Five For Fun

We had another great week of Five For Fun books. Abi is really enjoying our "fun" read alouds. First up was Henry's Amazing Machine by Dayle Ann Dodds. Henry is a unique little guy who starts "putting things together" as a baby. As he grew so did his "machine". He has "whirling things, twirling things, zipping things, zapping things, thunking things, slipping, sliding, dunking things." But what do all these things do? We think that his amazing machine will surprise you as much as it did his parents, neighbors, and well..everyone!

Tuesday's read was Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola. It is a story that is based on his own childhood experiences. Every Sunday he goes over to his grandmother's house and says "hello" to his grandmother, Nana Downstairs, who is always in the kitchen, and then runs up the back stairs to say "hello" to his great-grandmother, Nana Upstairs, who is 94 years old and mostly bedridden. Then one day his mom tells him that Nana Upstairs has died. The story then follows his grief at losing his great-grandmother. As he looks out of his window one starry night he sees a shooting star and says that reminds him of where Nana Upstairs is now. When he is an adult his Nana Downstairs passes away and he remembers that both of his Nana's are now Nana Upstairs. It was an ok story but it didn't specifically mention anything about Jesus or Heaven, so personally I think there are better stories out there for helping children cope with loss.

Wednesday was Swimming with Dolphins by Lambert Davis. This is a great story about a little girl and her mom that live on an island that go out on the beach early in the morning to wait for the dolphins. Then they put on masks and snorkels to swim with these gentle creatures. The illustrations in the book were beautiful and it really did feel like we were swimming right along with them. The author also includes some factual information on the last page which is great for science/nature study.

Thursday brought us to Thanks a Lot Emily Post by Jennifer LaRue Huget. This funny story is written from the thoughts of the children when mom brings home a little blue book written by Emily Post. Everything was just fine until the book showed up. Now it was "Emily Post This" and "Emily Post That". No more slumping in the chairs & no more shouting. Then a plan hatches. Will the children finally triumph over Emily Post? You might be surprised.

We ended the week with The Great Nursery Rhyme Disaster by David Conway. Just what would happen if Little Miss Muffet got tired of sitting on her tuffet and decided she wanted to try out another nursery rhyme? Find out what happens as she travels from page to page trying to be what she is not. Will she find a good fit in the shoes of someone else or will chaos reign. Why did she want to leave her rhyme anyway? Oh yeah.......

Well Abi's pick this week was Swimming With Dolphins. "Why? I asked". Her answer: "because I wish I could really do that." Good enough for me. I thought that my pick would have been Thanks a Lot Emily Post until we got to Friday. I guess it spoke to me on a deeper level. Enjoy where you are spiders and all. Ok..I'm not into the spider part but learning to accept what God has planned for my life even with the little annoyances that come is a valuable truth to learn and pass on to our children. (The book didn't include that theme but was dropped into my heart by the Holy Spirit). We hope you find something great to read this week. Please share your finds with us by leaving a comment. Blessings- Jodi-Marie & Abi

Five For Fun

Our first book this week was My Great Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston. Arizona was born in a log cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We find out all the things Arizona loves to do: sing, dance, and eat maple sugar candy. But more than anything Arizona wants to be a teacher. You'll have to read the book to find out if her dream comes true and just where did she get a name like Arizona anyway! 

Next up was the Pumpkin Runner by Marsha Diane Arnold. This is a neat story about a old Australian rancher named Joshua Summerhayes. All the other ranchers in the area are getting jeeps to check on their herds but not Joshua-he likes to run...with yellow dog trailing behind. One day Joshua decides to enter a 900 kilometer race and the grand prize is $10,000. Some crazy things happen along the way but will the race end in victory for Joshua? The story has a pretty amazing ending and it is based on a true story to boot!

On Wednesday we read Morning Glory Monday by Arlene Alda. It is a delightful story of an immigrant family from Italy living in a Tenement in the 1930's. Life in the big city of New York could be difficult and Mama was very homesick for her village in Italy and nothing could cheer her up. One day, Papa decided to take our young heroine to Cony Island for some fun where she wins a "booby prize". Will this prize help to cheer Mama up and take away the homesickness she feels? This story was inspired by a real event that took place on 47 Orchard Street on New York's Lower East Side.

Do Viking's get seasick? This silly tale, Hiccup the Seasick Viking by Cressida Cowell, introduces us to a lonely little Viking named Hiccup. He is nothing like the other Viking's who were big and strong and brave. Hiccup was small and polite and frightened by just about everything. But most of all he was afraid of going to sea. His father Stoick the Vast tells him he can't be afraid of going to sea because "Vikings don't get frightened". Will Hiccup go off to sea? Will he come back alive?Read this and you may just find a brave little Viking after all.

Book number five was Quiet in the Garden by Aliki. In this story we follow a little boy and his rabbit into his favorite spot-the garden. If we sit quietly we will see and hear all the wonderful things nature has in store. It is a wonderful place to have a picnic with some hungry friends....a rabbit...a bird...and....

Abi's top pick for the week was....you guessed it..Hiccup. It think the silliness won her over. My favorite was Morning Glory Monday. I think the ending won me over...or was it Italians from New York City? Have a happy week...and read!

Welcome Back

A wild Assateague Pony

I decided to title this post Welcome Back. You may be asking "who are you welcoming back?" I am actually welcoming myself back to my blog today. The last time I posted to my blog was May 18th. In some respects is seems like so long ago and yet it I am shaking my head asking where did the time go? I spent my summer wrapped up in our oldest daughter's wedding plans for August 27th. That included sewing 5 bridesmaids dresses, matching vests for groomsmen and ring bearers, table centerpieces, wedding favors, a wedding cake, and all of the food which ended in split second decision to have the wedding on the rehearsal night. Thank you hurricane Irene! And let's not forget the earthquake in Virginia that happened on the 23rd of August, which we felt! In the midst of all this, tried to do all we could to support our dear family friends as they walked through a battle with cancer that ended with an amazing man going on to his heavenly home in glory. You can read her story of love, heartbreak, courage, and strength beginning with the June Archives on her blog: www.lookslikeabiblelessontome.blogspot.com   God has taught us all so much this summer. So with a fresh new blog background welcoming my favorite season I am glad to be back to sharing our "Art-full" days. Our first day of school was September 12th. We celebrated with a quick trip (Daddy had to be back at work at 2:00) to the beach to collect shells and see the ponies. As we got out of the car, I over heard Abigail (6) say, in a relieved voice, "I was so scared to start school today!" "Of what?" I chuckled to myself: your teacher? missing the bus? forgetting you locker combination? making friends?  The beauties of homeschooling. I am so thankful that my children will not have to experience those all too real fears that shaped my personality as a young person. This school year Abi has asked to still do our "Five For Fun" books so I will again post our finds. Last year I did pretty well with my 52 books in 52 weeks challenge- let's just say I am probably not going to hit 52 reads this year but I will pick this up again and post what I read from here on out. Last but not least- I really enjoyed reading Volume 6 of Charlotte Mason's Philosophy of Education and posting my "narrations". This year I have been led to read through and apply the treasures in "Laying Down the Rails" by Sonya Shafer. I have a feeling that this is going to be an "ouch hallelujah" (a term that our youth group coined for a lesson or principle that the Lord is teaching you that might hurt at first but bring a wonderful reward.) kind of learning for me and hopefully Abi as well.  

Nonna and Abi searching for shells