books. But it was complicated, and I don't remember much, so I think I'm going to read it again.

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Have I mentioned that I have a new niece?

Madison was born on July 23. She is the little sister of the star of this video.

Isn't she too sweet for words? Lord, you do all things well.

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My parents are halfway through their move to Colorado. They are currently residing in a furnished condo in Colorado Springs while they wait for their under-construction house to be finished.

And next week, we get to visit them. (And my sister and her family, since they are planning a visit to Colorado at the same time.) I'm beyond excited. I haven't seen my family since Christmas.

So to those of you who live in Colorado or those of you who have visited, what family-friendly tips do you have for the Springs area?