Summer Reading with Half Price Books

Do you know about the summer reading program at Half Price Books? For every reading log turned it, a child receives a $3 gift certificate with no minimum purchase necessary. Up to one log per week can be turned in. Logs are available at the front counter or at the website (look under Downloads). They ask that the child either read or be read to 15 minutes a day.

We've been enjoying our weekly outings to Half Price Books. Isabelle has even gotten books on her 6th grade reading list like The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Caddie Woodlawn, and Understood Betsy. Best of all, all those books were less than $3!!!

Its no secret I love books and Half Price books is my favorite hangout. I'm so happy I'm walking out of there without spending a dime.

Okay, maybe a few dimes or so have been spent.

Happy reading!

The Napping House

Summer swimming is slowly becoming a family tradition. This is our 3rd year now. While Isabelle and Anna do year-round swimming, summer team involves the entire family. I HAVE to go down to the pool and sit in the sun while Kolbe & Sophia practice/play. Catherine enjoys wading in the sun and Baby Veronica naps or smiles for the entire 1 1/2 hours.

While I'm not an outdoors type mom, I really want my kids outside as much as possible., And so, I've learned to enjoy parks and hot summer days at the pool. But I'll let you in on a secret.

The reasons I like my kids to be outside are for the peace and quiet I get when their exhausted bodies need a rest!! Ulterior motives, I've always got some! ;-)

BTW, I don't make my kids take naps in their beds. I have a "take a nap wherever you collapse" policy that has worked well for us the past 6 years or so. The sofa seems to be most every one's favorite place ... except Catherine. She prefers the floor or the stairs. I stress alot less when I let them sleep wherever they want. If they do take a nap in bed, its usally mine!!

I know, I know. Kids need a regular nap schedule in their own beds. I didn't always used to be like this. But now that the kids are getting older and I'm getting busier, nap time has slowly evolved into an on-need basis without any help from me.

My kids are pretty happy and well rested. If only I could go back and tell the mommy from my young-er years to chill out over nap time. I never would have believed over 10 years ago that I would be so laissez-faire about naps. NEVER!!! LOL!!

1st Summer Swim Meet

This past Saturday was our first neighborhood swim meet. My personal swim team has grown and I can now boast of 4 little fish: Isabelle, Anna, Sophia and Kolbe.

Here is our "honorary" swim team member, Catherine, who daily readies herself for playing in the baby pool:

Here is my newest swimmer, Kolbe!!! The first picture is him sporting his new goggles. The second is of him "upset" that he has to wear a cap. LOL!!

Isabelle swimming the butterfly:

One of these swimmers is not like the others

One of these swimmers just doesn't belong

Can you tell which swimmer is not like the others

By the time I finish my song?

Top left: Kolbe swimming freestyle. Middle Right: Anna swimming freestyle.

Bottom Center: Sophia swimming freestyle

*Actually he does belong!!

FOR CRAIG: Part 1

Today was the final day of a weeklong music camp at our church. The kids performed during mass and later held a mini concert for the parents. The theme was American Folk Music. Here are a *few* video clips (because I have TONS!!!). Craig, they were darling! ENJOY!

************************************************
This first one is Kolbe's class singing Hush Little Baby. Notice Kolbe's big toothless grin!!

Next is Kolbe singing his favorite song ... something Barnyard? I didn't quite catch the name.

Finally, Kolbe NOT singing She'll Be Going 'Round the Mountain. He was busy trying to give his Cousin J the 'Gig 'Em sign everytime he came around. That's about the extent of his attention span. Thankfully, it was also the last song.

******************************************

The girls were in the regular choir and sang over a dozen songs. I selected a few clips (i.e. those that I wasn't whispering threats to Kolbe or wobbling the camera too much. LOL!) to feature. I'll admit I had to use a little muscle (and some bribery associated w/ a book trip to B&N) to get Anna to participate. She finally conceded and did a GREAT job!! These clips are in order of length, not in order of performance.

*NOTE* I don't actually know the names of some of these songs.

Singing the Rio Grande.

Singing the Erie Canal

So Isabelle is a wonderful whistler. Unfortunately, I find whistling to be VERY annoying. I am often asking her to take her talent to another room or outside. Well, this week her whistling came in very handy!! She was only one of a handful of kids who could. Who knew her whistling would one day be needed!! LOL!! She was very proud!

Singing Old Dan Tucker and Turkey & the Straw ???

More clips to come, including the girls dancing the Virginia Reel ...... that's if its not too long and Blogger allows it.

Bluebonnets

Every year we take pictures of the children in Bluebonnets. These are our favorite pictures!!! Every year we drive back to the same Texas hillside! We've been taking these pictures since Isabelle was four. Its beautiful to see other families following this same tradition. You can even tell how recently another family has visited the same spot by the flattened circle among the flowers. We're always careful to follow the already-made paths among the bluebonnets so as not to ruin them for future visitors.

Law Breaker

We once told Isabelle and Anna that it was illegal to pick Bluebonnets since they were the state flower. We really thought this was so at the time. Well, they haven't forgotten. You can imagine the screaming that ensued when Catherine decided to break the law!