Read aloud Thursday: butterflies and other stories

CHAPTER BOOKS

Meet Caroline - I am pretty "meh" about the American Girl books but Gemma likes them, and doesn't want to read them on her own.  So whatever.  I drew the line on Magic Tree House though and told her she had to read them independently when she was ready, I'm not doing them as read-alouds.  And I'm really on the fence, if she ever asks, about Junie B. Jones...  I won't read those aloud, but I am not even sure how worthwhile they are as independent readers.  Others' thoughts?

My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories - We recently finished the New Testament (we had started with Acts after Easter) and have started at the very beginning with the Old Testament.  If you are looking for a good Children's Bible, I highly recommend this one. It has a brief synopsis/focusing point in a blue box at the beginning of each story, but then the text is from the RSV (Catholic edition), there is a short prayer at the end of each story, plus quotes from the Saints and the Catechism throughout and the illustrations are very, very nice. It is not the Bible in its entirety, but it covers just about every "big" story you could think of. I've seen a lot of Children's Bibles and this one is head and shoulders above the rest (IMHO).

The Middle Moffat - the more we read of these Moffat books the more I like them.  This one does not disappoint, in fact I think I may like it more than the first.

Mercy Watson - (pictured left) We have read these before, but Kolbe really likes them and has requested we get them again. They are fun, so fun, and definitely on the short end of chapter books.  They can be read in one sitting and are a great read aloud OR book for kids transitioning into reading chapter books.

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew - Haven't started this one but it is on the hold shelf at the library.  The title was familiar and I have seen it recommended here and there on the Read Aloud Revival Facebook Page (which has been one of my favorite resources of late for read aloud picture and chapter book recommendations/information etc. Let me know if you'd like an add.)

PICTURE BOOKS

James Herriot's Treasury for Children came through inter-library loan.  When I went to link it I realized how many used copies there are available for a good price.  I may pick one up.  It was beautiful.

Gotta Go! Gotta Go! was a fun story monarch migration.  This video went very nicely with its reading.

Farfallina and Marcel and Glasswings were sweet butterfly stories.

For some butterfly non-fiction we enjoyed looking at a variety of butterflies in:

What's the Difference Between a Butterfly and a Moth

The Butterfly Alphabet Book

A Butterfly is Patient

From Caterpillar to Butterfly

Gemma got a whole stack of Ladybug Girl books from the library this week.  These are cute enough. Nothing I'd ever buy necessarily, but I am always happy when she gets enthused about something enough to seek out specific books. 

Clement has been enjoying the Patterson Puppies books he has found at the library the past few weeks. 

A Second is a Hiccup was a fun book for my Kolbe who has been incredibly curious about time of late.  I actually went ahead and ordered this clock as well as a back to school activity for all the kids to add to our stash of educational manipulatives. 

I have always liked Patricia Polacco but the past few weeks I have picked up a few titles by her that have made me think twice.  I will still read her books to my kids (some are so wonderful and have even made me cry every time I read them and inspired Gemma to write and make up recipes), but she is not an author I would trust without first pre-reading.  It is odd to me that someone who can write such beautiful, faith-filled stories can also write things that are decidedly very controversial if not outright inappropriate. 

For myself (digressing a bit), I have been immensly edified recently by Theology for Beginners, which is almost like the abridged version of Theology and Sanity (which was the text for my Theology class last year).  It has been an excellent review, and I cannot believe how much I use this stuff for the questions the kids ask.  Gemma and I had an entire discussion about the Trinity and person and nature the other night that was really great.  It also gives my prayer life and my understanding of the prayers of the Church such deeper meaning.  Good stuffs

I have also recently started Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer, and have two books from Amazon coming about which I am really excited: Saints of the Roman Calendar (which I plan to use daily with morning prayer...we have such a wealth of real-life examples in the Saints, and I want to take more advantage of this hidden treasure in the Church) and Getting the Marriage Conversation Right (which I am hoping will further my ability to dialogue about this issue in a sensitive and informed way).  Happy reading friends!

Journal: Summer, it's all good

TODAY

Out my window: Cloudy and a rainy morning.  Maybe more rain?  It has cooled off (relatively speaking) too.  We may? be done with 100 degree days for the Summer.  I'm not holding my breath, but anything is possible.  Overall it has been such a nice Summer weather-wise.  Grateful.  It's all good (as Pete the Cat would say).

Around the house: Getting uniforms all geared up for the kids' school year.  I need to move Gemma's buttons over in her new big jumpers that I am **hoping hoping hoping** will fit her for the next three years (until she switches to skirts).  I got five pair of pants for Kolbe, between the online and in store prices and coupons (Children's Place), everything averaged out to about $8 a pair.  And his undershirts were essentially free since I had Kohls cash from when I bought Gemma's white polos.  I have five plaid shirts for Kolbe that were given to us (oh my, so grateful), everyone has socks and I think their shoes fit.  We are just about ready to go!  I always wonder if we save more or spend more on clothes with uniforms. It's hard to say.  Even if we spend a little more, I am a HUGE fan of the convenience factor (among other reasons).  They definitely simplify mornings.  We got all of Kolbe's supplies and I need to take Gemma out on a "date" to get the rest of hers, then we should be set for Open House.  She is on the third year of the backpack that we got when she was four and I figured we'd use it through kindergarten and then let her get something else.  She has never asked, and it works, so why not?! #minimalism  Summer has been good, real good, but I am looking forward to settling into our new routine this Fall while I savor these last few weeks (EEK, three from today!!).

 

The kiddos:  They have been wonderful.  Really.  I mean, some days I want to tear my hair out and run from the house and maybe never come back because #parentingissohardsometimesitmakesmewanttodie, but overall this Summer has just been amazing.  They are getting older and it is easier to do things with them because we aren't working around naps and diapers and strollers and toddler tantrum volatility (oh we still have those, but as the kids get older it's just different).  There have been more instances than I can count that they have gone off and played, together, nicely, for hours.  Hours!  Playing things like "Pickel and Marshmellow (Gemma's spellings) the dogs" or "restaurant" or some craft they make up with lots of cut up paper, and maybe it makes a huge mess THEY ARE GETTING ALONG!!!!  There were years I thought this day would never come, but I guess after dancing with the chaos for so long I have either learned to embrace it or the kids are just growing up.  Or maybe a little bit of both.  And while we would love to welcome another little baby into our family if that is meant to be, I feel like we're in a very good place right now.  And it's all good.  And I'm grateful.

We started swim lessons this week.  We were going to do them in mid-June with just the older two but then there was the whole HFM debacle and we ended up rescheduling.  As peeved as I was about that whole situation and everything we had to cancel and miss out on, everything has fallen into place so nicely.  Better than I could have planned (**sheepish** #itsallgood).  And now that Clem is three (technically, he still insists he is two because it is "not my brifbay amymore") I went out on a limb and signed him up too, knowing full well he may revolt, and he LOVES it.  Watching him is the most adorable thing.  And they're really pushing Gemma too, which is great.  My kids are kind of wimps when it comes to water (which I suppose is less stressful than them running headlong into 15 ft of water without thinking about what could happen), but nevertheless it is good to see them becoming more comfortable in the pool.  I think a Y membership may be in our not so distant future.

In the kitchen: This week:

• tacos
• spaghetti and jarred marinara sauce (which garnered a, "You're the best, mom!" from Gemma. Thanks?  It took me three minutes...) and chicken salads for Aaron and me.
• loaded baked potato and chicken casserole with roasted broccoli
  
• hamburgers
• baked salmon with sides TBD

I was lamenting my lack of exciting sides last week to a friend and she told me about a tasty salad she made.  Since I can't leave anything alone I kind of morphed her recipe and another (thanks Vicki and Sarah K.) into a big 'ole bowl of awesome.  A cup each of quinoa, corn and black beans.  Green onion, diced tomato and cilantro to your taste.  Mix that all together and toss in a dressing of olive oil, lime, jalapeno, cumin and garlic all blended together.  Try it.

Learning:  Blah.  We have read a whole. ton. but other than that we are still on our streak of pretty much not doing any educational activities.  At all.  Yup.  True story.  But oh, have we read some good books.

Reading: I need to do another Read Aloud Thursday post, but in the meantime we're working on butterfly books this week (Fafallina and Marcel was super cute and we checked out What's the Difference between a Butterfly and a Moth again...it's so informative) and I have a stack of Caldecott medal and honor books from the years that we all were born which will be fun to tackle soon.  We also checked out James Herriot's Treasury for Children and it was superb.  The vocabulary and writing style is just exquisite.  Quality literature.  The type of stuff I love when my kids love!!  I was really sad when -- after several evening readings -- we finished it, but the kids asked to keep it longer so maybe we'll read a few of the stories again.

Watching: MLB. And Aaron has discovered this new reality show about people who blacksmith swords and knives in some sort of contest format where they have to kill dummies filled with ballistics gel and slice cow bones in half.  I do not kid.  Where do they get their ideas for this stuff?

Bringing me joy: Spending time on a real date with my hubby this weekend.  My parents kept the kids overnight.  As nice as it was, we both decided the house was too quiet and we missed those little crazies a ton and we were glad it was only one night.  HA!  Spending time with the kids.  They bring me so much joy...holding Clem's hands when we walk.  Watching them play.  Talking with Gemma about more "grown-up" things.  Snuggling with Kolbe at bedtime.  Watching them interact.  Watching them grow.  I cannot imagine my life without them.  Life is good.

Thinking about: The coming school year.  Gemma is already struggling with some anxiety about the year to come.  She has done this every year.  I truly can identify with her, I struggle with anxiety myself, probably more than I am willing to admit most of the time.  So it is very easy to get inside her head.  But it is so hard to help her.  I am finding, however, in helping her I am helping myself deal with my own...stuff.  And it's just...interesting.  And exhausting.  But it's what helps us grow.  I have been thinking a lot about the ways that God refines us...if we will simply step back, and step outside ourselves and let.Him.work.  Let Him prepare us for the perfection, the completion, He calls us to.  For eternal life with Him.  He is constantly reaching His hand out to us.  How often do I snub Him?  Think I know better?  Refuse to reach back?   Big thoughts tumbling around in my head.

Pictures to share:  

I have not taken many lately.  Sometimes -- I find -- it is good to just experience life.

CHEERS!