Books and Reading

I found this on another blog and I had to play! When you use these things where you answer someone else's questions on blogs it is called a "meme" I don't know why...but Meme is what my kids call my mother, so I will never be calling these things memes...I will however frequently play along. Here's one about something I've been doing a lot of lately...


1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
My 4th grade teacher, Miss Chinigo, read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to our class and then I read most of the other Judy Blume books after that, she is still one of my favorites!

2. What are some books you read as a child? Are you There God it's Me Margaret is probably still my favorite book of all time (and it is almost time to have Madi read it), all Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary books.

3. What is your favorite genre? I think realistic fiction with some love in it like Nicholas Sparks, but not "romance novels".

4. Do you have a favorite novel? how about a favorite series? Pretty much each Nicholas Sparks book becomes my new favorite.

5. Where do you usually read? All over, on the bed, couch, recliner, outside in the shade, sometimes the car...where ever I can.

6. When do you usually read? Whenever I can.

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time? Usually one for myself and one or more that I am reading aloud to the kids.

8. Do you read non-fiction in a different way or place than you read fiction? Usually with nonfiction (like parenting or homeschooling books or magazines) I skip around and don't read the whole thing.

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library? I get most of them from the library for myself, but spend a lot of time at yard sales and places that sell used books to buy books for the kids (I've recently picked up the same books numerous times (two Betsy-Tacy, two Mouse and the Motorcycle, two Prince Caspian)...I'm always looking for good books, but obviously forget which ones I've already gotten). Of course we still get tons of kids' books at the library also.

10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? Yes, if I've bought it, I want to keep it, unless we already have it (see #9) then I give it away.

11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child? Yes, Jonathan and Madi have each read some Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary (Madi is working her way through the Ramona books right now...in addition to other books). Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing was the first chapter book I read to them when they were little, and It was also the first one I read to Jake, just recently when he knocked his teeth out. Also Jake loves Stone Soup and I remember reading it and putting on a play of it in third grade. Also Mike Mulligan and other Virginia Lee Burton books are favorites of my kids and I remember them from childhood. Of couse Laura Ingalls Wilder.

12. What are you reading now? I just started Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson last night, I might just finish it today. We also finished reading aloud the last two Kit books yesterday, just before we went to the movie (FYI the movie was very different from the books--both good though). The kids and I will start Where the Red Fern Grows aloud today.

13. Do you keep a TBR (To Be Read) list? Like most of my lists it is in my head.

14. What's next? Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.

15. What books would you like to reread? I am a rereader, but right now I've got too many first time books on my mental list.

16. Who are your favorite authors? Nicholas Sparks, Judy Blume, Jodi Picoult, Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson (the heartwarming ones like Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, not the dark scarey ones), Jan Karon, Mitch Albom, Richard Paul Evans, Beverly Cleary, Laura Ingalls Wilder

Videos

Because of our current computer issues around here, I'm going to cheat and send you to Tiffany's blog for some Wizard of Oz videos. You can also go here for more pictures.

To participate in The Simple Woman's daybook go here.

FOR TODAY July 14,...
Outside My Window...Hazy sunshine.
I am thinking...about how great the weekend was...the play was so amazing as was our visit with Mike's mother.
I am thankful for...my kids.
From the kitchen...not sure, some kind of chicken I think.
I am wearing...denim shorts and a lavender-ish shirt.
I am creating....a happy home, I hope!
I am going...to take Jonathan to his golf tournament later today, but in general we'll be home more thnt lately because of no Theatre this week.
I am reading...a book about an Amish girl named Sarah (the girl and the title of the book), not sure who the author is.
I am hoping...we will be able to get the house neat and organized again, it got away from us this weekend.
I am hearing...Jonathan's radio on Z 88 (still need to use his computer, we've done nothing yet about replacing ours).
Around the house...The kids have been doing a ton of performing, Jake and Madi wrote and perfomed a full blown puppet show last weekend, on Friday night Jonathan, Madi and Jake performed their own version of a Veggie Tales "silly song countdown" for Grandma Marge, and Jake has been doing his own Wizard of Oz, usually playing all of the parts complete with a scarecrow hat, red ruby slippers, a cape and broom for the witch, and a funnel and turkey baster (AKA oil can) for the tin man. This week we have Madi's friend Anjali, another performer added to the mix.
One of my favorite things...watching my kids on stage.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Finishing reading aloud the Kit books, so we can go see the movie tomorrow night, probably the beach and sleeping at Meme and Grampa Carlie's on Wed, taking Anjali to the airport on Friday, and hoping the kids and I don't forget to feed our friends' fish while they are on vacation.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

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Opening Night

Well opening night has now come and gone and what a magical night it was! Madi was so beautiful, and she made a perfect Dorothy! I held it together until the curtain closed, then I cried my head off! My heart felt ready to explode!! Here are some pictures.

This is from our 2nd annual homeschool exhibition from 2 weeks ago. Now that I'm finally getting some videos on here I have some catching up to do. Toto is being played by Grace a friend and fellow homeschooler, both here and on Saturday night.

Some of Jake's favorite things all rolled into one...singing, dancing, performing, and baseball. Madi got to help out with Jake's class so she is in this too. I made her shirt today with the help of my friend "hillsidehollow".