Running, Reading, Reclining

Hi all!  Not many updates this week-- I only have about three pics on my phone since last Wednesday's post.  The sign of busy times.  That's good, however, since I ate into my blogging time a little bit helping the girls try on their costumes-- they got their tap ones today and they are SO cute... hopefully I'll get a picture or video of those soon.  I forgot to bring my phone in with me when I dropped them off today.

Here's a giddy, sweaty running selfie from the other morning... the sun has been getting stronger and coming up earlier, and it makes me so happy to get out there and greet the day!!

Because we are already finishing some subjects in our homeschool (C is done with grade 3 social studies, and L is done with grade 5 science) we have been thinking of other "for fun" projects we might include in our year, and C has requested to do a Greek Mythology play like L did with her 3rd grade teacher in public school.  So I checked D'Auleire's Book of Greek Myths out of the library for inspiration, and L spent half the morning yesterday totally engrossed.  I had to pry her away from it to eat lunch.

 

I'm sure they will be coming up with some creative ideas for a play to act out pretty soon!  Perhaps Hercules, since it's one of their favorites?

Another book we have been loving lately is Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.  It has been recommended to me so many times by so many people, and since the waiting list at the library is ages long, I finally caved and spent the $8 to get it used on Amazon.  Absolutely worth every penny.  Highly, highly recommend that one if you have girls.  I think there are a couple sequels too so maybe we'll look for those next!

C also checked the cutest little book out of the library called The Very, Very Far North-- it's about a polar bear and all his animal friends, and the writing is simply adorable and so funny.  The tone is along the lines of Peter Rabbit or Winnie the Pooh.  Perfect for the 8-11 year old age bracket.  C wanted to read it to me last night-- we have been reading The Hobbit together for our nightly read-aloud, but last night she wanted to share this one with me, and I'm so glad she did.  C always wants to read with me at the end of the day (J, too!).  Despite the fact that they can both read on their own, they always want that together time with me right before bed.  I can understand it.  Our days are so packed with me running left and right helping people with school and then teaching my students, I can imagine that the girls feel the lack of one-on-one time.  And sadly, there are many days that I'm just too tired by 7PM and need my *own* alone time after being pulled in so many directions all day long.  But I try to at least give them 15-20 minutes of read-aloud time during our hour of reading time, and I hardly ever regret doing so.  Sharing stories and reading is one of my favorite parts of parenting.  Heart-eye emojis.

Speaking of reading, we very suddenly have a super reader on our hands!!!

I remember reading taking off with the other girls right around this age, too-- really crazy to think that I only just started her on Bob Books about six months ago, and she's already become so fluent... and so expressive in her reading aloud!  I love it!  I realize this is a Mama brag, but I'm not really taking credit here-- like I say, it happened this way with all my girls that around a certain age it just clicked and they became obsessed with reading everything in sight.  It's such a privilege to watch it happen.

Lastly, a video of J practicing violin, laying down... she has a little wart on her foot that has been bothering her, and during her practice today she decided she was just done standing.  I remembered I had a violin teacher that let me play laying down one time when I was tired and I got the biggest kick out of that.  When I suggested it J was SO into it.  Not her best performance, but it was fun...

That's all I have time for today!  See you next week :)