Busy days began this week with Violet's ballet summer intensive courses. Adding a new dimension to our lazy summer days that have indeed been lazy, but still don't seem like summer here yet. Sheesh, you'd think we could have at least TWO days in a row of nice hot, sunny weather, but it doesn't appear to be in the cards for us Seattlites this year, argh!!! (Yes, I miss my Idaho heat and now I'll stop whining).
(Migrating Canada Geese from back in June)
In other news, we are in a really nice groove, here's run-down of what we are IN-TO:
Summer Reading ~
ME :: All the Rowan Jacobsen books. Loved The Living Shore and am in the middle of Fruitless Fall. Read about this one (and a few others) at the famous Bonny Glen . Jacobsen has sure got a knack for nature writing without being TOO politically correct, iykwim.
Oh, I also zipped through A Thomas Jefferson Education and really enjoyed it. Faith is leading a discussion at the Catholic Unschooling Yahoo list, so wanted to be able to follow, interesting and beneficial! Also quickly re-read The Well-Adjusted Child, a MUST read for anyone currently home-schooling, or considering it!!
VIOLET :: She has so many on her shelf, I'm not sure where to begin. She will most likely cover about 80% of that aforementioned reading challenge the kids all took upon themselves ;-) Anyhoo here's a few -- The Princess Bride, Surviving Hitler and a few other WWII related books, Shadow of the Bear (5+ stars on this one, we BOTH loved it), Fairest by Levine of Ella Enchanted, Road to Yesterday by L.M. Montgomery (she said she just HAD to re-read this one this summer).
MATTHIAS :: Lots of baseball oriented books going on here for him this summer. Some fun Dan Gutman's -- Banana Bats and Ding Dong Balls, Baseball's Greatest Games. Others are Baseball's Greatest Series (this is close to home as it is about our Seattle Mariners and the NY Yankees game of 1995) and also Home Run: The Definitive History of Baseball's Secret Weapon by David Vincent.
SEAMUS :: Enjoying the first few Brian Jacques books on his own for the first time. He loved Redwall and is listening to Mossflower on a Playaway. He also started Salamandaston, but had to return it to the library before he finished it. We've re-ordered it though and it should be on it's way soon.
Mommy note -- The deliciousness of seeing my children captivated by a new series or book, especially a book that is so special, is one of my hearts greatest desires.
Let's see, others he has recently read, Ichiro Suzuki: Best in the West, At the Plate With Ichiro (yes, he's one of our favorite players).
SEAN-PAUL :: Too many picture books to list, but we did just finish Freddy the Detective a funny story about a pig that is a barnyard detective ala Sherlock Holmes style, very 6-year oldish and funny. We just started Stuart Little, his first time through and of course he keeps remarking that "it isn't like that in the movie mommy", yeah I know ;-)
Summer Baking ~ We've enjoyed some super yummy baked goods this summer, mostly Violet-created. Of course we just had the Delish Summer Strawberry Scones, and our other favorite scone recipe is the Blueberry Drop Scones from The Big Book of Breakfast, so fast and easy. They can even be prepared the night before and baked off first thing in the morning.
We have been making alot of "Make-Your-Own-Pizzas" this summer as well. Everybody loves it and they get to put whatever they want on their own pizza, so alot less whining going on about what's for dinner (not that my kids EVER do that ;-) Our favorite pizza dough recipe comes from the Barefoot Contessa in Paris -- recipe here.
Okay so have you checked out Google+ yet??? I am in, we'll see how it pans out. For a NON-Facebooker, I am anxious to see how this measures up as a one-stop network. I DO like Google's approach so far and have been extremely pleased with Google Reader and Gmail, so we'll see....Many good posts about it at the Bonny Glen (ooh, 2 plugs in one day for her ;-)
(Our Allstar boy, we're so proud of him)
Goodreads ~ LOVE keeping track of my books read here. I especially love the comments and reviews features and have found many great book suggestions for myself and my kiddos over the past few years. Are you there?? I'd love to catch up with you :)
Summer Science ~ Volcanoes :: What, you don't have a Volcano in your backyard yet???
This was just after the eruption, very dramatic, however, me being an extremely LAME photographer, I totally missed it. But, you get the idea :) A couple of boys, some baking soda, food coloring and vinegar, you've got your afternoon figured out. You can thank me later :)
Would love to hear what ya'll are INTO this summer! We'll be doing the baseball tournament "thing" this weekend, enjoy yours whatever it may hold. Don't forget to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Saturday, a very special feast indeed! Many blessings to you!!
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