Read aloud Thursday: summer

It's Thursday somewhere, right?  Oh wait, that only works with 5:00.  Oh well.  Here's what we've been reading...

CHAPTER BOOKS

Still working through The Moffats.  My only complaint about this one (and complaint really is a lame word) is that the chapters are really long.  Like, longer than what one sitting usually is for us, especially as this is a book that I pegged for mealtime/snack-time reading.  But don't let that deter you.  It really is a great book.  Has anyone read the rest of the books in this series?

Gemma and I read The Prairie Skies trilogy recently, which included: 

Pioneer Summer
Cabin in the Snow 
Our Kansas Home

I would highly recommend these books.  They introduced slavery in a very understandable way for their target audience and provided some great opportunities for discussion.  We also read The Sod House, which I thought was okay but nothing special, and to go with it I also checked out Sod Houses on the Great Plains which was a really good explanation of the "why?" and "how?" of sod houses.  These books on the westward expansion have been fun and informative, so in keeping with the theme I think we may read the Latsch Valley Farm series next.  I requested the first two through ILL and you never know with that how long it might take them to come, but I'm hoping it will be soon.  Any other recommendations along that vein?

For Kolbe, we've been reading Leroy Ninker Saddles Up.

FROM THE BOOKSHELF
I was at Kohls the other day to get Gemma's uniform shirts and we stumbled upon their Kohls Cares for Kids display and oh my word did that ever make my day.  For $5 each we got our very own brand new hard copies of A Sick Day for Amos McGee and And Then It's Spring, both of which have been on my wishlist for quite some time.  I'm still wondering if I should have gone ahead and picked up Bear Has a Story to Tell and If You Want to See a Whale...

FROM THE LIBRARY

We've had several Leo Lionni books recently, and Kolbe has taken a particular liking to them.  I pointed them out on the shelf to him last time we were at the library, and the next time I turned around he had chosen one of each, HA!  I enjoy all these books, but my very favorite by Lionni is An Extraordinary Egg.

WEEKLY THEME BOOKS
Currently we have "summer" books in the basket, and next week I intend to toss some Independence Day ones in as well.  Some faves:
When Lightning Comes in a Jar - I can not read this book with out turning into a horrible sappy mess at the end, no matter how hard I try. 
Summer Wonders and Summer Days and Nights seem to make their into our basket every year (probably because I request them every year....)
The Gardener was neat, and would go well with a study of The Depression Era.
Come On, Rain! is so great, I think it falls into the "magical" category.  Maybe not as meaningful when we're not experiencing a drought, but magical nevertheless.
The Watermelon Seed always causes copious giggles and to go along with it we have Watermelon Wishes and Icy Watermelon.
Aunt Minnie McGrannahan was a very sweet story, and while not necessarily summer, it went nicely with Aunt Minnie and the Twister, which is a little more summer specific in these parts.
Adele and Simon in America is one we enjoy every year, and this year we have our very own (former library) copy.  No, I didn't steal it from the library, in case you were wondering.
How to Bake an American Pie is always good
The Star Spangled Banner seemed necessary, and I can honestly say I don't know that we've ever gotten this version.

We have a Ugandan priest visiting our parish, and the kids (namely Gemma) are going to be sending some hand-me-down clothing and shoes with him back to Uganda to share with our brothers and sisters there, so I have a pile of books about Africa (I believe there is one that is Uganda specific) to share with them some day here soon.  I got my inspiration here.
Well, that's all, folks!  Happy reading!

Journal: back to Summer! and some pictures

TODAY

Out my window:  Warm, muggy, cloudy-ish.  We didn't get near the rains predicted for this week immediately around us, but less than a dozen miles north of us they had seven inches the other night.  Remarkable.  The kids are going to VBS at a neighboring parish this week and wanted to play at their park one day this week, so we picked Tuesday and had a picnic lunch and they played for two hours.  It was a bit muggy but in the seventies.  We couldn't have picked a better day.

Around the house: QUARANTINE IS OVER!!!  WooHOOOOOO!!!!!!!  Other than that, nothing of note, really.  Our sheets and bedspread in our master bedroom are starting to seriously wear out (like, I have mended them multiple times), so I think we may be in the market for new ones at some point.  Christmas maybe?

 

The kiddos:

Gemma has been fantastic of late.  Oh, she has had her not-so-fantastic moments as well but over all, oh my word.  She is really stepping up in her big sister role with the boys... she will play for hours with them at the park.  She has been putting them to bed.  Reading to them for 20-30 minutes at a time.  It is wonderful to see her blossom, and I am enjoying this more-grown-up version of her more and more every day.  Life is so different around here than it was five years ago.

Kolbe is having a BLAST at VBS this week.  I mean, Gemma is having a great time too, but Kolbe, WOW.  He will come up to me a dozen times a day to tell me a long drawn-out story about something that he got to do or something he learned or saw.  This is very un-Gemma.  I have learned just to be quiet with her and let her tell me what she wants, when she wants, and not press the issue if she doesn't feel like talking.  And she usually doesn't.  But I've made peace with that.  I digress...  If this week is any sort of prelude to how kindergarten will be for Kolbe, I think it will be a great year.   

Clement is getting a taste for what it's like to be the only kid at home in the mornings this week.  He plays incredibly well by himself, which really mystifies me.  Maybe it is because he is so used to playing with his siblings that it is a welcome reprieve?  I don't know.  But it tickles me.  His favorite thing to do of late has been making picnics with our play food.  This is a very intricate process which can sometimes keep him busy for 45 minutes or an hour.

In the kitchen: I made bierocks this week.  I think the last time I made them was when I was pregnant with Clement maybe?  They were super-tasty.  We've been having more salads.  They taste good anytime, but especially during Summer it seems.  Planning on a chicken stir-fry next week, but I still need to hammer out the rest of my menu.  The kids have eaten more meals outdoors than in this week.  My kitchen floor has never stayed so clean (relatively speaking of course) for so long.

Learning:  VBS!  The program that they use at our parish (and it's the same one they are using at the neighboring parish) is such a great boost to their faith lives.  I love it.  We've done a lot of reading.  I was telling a friend the other day, I had the best-laid plans to do some more academic things this summer (handwriting practice, math facts, etc.) and we really haven't done anything.  That said, I feel like thus far we've had an incredibly educational summer, simply taking advantage of the opportunities around us.  The kids have written letters, played with pattern blocks and puzzles and some of our more "educational" toys at their leisure, we've had a huge variety of books, especially with our weekly themes. You can learn so much simply from observing and taking advantage of the world around you.  I have often thought I'd be a fan of year-round school, but I am really appreciating the extended break this go-around.

Reading: I've been trying to have some sort of rhyme and reason for the chapter books I read with Gemma so we've been focusing on the early days of Kansas, and the westward expansion in general.  We're currently reading the Prairie Skies Trilogy and it's fantastic. It's giving us so many things to discuss (general premise: an abolitionist family movies to KS in the 1850s in hopes of making it a free state during the time of the Kansas-Nebraska act) .  As an aside though, it was pretty funny (well, it's funny now) the other day she was really mad at me for something, and she yelled, "YOU ARE TREATING ME LIKE A SLAVE!!!!!"  Oh dear...

I'm keeping up with my usuals, although my main focus now (aside from finishing up with Theology) has been Happy Are You Poor.  Wow.  Just wow.  I am also trying to read/mediate from The Imitation of Christ each day.  Good stuffs.

Crafting: I added this category back in so I could show off Gemma's perler-bead prowess!  These were a great diversion for all three kids when we were stuck in quarantine!

Watching:  MLB.  Oh, and also The Hobbit.  I cannot believe it but I think I am finally getting really hooked on this LOTR business.  I know, right?

Bringing me joy: VBS, listening to the kids sing their songs and dance and be so excited about the faith is energizing.  And reading good books...to myself and my kids.  I am so grateful for books.  :-)

Thinking about: the fact that I have at least three other things I should be doing right now, but I wanted to blog an update before it got too far away from me. 

Pictures to share:  

Just a few more...Some new pics for our collage frame.  Love these kids!

Bedtime snuggles.

Eating mulberries on our nature walk.  Won't be too much longer and he'll be too big for his sweet ride on daddy's back. 

Read aloud (almost) Thursday: history and farms and chickens

Chapter books

We continue with The Moffats.  It is fun.  Each chapter can really stand on its own, and the adventures these kids get themselves into are really very amusing.  The kids, especially Gemma, are liking this one.

Gemma and I read The Courage of Sarah Noble at bedtime.  It was a simple, beautiful read.  I love books that have a historical aspect to them.  We had a good chat about seeing people for the content of their character not by the color of their skin, and how just because some Indians were "bad guys" you can't judge them all to be so, just like you can't call all those with light skin "good guys".  This was a short yet very profound read.

Now we are back to American Girl and Kit.  Sigh.  Oh well.  It has actually been bringing up some interesting conversations about the Depression.  I need to request book two for her. 

We may start Pioneer Summer tonight in the meantime.  Lots of historical things.  Part of me feels a little badly that there is not a whole lot of order, rhyme or reason in what we read...but if I analyze things too much I just become paralyzed and then we don't do anything.  Sigh.

Kolbe had gotten several Berenstain Bears books from the library about a month ago, and asked me to request more, and one of the ones I requested was The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Coughing Catfish.  I had no idea the Berenstain Bears had chapter books until it showed up on the hold shelf (because I pay attention when I request things, but not super close attention.  After accidentally ending up with a gigantic version of Bread and Jam for Frances, I have learned to be a bit more careful though).  Overall this one was a pleasant surprise.  Not fine literature by any means, but was great for my Kolbe as his attention span for books grows.

Speaking of, I sure wish DiCamillo would write more Mercy Watson books.

From the bookshelf

Mix It Up is a cool book.  (It and Mouse Paint are my faves when it comes to colors).  But I have read it toooooo mannnnny times recently. (Ahem, Clement.)

Apparently we've been reading a lot of library books of late, because I'm not coming up with much here.  Gemma was reading our copy of Corduroy to the boys the other night though.  That is one book that I just never tire of.

From the library

Violet Comes to Stay and Violet goes to the Country - We unknowingly read these out of order but they were still just beautiful.

Good Night, Good Knight - anyone who has ever put kids to bed would find this book amusing.

The kids made a list of books for me to get from the library yesterday (we are still quarantined a bit longer) and there were several Helen Lester titles on it.  Gemma spent probably half an hour reading these to the boys before bed last night (she even put Clem to sleep!! I told her she was hired), so apparently they were a hit.

Weekly theme books

The kids and I decided to have a theme each week (ish) this Summer to give us a bit more direction in our book checking out.  I just love this.  During the school years that we've done Letter of the Week, I always love the sense of purpose I have each week when I sit down to request books.  Because I am just that big of a nerd.  But anyways, our first weekly theme was "CHICKENS".  Some notable faves:

One Little Chicken - we've had this before.  It's a classic that every child should read.

The Red Hen - yet another retelling of the perennial tale.  Nothing special, but it had a recipe in the back and Gemma has had a thing for copying recipes lately, so that was a win. 

Hattie and the Fox - I really do not love this book.  I know it's a classic, and the repetition is good for kids and all, but still.  It annoys me.

Interrupting Chicken - this is a fun one to read aloud.  And we read it aloud no less than two dozen times.  Gemma really got into reading chicken's part though and oh how I love to see her read independently unprompted.

Cluck O'Clock - we have checked this out dozens of time.  Someday we will buy it if I can find a used, hardcover copy for a good price.  It is great.

Daisy Comes Home - there's just something about Jan Brett.  You simply can't go wrong.

Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken - The cover of this book was soooo familiar.  I swore we'd had it before but the stories did not ring a bell.  At all.  But it was a keeper.  We got the version with the sound recording, which is fun to do on occasion.

Our theme is "FARMS" this week.  We've just gotten started on our stack, but the ones in the basket that look promising are:
Farm - This one reminded me a bit of The Year at Maple Hill Farm, which is another book I would like to own.
Duck on a Bike
Winter Wheat - We drive past a particular wheat field on a regular basis, and have been watching it since the wheat sprouted late last Fall.  I am looking forward to reading this one to the kids, especially Kolbe who has taken particular interest in watching the wheat.
It Could Always Be Worse - This reminds me so much of another book we've read, about a bear maybe? Or an owl who can't sleep?  I don't remember, but there is a very similar moral to the story.
Farms ABC - alphabet (and number, shape, etc. etc.) books typically annoy me, but I like this one a bunch.  The real life photographs are cool and surprisingly timeless.
Aunt Minnie and the Twister
Winter on the Farm - the Little House picture books are always a hit around here.  And to me, it's always fun to read about the opposite season of what we're in.
The Grumpy Morning - I am hoping Gemma will enjoy reading this one to the boys.
Just Plain Fancy - Polacco is so great.  Other notable faves at our house by her are Rechenka's Eggs and Thundercake.  For that matter When Lightning Comes in a Jar is pretty cool too.  Read it if you have a Family Reunion coming up.
Rooster's Off to See the World made the basket as well, because it is always nice to throw a little Eric Carle in.
Least of All is one we've had before, but it is so fun repeating books for different reasons...that's usually how we find the ones we end up loving.  I think we had this one as part of our virtue study one month last year, but can't remember for sure.

What is in your book basket this week?  
Happy reading, friends!!

Journal: June and a Summer slowdown

TODAY

Out my window:  Sunny and warm.  Today is the first time I've run the air conditioner before evening.  This has been the longest stretch (5 days?) we've had without rain for awhile.  There's been about a 20% chance every day but we seem to be out of the super rainy pattern.  I tell you, it's either feast or famine around here with the weather.  We've had some very pretty mornings and evenings, but the days are definitely getting warmer.

Around the house: Meh, not much.  It's been pretty low-key around here (see below).  The kids have been doing some really creative playing though with Gemma being out of school and that's been fun to see.  Sometimes I feel like I am so at my wits' end with them, and that they always fight, and can't entertain themselves etc. etc. etc., so these days when they play for hours, HOURS together and work through their squabbles on their own make me realize that life really is pretty good in our little corner of the world.

 

The kiddos:  All three kids currently have Hand, Foot and Mouth disease.  Joy.  Gemma has had it since last Thursday evening, though we didn't know for sure that's what it was until she came up to me Sunday morning (she had been fever free since Friday PM and was acting fine) while we were (frantically) getting ready for Church and said, "what are these funny spots on my hands?"  NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!  Needless to say we ended up splitting Masses that day.  The boys both came down with it within the past 24 hours, so we are still quarantined for 10+ days.  Good times.  We had to miss VBS, reschedule swim lessons and Gemma is missing out on a friend's birthday party this coming weekend.  Sigh.  Trying really hard to make the best of it.  A neighboring parish is letting our kids come to their VBS in several weeks though so that's a real bright spot.  After the initial fever, Gemma has felt fine and been her normal self, which is good and bad.  I am glad she doesn't feel super sick, but it is hard being cooped up in the house when you feel fine.  They can still play out in the yard, and we've let them do a little fishing behind the house as long as no one else is around.  We will probably OD on TV today since both boys have fevers and are definitely feeling more under the weather, although currently the kids are making life-size replicas of themselves on big white paper with seemingly every craft supply we own.  Hopefully the boys' cases are as mild as Gemma's has been.  Still waiting for their spots to appear.

In the kitchen: This week:

Dijon chicken with boiled potatoes and steamed green beans

homemade beef, pepperoni and mushroom pizza

French dips with WW sourdough, au jus and broccoli salad

vegetable tortellini

I need to work on next week's meal plan...shredded Mexican chicken is tentatively on the menu, we'll see what else I come up with.

Learning: I have not been forcing the issue.  There are more educational activities I would like to be doing, but it is also nice to not have WWIII over a math facts worksheet.  The kids all have summer  journals and we are trying to write in them daily.  We've done a lot of reading.  Our "routine" that I made up before summer started seems to be a pretty good fit.  I will be anxious to jump back in fully the week after next when we are un-quarantined.

Reading: The usuals.  My Theology class only has three more sessions and I will be finished up with that!  Hard to believe!!  It has been a great year; I have learned sooooo much.  The kids and I decided to do a "theme" each week for library books, so this week (among others) we have a whole pile of books about chickens.  I hope to discuss these further in my next Read Aloud Thursday post.  As far as chapter books go, reading The Moffats with all the kids, and The Courage of Sarah Noble with Gemma at bedtime.

Watching:  Baseball, River Monsters, an episode of Good Eats here and there.  Honestly nothing of note.

Bringing me joy: prayer.

Thinking about: forgiveness.

Pictures to share:

Birthday wishes to one of our favorite readers!!

Saying farewell to our dear neighbor.  SO sad to see them go.