July Summer Reading

With temperatures hovering in the triple digits, it has given the kiddos and I ample of time for reading. Mostly picture books about Curious George or Peppa the Pig, or short chapter books about superheros, however occasionally I do find time to read a grownup book for myself. This month I consider myself lucky that I was able to finish three grownup books. I choose The Great Alone and Hillbilly Elegy based on several recommendations from friends and fellow bloggers, and Rembrandt's Shadow at random from the library bookshelf.

I finished The Great Alone in one weekend. I could not put this book down. Leni has lived a fairly chaotic life. Her father,  Ernt is a Vietnam veteran and former POW. He struggles with anger issues, depression, and is unable to keep a steady job. After loosing yet another job, Ernt decides that his family needs a fresh start and they move to a small remote homestead in Alaska. At first everything seems to go well, Leni and her family enjoy the hard work on their homestead, their neighbors are friendly and Ernt is happy. However, as the Starks say - winter is coming- and it is during those long cold dark months of winter when things go south.

This book is heavy. It deals with abuse, depression and what happens when "biggest danger of all was in her [Leni's] own home."

Hannah does a fantastic job moving this story along, giving readers just enough light to get through the dark and ending on a semi-happyish note.

The Hillbilly Elegy was an interesting read. And my final read for July was Rembrandt's Shadow, the story of how one painting saved the lives of 25 Dutch Jews in WWII.  

I really know how to pick a sad stories. 

I'd like to write in more depth about Hillbilly Elegy  and Rembrandt's Shadow at a later date.

Also, I'd like to point out that we have lived in Arizona for six months now.

summer recap and wrap up

I know it's still July, however for our family the vacation part of summer is over. Summer breaks in Arizona are shorter, usually between 6-8 weeks, with a longer breaks for fall, Christmas and Spring. I like this schedule, because it allows for us to have time off of school during the nicer months of the year. This also means Lucas goes back to school in a week and a half, and that this is our last week of summer break.

Looking back at the beginning of summer, I asked the kiddos for a list of activities they wanted to do. We were able to accomplish everything on Lucas' list, and most everything on Alara's. She is still working on writing her own name. Her A's look more like awkward H's, but hey...maybe this fall?

Lucas:
1. Learn to read - yes!
2. Playdates with friends - yes, yes, yes!!
3. One on one time with Mama and Daddy - yup..
4. Learn tennis - he did tennis camp for one week..
5. Go to the beach - twice!

Alara:
1. Play - everyday!
2. Learn to ride a bike - yes!
3. Learn to write my name - still working on it...
4. Eat ice cream -by the bucketfuls
5. Go to the beach  - twice!!


Next week before school starts, we have one more tripped planned for California. My husband's cousin is getting married. Pictures will be posted once we return.

California Vacation pt. 2

One thing I miss about living in California, aside from friends and family, is going to the beach. I've always loved the beach. There is something so refreshing about the salty sea water, the fresh sea breezes and the warm sand beneath my toes. My kiddos miss the beach as well. At the beginning of the summer I asked each kid for their summer must do list and both listed "go the beach" as one of their top five things we must do this summer. 

I should note that my husband does NOT miss the beach. He does not like sand. He does not like beach parking. He dose not like sticky saltwater. He does not enjoy hauling our umbrella, and other beach essentials from the car to the beach and from the beach (all sandy) to the car (which is now sandy). 

On Wednesday we packed up the car and drove to Crystal Cove State Beach. The weather was perfect, the beach was empty and the water warm. The kiddos played. The football got tossed around, sandcastle were built and wildlife was seen - one grumpy crab, one hungry squirrel, a plethora of rude seagulls and one coiled rattlesnake.

We left early to avoid traffic (we hit traffic) and ended the evening at VBS. The kiddos came home tired, but happy.  

California Vacation

The Sunday after the 4th, the kiddos and I drove out to California for a mini vacation. This trip was my first semi-solo Arizona to California trip. I wasn't nervous about the drive itself,  but I wasn't looking forward to dealing with bathrooms breaks alone with two kiddos and our dog.  And I knew that it would be hot, possibly windy with a high chance of thunderstorms across the desert. 

The drive was uneventful, and we arrived safely. 

This trip coincided with our home church's VBS week. Prior to driving out, I did register and plan on attending VBS. My kids love attending VBS and were excited to go. VBS this year did not disappoint. I was a little worried that my kids would feel out of the loop being gone for six months, but nope...they both jumped in and loved every minute of being back at our home church. 

We've been home for about a week and the kids are still singing VBS songs and sharing what they learned with everyone. 

Tuesday we spent the morning with my parents. 

Lucas has been reading the "Billy and Blaze" books and was looking forward to riding a "pracing pony." My Mom gently suggested that maybe we should start with less pacing and more basic riding skills...not as exciting...but safer. After having a mini riding lesson Lucas did work his way up to a trot. He was smiling from ear to ear. 

I'm not sure what Alara enjoyed more...horseback riding or riding the quads. Alara loves horseback riding. I think she would have stayed on Rembrandt (the pony) all afternoon. While riding, she talked the whole time...I'm not sure if my mom could follow everything Alara said...there was a lot of happy chatter going on. 

My parents have push quads...the kind that only good when pushed or by using gravity. 

After a fun, but exhausting morning we said our good-byes and heading back to VBS. I wasn't sure if the kiddos would make it through the program, but they got a second wind.  Needless to say, after such a busy day we got home from church and both kids went right to sleep.