Year End Wrap Up!

I saw this on Tib's blog last year and LOVED how simple and concise it was at re-capping the year, yet I never followed through with completing it myself. So, I am taking the bull by the horns this year and FINISHING it! Only problem is, this year was ALL ABOUT BABY for us, so the answers are pretty redundant, not as exciting as my 2008 re-cap might have been, but still a re-cap. So, without further adieu-in all it's glory-2009!

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Ate NUTELLA! I am so in love:)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I made PROGRESS towards some new year's resolutions but did not reach my overall goals in any of the problem areas of my life. My resolutions were things like: live in the moment, treasure the little things, drop the guilt etc. etc. Like I said, I made baby steps but still have a LONG way to go. This year I am already getting a jump start on going further with those goals with the help of this super fun book that came in the mail yesterday. I am hoping that this will help me break some old habits and set some new standards for greatness for me and my family!

I also am going to continue the tradition of picking a Word of the Year -I did this last year (I don't think I ever posted ANYTHING about it, but I thought of it often). I was amazed at how many times my word would pop into my head at difficult or overwhelming moments and it calmed me. My word for 2009 was: cherish. This year, my word will be: SEIZE. As in SEIZE the Day or SEIZE the moment. This will be my year to GET it DONE and quit procrastinating. It is my ONLY resolution because I think everything else will fall into place if I can get a grip on this one stumbling block of mine.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

YES! Some extended family, some friends, and FINALLY-me (hallelujah)!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Sadly, I did attend one funeral this year. A fellow co-worker and friend.

5. What countries did you visit?

Never left the United States. Hardly left St. George.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

More sleep and the ability to fit into my regular pants (as opposed to maternity and/or larger sized pants).

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

May 14th. Brayden made his debut!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Bringing a healthy boy into the world and conquering breastfeeding!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not being able to keep up on all the housework, to do lists, quality time with family etc. etc. without losing my cool.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not really. Just battled the little bout of baby blues that I always get after I have my babies. The only difference this time was that I was more aware of it, confronted it head on, came to terms with the fact that it is a hormone adjustment thing for me, and found ways to deal with it as best I could!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Um, the Bemis Easy Change Toilet Seat. I know, strange answer. Especially considering the fact that we bought a new vehicle this year too (our beloved Toyota Sienna which we love), but seriously-this toilet seat is amazing! It has changed my life:) Obviously, a woman with sons must have invented this. It is completely removable/washable and it makes me giddy every time I clean it:) Brilliant and WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF IT FIRST??? And, if YOU own one, why didn't you tell me about it before 2009???

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Steve- He is truly the most patient, amazing person.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

A few celebrities come to mind, Adam Lambert, Tiger Woods, The Gosselins etc. etc. Thankfully, no one that is close to me.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Brayden, Brayden, Brayden. And he was worth every PENNY, PENNY, PENNY!!!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Anything new having to do with being a mother to a newborn again. I was excited to wash the newborn clothes, get his room ready, go into the hospital to give birth, introduce him to his brothers, bring him home from the hospital, give him his first bath (you get the idea)!

16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?

Let's see, I will pick three:

Taylor Swift, Love Story This was on the radio virtually every time we were in the car. I have memories of Lewis, Conner and me singing at the top of our lungs on the way to school in Beaver Dam EVERY DAY!

Miley Cyrus, The Climb I am not a Miley fan but I have to admit, there were a couple of occasions this year when my baby was screaming for long stretches of time and I would pack him up into his car seat to go for a drive and this song would be on the radio. It actually lifted me up and helped me DEAL with that challenging moment. So, thank you Miley.

And then, for sure: Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling Just my favorite "feel good" song of the year.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier. We have so much to be thankful for and everything we could have wished for.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. I have about 10 pounds to get off/or turn into lean muscle mass!
c) richer or poorer? Both. Richer; In friends and family. Poorer; monetarily. We have less money coming in now and we spent way too much money on Christmas this year. Whatever happened to the days when kids were giddy about getting a stocking with an orange and a fist full of peanuts???

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Sleeping and sleeping.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Complaining and worrying.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Refer to the Christmas post below.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Yes. With my new babe!

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Sadly, I watched WAYYYYYY more T.V. this year due to the large amounts of time I spent camped in front of the tube nursing my baby. Even more sad perhaps is that my favorite shows were the Today Show (with Hoda and KLG) and Dr. Oz type shows. The Kathy Lee Gifford thing is REALLY a shocker to me. She used to bug me to death. I think that is partly why I started watching. Now she is a guilty pleasure to watch and I love to hear her voice her opinions about things.

I guess I just have never had a chance to experience these types of shows before, with being a working girl, so this has been new to me and I have grown to enjoy the little tid bits of info. I get from watching these shows. I have been guilty of holding off my ravenous child for a few extra minutes to be sure I am feeding him during a prime T.V. hour (one that would include either the Oz man or Kathy Lee Gifford). I know, so pathetic.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I have no room in my life for hate. There are people I dislike but I just don't include them in my sphere. Hate is a worthless emotion.

24. What was the best book you read?

I really thought that THIS year was going to be my year to get back into books. At the beginning of 2009, I had been TWO years without my beloved book clubs and had gotten out of the reading habit. Unfortunately for me, it has been harder to get BACK INTO it than I thought it would be. I set the bar high by trying to do the FIFTY Book Challenge. A few days ago, I updated my Goodreads shelf and sadly, I only made it half way to my goal. Also, MOST of the books I did read were NON-Fiction! I just couldn't seem to get into the "novel" groove, even with great titles like, The Hunger Games and A Thousand Splendid Suns sitting atop my night stand (both books have gotten RAVE reviews).

So, having said all that and scanning through my Goodreads book shelf, I'd have to say that the BEST book I read this year, was the memoir by Jeannete Walls called, The Glass Castle. It was riveting and a true story of hope and resilience.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Sia, thanks Jen! Love her!

26. What did you want and get?

A healthy baby.

A happy family.

Some contentment.

27. What did you want and not get?

Some sleep. Sigh.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I haven't seen The Blind Side yet, but I have a feeling that will top whatever I put on here right now. But, for 2009, I guess the best movie was: Julie and Julia. I know, weird choice, but I didn't see a lot of movies and that one is fresh in my mind and was so inspiring to me. I love when a movie can pleasantly surprise you, which is what this one did. I wasn't expecting much, but ended up loving it and wanting to see the bonus features on the DVD (which are worth watching). I love that the women in this movie had ideas in their little brains and used them to turn their lives around for the better. I also enjoy well written movies and I thought it was so clever (very Sleepless in Seattle-ish) how the two life stories were intertwined so beautifully. Plus, Meryl Streep: amazing!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 33 this year, I think. Is that right? I have gotten lazy about keeping track. I was born in '76, so you do the math. Anyway, my b-day was on a Sunday and it was all about relaxing and enjoying the day peacefully with family. Just a pleasant day.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I wish I could say nothing because my year was AMAZING and so fulfilling. But I'd have to say, my year could have been much more satisfying minus the ugly cloud of depression that plagued so many days. It is debilitating and ridiculous. It's so strange to be the happiest you've ever been and at the same time get so overly annoyed and crazy over little, stupid things that really don't matter. Again, hormones are not my friend, but the clouds have lifted and life is looking beautiful again:)

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Oh goodness. So very sad. So trying to cover all the flabby areas with whatever is in the closet that will cover it. So trying to look polished and professional in clothes that don't fit quite right. So not wanting to spend money on bigger clothes but not wanting to look silly in the too small duds. A no-win situation really.

2009 was a blur of borrowed maternity clothes, husband's closet raids, and clearance rack specials. Not really my best fashion year (not that I have ever had a good one). Definitely not my best.

32. What kept you sane?

Keeping a routine and saying "NO"! Also, I have to say that I turned to food quite a bit this year, mostly chocolate. Hence the sad fashion sitch.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I don't know if I fancied any celebrities. I really admired Taylor Swift this year though. She is such a talent powerhouse!

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Healthcare.

35. Who was the best new person you met?

Brayden Taylor Peterson. Of course!

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

Never give up.

37. What are you looking forward to in 2010?

12 year anniversary with my sweetheart.
Conner turning 8.
Finishing some unfinished projects.
Remodeling bathrooms.
Reading more books.
Getting more organized and content.
Girl's Camp.
Family vacations.
Spending lots of time with friends and family.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

It is a tie between these two:

Oh, I just can't get enough.
How much do I need to fill me up?
It feels so good it must be love.
It's everything that I've been dreaming of

I give up, I give in, I let go, let's begin
'Cause no matter what I do,
My heart is filled with you.

-Colbie Caillat, You Got Me

Happiness is just outside my window
Would it crash blowing 80-miles an hour?
Or is happiness a little more like knocking
On your door, and you just let it in?

-The Fray, Happiness

Okay! That was 2009! Looking forward to a FABULOUS 2010! BTW. Are you saying it- "Two-thousand-ten" or "Twenty-ten" ? Just wondering.

Burrito Baby

Well, this has been a new experience for me. I have never had a TRUE burrito baby before! Lewis and Conner enjoyed the "swaddle" for the first couple weeks of life if I recall correctly, but after that, I never really thought about it much. Brayden has been a whole different story! He definitely knows how to fuss a little and we realized from the get go, that we needed to do something to help the little guy out! I read the book, "The Happiest Baby on the Block", by Harvey Karp, because I remember watching him on Oprah a few years back. I thought to myself, "I am going to buy that book the next time I have a baby." And I am so glad I did! It ended up having the "secret" to Brayden's happiness. The author talks about swaddling and why it is so comforting and beneficial for babies ages 0-3 months old. We noticed a difference right away. When Brayden isn't completely bundled like a little burrito, he is "Mr. Fussy Gussy." He immediately pipes down as soon as we swaddle him and just seems so much more comfortable that way. We have had some issues with this funny little fetish of his. HE is EXTREMELY strong, has been since before birth actually (he moved and flipped so much he tied three strong knots in his umbilical cord)! His arms kept coming out of the swaddle and he kept scratching himself or hitting himself in the face and waking up from his naps. No matter how tight or precise we would wrap him, he would break free and he never was happy about it (like you would assume he would be!)! The fact is, he loves to be wrapped up tight! So, one night out of desperation, I found a terry cloth headband in a drawer and it held the swaddle together perfectly! Now, we use the headband every night and before his long naps. I also found some commercial swaddling blankets with built in Velcro straps, but he is growing SOOOOOOOO fast, he has already outgrown them! My favorite was the brown one with the feet sewn into it so he could be strapped into his car seat appropriately. I am sad that he is too big for that one now. I might have to break out the sewing machine and make a few of my own! I keep trying to "ween" him from this swaddling business, but he doesn't seem quite ready to let it go altogether. He is getting longer stretches of time between needing to be swaddled, so I am sure he will not go off to kindergarten swaddled up, but it has crossed my mind! He really does LOVE being my burrito baby!

50 Book Challenge

So, I am stoked that I am finally on the book bandwagon. I was getting nervous there as the months rolled along and I was getting NOTHING read and I wouldn't be able to read 50 books by the end of the year. I am convinced it will be doable now. It is soooo enjoyable to have time to READ for fun these days! Working full time REALLY puts a damper on the reading of books. Somehow my mom manages to do it though? I just had too many things to juggle and could NOT get into a book no matter how hard I tried! I did read my fair share of educational materials and text books for teaching! I am glad to set all those aside now and get back into some good old fashioned novels!

So far, I have been able to check a few books off of the book list I posted back in the day (click here).

I think I need to keep a running tab on the books I have read for this year, so I am going to make a list in my Good Reads box on my side bar. I know some of you are doing the challenge and have read some of the books from the list. Let me know which ones are worth reading and which ones to skip. I got the list from the Shelfari Website a while back.. I also want to know which books to add if you've read something awesome lately.

I have had a hard time getting into some of the books from the list. I think I am still in a "non-fiction" or biography kind of mood right now. I have tried to start "The Hunger Games" but it is not jiving with me. I have a hard time with Sci Fi type stuff. Steve just finished it and said it was so good but isn't sure I am even going to like it. I will keep trying though 'cause everyone says it's amazing!

The 50 Book Challenge!

The 50 Book Challenge!
I completely stole this entire post off of my friend's website. I have been looking for a great new year's resolution and I think this will be it. My life is SOOOO different than it was two years ago. Two years ago, I was a part of two book clubs and read all the time. Now the only reading I do is informational type reading for school or lame magazine reading for "vegging"! So, I am going to take this 50 book challenge and see how far I get! This information is available on the Shelfari website.
When asked about the new Amazon Kindle product, Steve Jobs CEO of Apple computer had this to say: “It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore,” he said. “Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.”
Basically .... the challenge is to read 50 books in one year. Or...establish a goal for yourself it's up to you.

The books the Shelfari staff loved in 2007:
1. Harry Potter the final - 15 votes 2. The Kite Runner - 12 votes 3. A Thousand Splendid Suns - 11 votes 4. Twilight - 5 votes 4. The Thirteenth Tale - 5 votes

With 4 votes each:Water For Elephants, The Road, The Red Tent, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Middlesex, Eat, Pray, Love

With 3 votes each:Eclipse, My Sister's Keeper, Suite Francaise, Shadow of the Wind, The Lovely Bones, Jane Eyre, His Dark Materials (plus 3 honorable mentions), The Glass Castle, Girl With the Pearl Earring, Darkly Dreaming Dexter

With 2 votes each:19 Minutes, Black Swan Green, Dogs of Babel, Heart-Shaped Box, In the Woods, Into the Wild, Kafka on the Shore, On Chesil Beach, The Book Thief, The Memory Keepers Daughter, The Stolen Child, No Country for Old Men, Marley and Me, New Moon

This will SERIOUSLY be a challenge for me, but I am up for it! Happy Reading!!!

Two is for

the TWO chapter books Conner read in one day! Finally this kid has some confidence in his reading ability. FINALLY this kid is enjoying reading and doing it without me having to twist his arm. He was so cute about those first two Magic Tree House books. Everytime I turned around, he had his little nose in the book. In the car, in between turns with the game cube, during meals! He was so funny. I was actually impressed he made it through ONE of them, but he kept on goin'! I credit most of his desire to make it through a chapter book to that cute little summer camp we did this past couple weeks. I sent the kids home with a book in a bag, a reading list and a flashlight every night. They were supposed to "flashlight" read their books and sign them off and get a new one the next day. One little boy chose a Magic Tree House every time and read it in one day and brought it back the next. He did twice as many book reports as anyone else and I think Conner (and his competitive nature) didn't like not being number one! I seriously think that is why he was motivated to read those two books! Who cares what his motives are though?! He finally realized that he CAN read chapter books and it's a fun thing to do! Hallelujah!

GREAT Read!

Steve stumbled upon a great book the other day at Barnes and Noble. Our family was wandering around the store, just browsing and I spotted Steve trying to contain his laughter while he was looking at this book:



It is a book written for about a middle school aged person, but adults can definitely relate! Hilarious would be an understatement and it is a New York Times #1 Best Seller. What more could you want from a book? I can't wait to pass it on to my twelve year old brother-he's gonna love it! It is the first of a trilogy of "Diary" books about Greg. I can't wait to pick up the second one and laugh some more!

Favorite FIVE of the Week!

This week was all about SURVIVAL! Steve and I had a grueling summer class that we needed to take and it required us to sit in a classroom everyday for 6-7 hours (minus Tuesday that we took off for Conner's birthday-don't think we got out of the homework assignments though)! I'm gonna have to chat with that principal of mine and ask him about all these classes and trainings I've been having to participate in this summer! MAN! Talk about a ton of work! Actually, Steve had to take this one too, so I'm sure there was nothing that could have been done! It better be worth it though! Thank heavens we are done! Here are some of the highlights from our week that made it all bearable:

5- Family, Friends and BOOKS! Thanks to all of our awesome family members and friends who were willing to let our boys hang out with them this week while Steve and I had our noses to the books. Our kids had a blast swimming, riding bikes, playing video games and basically hanging out with all of you! Thanks for showing them such a great time! Also, can I just mention that my husband is a genius! He set up the best "Summer Book Program" for our boys. It has been coming in especially handy with me being on the computer so much, typing papers for my classes (Steve only had to take the one class, I have two). The kids just "hang out" behind me reading books and checking them off their lists while I slave away. Steve challenged the boys to read 50 books this summer. Lewis actually wanted to do 100 so we typed up his list with 100 books on it, but a lot of them are chapter books, so we'll see. He is totally motivated to do it though, I wouldn't be surprised if he actually makes it there. Anyway, this was so easy to set up and our boys love it. We just went around the house and let the boys choose any books they wanted to and put them in a tote. We typed up the list and as they finish a book, they have Steve or me sign it off. They put their finished books in another tote and the goal is to fill it up each week. We have emptied it a couple of times already and they are reading through their books pretty steadily. It's been especially great since Steve and I have had to do so much reading of our own lately! I guess it's like they say, the family that reads together. . .



4- Conner's Baseball Party! Seriously. My boys have the most AWESOME baseball coach EVER! He arranged for the team to walk on to the field with the Roadrunner's (our local baseball team) during their game Monday night as part of their season finale party! They had a cute little awards ceremony at Coach Todd's house first (where Conner received a trophy and the award for "fastest runner") and then met at the field to line up with the pros! Conner (#11) walked on with his buddy Hayden and the center field guy #29. It was darling to watch and the kids had a blast! They spent the rest of the night running around the stadium, chasing Reggy the Roadrunner and driving him completely batty I'm sure! I'm not sure if the Roadrunners won the game (we left around the fourth inning -umm, homework!) but it was an absolute GREAT time! Also, come July 4th, we get to do it all over again for Lewis! WOO HOO! Coach Todd Rocks!

3- Father and Son Home Run Challenge! During the baseball game, Lewis and Steve were chosen to do the "Father and Son Home Run Challenge" which was essentially, Lewis hitting the ball off of the T and then wherever it landed, Steve hat to hit from that point and try to knock it out of the field. I think they both did a fine job. It really did look as though it might go over the wall, only about two feet short actually. What would they have won if it did? Apparently, a signed baseball from the team. Instead, we got two free passes to the cheap seats next time we're up for a game of baseball! Maybe my men will get a chance to redeem themselves!

2- Lewis' first Pack Meeting. I am proud of "Lew Dog" for making it to Bobcat rank so quickly! He learned all his stuff this week with Steve and was ready for his award by Thursday night. The pack meeting was fun (minus all the kooky cheers and salutes they made us do) and we all got to take home a raffle prize! Woo Hoo! So far, Scouts has been great for Lewis and he is excited to work on his goals every day!

1- Craw Fish Boil Part 2- Steve had been wanting to take the boys crawdad fishing for awhile. Finally he just dropped everything and loaded the boys up and headed out to the lake yesterday. They were gone for a few hours and as soon as they got home they started boiling the poor things up! Steve ate them all, Conner was actually more scared of them cooked then when they were alive! Maybe he was afraid Steve would make him eat them! No chance! Steve ate them all and surprisingly enough, he is still alive! From the looks of the pictures, I guess they had a good time!

Bonus Fave:
Click HERE to see the "So You Think You can Dance" Dance of the Week!

On the Table

I only have FIVE more days of school to go! I cannot believe it. I am torn. I am pretty much WORN out and need a good dose of summer relaxing, but I am going to MISS these kids soooooooooooo much! I have never had a group of kids so hungry for love and attention as these. I get about a million hugs (and sometimes KISSES) a day and I might go into withdrawals without my daily dose of being NEEDED so badly. Also, I am going to miss the excitement of our days and the fun that is involved with being a part of the learning environment. The planning and preparing of fun activities for the kids to do is one of the reasons I love teaching. I am also going to miss sharing my favorite stories with the kids. This week, I set up the table twice. We had a fun little "color review" day, so I put out my favorite color stories. We have also been wrapping up our unit on animals, so I set out some of the best (and most entertaining) animal stories that I had on my shelf. Here is what was on the table this week. . .
AMAZING ANIMALS
There are a billion, gazillion stories about animals, but I wanted to choose stories that really got the kids involved. All of these stories create laughing moments but also get the kids talking. "What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?" is a really fun guessing book that also fills you in on some of the crazy facts about how animals can do amazing things. Super cute artwork in that one too. Then, two of my favorite "dog" stories, "Officer Buckle and Gloria" and "Just Dog" remind us why dogs are man's best friend. I love how "Counting Crocodiles" gets the kids counting and then, "Chicks and Salsa", just a very funny story.
COLOR BOOKS
"The Crayon Box that Talked" doubles as a sweet story about "team work" and "A Color of HIs Own" is a good story about being happy with who you are. Also, you can't teach kids about "mixing colors" without "White Rabbit's Color Book." I also LOVE how "My Crayons Talk" introduces kids to the idea that colors can evoke feelings.

On the Table

Kevin Henkes CollectionIf you have not yet dabbled in the world of Kevin Henkes, I am telling you now, you're missing out! He has written some of the sweetest, most clever books around! My favorite being Owen (which I could not find on my shelf today for this picture) but I know it's around somewhere. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse was the first of his books that I read and I loved it so much that I was thrilled to discover that he has written so many more (there are more than what I have pictured here, like Sheila Rae the Brave and Owen's Marshmallow Chick). I just love how this author/illustrator captures the absolute essence of being a child and a part of the family unit. His stories have wonderful messages and are packed with great characters that everyone can relate to. I also love how the characters spill over into the different books. In one story, Chester's Way, Chester and Wilson are the main characters and Lily is the new girl in town. Then, in Lily's Purple Plastic Purse, she takes over as the lead. She also stars in "Julius the Baby of the World" which is about Lily becoming a big sister and the trials that come with that. Oh, you just HAVE to read them all! I am not sure which is first, next, last etc. I should find out. It would be a really fun "On the Table" day in our class to read each of the Kevin Henkes books in the order they were written. So fun!

On the Table

My favorite part of the school day is definitely the time right after recess and right before lunch. It is our designated, uninterrupted STORY TIME! It lasts about 20 minutes and it is the one time of day where I feel I can sit back, relax and just enjoy the kids, the words, the pictures, the books! I can't tell you how many times I have sat in my chair, turned those pages and have just been completely enthralled in the story, loving that the kids are FINALLY hanging on my every word and completely FOCUSED. I love that as I am reading I can gaze out the window across the room and see our country's flag waving proudly in the breeze atop the nearby hill. It just makes me feel so content and happy to have this time with the kids and to be so blessed to teach where I do. One thing that I started doing, a while back, is putting five or six books on the table by the circle time rug. Then, I choose the "quietest listener" to pick the next book that we read. We usually make it through three or four books before we have to wash up for lunch. It has been fun for me to pick out stories that I want my kids to hear or books that go along with the particular theme we are studying, but sometimes it is fun to let the kids choose the books off the shelves and see what interests them. Lately I have been doing the latter and it has been so fun to see them put their "favorites" back out on the table over and over again! Yes, sometimes I do get a little tired of reading "Miss Nelson is Missing" every single day, (I do a really SCARY 'Miss Viola Swamp' voice, that is a little bit taxing on the throat day in and day out) and so it has ended up that Wednesday has become "Mrs. Peterson's day" to pick what goes on the table. I like picking books that "go together" or that are of the same author. It is fun to discuss similarities and differences in the books. I also like to put seasonal and themed books on the table to get a little more science and social studies under their belts. Mostly, I like to pick books that I LOVE! Kids can tell when you really love a book. I want these kids to leave kindergarten this year with a complete and utter love of stories and reading. A lot of the children that I teach come from very disadvantaged homes. I'm not sure how many of them actually know the concept of a bedtime story. I am their storyteller and by golly, I enjoy it to death! So, here's a glimpse of some of our favorite books that have graced our table in the past and here's what was on the table today!

Favorite Fairy Tales:
We have been "revisiting" some favorite fairy tales as told by James Marshall (the guy who illustrated the beloved Miss Nelson Books my kids love). Turns out, he adds a pretty funny twist to the traditional tales. We also had a fun discussion about that Big Bad Wolf (he lurks in many fairy tales) and then read the funny "The Big Bad Wolf is Good." HILARIOUS!!!

Time to Laugh Books:
On terribly "taxing" school days where we all just seem a little too bogged down with deadlines or testing (or Mrs. Peterson not letting us bring lady bugs into the classroom anymore) these are the books I grab. GUARANTEED giggles and smiling and warm fuzzies after reading any one of these titles. "Save the drama for your llama!"

Lovey Dovey Books:
I love these clever little stories that have a subtle humor to them. They are great for breaking into discussion about the unconditional love parents have for their children.

The Famed Miss Nelson Series:Saul had to make sure they were sitting on the table in the correct order. It goes, "Miss Nelson is Missing," then "Miss Nelson is Back," then "Miss Nelson Has a Field Day."

Well, that was fun getting those out of my brain and onto my blog! I am going to try and do an "On the Table" post each week. Stay tuned, there are so many great books I want to share!

A Shout Out to My Books!

So, last week a few of my girlfriends and I went out to dessert and got talkin' about books. We usually include books into our topic of conversation but this time I made us a little assignment. The idea is to come up with a list of the TOP TEN most influential books we have ever read. Books that have stayed with us long after we have read them. Ya know, the ones you can quote or the characters and events within them that you think about in different situations in life. I started my list yesterday and I quickly realized how hard it will be to narrow it down. I haven't read NEAR the books I have wanted to yet, but I have read some truly terrific stuff too. I think this should be an assignment for all of us! Make a list of your best books. It's trickier than you'd think, but do it anyway. It is interesting to see which books have shaped your thoughts and opinions and have caused you to think about life in different ways. Words are indeed pretty powerful things! So, here are the top ten that are on my list of ultra powerful, life changing words!

Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Confessions of an Organized Homemaker, Deniece Schofield
Positive Discipline, Jane Nelson
The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
Reviving Ophelia, Mary Bray Phipher
Tuesdays With Morrie, Mitch Albom
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Charlotte's Web, E.B. White
The Peacegiver, James L. Ferrell

Once Bitten

Conner is such a great kid! I am impressed with him lately and here's why. He used to be a "nail biter!" (I know. . . shudder the thought!) I don't know when he started this habit and I can't think of a time when I've actually caught him in the act, but his nails were just terrible looking for so long. For over a year I have begged him to stop biting. I have bribed him. I have reminded him. I have given him no sympathy for any pain associated with his biting. It has been this little annoyance at the back of my head since I first noticed his little sad nubbins of finger nails. But, around Christmastime, he found a book in my classroom called, "The Bearnstein Bears and the Bad Habit." I watched him read this book and really study the pictures of the pages. He asked me a few questions about Sister Bear's bad habit (which just so happened to be nail biting) and we talked about it a little. He didn't say anything more about it after that, but I could see the wheels turning in his little head. I really didn't expect much to come of this incident, but it has been a few months since that day and I am happy to report that Conner is now the proud owner of a beautiful set of fingernails! He made the decision to stop biting all on his own, didn't say a word about it to Steve or me. Just decided to quit! What a great kid. He is such an example to me and I am reminded of that each time I get to sit him down on my lap and trim his once bitten nails.