1. This kid got a haircut from his Pop-pop and The Husband earlier this week. I LOVE it, and we think it makes him look like such a little man :) And, this girl has started potty training for reals! Two days and a few accidents later, she's also had a few successes! 2. I decided to take a break from lesson plans this week. I chose some books by one of my favorite children's authors and some books by my most favorite children's illustrators. We'll read and enjoy those, and our learning times will be a free time to paint or color or mold or lace as the day calls for it. Jack gets a kick out of me saying, "and this book was written by the same author/illustrated by the same man as this one!"  (I seriously ADORE David Catrow's illustrations and have for years and years. So funky and adorable.)

1. The kids and I have been enjoying going to the library to pick out books. The last time we went, we checked out 7 Eric Carle books that we didn't own ourselves. Today, we checked out 6 books about boats. Jack was very excited. He LOVES boats. I'm currently searching for a boat or two that they can play with during bath time.  2. Speaking of bath time, this gal likes to lie down for most of it. She'll still play with toys, but she prefers to lie on her belly while doing so.  3.  The Husband works most evenings, so dinners were proving a challenge to prepare with two little people hovering nearby the entire time. So, I made a switch about a month ago. Our big meals happen at lunchtime now when he's here most days and can keep them distracted and away from the hot stove and oven,  and our lighter, easier-to-make meals happen at dinner.  Here's tonight's easy-peasy dinner.  We usually have sandwiches or leftovers and rarely something from ...

So, it's been two full days now since I stepped away from and shut down my  Facebook page. What I quickly realized was that I tried to compensate by reading articles online, mostly celebrity news. Nothing of interest and certainly nothing of value, so I'm going to have to quit that, as well. To help myself, I bought a book while doing a little window shopping at Target.  I NEVER buy books for myself (A--because we don't have the space on our tiny bookshelf and B--because it seems absurd to spend $20 on a book I could check out at the library.), but I made an exception. It looked and sounded so interesting, and I justified the expense because it's Sunday and our library wasn't open. So.  I'm about 50 pages in so far, and it's pretty good. I'm looking forward to reading it while I have down time (but not at night before bed because I will finish it WAY too quickly, and I need this baby to last!) While looking around in the book section (my...

Day 9 of Capturing December - Something You're Reading

I'm thankful for good books today.  Books that pull you in and keep you there until your eyes just won't stay open any longer. Books that are filled with language and imagery. Books that make you think and imagine and discover. Books that make you feel, especially books that leave you sad when you reach that last page.  I'm reading this book (the third and final book in the series), and it's kept me turning page after page when I should have been folding laundry or cleaning the bathroom while my children slumbered. Good books make you forget where you are and what you should be doing. :) I've read some truly fantastic books this past year, and I can't wait to read more. My son asks me to read book after book to him, and Ella enjoys being read to, especially when I use different voices and facial expressions. I hope they both develop a love of reading and that it grows as they do.  Do you have favorite books? Any recommendations to add to my list?

A month ago, The Husband and I watched the movie The Fault in our Stars. Great movie. I'll watch it again.  Two days ago, I started reading the book  The Fault in our Stars. I'm two chapters from the end, and I'm already thinking about reading it again. I want my own copy (I'm reading the library's copy that I had to wait months for) that I can highlight and make notes in.   Because, y'all.  This. Book. Is. Allkindsofamazing.  It's one of the funniest, most-insightful, raw, and just beautiful books I've ever read.  (Jack and I are looking out the window as I type, and the fall leaves are so pretty...) I've giggled out loud and cried, and all I keep thinking is that I wish I were reading this with someone, so we could laugh and smile and sigh at the same moments. I'm going to beg The Husband to let me read it out loud to him when I start over :).  If you haven't read it, do it! Go now. I'll wait.  I have so many quotes I want to pour over...