Good Books

As a family we finished Stuart Little. It is a great book filled with imagination and humor. We all loved it and enjoyed the special treat that it was a rather short book (sometimes we need a quick one). After finishing that book, I absolutely fell in love with E.B. White and we are now in the middle of Charlotte's Web. I don't know how, but the author completely captures what an animal is probably thinking and saying. We will move on to The Trumpet of the Swan next. I love the relaxed style to Whites writing and the ease and comfort my kids and I feel while we listen to the words he has written. I find myself smiling all the time we read.- Definitely recommend this book to families.

I just finished reading These is My Words, by Nancy E. Turner. We read it for book group for the month of May. I enjoyed the book and loved visualizing life as a pioneer woman in the Arizona territories. It was well written and an easy read, I think I read it in three days.

My personal highlight of books for the month has to be The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale. I absolutely looooooove this book. I will buy it and have my girls read it, it's so good and inspiring and uplifting. I love books that transport me to another time and place and make me think about the characters as though they are my own friends. The Goose Girl is now on my favorites list. It is very thought provoking and reminded me to be grateful for my trials, and to remember who I truly am. It is the first book in the Bayern series, and I would love to read the rest of the series. This morning I started another book by the same author, called Princess Academy. It is more of a juvenile book, but I feel like I need books like that sometimes. So far it is a delightful book.

Great Books: Peter Pan and Old Yeller

We finished listening to Peter Pan, by J.M. Barrie a few weeks ago. It was a bit hard for the kids to get in to but I absolutely adored it (I think some of the language was a bit over their heads). We have a few rules about listening to books: the three kids all have to be present, and after we finish a book, we can watch the movie. My goal (or hope) is that the kids will realize how much better the movie always is and will want to read more and more- so far it's been working pretty well. Usually I'm the only parent who gets to enjoy the books along with the kids, but for the second half of Peter Pan, we were on a long drive with dad so he got to listen a bit as well. It was fun to have another adult listen along and laugh at the funny statements Peter and Captain Hook would make. Petter loved Captain Hook and the way he acted. For Captain Hook, the most important thing of all is having "good form", and he was always frustrated because Peter always showed good form and it was Hooks greatest wish to have him show bad form. So, of course, Hook finally gets his wish and can die peacefully knowing that his last wish finally came true. Peter is so blunt and honest, just like a child, it's hard not to fall in love with him and have a secret wish that he would come through my window. (don't laugh, I'm bearing my soul here) The kids seemed to enjoy the story more when we would discuss it. I think they will understand it better in a few years, it's on my list of books to have my kids read again, and again. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

"You know that place between sleeping and awake, that place where you can still remember dreaming? That's where I'll always think of you."

— J.M. Barrie

"If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!"
— J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)

"Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time. "
— J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)

Tinker Bells character was so cute. I love the quote above describing Tink when she's steaming mad. She gets so mad and jealous towards Wendy, she has no room for any other emotion. (I must admit, I think I might be part fairy- I feel like I only have room for one feeling sometimes)

Just a few days ago we finished listening to Old Yeller. Best book ever!!!

This book is perfect for kids of all ages, (mine range from 3-9) and whether boy or girl, they will be into it. I can't believe I hadn't read it before this, but now I'm so in love with it, I want to buy the written version. It is exciting, funny, believable, relatable, and sweet. It teaches so many lessons about family, hard work, remembering what we've been taught, and love. Sooooo good- a must read! (or listen)

We just started listening the Alice in Wonderland. Jayda is going to be performing in the ballet, Alice in Wonderland in May so I thought it would be fun to know more about the story. She will be doing two dances: as a flower, and as a flamingo.

We are also reading the third book in the Little Britches series, Fields of Home and are loving it. Every time I finish reading a chapter to the kids, they want me to read another.

For my personal reading, I am still reading Robinson Crusoe. I only read it when I run on the treadmill, so it's taking me awhile (not because I don't run a lot, it's a huge book) and for the book group I just formed, we are reading The Real Benjamin Franklin, so far so good.

Olivia just finished reading Gulliver's Travels and Les Miserables- they have amazing classics for kids with the real story but a bit easier to read for kids- just to lay the ground work for when they are ready to tackle the real thing.

I never would have thought 10 years ago that I would be such a book worm- I absolutely love reading, especially the classics, and hope it rubs off on others.

Yesterday, Olivia went to Liberty Girls. It is an amazing little group of homeschool girls who read books and get together to discuss them and learn things from the book. This semester they have been reading about Josefina (An American Girl) and learning some skills or things from the time period of the 1820's in New Mexico. Yesterday was Olivias favorite day ever- they learned how to spin wool into yarn on a spinning wheel. She was really into it and can't wait to knit something up with her new yarn that she spun herself.

Sweet Jayda had a great day with my mom riding horses. I feel so lucky and blessed to have a mom who loves the outdoors and animals, and loves to share her love with her grandkids. Last week she took Olivia on a big long all day ride, and yesterday she took Jayda. Jayda was so excited to go and didn't complain a bit on the ride and kept the other ladies on the ride entertained. Growing up I did a lot of riding and I'm so glad that my kids get to enjoy it as well. When it gets warmer we will all go together, after making sure Simeon has plenty of Benedryl (he's allergic to horses). Maybe someday we can get horses of our own, but for now this is a pretty great set-up.

I finished a few knitting projects while my camera was out of commission. I finished several hats for friends' babies. I absolutely love this pattern for baby hats- it's easy and quick to do, I can put whatever pattern I want into it, and it has the cute little top. It's a Debbie Bliss pattern (I love her patterns) and I bet over the past few years I've made at least a hundred of them.
It'll be soooo cute on a little boy. Last week at Young Womens, we had a huge Personal Progress Party so the girls could get a bunch of things passed off in one night. I brought some needles and yarn in case anyone wanted to learn how to knit and do it for one of their projects. I think I ended up teaching 8 or 9 girls and moms how to knit- it was great! Made me want to start a knitting club or something... we'll see.

We finished the second book of the Little Britches series, Man of the Family. These books are amazing. They teach lessons and are very entertaining, about a boy and his family in the early 1900's. It is the #1 book series that I recommend to moms wanting to read something fun to their kids. The first book, Little Britches is a definite must read, and the others are icing on the cake. We will start the third book on Monday, and I can't wait. My hubby got me the whole set for mothers day last year- perfect present!

I rarely make things for myself (I'm working on improving this) but I actually did make myself a big, chunky, cozy scarf. It was knitted with chunky yarn on size 17 needles so it was a pretty quick knit. It has fun little bobbles on it and I'm trying to decide if I want to add fringe on the ends or not. I wear it around the house when I'm a little chilly and I get compliments on it when I wear it out- I'll make some more maybe in the fall/winter for gifts.
Homeschool is going smoothly, we have a few little recitals coming up: violin, piano and dance. Spring is in the air, I'm excited to start working in my yard, planting and weeding, and I'm starting a new book group. Petter and I are training for a 1/2 marathon, I think we will do the one at Bear Lake in the first part of June. I'm excited for warmer weather and time at the park, I love living in such a beautiful, amazing place.

Wild Swans and Carl Bloch

I finished my book Wild Swans about a week ago and have been in my usual post book depression (which is where I don't want to start a new book or project for about a week while I process the book). This book touched me in a way similar to Uncle Toms Cabin, opening my eyes to things that I never even conceived of before. The author of this book is amazingly honest and open about her own life and the life of her family and those close to her which gives the book a beautiful and sad authenticity. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about China and anyone who enjoys biographies. Although I devoured the book, I had to watch when I read it: too close to bedtime it gave me bad dreams. I loved the book but also loved when I finished the book because of the harsh realities it contained.

Today, my family went to the Carl Bloch art exhibit. It was breathtaking!!! He was an artist in the mid to late 1800's who was criticized in his time of painting women and Christ in the same setting and showing Christ as a loving empathetic being instead of more like an idol. You can see his website here. The paintings were amazing and showed moments of Christ's life that I had never seen before. I love, love, loved it! It will be at BYU for a few more months and is definitely worth the time and the free ticket. My favorite paintings were "Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane" which shows an angel comforting him, and "Christ after the Crucifixion" showing some of his followers kindly wrapping his body in cloth after just removing the nails and the crown of thorns. Beautiful!

Henry and Ribsy

As a family, we are always reading a few books at a time:

-An audio book in the car

-The scriptures

-A fun reading book for family reading time

-Several other picture books for smaller kids

Right now we are reading the second book in the Little Britches series, Man of the Family, by Ralph Moody. If you haven't read the series, it is a must! It is so entertaining and has so many valuable teaching moments. We are almost finished with The Book of Mormon and are in the book of Ether.

The absolute highlight of the week though, was today while on our weekly Friday treat run to the gas station. We have been listening to Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Clearly, and just finished as we pulled into our garage. I know it's a good book when my kids are begging me to turn it on and shushing each other so they can listen. When I was younger I read most of Beverly Cleary's books, but this one I never read. My kids laughed out loud several times, and even cheered and clapped at other times! Yay for books!!!! Even my 3 year old little boy was engaged and interested, and using his imagination! Love it! Henry and Ribsy is a definite thumbs up!

I am feeling in such a mood for Beverly Cleary (and feeling a bit under the weather, I'm supposed to run 6 miles tomorrow- might have to put it off till Monday) we stopped at the Redbox and rented "Ramona and Beezus" to watch and lay around the rest of the day. Thank Goodness It's Friday!

Life without a camera...

I'm going crazy!!!

My camera wouldn't turn off so it kept draining the battery.  I took it in to get looked at by the camera doctor and they said 4-6 weeks!!! Yikes!

So much going on that I want to take pics of:

• Finishing up the painting in the kitchen- just finished the island in cheery blue.
• Just finished an adorable scarf with bobbles
• Two baby hats- finished one yesterday and gave it to some friends with a baby on the way, the other is in the works and will probably be finished and gone before I get my camera back.
• Started a new book "Wild Swans" by Jung Chang- so far it is beautifully written and very enlightening about communist China and the government control on the individuals there before the death of Mao in the late '70's.  It talks about three generations of women and their struggles and triumphs- I'm excited to read it.
• Simeon wore the tie I knitted him to church on Sunday- sooooo adorable!

I will see if blogging is even possible without my camera- It seems funny to talk about all this stuff but not be able to show it as well.