Turning Pages

I tried adding links to the books but blogger isn't working, sorry!


We haven't had a consistent read aloud time as a family for a long time and with the new school year starting and it has been so nice to enjoy a few good books together again.  Caeden's eyes have been wide as he asks, "Just one more chapter!  Please?"

We started the school year with a Little Pilgrim's Progress.  It was an amazing allegory of our Christian journey through life written at a child's level of understanding.  We all loved it!  

For our history we read The Sign of the Beaver, another great book that we were sad to see end.  It is set on the northeast coast and at the same time we were reading this we  were reading another book about the same time about Northwest Coast Native Americans.  It was a good opportunity to compare the different ways of life between the two coasts and the people that live there.

We are still trying to finish Milly-Molly-Mandy with Maleiah but she is enjoying our family read-alouds too.

Today we read a picture book called Roxaboxen that is now on my favorites list.  It reminded me of my childhood and my best friend in those days named Stacie.  We had wild imaginations and we probably had a town similar to Roxaboxen going at one time or another.  It made me want to build one in our backyard...and we might.  :)

Caeden is participating in the Boys Book Club through the local homeschool group.  The first book that they are reading is called The Wheel on the School and he really likes it.  The group meets twice a month and they discuss the book and then do a corresponding activity together.  If there is a movie that goes along with the book then they usually watch that to compare and contrast the two.  

We are going to be starting a few unit studies as we learn about the colonization of America.  I am so excited about entering this time in our history studies!  

Now

We really haven't been doing anything really exciting but the adventure surely continues.  Right now I am in the kitchen watching over a tortilla that slowly cooks in some butter on the stove.  The beans are warming so we can enjoy some bean burritos for lunch, Caeden's favorite.  It's summer for most kids in Katy and we are pushing on, making up for lost time during the chaos of moving to a new state.  Our new schedule is working out great and some stuff gets canceled for something more important but mostly we are getting it done.  Caeden skipped ahead 5 lessons in spelling and Maleiah is plowing ahead on her letter sounds.  Math is getting done although we are still playing catch up.  I think this will give him a better foundation since we are slowing it down so we know he understands all the concepts.  We love science and history and I am looking forward to actually planning out our next year but I am holding off so we can complete what we are in now.


Now is so vital, so we don't miss anything.  Like blowing bubbles.  Isn't that a rite of passage of some kind, maneuvering that bubble gum around your tongue and making a bubble only to have it pop on your face?

Our back patio was covered with June Bugs last night, completely.  It was gross and they just sat there, like gathering for a meeting that would result in giving me the heebie-jeebies.  Success!

Justin and I have been able to go on a few date nights.  We have been swapping with another couple from our church.  It's been nice to have some time out without the kids as well as the kids having time with friends.  This couple has a pool which the kids LOVE and this will likely be a place we spend lots of time this summer.  As well as beaches.  Beaches so close and warm that it reminds me of home and summers with friends, camping, parties and kids in trees.

As I was leaving the house last week and as I was closing the door I noticed Buzz Lightyear was trying to ride after us on his horse.  

Weather Question of the Day

Questions from the jar.  Caeden finds the answer and writes about it in his journal.

"Fire Ants on a log!" ~ Caeden

A few things we have been reading:

Dave Ramsey (a fellow Texan), basically all of his books have been on our coffee table over the past few weeks.  We have listened to a few of his radio shows via iTunes podcasts and also finding all we can online.  My favorite find so far has been Simple Mom's rundown of all the steps to financial peace.  She is one of my favorite bloggers anyway and this has been a personal success for them.

Believing God by Beth Moore (another fellow Texan!)...just needed something for personal enrichment and I picked her because she is funny and I love hearing her talk so as I am reading I hear all the intonations of her voice and it makes me laugh although it is a serious book so I probably shouldn't be laughing????  But I am and believing more.

And here is a video, proof of the bubble (it's a much better show when it's Bubblicious, but we were out), the now that shouldn't be missed.

Turning Pages

We have been doing some reading around these parts, which has been so nice, like a little piece of normal life has been put back into place.  Trying to find the time to do all the reading I would like to do with the kids is tricky.  There is so much reading to do for school {history, science and geography} and then we have the books that we just want them to experience reading because we enjoyed them too.



I have started reading to the kids at bedtime and I am so glad to have that back into our routine.  We started reading the Redwall series last year and finished the first book with the audiobook version that was read by the author, Brian Jacques.  I love these books for a read aloud.  The vocabulary is above what Caeden could read now independently so it's nice to be reading it to him and we can go through it together as necessary.  The vocabulary is what makes the writing so good though.  Mr. Jacques wrote Redwall for blind children and wanted the vocabulary to be as descriptive as possible so they could "see" using their imaginations.  That's my kind of writer...and he does it.  We have started on the second book, Mossflower and we are loving it!






For Maleiah we do lots of picture books at bedtime and also we started Milly-Molly-Mandy which is the first chapter book that we have started reading just to her.  This is a sweet story about a little girl named Millicent Margaret Amanda, Milly-Molly-Mandy for short and she lives with her family in a little white cottage.  She helps her family and has a sweet friend she calls Little-Friend-Susan and she is only four years old so the adventures she goes on are something Maleiah can relate to, like blackberry picking, a sleepover with a friend and gardening.

For his own reading, Caeden has been reading the How to Train Your Dragon series which are quite funny, a couple Choose Your Own Adventure books and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.



As for me...I have been reading Water for Elephants {which I LOVE, can't wait to see the movie!}, cookbooks {which I hope to post about}, books about homeschooling {to get me pumped up for next year!} and books on gardening in Texas {for I know nothing, nada, zero, zilch}.

Happy Reading!

Rainy Tuesday

I love the spring, but I love a rainy day too.
Just finished this hat last night....

Rainbow Marley

It's from Itty Bitty Hats {by Susan B. Anderson} and I used what I had {Size 8 circular needles and Vanna White Yarn in various colors.} so it doesn't look the same, at all.  I haven't added the topper which I need some practice at first but it looks really cute without it too since it's saggy all over.

It suits Maleiah perfectly with her free spirit, love for Ziggy and her hair that resembles dreads most days anyway.


Caeden has been reading like crazy.  Last night on his way out the door to Lacrosse practice he was trying to grab a book to take with him to read on the way {we live 5 minutes from the field}.  He has really enjoyed these books:







And a recipe...
{Our favorite blueberry muffin recipe, we have making a lot of them lately.}

To Die For Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients
{I usually double the muffin recipe but not the crumb topping, or I save the leftover topping for another baked good such as banana bread. :)}

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Crumb Topping 

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder.
Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries.
Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
*To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

Reading List 2010

Made a list last year and didn't stick to very much of it although we did read a lot.

This year I want to make a better effort toward reading as a family in the evenings and for school.

Reading with Caeden & Maleiah:

Wizard of Oz

Stuart Little
Alice in Wonderland
Swallows & Amazons (started it last summer, didn't finish it.)
Happy Hollisters (Various)

Just Me:

Last Child in the Woods

Boys Should Be Boys

Instructing Your Child's Heart

More With Less Cookbook

The Bible (Discipleship Journal Reading Plan)

A Gardener Looks at the Fruit of the Spirit (Philip Keller)

The Mark of the Lion Series

Politics for Dummies (yes, really)
The Everything American Government Book
The Thirteenth Tale
Little Women
Ides of April
Crunchy Cons

2009 Reading List Round Up

What we did read, that I can remember.  :)  I am going to make a reading list for us this year (my dad has told me to do this many times...good idea since I know we read more than this!) to keep better track of our reading.

Personal 

A Slice of Organic Life

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots

Chew On This

Eclipse-Twilight Series

Twilight

For The Family's Sake

New Moon

Shape of Mercy

My Sister's Keeper

Creative Family

The Shack

Your Money or Your Life

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Read Aloud with Caeden

Tut Tut-Time Warp Trio (with Caeden)

Elmer and the Dragon (with Caeden)

My Father's Dragon (Caeden)

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (with Caeden)

Tale of Despereaux (Caeden)

Charlotte's Web (Caeden & Maleiah)

Audiobooks with Caeden

The Boxcar Children (Audiobook with Caeden)

Peter Pan (Audiobook with Caeden)

Hank the Cowdog (various audiobooks with Caeden)

Paddington Bear (audiobook-Caeden)

Mr. Poppers Penguins (Caeden)

House at Pooh Corner (Caeden)

Henry Huggins books (audiobook-Caeden)

Ramona Quimby books (audiobook-Caeden)

James Herriott Treasury for Children (audiobook-Caeden & Maleiah)

Little House Series-All

Caedens Independent Reading

It's All Greek to Me (Time Warp Trio)

Summer Reading Is Killing Me (Time Warp Trio)

Asterix the Gaul (Comic Book Series)

A Winter Story

Chatterer the Red Squirrel (Thornton Burgess)

Jimmy the Skunk (Thornton Burgess)

Peter Cottontail (Thornton Burgess)

Various Magic Tree House

Various Picture Books

Some Days Are Diamonds

Do you ever have one of those days where you say, "Today I was a good mom." Today was that day. We walked to the nearby creek, laid a blanket down and attempted to pick blackberries. There were none that were ripe so we ate a snack, took pictures of trees, watched the ducks, learned that water is cohesive and read four chapters of Charlotte's Web.

This Is History, Right?

We read about Vikings today during "Book Time" and this was the result...

He looks pretty fierce to me!

Life Happens

So for my four faithful followers (and various other visitors...LOL) I apologize for not posting. We are now recovering from Maleiah's two and a half week illness which consisted of 7 total days of fever, pink eye in both eyes, cough, runny nose and an ear infection. We had a break in the middle when she swallowed a penny and we dug through diapers for 4 days to find the missing coin and found it on the day that the second set of fevers arrived. De-lightful.

We are also in the midst of Justin's third month of unemployment. We have stepped up the search to "aggressively searching" which means we have started looking all over the state of California (which by the way is one of the top four hardest hit in unemployment rates...yeah) instead of just locally. He is in the construction industry so that makes it even more challenging to find a job. It's been an adventure!

We are about a month away from being done with first grade and (YEAH!) I can hardly wait for summer break. He has assessments coming up for math which I have finally decided that I am not going to freak out about anymore (not going to freak out....not going to freak out....not going to freak out). I am going to just let him do what he is going to do without shoving stuff into his already (boy) overactive brain.

We have read some good books lately. Some. I realized we have done very little fun reading and I have been waiting for him to just pick up a book and start reading it. Not going to happen if it's not fun, MOM! So I looked at the zillions of book lists that I have, okay really only 3 but there ARE zillions of books to read (go ask Heidi if you need more inspiration, here, here and here) and I started reserving them at the library which guarantees I will borrow the maximum number of books and fill my library book bag to overflowing. It's a great feeling. :)

Just a few that recieved smiles and laughter.

The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk

Caeden has just started his first chapter book! He has been reading Henry and Mudge, Amelia Bedelia and any other level 2-3 readers we can get our hands on. I wanted him to be challenged a little so he has started reading this book during quiet time every day. Sometimes he even reads more than one chapter!

These are great books by Thornton Burgess, they have short chapters, some drawings and fun adventures via some sneaky animals, including Peter Rabbit!

2009 Reading List

I have never made a reading list before, I have just read books randomly but now that I now that there are so many good books out there I need to make a list so I don't forget!

Reading with Caeden:

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader-done
The Silver Chair-done
The Last Battle
The Tale of Desperaeux-done
Swiss Family Robinson
Swallows and Amazons
Little Britches


Education/Parenting:
The Well Trained Mind-done
The History of the Ancient World
Lost Child in the Woods
The Creative Family-done
For the Children's Sake-done

Frugal Living/Home:
The Total Money Makeover
Your Money or Your Life-done


Spiritual:
Mere Christianity
Following God With All Your Heart


Personal:
The Mark of the Lion Series (as we learn about Ancient Rome :))
The Scarlet Thread
Before I Wake
Kidnapped!
The Giver

Classics (I have never read the classics so I will be tip toeing into this. :))
Ruth(Penguin Classics)
Walden-tried, done
Little Women-started

This list WILL change, since I change my mind on a regular basis. :) This is a start though! I am thinking about joining the Simple Mom Book Club and I am ordering Honey For A Woman's Heart to jump start my reading list, which is why this list will inevitably change. :)

Made your list yet?

Sweet Saturday

I am home with the kids today and Justin is helping a friend with the backdrop for the children's program at church. It is again a sunny day...you would think we are in Southern California with this weather. If only there was an ocean to look at. :)

I am baking peanut butter cookies today for a cookie exchange that we are doing at church tomorrow. Other than that we will be puttering around the house today, cleaning and I would love to do some reading since I have a plethora of books from the library on my dresser. I have 4 going at the same time right now....

• A Woman After God's Own Heart~Elizabeth George(I read this in the morning during my devotions)
• Fire Dancer~Colleen Coble ( I read this one during quiet time in the afternoons and after the kids are in bed)
• Bringing Up Boys~James Dobson (This one comes before Fire Dancer because I really have to finish it get it returned!)
• When God Whispers Your Name~Max Lucado (I read this one after the others if I am up to it since I just got it I have some more time.)

They are all very different books and I am enjoying them all. Last night Justin and I stayed up until 1:30am watching Season 3 of 24. It was fun. We snuggled and ate Joe~Joe's Candy Cane Cookies. They are scrumptious~ I highly recommend eating them. :)

I must go now to rescue Maleiah from the sword-wielding hand of her brother. I love this life.

Saturday Musings

I slept in this morning because I didn't go to bed last night until 2:30. Sleeping came about and hour and half later. :)



Because...




I finished reading The Visitation by Frank Peretti...it is a winner! It is a huge book and I could not put it donw, obviously. Very interesting and a bit disturbing but the main point of the book was that it isn't about "the stuff" that religion tells us to do but it is about our realtionship with Jesus. Amen....



Anyway, today is soccer day and then we are going to the Pumpkin Patch to get pumpkins for carving and for the front porch. We are going to read The Pumpkin Patch Parable, it is an awesome book that tells of God's love for us through the growing and carving of a pumpkin.

More later...