Flag Football This Week

After the fiasco Monday night, today went much better.  Griffin's team didn't win, but they got to play the other Eastern Hancock team on the varsity football field.  Griffin pulled one flag, narrowly missed several others, and even got to carry the ball once.  Check out the video; he is in the center, waiting for the handoff, then darts through traffic for a small gain.

Green Lantern: Rise of the Third Army by Geoff Johns - Book Review

From the publisher: The universe is in shambles and the Guardians are the cause. Their mysterious Third Army has risen across the cosmos like a plague, destroying everything in its path and Hal Jordan and Sinestro are nowhere to be found. It is up to wrongfully accused Simon Baz to clear his name and become the hero that the Corps needs in order to get to the bottom of Hal and Sinestro's disappearance and the Rise of the Third Army!

Collects the entirety of the "Rise of the Third Army" event from GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1, GREEN LANTERN #13-16, GREEN LANTERN CORPS #13-16, GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #13-16, RED LANTERNS #13-16, and GREEN LANTERN CORPS ANNUAL #1.

 The Third Army is the latest in what's becoming a series of sprawling, universe-threatening stories in the Green Lantern comics. In this current adventure, the Guardians of the Galaxy are beginning to develop the Third Army, a group of beings who will restore order to the universe.  They will be without the worst of the characteristics of the Guardians previous group, the Green Lantern Corp.  Those characteristics include speaking their mind, questioning their orders, having emotions, and thinking for themselves; in short, everything the Guardians dislike about the Green Lanterns.  The Third Army will eventually assimilate everyone, which will restore perfect order to the universe.

This collection contains various threads related to the larger story of the Third Army. In the most interesting, Kyle Raynor is on a quest to master all seven colors of the spectrum.  He is assisted by Star Sapphire Carol Ferris, who is looking for the missing Hal Jordan.  In another, Atrocitus the Red Lantern visits his former home planet, the site of a massive massacre by the Manhunters (another previous Guardians creation) and the source of the rage that makes him a Red Lantern.  Additional stories follow the other Green Lanterns from Earth.  Guy Gardner comes in contact with the newest Lantern, Simon Baz (who is thought to be a terrorist).  John Stewart is tasked with finding the pieces of Mogo, the living planet and Green Lantern that he destroyed in an earlier battle.

As all the storylines begin to converge, the Green Lantern Corp sets up for a final confrontation with the Guardians and the Third Army.

This was a cool storyline, and it involved nearly everyone in the Green Lantern universe of characters.  This is part of a years-long set-up by Johns, and leads into his final storyline in the Green Lantern comics.  I would recommend this for fans of Green Lantern, or anyone looking for a huge space adventure story (although you may find yourself a bit lost without at least some knowledge of events from previous stories).

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.

The Ugly Side of Flag Football

Tonight's game was a manhandling.  Griffin and his teammates played tough and gave great effort, but were run over by a team with several very large 2nd graders.  Multiple kids were taken to the ground at the end of blocks, including Griffin.  There was shoving in the back, wrapping arms around necks, and one peel-back block on a touchdown that might have drawn a penalty in the NFL.  The other team also celebrated every score with multiple chest bumps, and I heard there kids trash talking (You better watch out for 54; hey butthole; etc.).  I finally got fed up and started telling the other coaches that it was ridiculous.  There defense? That's what happened to them last game, it was there first win, and they have the smallest team in the Greenfield league (not true, and easy to see when looking over at the next field).  It was a poor display of sportsmanship.  I'm very proud of our team, and Griffin in particular.  Next game on Saturday.

The Rose and the Thorn by Michael J. Sullivan - Book Review

From the publisher: Two thieves want answers. Riyria is born...

For more than a year Royce Melborn has tried to forget Gwen DeLancy, the woman who saved him and his partner Hadrian Blackwater from certain death. Unable to get her out of his mind, Royce returns to Medford with Hadrian but the two receive a very different reception --- Gwen refuses to see them. The victim of abuse by a powerful noble, she suspects that Royce will ignore any danger in his desire for revenge. By turning the thieves away, Gwen hopes to once more protect them. What she doesn't realize is what the two are capable of --- but she's about to find out.

The Rose and the Thorn is the second book in the Riyria Chronicles by Michael J. Sullivan.  Like the previous book, The Crown Tower, this book is a prequel to the Riyria Revelations.  And like the previous book, The Rose and the Thorn does a great job filling in some of the backstory of Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater, also known as Riyria.

The Rose and the Thorn further develops the relationship between Gwen, Royce and Hadrian, picking up about a year after the first book.  Royce and Hadrian have been working together, pulling small jobs.  They are making their way back to Medford to see Gwen, when they meet Viscount Albert Winslow (the short story The Viscount and the Witch makes up the 2nd chapter).  Gwen has been beaten and refuses to see them; Royce makes it his mission to discover who is responsible and make them pay.

The other thread in the story introduces the royal family of Medford, King Amrath, Queen Ann, Prince Alric, and Princess Arista.  It also introduces Reuben Hilfred, the Pickerings, Percy Braga, and Bishop Saldur.  Hilfred is about to officially join the Palace Guard and is deeply in love with the princess.Braga is the newly appointed Chancellor and the king is having a celebration for him.  In addition, there is a conspiracy afoot to murder the royal family.

As the two separate threads of the story begin to come together, our characters become more and more intertwined.  Several (dangling) plot threads from Riyria Revelations are set up in The Rose and the Thorn, and are done so very nicely.  There is also nice character development, as Royce and Hadrian, along with Hilfred, are further rounded out into fully realized characters.

Once again, Michael J. Sullivan has done a fantastic job of writing a prequel.  He has a talent fitting these stories into the overall story arch seamlessly, rather than making them feel tacked on.  A reader new to Riyria will not have any of the later surprises spoiled; in fact, the clues and foreshadowing provided are lined up precisely.  For fans of the first series, its fun to see the story expanded and holes filled in; Sullivan has included several easter eggs for his fans.

I highly recommend this book for fans of light fantasy and caper-type stories.  Sullivan has shown how a prequel should be done; I look forward to reading the further adventures of Royce, Hadrian, and company in future Riyria Chronicles stories.

I received a preview copy of this book from Orbit in exchange for an honest review.

Politics

The Knight family now has its first politician: Lexi was elected to student council for her 4th grade class.  She had to give a speech in front of her class, and nailed it (I assume, since she was elected).  She is very excited and told me she has lots of "ideas".  Ready to change the world in the 4th grade.  Go Lexi!

Quick football update

Griffin has had two games since the last update.  He pulled one flag in each one (actually, he got both flags from a kid one of the times; I'm still not sure how).  After the first game, in which the team did not play well, Griffin complained of not feeling well and the next day we discovered he had a fever.  He and the team did much better in the next game, nearly winning.  We have a long break before the next game due to Labor Day weekend.

Check out Griffin #3 (in white) in action in the video below.  I've tried to keep him centered in the video.

The One Year My Princess Devotions (Preschool Edition) by Karen Whiting - Book Review

From the publisher: Little girls love to pretend they are princesses. Now they don’t have to pretend any longer.
 
The One Year My Princess Devotions: Preschool Edition will teach girls that they are truly daughters of the almighty King. They will also learn how much God loves them and what God expects from his children.

Each devotion includes a short scripture (Royal Words), a special message (Royal Thoughts), a prayer for the King, and an activity related to the devotion’s theme (Princess in Action).

Your little princess will want to read about her King each day and learn how to live like royalty throughout her life. 

The One Year My Princess Devotions is great for preschoolers to around 4th grade girls.  Its a nice little book, with a separate devotion for each day of the year.  Each devotion contains a verse (Royal Words), a summary of the verse (Princess Thoughts), a prayer (A Prayer for the King), and an action to take (Princess in Action).  They messages are short and simple, perfect for little girls.  They also provide a nice starting point to deepen discussion about Biblical issues. Some of the topics include: God Made Me Special, Growing in Grace, Dinner with Jesus, and Answered Prayers.

I also enlisted my daughters to help me with the review. Cami (6) likes that there are verses that she knows.  She also really likes that there was an entry for her birthday.  Lexi (9) likes that it has good girly devotions.

I'd recommend this as a great devotional book for young girls. It's never to early to encourage the habit of a daily time with God.

I received a review copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.