A Hilton Head Christmas

Yep, this is where we've been all week. We spent a wonderful Saturday before Christmas with my in-laws celebrating Christmas and MeMe's birthday. Christmas Eve we celebrated with my family, attended Christmas Eve Service at church and then hosted our annual Christmas Eve get together. We think this was year nine, but none of us can remember.

On Christmas morning the kids opened their presents and we loaded up for the six and half hour drive to Hilton Head, South Carolina. We arrived a few hours before dark so we headed down to the beach to check it out.

Wednesday, MeMe and I went shopping, while the kids and Mikie enjoyed a nice warm dip in the heated outdoor pool. Air temp was around 55 degrees and the water was a steamy 72 degrees. They said it was warm as long as they stayed in the pool and I was more than willing to not find out. By late afternoon it was 65 degrees and they braved the ocean in swimsuits and hoodies.

Thursday, we went to the Coligny Beach area and shopped, got in the car and left, never once thought about the beach. But outside TJ Maxx and the Outdoor Shop were three hammocks and it was 65 degrees again and the kids enjoyed trying to "stay in" the hammock.

Friday, we headed down to the Sea Pines area on the south end of the Island. We enjoyed the day at Lawton Stables, riding through the Forest Preserves, South Beach and visiting Harbour Town Lighthouse and our daily beach trip landed us at Coligny Beach. Finally, a picture with me. Proof that I was there and they didn't take another photographer. All you mommas know exactly how I feel.

This board was our only way over the tidal pool to the ocean without getting wet. 

Mattie thought this goat had hair like someone she really loves. I won't say who!

Someone created this Coca Cola bottle pouring out on the beach. 

 Saturday, we went to Pickney Island. It has a wildlife refuge. We met a lady who was counting birds on the trail and she told us all about the bird habitats on the Island. She also recommended we visit the Coastal Discovery Museum which we did. At the museum the kids and Mikie got into the bogs of the Intercoastal Waterway and looked to see what they could find. We also saw a section of the Atlas 5 orbital launcher that washed up on Hilton Head's shore. NASA left it there and so they brought it to the museum for others to see. A trip to Target, our first Five Guys Burger and Fries visit and our final trip down to the beach rounded out our few days at Hilton Head.

Looking for mussels, oysters, and crabs.

Love these shingles for the 1912 farm house we are about to renovate and move into. But that's a whole nother story. 

Michael and I took a self portrait. It was getting cold at sunset.

Yes, I wore my Danskos to the beach. 

We always wave goodbye to the ocean on our last visit. 

We ended up in Hilton Head thanks to Paw's timeshares. He had one that needed to be used and as we usually do we took our chances on somewhere that slept six. Paw called back and said Island Links at Hilton Head slept eight and he and MeMe would go on down on Sunday and we booked it. We had never been to Hilton Head but loved it. I'm not sure we would want to go back during peak season because it was pretty busy this week. But I would recommend it especially if you like the wildlife and history stuff like we do. We were pretty busy but still managed to get lots of rest, play some mean hands of Yahtzee, find some new outfits, run a few miles (me included) and have a really great time with Paw and MeMe. Unfortunately like everything else it must come to an end. So as Michael said "Good by beach."

Michael had the last word!

Oral-B® Professional™ Precision 5000 Toothbrush Review

For the past two weeks I have been using a new toothbrush, the Oral-B Professional Precision 5000. I received this toothbrush from Modern Mom on behalf of Oral-B and let me say I love it. 

I have been using an Oral B power toothbrush for quite sometime and like the benefits I was receiving from it. I have black line stain on my teeth. Instead of causing cavities, bacteria forms this black line on the fronts and backs of my teeth close to my gum line. I wasn't able to brush it off and the dentist has a hard time removing it. 

It was recommended that I use a power brush and see if that helped to loosen and remove some of the stain. This toothbrush has helped with that. I admit I don't brush twice a day like I should. Always in the morning, but seldom at bedtime. But my teeth are pretty clean and cavity free, no fillings. 

This brush is fun to use though and I've found myself using it more often during the day. I like that it times me, pauses every 30 seconds so I change areas of brushing, frowns if I press to hard and smiles when I've completed my brushing.

I like how the Oral-B Professional Precision 5000 moves as it oscillates, pulsates and rotates on my teeth. They feel much cleaner after each brushing. I notice that my teeth have a nice, slick, clean feel to them and appear whiter than they did two weeks ago.

All of the kids want one too. The heads come off easily and it the handle and timer can be used by several users. 

I really like this toothbrush. Now I know I would have never bought it, because it's pricey. It retails for $169 and I'm a cheapskate. But I'm seriously considering purchasing another and replacement heads for  my husband and four children. I believe it will be a good investment and beneficial in the long run. Fillings and crowns are very expensive times five people. 

If you're in the market for a powerful, well worth your investment power toothbrush I would highly suggest you spend a little more and purchase the Oral-B Professional Precision 5000. Purchase it before January 31st and Oral-B has a $15 rebate.

Connect with Oral-B by clicking on any of the hyperlinks in this post and through twitter and facebook for more information. 



Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Modern Mom on behalf of Oral-B and received a product sample to facilitate my honest review. Opinions are my own. 

Christmas Cards Done!

Just finished ordering our Christmas cards.

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Harvest Book Library Giveaway from Tommy Nelson

I'm so excited to be able to offer a giveaway of 8, yes 8 books from Thomas Nelson Publishers. The winner will receive all of these books. But even if you aren't the winner you can purchase any or all of these books at 20% off using the code HARVEST20 and the following link Thomas Nelson Harvest Promotion.

Harvest Book Library (Ages 8-12)

Jesus Calling for Kids

Spine Chillers

Swipe

Sneak

The Secrets Beneath

Spirit Fighter

Heroes & Villians of the Bible
No Place Like Holmes

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclaimer: As a Tommy Nelson Mommy I am able to hold these giveaways. I didn't receive anything for compensation.

Jesus Calling Teen Edition--Sarah Young

Jesus Calling Teen Edition is of course the teen version by Sarah Young. Missionary Sarah Young decided that the years of journal entries she had kept could help others. This book does just that. It inspires and challenges teens to grow in their walk with the Lord. Here is a link if you want to read a few pages of Jesus Calling.

Win a copy for your favorite teen below. a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book to review!

Giveaway--Jesus Calling Bible Storybook--Sarah Young

Up for grabs this week is a copy of Jesus Calling Bible Storybook by Sarah Young.  This little book for children ages four to seven has over 60 Bible stories and devotions. Children and parents can use this book to help understand God's plan. If you would like to view a few pages of this book click here.

 If you would like to win a copy just use the Rafflecopter below!

Don't forget about Christmas, this would make a sweet little gift for a special child.

Disclaimer: I received a copy to review.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wild Grace-Giveaway

Wow, the new book Wild Grace by Max Lucado is all about God's grace for us. This read tells teens all about God's grace, how it shapes our hearts and how teens can extend God's grace to help others.

If you have a teen in your house, you want this book. You can get a free sample by clicking here! Then scroll down and enter using the Rafflecopter to win your teen their own copy of this book.

Disclaimer: As always I received a copy of this book to review and Tommy Nelson publishing will send the winner a copy.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday--Fall Fun

Fall Fun!

Grace for the Moment--365 Devotionals for Kids--Giveaway

I'm a little behind in my reviews. So this is the first of four giveaways this month. I hope to have them all on the blog by the end of the week.

The first is for Max Lucado's  Grace for the Moment 365 Devotionals for Kids. This is adapted from the adult version Grace for the Moment. You can check out these books by clicking through any of the links in this post.

Each day's devotion has a scripture verse, devotion and kid friendly activity called "Growing in Grace." They are dated so if you aren't consistent or like to use several different devotion books you can just go to that particular day and you haven't missed anything in between.

We have several devotional books that the kids use and they seem to like that this one because it is a quick read.

The winner of this book will actually receive Grace for the Moment for Kids and the original Grace for the Moment for adults.

Here is a link for a glimpse of the kids version Grace for the Moment for Kids.

This link is for the two week challenge which gives you two free weeks of devotionals from each book. They are in PDF and will only take about 15 minutes to do with your family. There are also some great tips for leading devotionals. Here is the link Grace Challenge.

Be on the look out for a book geared to teens plus two other giveaways this week.

I'm trying out Rafflecopter for the first time. I hope it makes it easier for you to register to win. It also gives you more chances to win.



a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclaimer: Tommy Nelson Kids supplies me with a copy of the books that I giveaway. They mail out the winners copies. Opinions are my own.

Get Unreal-Get Unjunked-Eat Chocolate

Yes, I know it's a HUGE picture, but I don't want you to miss it. I recently hosted an Unjunked candy party for Unreal candy.  It was a big success. Before you start yelling at me because you weren't invited, just know I couldn't invite everyone so I was a little picky. Several of my kickboxing buddies, some kids, and a friend who is a nutritionist where among the party participants. 

This candy is unjunked, meaning that it doesn't have artificial flavorings, preservatives, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oil,  and no GMO's (genetically modified organisms). They are lower in calories and sugar than the leading chocolates. 

At our sampling party we had Unreal-54 which are chocolate covered chocolates with peanuts. They resemble in shape those little round chocolates with my initial on them. That's their only resemblance, because they have a stronger chocolate taste. They aren't as vibrant colored but, the taste out weighs the muted tones. I don't care what color they are, it's chocolate for Pete's sake and they are delicious. Everyone at the party approved. 

We also sampled Unreal-41, these are the chocolate covered chocolates without nuts. See my previous paragraph about their appearance but know that these are even better than the peanut ones.

The third candy we tried is Unreal-5, the caramel nougat bar. Much more chocolatey than its out of this world sugary companion. I have to be honest here though and say, if I'm going for this amount of chocolate I would probably go for the one I can't name here. I only eat these when the craving is bad.

Unreal-8 is caramel, nougat and peanut butter. I haven't tried it because I don't like the combo with all the nuts, nor do I like it's giggly name brand counterpart. But everyone else said they loved it. 

I saved the best for last, literally. Everyone that tried these candies, voted the Unreal--77, peanut butter cups as their favorite. Much more chocolate and an awesome peanut butter taste. Several have told me this week they stopped at  Wal-Greens to pick up a pack.

Now why am I telling you about this candy? Well because it is new in stores, cost the same as the other "name" brand candies and was created by a 14 year old boy named Nick and his family. I'm a chocolate junky, kickboxing, wanna be healthier momma and this candy would help me kick my craving and keep me from feeling so guilty. 

We tasted all the candy at the party and throughout this last week we have finished it off. I actually just ate the last bag of the Unreal 41 while I was writing this post. 

So here's what you need to do. Everything that is hyperlinked in this post will take you the Get Unreal website, or you can click through any of the links below. Go to your local Wal-Greens,, CVS, Kroger, or other store listed on the website and buy yourself some Unjunked candy. Buy the one that is most like your regular favorite chocolate, eat the Unjunked version and tell that other name brand chocolate goodbye. Not only is it comparable in taste but also in price, it just won't settle on your hips. So go on, you know you need to feed that chocolate craving I've caused.

Disclaimer:

I received samples of all the candy described in this post. I was also compensated for my honest opinion and my honest opinion your received. 

Here are the links for more info:

Get Unreal-Candy Unjunked Video

Unreal on Facebook

Unreal on Twitter

Get Unreal Website

Won't You Help Me--Have Compassion

This week's post for Compassion is to write a letter from the view point of a sponsored child. Honestly I'm afraid I won't do this assignment justice but I will try. As of the writing of this post only 266 children need to be sponsored before the end of Sunday to meet the goal of 3,108.

We have sponsored a little boy named Raul from Dominic Republic in honor of Mollie's little friend with the same name. It happens that our sponsored child shares my birthday. I hope the following letter will convince you to go here Compassion and sponsor a child.

My name is Michelle. Thank you for being my sponsor. I liked the letter and picture you sent me. My parents don't live together anymore. They are divorced. I live with my Mom and siblings. My Mom works as a housekeeper when she can find a job. She doesn't make very much money. We live on about $150.00 a month. Although I'm not very old, I run the errands for my Mom. She trust me and she loves me.

 Our house is made of wood walls and roof and concrete floors. We do not have running water or electricity. We get our water from the local watering source and carry it home. We use it to drink, cook with and take baths. The weather is hot all year round. We get a lot of rain.

My favorite foods are bananas, chicken, plantains and rice. I like to play with my baby doll it's the only toy I have. She's pretty dirty and her hair is missing, but I love her so much. Sometimes I play ball with the other kids in town. I like to go to school. I couldn't go to school before because we didn't have the money for paper and pencils and school things. But I have a special friend who gave me my school stuff. She says that you gave money so that she could give me school supplies. I hope she brings me a new doll one day.

Mom says it's really nice that someone we don't know wants to help me. It makes Mom sad when we don't have enough money for food or school stuff. She gets really sad when we are sick and can't go to the doctor. Maybe next time we can go to the doctor because of you.

Thank you for helping me and making my Mom happy. She's says that it's because you love the man the lady talks about named Jesus. I like to hear her stories about Jesus. I think one day I want to love Jesus too.

I can't wait for another letter from you. They make me happy too.

I love you,
Michelle




Alright, I hope that letter tugged at your heartstrings. Go here NOW Compassion and sponsor a child so they don't have to worry to much about getting better, or eating, or going to school. Don't eat out this week, give it to a child who won't eat at all.

Please, Please, Please Pray for Jordan

I'm being very selfish right now. I'm asking that you stop whatever you are doing and pray for this special young man. This is my dear friend, Jordan. He is 23 years old. His sweet wife of 9 months and his family are sitting by his beside in ICU waiting for God to show them and the doctors what they need to know.

 I took him at the age of 13 to see Chicken Run and he kept asking me what was so funny, I just kept saying I'll tell you when you're older, I still feel a little guilty for the possible corruption of his adolescent brain.

Jordan is a wonderful, Christian guy, who answered the call to ministry many years ago. He knows that his life belongs to the Lord. Jordan's health is failing and he, his family and doctors need all the prayers they can get right now.

So I'm begging you to stop and pray that the Lord's will be done in Jordan's life.

Father God,
I come before you begging, pleading that you will wrap your arms around Jordan and heal him. Lord, I know it's a selfish prayer and that I should truly ask that Your will be done. Lord you know every little detail, you know the why. Lord, I don't need any details or an answer to my why. I just want to plead and beg you to heal Jordan, my kids "Gordon Franken". Lord, be with Audrey, Trina and Scott, Josh and his Audrey and the kids, be with their entire family. Give the doctors the knowledge they need to help him. And Lord just help him to know you are there. Thank you Lord for Jordan and what he means to our family.

In Jesus Name I Pray,
Amen

Lord God, Help Us Choose Your Child

Father God,

Thank you for your love, for the many things you have blessed me with. Thank you for a loving, Christian husband, four wonderful, Christian children, a roof over our heads, a place to lay our weary bodies, food to fill our bellies and clean water to drink.

Lord, As we search through the pictures of the hundreds of children who need to be sponsored through Compassion, open our eyes and hearts to the one you have chosen for us. Lord God, you know our financial needs and the everyday needs of each of those children. You know were the monthly commitment will come from. You have always provided for us and even more so when we use what you have blessed our family with to bless someone else.

It isn't easy for us to choose. We've looked through the pictures several times. We've searched by each child's birthday and each one has chosen an area of the world they would like to help. Lord, as we search one more time this weekend please let "our" child tug our hearts so we know he or she is the one.

Lord forgive me for not taking better care of your children all over the world and help us as we help your children.

Thank you again for your many blessings and guide us in our search.

In Jesus Precious Name I Pray,

Amen


My assignment as a Compassion blogger this week was to write a prayer. We have sponsored children in the past, but currently aren't. We have been searching to find the child that God wants us to sponsor. So I'm challenging you as we make our decision this weekend, to make yours. Will you sponsor a child? Use this link Compassion in purple to be taken to the website where you can search for children who need you. I'll let you know soon who we have "adopted" as our sponsored child.

Please Excuse Michael from School --Wordless Wednesday

In case you can't read it.

"We had to take Michael to the hospital he had a fever over 100 it was 100 and 4 point 6."

Mollie

This is the note he is taking to school today for his excuse. With his ER release of course! So glad I didn't have to write it. 

9-11-01

I originally posted this last year, September 11, 2011, on the ten year anniversary. I read back through it and cried. Even now eleven years later it still has an impact on us all.

When you marry someone in the military it doesn't matter if they are active duty, guard or reserves, their job is your life. As the wife of a full-time Air National Guardsman, I never imagined that something that happened in New York City, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania one day would change my life for years to come.

I had just celebrated my 25th birthday and was eight weeks pregnant with our oldest child. Mikie and I were helping keep the children of a friend who was on a prayer walking trip in Africa with other ladies from our church. That week Amy stayed with us, she was in high school then.

Mikie went to work at 4:30 that morning and I had dropped off Amy and went to school. After my fifth graders left my class, another teacher came to my room and told me, "A plane has crashed into the twin towers in New York. Don't say anything to the kids, no one knows what's going on." By the time I could turn the tv on it was lunch. I was in shock. I tried to call Mikie and no one answered. Sometime before school was out he left a message in the school office that he didn't know when he would be home.

Honestly, the next week was a blur. Amy was so scared, her Mom was in Africa with no way home, Mikie wasn't home and we didn't have any idea what might happen next. That night she crawled in bed with me and we prayed. She wanted to watch the news reports. We watched for a few minutes and cut it off.

Mikie called late that night. I don't think he was supposed to call. He suddenly had went from being an aircraft mechanic with the Air National Guard to sitting on a fence with a machine gun. He came by school the next afternoon for a minute. He was home long enough to shower, change uniforms and pack a bag to go back to the air base. I don't remember how long he was gone before he got to come home again.

Amy's Mom was gone an extra long time, I don't remember how long, 7-10 days I think. Cody called sometime that week and wanted to come stay with us so he could be with his sister instead of with a friend. Church was packed both morning services, just like every other church in America that following Sunday.  Life would never be the same.

As I began writing this we were watching the documentary about 9/11. Our kids were asking questions, Mikie and I are experiencing some of the same feelings we did that day. This morning in church, Pastor Bob asked all those who are in law enforcement, fire department, first responders and others in those service jobs to stand. I looked behind me to see our friends Clark and Teresa standing in uniform, their seven year old grandson's face buried in Papaw's leg. Ty, like my kids, doesn't understand. The girls kept asking me why I was crying. Now they know. Michael, whose six, told us, "I wish Adam and Eve hadn't ate from the tree of good and evil cause then there wouldn't be no bad guys."

The past 10 years have been full of deployments, children added to our family, new jobs on base and those typical life changing experiences. I pray my children never face a day like that one. My day wasn't as memorable as others but it has still impacted who I am today.

Caring for the Children--Help Compassion

This month over at Compassion there is opportunity for you to open your heart and sponsor a child. As Compassion Bloggers we are working toward sponsorships and prayers for 3,108 children during the month of September.

Rosemary shares my birthday!

I know that you can sponsor anytime throughout the year, but this month is special. One because it's my birthday month and two because this is Blog Month at Compassion.

By sponsoring a child through Compassion you are providing food, clean water, medical care, schooling, life-skills training, but most importantly you provide an opportunity for that child to hear about Jesus Christ and develop a lifelong relationship with Him.

Your monthly sponsorship connects you with your child through photos, letters and their personal story. Your family can write letters and send pictures to your sponsoring child and don't forget about birthdays and Christmas.

Head on over to the Compassion page and search for a child for your family to sponsor. There are several ways to search for the perfect child for your family, by gender, by age, by birthday.

If you don't feel that you can sponsor a child right now, please pray. Go on over to the Compassion page and search for a child. You can click through and learn more about that child and then pray for them. Pray for sponsorship, for them to come to know Jesus Christ, and for protection.

Show your children and talk about how so many children all over the world don't have the luxuries that we have here in the United States. Help them to pray for a child with the same birthday as them.

Can you spare some time to care and pray for a child that you may never meet? You can make a difference in their lives.

After going to Compassion come back over here and comment below and let me know about the child you have decided to sponsor or pray for. I don't have to know which you are doing. Just let me know you visited the Compassion page.

Now for a little begging. I am a Compassion Blogger and since this is Blog Month there are some great prizes, from books, to money, to my favorite an all expense paid trip with Compassion. Please use one of the highlighted links in this post to visit the Compassion page and help me to earn entries.

But most importantly help Compassion help God's children!

Wordless Wednesday--My Mini Me

One of my favorite's of Mattie.

Thanks to Wendy Ivens Photography!

Live to Give -- Giveaway

Live to Give by Austin Gutwein will have you wanting to give it all for God's glory. By the age of 16 Austin accomplished more than most of us will in a lifetime. It's a message of hope that no matter how small our gift God will turn it in to something much bigger. Read an excerpt here.

No matter how young or old you are, God has a plan for you. Use what He gives you and help others.

Want to read your own copy? Comment below with an answer to the following question. One winner will be chosen so comment before midnight, August 31st. I will use random.org to choose a winner. 

Have your kids ever dreamed up an ideal to help others? Did you help them make it a reality?

Our six year old Mollie, asked for coloring books and crayons for Children's Hospital for her birthday this year in lieu of gifts. We delivered 80 books and packs of crayons and markers. The volunteer coordinators at the hospital were so excited and Mollie was excited to help.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book to review and Tommy Nelson will mail the winner a copy too!

Hide the Word & Seek the Lord Devotional -- Giveaway

Hide the Word and Seek the Lord Devotional is an awesome book for boys and girls who are just starting to read. Mollie has been reading this as part of her 30 minutes of reading each evening. She really likes it. It has a free download to help in learning Bible verses and there are 52 Bible stories included.

If you would like to see a sample you can check it out here Hide and Seek Devotional. If you would like to win a copy of your own for your sweet boy or girl. Leave a comment below and answer the following question:

How do your children learn best? Are they auditory or visual learners?

Mine are a mix of both and honestly I think it depends on the subject. But they all memorize really well when they hear it.

Don't forget leave a comment by midnight, Friday, August 31st and I will use random.org to choose  winner.

Disclaimer: As usually Tommy Nelson gave me a copy of this book to read and review. Tommy Nelson will mail the winner a copy too.

Future Green Coat--Wordless Wednesday

Future Green Coat Wearer!

I'm Still Around, I Promise!

If you've been wondering where I am, I'm still around. School is so hectic right now, my time online is very sparse. For the next two weeks my evenings are consumed with either school activities that are mandatory for me or with final planning and prep for the A Wise Woman Builds Women's Conference at church.

I have two great books to giveaway from Tommy Nelson before the end of the month. So keep an eye out. If you're new to the blog, welcome. I hope you all will bear with me for a few more days. I will be back.

Priceless--Wordless Wednesday

Sometimes Friends Leave

 Taken the night Max and Ollie left for their new home.

Goodbye Summer

Ok, so today was the first day of school. I can't put in to words what are putt putt trip last week meant, or what today was like. If I could have figured out how to upload my slideshow I would have had you in tears. But anyway I hope you enjoy!

Last Trip Before School Starts

Oink, Oink, Oink

Hole in One

                   

Uh, wrong direction Maggie

Score keeping is hard.

See Mollie really was there!

Yes, I got in this year!

My how they've grown since last year! 

2011/2012 First Day Last Year Comparison!

Giveaway--God's Mighty Warrior Devotional Bible or God's Little Princess Devotional Bible

I am so excited to be able to giveaway these two great devotional Bible's for boys and girls ages four to seven.


God's Mighty Warrior Devotional Bible by Sheila Walsh is a great book for boys ages four to seven. While girls ages four to seven love God's Little Princess Devotional Bible.



All four of our kids love to read their devotional Bible's before bed.  It is in a storybook format that is easy to read and includes verses from the  International Children's Bible translation.

Many areas of Christian life are taught throughout these devotional books, such as morals, manners, generosity and Bible heroes to name a few.

Click on this link God's Mighty Warrior Devotional Bible to see a sample of this book for boys.

This link God's Little Princess Devotional Bible will get you a sample of the book for girls.

Both of these books will help you and your child as they learn to have their own quite time or as you use them in family devotions.

Tommy Nelson Kids and I would love to send this devotional Bible to the special boy or girl in your life.

Comment below with an answer to the following question for a chance to win. Don't forget to tell me if you want the boys version or the girls version.

Do you share your quite time with your kids? How could you use this book during that time?


Comment by midnight, Saturday, August 4th. Two winners will be chosen. One winner for each devotional Bible. Please comment which Bible you would like to win.

Disclaimer: As in the past, Thomas Nelson Books gave me a copy of the boys version (we already had the girls version) to review. Opinions are my own!