Quick Takes #234 June thoughts

1. June was every bit as crazy as I had anticipated.  That being said we celebrated school ending, summer starting, Father's Day and for the most part had a lot of fun this month.
2. This month also marked the 20th  Anniversary of the Harry Potter series. If memory serves I was slightly late to join the reading party but only slightly as I remember reading the first couple while living in Houston which puts it about 18 years ago.  Haley of Carrots for Michaelmas has written many wonderful posts on the series; and here are two of my favorites.
3. Speaking of anniversaries we are marking 3 years in the house; not very long but long enough that I feel as I'm learning it moods in different seasons.  The addition of porch furniture has been wonderful as I love reading outside and the weather has been very cooperative.
4. At the risk of jinxing it; I'm quietly impressed with how well the older kids are embracing their summer work. For both kids the first of four books are read and the book reports are done. I have a couple of workbooks for Caitie but thanks to her east facing room she has been getting up early most mornings and that combined with camp has her napping again.
5. Was sad to learn of the death of Michael Bond this week; I remember reading Paddington Bear as a child and have in the past couple of years enjoyed introducing his books to my kids. What a wonderful legacy. May he rest in peace!
6. Currently enjoying "Supergirl" on Netflix in the evenings.  Any other recommendations for a fun summer series?
7. Excited to attend a friend's son's baptism this weekend and then some local fun for Independence Day!  

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First Day ~ Last Day: 2016 ~ 2017

Another school year done:

Elisabeth ~ 3rd Grade

Liam ~ Kindergarten

Caitlin ~ Preschool

Quick Takes #233: Thoughts about School

1. Today marks the end of the school year in the Bailey house. Liam and Caitie actually finished last Friday but since Lisbeth still had school this week we still have been slightly in school mode.  
2. Kindergarten went well and Liam seemed to really enjoy it. Not nearly as talkative as his sisters he didn't share many details day to day but overall he enjoyed the work, the specials, his classmates and the whole school experience.  
3. My take: Over the year I saw him meet each new challenge with ease and needing very little additional instruction.  The pace of the work seemed to keep him interested but was never a source of stress. Am curious to read more with him this summer and hopefully get him set for an equally good year in first grade.
4. Caitlin had a good year in preschool and I think gained a lot of useful social skills as far as listening and sitting attentively.  She made several friends and in the end I'm equally glad we decided to have her attend preschool where her brother and sister did; and that she is attending a more academically challenging program for Pre-K.
5. We were warned that there is a jump in the workload come 3rd grade and while occasionally cranky about it Elisabeth met the challenge and excelled. She enjoyed more time to explore science and social studies; tackled learning her multiplication tables and basic fractions, and learned so much about different types of literature and author's purpose.  While writing continues to give her some troubles, reading no longer does and has become a source of enjoyment.
6. We marked the end of the year with a trip to Build-a-Bear where Caitlin made a Lalaloopsy doll, Liam ~ Sonic the hedgehog (not liking any of the Pokemon offered) and Elisabeth made a horse.  I'm sure that this end of year tradition will evolve over time but given Lisbeth's love for stuffed animals she may not be the first one to insisted that they have aged out of this particular treat!!
7. Have a good weekend and Happy Father's Day to all those celebrating!!

First Day ~ Last Day post

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Open Book ~ June 2017

The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell is a fun look at a learning about a new country and culture. British writer Russell learning that Denmark is one of the happiest places to live decides during their year of living in Denmark while her husband is working at Lego she would investigate what makes Danes so happy.   Overall I found the book a little statistics heavy and wish rather she had shared more about day to day life in Denmark, but appreciated that she did not take herself too serious as the enviable outsider mishaps happened.  Learned a little ~ laughed a little: win ~ win!

Frederica by Georgette Heyer; I've been reading and enjoying this author's books for several years now but somehow had missed this one and after several recommendations decided to rectify the oversight.  While I didn't find the story of Lord Alverstoke and his distant cousin Frederica to be her best in the romance department, the plot is wonderful and the dialogue superb.  A great balance of hilarious mishaps with believable character growth and enough plot twists to keep it interesting.




84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff is my latest 'how did I not know this was a book'!!  The  book is a collection of the correspondence written by the author and the staff at an antiquated  book store in London and one of their buyers in particular.  A wonderful fun read spanning twenty years starting in the late forties touching on current events throughout. I am so glad I found and read this book but given that I was hearing Bancroft's and Hopkin's wonderful delivery the whole time I truly wonder what the experience would be for someone who has never seen the movie.









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Quick Takes #232 Plans for Summer Reading

1. School is winding up in the next couple of weeks ~ and the weather is finally shifting into my favorite reading outside time.  Thanks to MMD and others I'm having fun planning my reading list for summer.  
2. I have gotten a slow start to this year's MMD reading challenge having only finished four categories so far but my current read (Talking as Fast as I can) fulfills a category and already have the next couple categories planned.
3. Am really enjoying Lauren Graham's memoir and am planning on reading her fiction book soon. Planning on also reading Northanger Abbey (one of two Austen's I've never read), Howard End on the Landing, as well as rereading some favorites. 
4. Lisbeth is closing in on completing her 40 book challenge for this school year; and we are looking ahead towards summer reading. Two books are required but two others are to be picked from a list and I'm curious to see what will catch her interest.  
5. Liam also has a summer reading assignment.  He has done really well this year with sight words and early readers.  Am wondering if it will be sometime this summer that he has that breakthrough moment when you start to view yourself as able to read!!
6. And for those times we are not reading; HGTV's Good Bones is such fun even if their design style is very different from mine. 
7. Have a great weekend!! This weekend brings to end the gymnastics year and has us shifting towards swimming. 

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