Spring Reading Thing 2009

Katrina at Callapider Days is hosting Spring Reading Thing 2009. For this challenge you put together a list of books you want to read between March 20 and June 20 and then simply read them. Your list can be as long or as short as you’d like and you can modify at any time during the challenge. If you would like to join along you can sign up here, Spring Reading Thing 2009: Let’s Read!

Below is my short tenative list:

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George
Magyk: Septimus Heap Book 1 by Angie Sage
Epicenter by Sonia O'Brien
The Hound of Rowan: Book 1 of the Tapestry by Henry H. Neff
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Storm Glass (Glass Book 1) by Maria V. Snyder

Added:
Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton
The Mysterious Benidiect Society

Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1)

Ballet Shoes

Flowers of the Winds

Breaking Dawn

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)

Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon

Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely, #2)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)

Happy Birthday Randy!

Happy Birthday Sweetie! The kids and I wanted to make him breakfast in bed, his favorite, milk toast (I think soggy bread is the grossest thing ever but the girls and him would chow it down). Anyway, he had to go into work early this morning and was up at 4:30am. We'll have to wait to celebrate his birthday after school and work.

King's Tournament Pack Meeting

Last night Zachary had Pack Meeting. The theme was knights and castles so they called it the King's Tournament. The boys made shields with their family crest, crowns and family flags this past month in their den meetings. The boys all brought cakes they had decorated to action them off (we made a flip flop cake). They earned money or beads for the auction throughout this past month by doing good deeds at home and being on time for den meetings and wearing their uniforms.

Zachary had lots of points so we came home with two cakes (which is not what I need around the house). He was pretty happy with himself. They had different activities where the boys and their families competed in games such as a javelin throw or jousting. It was a lot of fun for the kids.

Let's Go Fly A Kite

Today the weather really changed and it has been so cold. Z and S were restless and begging to go outside and fly a kite since the wind was blowing. They had lots of fun flying the Winnie the Pooh kite even though they were very cold. After dinner it started really raining so they were unable to go back outside which caused them some disappointment.

New Project

This past week R started a new project in the front yard. He is building a short retaining wall between our yard and the neighbors yard. My understanding is it will keep their yucky grass from creeping into our yard. Today he was even out there working before the rain/snow hit. When it's completed it will look really nice. After he finishes the wall he will work on the sprinklers and then hopefully grass. Yay!

Friday Stuff

Last night I finally re-joined Weight Watchers again. I'm going to need lots of support because I don't want to fail. I've thought about it for weeks but have been lazy about joining and lazy about making the necessary changes required to my eating and exercising. I'm blessed because my hubby is so supportive and I appreciate that.

S has been so excited about today. She said they are celebrating spring at school and also it is market day. After school she has tumbling which she absolutely loves and then she has a date with her dad. They are going to the Children's Theatre & School of the Arts to see the Princess and the Pea. The date with her dad has had her excited all week so I hope they have a good time.

We don't have much planned for the weekend. I hope the weather remains nice so we can work in the yard. I have a church activity tomorrow for a few hours during the day and R has graciously agreed to entertain the kids while I am gone. Z has soccer practice tomorrow and I'm sure the kids will just be happy to be outside in the sun. Monday there is no school, YAY!

I am very excited to buy the Twilight DVD first thing in the morning. I should be embarrassed that I loved the movie so much but I am so excited to buy the movie and watch it several times this weekend.

Today it's Tuesday

Yesterday morning our phone lines went down so we have no home phone or Internet. We forwarded our home phone to the cell phones but it's really hard to not have the Internet. I don't know how I would survive without it. Last night I had more time to get things done when since I wasn't spending so much time on my computer. I even baked cookies which I haven't done for awhile.

The kids did a good job singing in church Sunday. I was more nervous than they were. They sounded so good. It was fun to Z sing so seriously and loud, he worked so hard at learning all the words. S was more nervous than her brother so she didn't sing as loudly as she did when she was practicing but she did a great job.

Sunday Z and I read The Clue of the Left-Handed Envelope:(Third-Grade Detectives) and he really enjoyed the book. I think he liked it so much because the kids were his age and in the book their teacher gave them several secret codes to work out and he really liked this. At the end of the book there was another secret code to decipher. He asked me to check out more of this series from the library which I did yesterday. I love it when Z likes a book this much because I feel like we are always struggling with his reading so when he wants to read I'm happy.

I don't know how many of you know this but when R was a boy they had a pet raccoon. My understanding is that they read the book Rascal and then R's dad decided they needed a pet raccoon just like Rascal in the book. When R told this to Z the other day Z became excited by this so R ordered the book for them to read together. Of course Z loves reading it along with his dad because he loves anything he gets to do with his dad.

The kids have been loving the warmer weather and have outside riding their bikes everyday. They can't wait until we open the pool.

Finally Friday

It's been a busy week, but with kids, school, work and life it's always busy. Luckily even though we've been busy it hasn't been chaotic so I'm grateful. The kids are loving the "springish" weather and have been riding their bikes every day. I think we are all ready for spring and warm sunshine again.

R is thinking about taking the kids skiing tomorrow. The kids are excited to go since there are not very many more ski days left.

Next week is S's Blue Ribbon Week in school. She is the teacher's assistant and her responsibilities include; leading the pledge, line duty, office runs and any other other duties as required. She is very excited for this. Today we kick her special week off when I go into her classroom to tell a little about her, read a favorite book, bring pictures to share and work on a craft and play a game. I am reading Fancy Nancy Bonjour, Butterfly and then we are doing a butterfly craft (we have been big Fancy Nancy fans and love all the books).

The kids were asked to sing a song in Sacrament Meeting this Sunday with 2 other neighbor kids. We choose "We'll Bring the World His Truth" so we have been practicing all week. Z has never been a big singer due to his speech problems, singing goes so fast so he has always struggled with keeping up. I have to admit, he is doing great on this song and S is having a hard time remembering all the words.

I am happy the weekend has finally arrived.

Sunny Sunday

Our family went to church this morning and we were only a few minutes late. It's always scary with the time change when we have 9:00am church. A few weeks ago R and I joined the Marriage and Family Relations class and today's lesson was on communicating, very helpful for me.

My visiting teachers came over after church and delivered a message I needed to hear on making our homes a safe place from the world. After a fun visit Sis. Plazier even took Z's suit pants home to let them down a little so they won't be to short for Z anymore. What a wonderful act of service for me since I can't sew (except buttons, and yes I will one day sew your button dear, I promise).

This afternoon the sun was so bright that the kids begged Daddy to get their bikes down and they played outside for awhile. A even begged me to take her outside and she had so much fun scooting around. The wind eventually got chilly so we came inside but an hour it was fun to watch them ride bikes and enjoy the warmth.

Now we need to have family night and work on weekend homework. It's a busy week so I'm already anxious for next weekend.

SaturdayHappy Things

• R and I went out to dinner last night and we saw Thoroughly Modern Millie at Rodgers Memorial Theatre. The play was funny and we enjoyed it and I loved having my wonderful hubby to myself.
• R took the two older kids skiing today so it's just me and the Doddle home. I hope they are having fun.
• I watched Nights in Rodanthe and although the movie wasn't that great it was on my list and I watched it while the Doddle was napping.
• Dinner is in the crockpot and will be ready when the family comes home.
• I've been catching up on some reading today.
• I don't need to prepare a lesson for YW tomorrow.
• The sun is out and it's a nice day.

Funny Kid Stuff

Last night Z told me that his friend's older brother had to do his homework on the computer. Z then stated that it was because Utah was running out of paper.

This morning I made some juice and instead of using cold water I accidentally used hot/warm water. S came in and poured herself a glass of juice with ice. After about a minute she asked me how long ago she poured herself her juice. When I told her it was only a minute ago she stated "I have magical powers because me ice is almost melted." It was so cute and funny when I told her it was only because I made the juice with warmer water than normal. Maybe I should have let her believe that she had magical powers.

Sunday Sayings

As I was reading material for my YW lesson today I read a talk by President Monson and he said, “Choose your love; love your choice.” President Monson also stated that very often this will take compromise, forgiveness, perhaps apology but that we must be committed to the success of our marriage. The talk was actually about builing a "happy home" and the legacy of love in our homes. He directed us to open wide the windows of our hearts, that each family member may feel welcome and “at home" and to let us open also the doors of our very souls, that the dear Christ may enter.