We officially made it to Christmas vacation! Woo hoo! We wrapped up school on Thursday and celebrated with treats from Starbucks. On Friday, I hosted book club at my house. I made gingerbread cookies and had all the fixings for hot cider and hot cocoa. We do a Christmas book exchange each year at book club. This year, I walked away with Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. He’s been super popular with my friends, so I’m excited to read a new author and see what the hype is about.
Over the weekend, I was able to wrap most of our Christmas presents and I officially finished the project yesterday! It feels good to have all the gifts ready to go and under the tree. To kick-off Jeremy’s Christmas vacation, we went out for Chinese food and then drove around locally to look at Christmas lights on Sunday evening.
Monday, I had a Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate and a catch-up with a friend. Jeremy’s parents invited us over for dinner and a game that evening. Tuesday, we visited the Oregon Zoo for Zoolights. It’s been years since we’ve been so it was neat to see the changes they’ve made. Wednesday, we wrapped up our Christmas shopping and I did some Christmas cookie baking. Today was the big cookie decorating day! It’s just not Christmas without cookies!
We’ve watched some Christmas movies (A Muppet’s Christmas Carol and Journey to Bethlehem) and we’ve been listening to A Drummer Boy Christmas by For King + Country on repeat. These merry and bright moments have been the perfect lead up to a festive and fun weekend ahead. Christmas is always a marathon of celebrating for our family. Why celebrate only one day when you can celebrate over three? Ha! We’ve been having a Christmas-y good time this week and the main event(s) are still yet to come. Happy first day of winter and merry Christmas to all! May many merry and bright moments find you this Christmas season!
Gingerbread treats for Book Club
Gingerbread cookies, cider with whip cream and caramel sauce, hot cocoa with peppermint and marshmallows. Yum!
A very common sight this week
Driving through Borst Park Lights in Centralia
Advent – Joy!
Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo
Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo
Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo
Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo
Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo
Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo
All wrapped and ready for Christmas!
My version of a productive day
Christmas cookies are always so fun to decorate. The trees are my favorite. I think next year I should just make a forest of festive firs as my Christmas cookie contribution.
I could have entitled this blog a musical week, but the main musical highlights happened over the weekend. Our children’s ministry started practicing in September for our annual Christmas musical. This year the musical was Jingle Bell Beach which featured three singing groups competing for top spot in a singing competition. Owen and Graham were both a part of the “Electrons” – the pop/techno group. Performances were this weekend and they went so well! Owen did a great job with his two solos. Both boys were fabulous at memorizing the words and motions. It was so fun to watch the whole production come together.
Jeremy spent quite a bit of time preparing for the musical this last week. From picking up additional microphones and choir risers to shopping for t-shirts and snacks, he was a busy guy! On Wednesday, Owen attended an extra drama/solo practice and I joined Jeremy and Graham to help with our Wednesday evening children’s program. It was an all-hands-on-deck kind of a week. On Sunday morning, I was backstage for the first performance and then I switched places with another mom. I got to watch the second gathering while she took my spot backstage. It’s always a wild morning and it’s never perfect, but it was great nonetheless. I love watching the boys (and all the kids, really) get up on stage and share the Christmas message with our church. Jeremy also has extra platform time on this special Sunday, so he leaned into the beach theme. It’s not often he can be on stage in a Hawaiian print shirt and shorts on a Sunday morning.
The musical was obviously the main event this last week, but the main event around our house was Jeremy building the new bookcases we picked up at Ikea when we were in Portland for the For King + Country concert. Jeremy built them Thursday after work and I dove into book rearranging right away. I started with the new bookcase we added to the playroom. Our playroom books along with some books from the boys’ room went onto the new bookcase. I moved the board games out of the playroom closet and into the open space made my the moved books. I’m hoping with the games being visible, they will be played more often. Moving some books from the boys’ rooms created space to add to their room collections this coming year.
On Friday, with the playroom complete, I moved on to rearranging the books in our bedroom now that we added an additional bookcase there. Our count is up to four bookcases in our room. Jeremy has mentioned I’m turning our room into a library. My real dream is to turn the playroom into a library, but that’s probably a decade out, so it’s our room until then! I was able to move some décor items from the top of the bookcases on to the top shelves. The Billy bookcases from Ikea are so tall. I like having décor on the top shelf so that the top row of books isn’t too hard to reach (I’m short). I was able to move the Bibles and commentaries to their own section (yay) and now we have space on the non-fiction bookcase. We now have two fiction bookcases with plenty of room to add to our home library as well.
Before adding two more bookcases, things were getting tight and adding new books was becoming like a Tetris puzzle. Now there is breathing room again on our shelves. I can add books without messing up the categories and order in place. It feels good. Seeing the blank space on the shelves is a bit of a siren song. Growing a home library is a slow and deliberate process (for me, anyway). I might want to fill in all the gaps right now, but I realize this project set us up for growth in the future. I can live with the open space and dream about the new books that will someday fill those gaps.
Here we are less than two weeks until Christmas!!! The Christmas musical is behind us and we have only two more days until we are on Christmas vacation. I am very much ready to wrap up the school year for 2023 and enjoy the change of pace that comes with the holidays. Wishing you all well as you celebrate this season!
The new playroom book nook! The picture books are still color coded, but the chapter books are not because that would mess up the series’ we have. The top shelf of the Billy bookcase is book-free. I didn’t want kiddos scaling the bookcase to reach the top. Plus, it leaves room to fill in more books later.
It might create more messes, but I want the board games to be visible. The farthest right open cube is books that were too tall or wide for the narrow Billy shelves.
The new bookcase (on the left) in our room. Love that there is space to grow again! The top shelf on each bookcase is a basket with our DVD collection and décor. I don’t love displaying movies/shows, so these baskets have been a favorite of mine!
We are in full swing with the holiday season! So much goodness to share! My last update was right before Thanksgiving, so I’ll pick up there… even though Thanksgiving feels like forever ago now. Can anyone else relate? Our Thanksgiving was quieter than years past. Between illness and multiple family members recovering from surgery, our gatherings were small. We got together with Jeremy’s parents and aunt and uncle on Thanksgiving day. The day after Thanksgiving, we had another meal with my parents and sister. Since my dad wasn’t cleared for turkey lifting this year, Jeremy had the honor of making the turkey. He did a fantastic job! Jeremy was super domestic this Thanksgiving. He made multiple pies, side dishes, and a turkey. Jeremy is a great cook and he was the MVP (or MVC – most valuable cook) this Thanksgiving!
Last week, we had our first Christmas party – even though it wasn’t December yet! We wrapped up our homeschool co-op for 2023 and we see our group again in 2024. For our Christmas party, we did a potluck and had various Christmas activities for the kids. There were activity pages, coloring sheets, and a paper snowflake station. We had classic Christmas music in the background while we played, munched, and chatted. The kids brought small gifts for a group gift exchange. I read a version of T’was the Night Before Christmas that was formatted for a left-right game. Each kid started with their own gift and then had to pass accordingly when they heard the words left and right in the story. Our co-op is such a blessing to our family. It was fun to kick off the Christmas season with them.
To kick off December, we joined my forever friend, Maggie, and her family for Snowflake Lane in Bellevue, WA. Snowflake Lane is a parade they put on nightly from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve. My favorite part is they make it snow as a part of the experience. The snow is really bubbles, but it’s still magical! This was probably our wettest experience at Snowflake Lane, but the rain didn’t spoil the affect. We met up early for Starbuck treats and hung out inside before claiming our spot on the parade route. With Maggie’s family moving across the country soon, it was fun to do one more Snowflake Lane with them before they go.
December has certainly been a merry and bright month and we’re not even a full week into it. On Saturday, we decorated our annual gingerbread house! It’s always a mess, but so much fun. We are no way professional with our decorating skills, but the quirkiness adds to the charm. We also started our Advent season on Saturday, instead of Sunday. Lighting a candle and taking a few minutes to focus on Jesus as the center of the Christmas season is always a special moment each week. Owen read the devotional for us as we talked about hope and Emmanuel – God with us!
Sunday evening, Jeremy and I saw For King + Country in concert at Moda Center in Portland, OR. A Drummer Boy Christmas is by far my most listened Christmas album. I’m a huge fan of all their music, but I loved that it was a Christmas concert. For King + Country sang a mix of their Christmas music, but also popular hits and songs from their new album. Our seats were in the nose bleed section, but that didn’t diminish the experience. It was a super fun date night. We were also able to leave a bit early for the city and do some Christmas shopping before the show. A major highlight of the day was picking up two more Billy bookcases from IKEA. Book reorganization is right around the corner. I’m excited to see if my vision can come together like I hope!
That’s all for now! We have a big week ahead as we prepare of our Christmas musical at church this weekend. Lots of Christmas memories to make still ahead!
Jeremy and his tasty Thanksgiving turkey!
Starbucks treats before Snowflake Lane
Snowflake Lane 2023
Making one last set of Snowflake Lane memories with our friends before they move.
Snowflake Lane 2023
Working on their cookie creations
The 2023 Gingerbread House
Starting the Advent season with the hope of Emmanuel
Quite the view at Moda Center – For King + Country – A Drummer Boy Christmas Concert
For King + Country – A Drummer Boy Christmas Concert
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… in all the bookish things! This time of year, I try to get my hands on as much Christmas content as I can. I’ve re-read Christmas books that I own. I snagged a couple Christmas novellas on sale. I’ve used the Libby app and our local library. I also got a Black Friday deal and re-subscribed to Kindle Unlimited. Give me all the Christmas books! While my fiction reading list looks long, about half are novellas, so I fly through those in a blink. I plan to keep all the Christmas cheer coming in December as well! It’s the happiest reading time of the year!
When I re-read The Hunger Games this summer, I mentioned waiting to re-read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes until November. It was my least favorite of the series and the snake content gave me the heebie-jeebies. While I found the history of Panem and Snow’s backstory interesting, I don’t love stories that don’t have a happily ever after. Snow is the villain of the series, but I couldn’t help rooting for him in Ballad, only to watch him fall. Not my favorite, but definitely informative for the series as a whole. I had a greater appreciation for the book after a second reading. I enjoyed reading it again before seeing the movie. No surprise, I liked the book better, but it was super fun to watch the movie with my forever friend and book buddy, Christa.
I’m making book lists and checking them twice. Between Christmas and my January birthday, this is the best season for adding to my home library. All I want for Christmas is books… you can substitute Christmas for my birthday, Groundhog’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, etc. You get the idea. All the books, all the time. After the holidays, I hope to pour over my 2023 book list and add some favorites from the year to my bookshelves. Because I’m an avid reader, I sometimes forget a good book I read in February by the end of the year. Thankfully, keeping track of my reading on Goodreads and on my phone gives me a great snapshot of what I’ve enjoyed most this last year.
Graham & Owen’s November Books
Top Picks for November
Non Fiction:Honey for a Child’s Heart Updated and Expanded: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life by Gladys Hunt and Mark Hunt. I read an older copy of this book a few years ago. While I enjoyed it the first time, I really appreciated this updated edition. I found myself stuck wondering what my oldest son should read next and a book about good books for kids was the perfect place for inspiration. Not only is this book packed full of recommendations, but the message is convicting! Good books offer kids so much. As parents, we get the great honor of sharing a world beyond our homes with our children. There are so many good books that will not only spark imagination, but help children gain wisdom, understanding, courage, and many more admirable attributes. Books are one of the greatest tools for shaping the next generation. Non-Fiction: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer. This book was recommended by multiple sources, so I decided to give it a go. It had been a while since I’d read WWII historical fiction and I think that made the experience extra emotional for me. I was a blubbering mess by the end! I enjoyed the dual timeline between the grandmother as a teen in Poland during the WWII and her granddaughter in present times. The story is a mystery that unfolds and the title was so fitting. So many things go unsaid, for so many reasons. You see layer after layer throughout the whole story. It was well done and very moving (thus the puddle of tears I created)!
The Book List for November 1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
Non-Fiction:
At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor by Carey Nieuwhof – 5 Stars
Honey for a Child’s Heart Updated and Expanded: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life by Gladys Hunt and Mark Hunt – 4 stars
Fiction:
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer – 4 stars
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins – 4 stars
The Other Side of Darkness by Melody Carlson – 2 stars
Christmas at Harrington’s (novella) by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
The Christmas Bus (novella) by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
The Gift of Christmas Present (novella) by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
Angels in the Snow (novella) by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel – 4 stars
A Christmas Spark (novella) by Cindy Steel – 4 stars
Christmas Baggage by Deborah M. Hathaway – 4 stars
Host for the Holidays by Martha Keyes – 4 stars
Solo for the Season (novella) by Martha Keyes – 3 stars
A Newport Christmess by Jess Heileman – 4 stars
Later On We’ll Conspire by Kortney Keisel – 4 stars
The Holiday Stand-In By Kortney Keisel – 4 stars
Cotswold Holiday by Kasey Stockton – 4 stars
Cabin Crush (novella) by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
Christmas Like This (novella) by Carina Taylor – 3 stars
Cocoa Kisses (novella) by Melanie Jacobson – 3 stars
Christmas Ella (novella) by Angela Ruth Strong – 3 stars
Happy Thanksgiving Eve! We wrapped up school for the week just a few moments ago. As I sit down to update you on the last couple weeks, I can say I’m feeling the thankful vibes. There have certainly been some highs and lows over the last two weeks. Life is never perfect, but there is still space for gratitude even in the imperfect moments. God is good!
I last updated you on Owen’s ortho “install” day… He was a trooper when it came to getting a mouth full of metal. What followed installation day was a long weekend. Owen essentially went on hunger strike because eating was painful. Not only did his mouth hurt, but he was getting dizzy from lack of nutrition. It was hard to watch him feel crummy. We intentionally planned a low-key weekend and it was very necessary. After four rough days, Owen reached a turning a point and we were so thankful! At his first ortho check, they were please with his progress and he might be finished turning his palate expanders sooner than I expected. You can also see how his teeth have moved already. No wonder his mouth hurt!
After a quiet, recovery weekend, Owen felt well enough to join our co-op for an Operation Christmas Child packing party. We’ve done OCC boxes for years as a family, but this is the first time we’ve done one as a group with a packing party. Members of our co-op all brought items and we combined them to fill 10 boxes. Owen and Graham filled one box together and we paid the tracking fee so we can see where our shoebox ends up. It was a neat experience to do this with our co-op and the boys took to heart the activity. They were so intentional about the items they placed in the box. It was sweet to watch.
On Thursday, my dad had pacemaker surgery. I accompanied my parents so I could wait with my mom and be a support however necessary. A special part of the day was that one of the prep nurses attends our church and was able to pray with our family before surgery. It was such a comforting moment. Thankfully, the surgery went well. The day was mostly defined by waiting – waiting for the surgery to start, waiting for it to end, waiting for Dad to be released. We are so grateful that it was as uneventful as possible. Jeremy and the boys brought my mom and I lunch at the hospital. Jeremy also picked up my favorite mac and cheese from Costco and had dinner waiting for me when I got home. It was reusable red cup day at Starbucks, so the boys got our annual red cup and a cranberry bliss bar for me. I felt very loved!
Our weekend plans were again fairly low-key. With my dad recovering from surgery, we didn’t want to wander too far from home. On Friday, I went to my book club, which is always a highlight of my month. I missed last month, so it was top priority to make it to this one. Saturday, our dinner plans with friends were canceled due to illness in their family. We opted to decorate our house for Christmas since we had a full free day suddenly. Our family is very okay with Christmas in November. We often decorate based on what works best with our free time and not the actual calendar date. Within a week of Thanksgiving feels acceptable to me. I chuckle when I think of all the different “acceptable” timelines my friends and family have. Some have very strong feelings about when it’s appropriate to deck the halls. Sunday was church with kid’s choir practice. We only have a few weeks until our performance, so it’s crunch time! Owen is doing well with his solos, even with a mouth full of metal.
My final highlight was going to see The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes with my forever friend, Christa, last night. I don’t often go to the movies on a “school night” (or ever… I make it only once or twice a year). I felt a little wild and crazy. That’s silly, I know. Christa and I read the book together when it first came out during the early COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. We zoomed to discuss our thoughts on the book because we couldn’t see each other in-person. Since we read the book together, it only made sense that we would see the movie together, too! Christa’s son works for the movie theater and he came with us so we could an awesome deal on tickets – free! I felt so special! It was a fun outing and worth the weekday late night.
As you prepare for Thanksgiving tomorrow, I wish you all an amazing day – no matter how great or small your celebration. There is always something to be thankful for even in the highs and lows. This month has had it’s intense moments, but through it all God has been faithful to me (and my loved ones). I’m full of gratitude for the how this month has gone, including the things that haven’t quite gone as planned. Nothing is wasted and I can see God’s goodness as I reflect this Thanksgiving Eve.
A third round of forest animal sugar cookies. This time for a family baby shower. I wasn’t able to attend, but it was so sweet to visit with my aunt and grandma when they came to pick them up from my house.
A quiet weekend means time to bake. Pumpkin scones sounded comforting!
Packing an Operation Christmas Child box at co-op.
Packed full and ready to go!
Decorating their mini trees for their rooms. Each year they get a special ornament and this year it was Pokémon themed. Pikachu for Graham and Eevee for Owen.
Decking the halls!
Graham had another visit from the tooth fairy! Since he isn’t into “help” pulling his teeth, this last tooth hung on by a thread for days!
Loving all the festive vibes! Garland, plaid tablecloth, green velvet pillow covers, wooden block messages, and the Fisher Price nativity set (you can just barely spy it on the bookshelf).
One of my favorite views ever!
Movie Night!
Owen created this cool tide pool in science this week!
November is here! October is bright red and orange leaves with mostly blue skies. November is evergreen trees and the brown of branches exposed with gray skies. There is a definite shift. October is a super fun month for our family (birthday month!!!), but the pace isn’t sustainable beyond October. November feels like the time to slow down, be cozy at home, and watch the rain pitter-patter on the window. The change of pace is welcome.
Let’s jump into the autumn adventures we’ve had in the last week. The first being our visit to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Graham had been planning this zoo day as his birthday outing for months. Unfornately, his birthday tummy bug meant we had to postpone. Thankfully, the weather held and we were able to enjoy a sunny, but cold day at the zoo. Since we often go to the Oregon Zoo or Point Defiance Zoo, it was neat to visit a new zoo. We went to Wild Lanterns there a few years ago, but you don’t see the animals at that event. We also took the kids to visit this zoo when they were one and three, so they had no memory of that trip. It was very much a new experience for them and a great way to celebrate Graham’s birthday!
My forever friend, Christa, invited me to join her for a book folding craft at her local library. I had some reservations about my crafting skills, but a book related day out with my friend sounded enjoyable. The group that assembled to craft was diverse and the instructor was full of personality. To finish the craft in the two hour window of time was a bit of a task. We really had to hustle. We made lanterns out of folded books and battery-powered candles. When I got home, I added a bit of ribbon and found a home for my lantern. I wasn’t sure if I would create something worth displaying, but I’m happy with how it turned out!
Tuesday was Fall Fest – our church’s annual Halloween event. The boys went as the Kratt brothers, Martin and Chris, from Wild Kratts. I wore a Canada hoodie, a beanie, and took my Tim Hortons reusable cup as a prop. I was going for “tourist in Canada”, which is my very real self! We got to the church early to deliver Jeremy dinner. The boys were able to test out the games before things got busy. We had friends arrive at the start of the event, so we went around with them and did all the games again. We ended the night at our new church playground in the front of the building. It was chilly, but the kids had a blast running off all the sugar energy! Also, a big shoutout to my hubby and his team for once again hosting a stellar event! A lot of hard work went into making that night a success!
A few quick highlights… We dedicated the new playground on Sunday at church. It was freezing and definitely a memorable moment. Jeremy put red ribbon all around the playground and he let all the kids cut the ribbon together. The cold weather didn’t keep the kids from playing after the ribbon was cut. On Sundays, we’ve been working on our Christmas musical. Parts were given out in October and Owen has two singing solos this year. He is happy with the solos he was given. I’m sort of thankful he didn’t get a speaking part. It was great last year, but it means less pressure on me to help him run his lines at home. I’m good with that. We’ve completed our 1st quarter of school! All is well on the homeschool front. We are in a good groove.
And finally, today is Red Cup Day, which is a holiday in this household. Jeremy came home at lunch with Starbucks treats! I had my first peppermint hot chocolate and cranberry bliss bar of the season! Jeremy got a gingerbread latte and Graham got a snowman cookie. We love these seasonal treats! Jeremy also surprised me with a super pretty reusable cup. Happy Red Cup Day!
Visiting the Woodland Park Zoo in honor of Graham’s birthday
Visiting the Woodland Park Zoo in honor of Graham’s birthday
Visiting the Woodland Park Zoo in honor of Graham’s birthday
Visiting the Woodland Park Zoo in honor of Graham’s birthday
Crafting with Christa
The final result! And yes, I have a fondness for decorating with pinecones.
Monday was pumpkin day! We made pumpkin waffles in our new mini-waffle maker and then we carved pumpkins.
Pokémon pumpkins this year!
Activating their creature powers and going wild as Martin and Chris Kratt from Wild Kratts.
I have so many bookish thoughts for October! It was a month full of fun and interesting reading!
I had Kindle Unlimited for part of the month, so I focused my reading heavily that direction at the start of the month. I finished the Sweater Weather series and then jumped into bingeing Kortney Keisel’s books. Her new release, How Jenna Became My Dilemma, featured the main characters as actors making Keisel’s YA dystopian series into a television show. Keisel made her Desolate World series available on KU as a result and I was curious. It had been a while since I read anything dystopian. It was fun to add some diversity to my reading (but I will say the books are super light on the dystopian vibes).
It was a big month for series reading. I finished The Chronicles of Narnia, which I had started in September. It’s always a joy revisiting these favorite books of mine. It was a special treat to share them with Owen this fall as well. I will fondly remember introducing Owen to Narnia and then camping out there for a while myself.
I had a surprise book discovery this month – Hero Debut. I don’t always keep on top of new releases for my favorite authors – it could be a full time job if I let it. I was surprised to see that Angela Ruth Strong’s August new release was a follow-up to her book Husband Auditions. I love it when a novel turns into a series. This series – Love Off Script – takes place in the PNW so I enjoy the familiar setting. I’m now very excited that there will be a third book in the series at some point!
To wrap up my bookish thoughts for October… A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber. So much to say about this one! This book follows The Ballad of Never After which ended with quite the cliff hanger. I’ve been waiting in suspense and anticipation for over a year to see how this story concludes. I devoured this book because I just had to know how it ended. Unfortunately, anything that is highly anticipated rarely meets up to the hype and I felt that way about this book. I like how it ended… but I felt like a lot of questions from the overall series went unanswered. It’s killing me to have so many questions at the end of a series. I ordered the Barnes and Noble exclusive edition which features an alternative ending as the bonus content. This bonus content improved the ending in my opinion. While I enjoyed this series, I’m disappointed with all the loose ends that didn’t get tied up by the finale.
Recent additions to our home library! Yay for new books!
Top Picks for October
Non-Fiction:The Worry-Free Parent: Living in Confidence So Your Kids Can Too by Sissy Goff. I’ve read many books by Sissy Goff and other counselors out of Daystar Counseling. Their parenting tools and wisdom are top-notch. I highly recommend them. This book was focused on “you” as a parent because who you are affects how you parent. As someone who is prone to worry and anxiety, I was drawn in by the title. I could see the same tools that Sissy Goff and David Thomas use for the kids they counsel also being useful for parents. I recognized quite a few of the tools mentioned in the book. Sissy Goff is an encourager and champion of parents (and she’s a fellow Enneagram 1). Her purpose is to help parents be healthy so they can raise healthy kids. It was an excellent read. Fiction: The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis. Opinions vary on which book in The Chronicles of Narnia is the best. Many say it’s the original story, the one that started it all – The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Many love Caspian and would say that Prince Caspian or The Voyage of the Dawn Treader are top. As an adult, I would say my top three are The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Horse and His Boy, and The Magician’s Nephew. I really can’t pick a favorite out of the bunch, but I did want to highlight The Horse and His Boy. As a child this was my least favorite of the books and now as an adult it’s one of my most favorite. It’s strange how opinions change with age. As a young reader, I didn’t feel that The Horse and His Boy moved the plot of the overall series along. As an adult, I feel it’s one of the best stories in the series. It truly is an epic adventure and C.S. Lewis is one to the best storytellers ever!
The Book List for October 1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
Non-Fiction:
Hard is Not the Same Thing as Bad: The Perspective Shift That Could Completely Change the Way You Mother by Abbie Halberstadt – 3 stars
The Worry-Free Parent: Living in Confidence So Your Kids Can Too by Sissy Goff – 4 stars
Fiction:
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis – 5 stars
The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis – 5 stars
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis – 5 stars
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis – 5 stars
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis – 5 stars
Easy as Pie by Carina Taylor – 3 stars
A Not So Fictional Fall by Savannah Scott – 3 stars
Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor – 3 stars
How Jenna Became My Dilemma by Kortney Keisel – 3 stars
The Rejected King by Kortney Keisel – 3 stars
The Promised Prince by Kortney Keisel – 3 stars
The Stolen Princess by Kortney Keisel – 3 stars
The Forgotten Queen by Kortney Keisel – 4 stars
The Desolate World (novella) by Kortney Keisel – 3 stars
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber – 4 stars
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman – 3 stars
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne – 3 stars
September has been an eclectic reading month. A little bit of this and that. My brain froze in the middle of the month, so I’m very much in denial that September is over. I’m not entirely ready to put my bookish thoughts into print quite yet… but here I go! The highlights of my month were finishing The Twilight Saga, re-reading the first two books in The Chronicles of Narnia (I’m currently working on book three), and enjoying all the new releases I’d been stocking piling in Kindle Unlimited. I also snagged a new release Christmas novella from the library, because I will read Christmas books any month of the year! Why not?
Top Picks for September
My top picks this month are re-reads you’ve seen on my blog before. I decided that September was a good month to refresh myself with the concepts from The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer. It’s a 5 star book for me and the whole book could be my mantra. Starting the school year with a recommitted vision of margin, rest, and health seems wise.
My non-fiction top pick was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Narnia always wins. It will always be my top pick. Owen is flying through the series and just started The Last Battle yesterday. It’s been a joy to watch him fall in love with the books and it’s been fun to read the same series as him at the same time.
The boys’ book picks for October. Graham went with a Pokémon book and Owen selected the newest Investigators.
The Book List for September 1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
Non-Fiction:
The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie – 4 stars
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer – 5 stars
Fiction:
Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer – 3 stars
Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer – 4 stars
Life and Death by Stephanie Meyer – 3 stars
Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer – 3 stars
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis – 5 stars
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis – 5 stars
Austenland by Shannon Hale – 4 stars
Midnight at Austenland by Shannon Hale – 3 stars
The Lost Husband by Katherine Center – 3 stars
The Brightside of Disaster by Katherine Center – 3 stars
Just Don’t Fall by Emma St. Clair – 3 stars
Fall Back Plan by Melanie Jacobson – 3 stars
Can’t Help Falling by Courtney Walsh – 3 stars
Faking the Fall by Julie Christianson – 3 stars
How to Kiss a Movie Star by Jenny Proctor – 3 stars
Flirtation or Face-Off by Leah Brunner – 3 stars
A Cross-Country Wedding by Courtney Walsh – 3 stars
A Royal Christmas (novella) by Melody Carlson – 4 stars
We’ve been back to school for a few weeks, but since today is the official last day of summer, it feels right to say so long to the season. It seems like the weather agrees with the calendar. Today was beautiful. Sunny and 77 degrees. Tomorrow the rain returns to the PNW. Right on cue for the start of autumn. The last few weeks of summer have been good to use (honestly, the whole summer season was good to us). Here is a recap of what we’ve been up to these days.
Hunting season has certainly been a thing. Jeremy was out in the woods as much as his schedule allowed. Both boys joined him one evening and Owen joined him two additional times. Owen loves looking for wildlife and came home each time with a list of a little creatures he saw on his adventure with Jeremy. I love his enthusiasm for nature and wildlife.
Our homeschool co-op has met twice and the boys are loving being back at co-op with friends. The classes this fall are public speaking and art. So far, public speaking as been fun games that the boys are enjoying. So many giggles! One game was grabbing a random item out of a bag and selling it to the group. The details could be accurate or made up. Since our group has quite a few little boys, most of the products shot lasers. Thus the giggles!
I had a very bookish weekend last weekend. On Friday night, I met with my book club. I haven’t been since April, so it was long overdue! My book club friends are my local community and I’m so blessed to share a love of reading with them. It such a source of encouragement and joy for me. Saturday morning, I attended a women’s conference at our church. I taught a morning workshop on helping the next generation fall in love with God’s Word. I shared my story of falling in love with the Bible, what we’re doing in our household to encourage a love of God and the Bible, as well as what resources I recommend. I brought two bags full of Bibles and devotionals to class with me. I was definitely in my zone!
After my time at the conference, I met up with my hubby for lunch and errands. They boys were with Nana & Papa at soccer games for the cousins, so it was fun to sneak a little date time in after the conference. Jeremy was super supportive as I shared how my morning went. I came home to clean the house for company and Jeremy took off for the woods. Sunday after church, my parents came over for pizza and Pokémon. My sister brought a video game and her Pokémon cards to share with the boys. They were thrilled! It was a fun impromptu family gathering.
Today’s outing was a trip to Lattin’s Cider Mill and Farm. It’s a small farm, but the boys love visiting all the animals. I go for the apple fritters! Yum! We’ve been taking our kids to Lattin’s since they were babies. It’s so fun to return to this fall (okay, super late summer) outing every year. I’m a fan of traditions like this!
It’s time to say so long to summer and hello to fall! This summer was full of pool playdates, fun family vacations, and an awesome start to our school year. It’s hard to leave such a good season behind, but I know good days are ahead. Autumn is my favorite season – favorite flavors, favorite outings, favorite celebrations. Time to embrace the next season. I do believe I celebrate tomorrow with a pumpkin muffin.
First day of Homeschool Co-Op
Co-Op Art: Graham’s Grizzly Bear and Owen’s Boat at Sea
Science Experiment: Testing the pH level of our soil.
All the books that traveled with me last weekend. The small stack was for book club and the other two were for my workshop.
Ready for my workshop!
Pokémon heaven! Auntie shared so many cards with the boys!
Owen is a good hunting buddy! I love getting pictures like this from Jeremy!
We came home from our Rocky Mountains road trip on a Friday and then promptly started school on Monday. While it worked for us, I don’t necessarily recommend such an abrupt end to summer. Jeremy came home and went from 0 to 110 mph at work. The boys went from care-free, adventure mode to all the responsibilities of school and home life. There was a bit of whiplash, as you might imagine. The good news is each year we homeschool, the beginning of the school year gets easier. It’s like muscle memory. We find our groove and pick up where we left off.
We have fully embraced the back-to-school lifestyle and the change of seasons. I know fall technically doesn’t begin until September 23rd, but we came home to fall in more than one way. The weather has already shifted and the vine maples outside my front window grow a deeper shade of red everyday. Our calendar has quieted down some with the focus on our new routine. We had one last prep meeting for co-op last week and we are set to start our new co-op year tomorrow. The boys are excited and so am I! At the start of September, I transitioned the front door to our fall décor. Hints of orange and maybe even a few pumpkins have found their way indoors as well.
It’s a joy to get back to baking. I’ve made cornbread to go with chili on a cool, cloudy day. Since we missed the fair while on vacation, I came home craving fair scones. I made a batch and paired them with seedless raspberry jam. I made brownies for a dinner that got canceled, so we ended up working on the large pan for about a week. It was no hardship to make those disappear. This weekend I made my first loaf of pumpkin spice bread. Now before you marvel too much about my baking skills, I used mixes for all the baking I’ve mentioned. It’s been a treat to indulge in some semi-homemade goodies. The house gets that delicious smell of something baking in the oven and the treats themselves have felt right with the change of season.
This month I introduced Owen to The Chronicles of Narnia, which are a personal favorite of mine. I remember my mom reading these books to my sister and me as children. It’s a joy to pass these stories on to the next generation. Thankfully, Owen is loving them as much as I do and he is flying through them. As he finishes a book, we’ve allowed him to watch the movie version. So far we’ve seen The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian. He is currently reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader so another movie showing is right around the corner. Once he reads The Silver Chair, I’ll pick up the BBC version that I watched as a kid. We don’t often watch movies, so it’s been a fun treat to do something out of the norm. I also shared The Little Mermaid with the boys on Disney+ this week. Owen got into it. Graham not so much. I’m trying not to be too disappointed.
So, that’s the update! We’ve been munching on goodies, reading books, watching movies, working on school, and prepping for co-op. September is always a wild month for Jeremy. He is starting a new program at work that is taking up a large portion of his focus. When he isn’t working, it’s archery elk season, so he has great plans to be in the woods as often as possible for the next few weeks. I feel like I’m keeping the home fires burning as I send him out to wherever his busy September leads him.
It’s good to be home and to be in our autumn routine!
Back to School 2023
Owen – 4th Grade
Graham – 2nd Grade
First day of school flowers from my mama!
Graham loves the smell of books. His new textbooks smell super good right now, according to Graham.
So fun to do a book and movie comparison!
Enjoying the inflatables at church during our all-church, outdoor gathering
It’s always neat to mix it up and have church outside!
Amy Scott's Thoughts 