What We Are Reading

You may have tangible wealth untold;

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be --

I had a Mother who read to me. 

Strickland Gillilan

I try to read to my kids as much as I can, but tend to fall short of my well laid plans. But, we did spend some time reading together this past summer. We started with Song of The Brook by Matilda Nordtvedt which is the sequel to Secret in the Maple Tree. It was good and I think everyone enjoyed it.

Then we read Ocean Secrets by Tracy Kane and Genevieve Aichele. It was another fairy book mystery and Bethany loves fairy books -- so it was a hit. Sarah and Caroline didn't listen after the first chapter -- totally lost interest. But, they lose interest in many of the books I read. 

We read The Trolley Car Family by Eleanor Clymer and it was a real favorite. I really enjoyed reading this book to the kids. It is the story of a family that learns to work together through bad times. The father learns that he is losing his job as a trolley car operator because they are being replaced by buses. He is given the trolley car that he drove for many years as his severance pay.The family then moves the trolley car out to the country to live in for the summer while the father looks for another job. They even convince their grumpy neighbor to go with them. So, they set to work fixing up the trolley, making improvements and gardening. They don't have much money, but they work together and enjoy this new adventure -- wonderful family story. 

We read Betsy's Play School by Carolyn Haywood because Bethany will listen to Carolyn Haywood books over and over and over. She convinced me to read this again this summer even though I think I have read it to her three times.

We read Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Brink and I'm sure most people have read this book. We enjoyed it but it wasn't my favorite -- Bethany and Andrew liked it. Sarah and Caroline lost interest. 

Then we read Five Children and It by E. Nesbit. My older girls told me this was a good book so I picked it to read. I have to say that I know so many people say this is a great book, but I just didn't like it very much -- I don't know why. Bethany said it was good, but I could not get into this book at all. 

We are now reading Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace and I love this book. The kids all like it, too. I'm sure most people have read this at one time or another. I read it when I was a child and have read it to almost all of my older kids. I think I just read this to the kids a year or two ago, but we will read it again as they really like it and so do I. 

Bethany making pillows -- for family members and her dollhouse.

Bella and granddaughter, Reagan, playing in the sandbox.

Reagan and my grandson, Joshua. 

Joshua loves to play in the sand.

Abigail and I took a walk in the downtown area this summer and I took this picture because I liked the sidewalk and the trees. It was really a pretty area, but houses too close for a large family like ours.

Bella -- she has gotten so big. She is no longer the baby we brought home from Bulgaria two years ago. She was such a baby then -- even though she was almost three. Now she is definitely a big girl.