Value of "Being Raised"

Excuse me while I get sappy for a minute.  Maybe two.  No more than five.  Promise.

Have you met my folks?

Have I ever told you how lucky I am to have been raised by two such people as these?  

I wasn't going to write this post.  But I can't stop detailing the memories in my head so I figure I just as well....

A year ago on Mar 17th, around 7-8 in the evening, my Mom called me.  Mike is a volunteer firefighter and she knew we often had our scanner on.  She said, pretty frazzled (for her - mom doesn't frazzle easily), "I had to call the ambulance for your dad - he was in a 4 wheeler accident.  Knew you'd hear the call go through on your scanner.  Call your sisters." 

A few more details, though she didn't have many, and that was it.  

I quickly relayed to Mike and he went out the door.  We love the heart of our local ambulance crew but sometimes they can use extra hands.  Because Mike has trained with them before, we knew they'd let him help if he could be useful.  I had enough 'quick thinking' to figure the accident was in a field, not on the road, and spring = mud + it was a cold evening (frozen mud = ruts) so we thought extra hands might be helpful.

After touching base with the sisters I called a cousin/friend, Brea, to come be with my children until my in-laws came back in town.  The children and I prayed for Papa and then I flew out the door for Andrea and Vance to pick me up.  What were we going to do?  I dunno.  Be there.  Sometimes there is no greater comfort than being there. 

We arrived at the house and saw the pasture that they were working in.  Of course the ambulance couldn't get down there with the mud and ruts so they were hauling Dad out in a pick-up truck {God bless country living}.  

The jest of the accident was that he had been in the pasture with the cattle, I believe trying to get a bull out, and things got a bit physical and turned his 4 wheeler over - on top of him.  Being pinned under a 4 wheeler is no picnic.  Being pinned under a 4 wheeler for upwards of an hour or more in the biting cold...well, that's less of a picnic than the previous scenario.  Because of Mom's awareness, as she was in the house making supper, she realized she couldn't hear the bike running and hadn't for sometime.  He was supposed to be back in the house at 7 so at 5 till she knew it was weird that she didn't hear the 4 wheeler.  I suppose it has something to do with being married for 30+ years...but I think in her gut she knew to be worried.  She called my uncle to help look - he thought he heard Dad calling cows (of course he was hollering to get attention) and again Mom's farm smarts told her he wouldn't be calling cows and that it was weird that the cows in the field were all standing around like they were watching something (they were!).  They estimated he laid under the bike around an hour and a half and he thought he might have blacked out once.

Uncle Henry called his wife and a cousin/neighbor for warm blankets, had mom call the ambulance and threw the 4 wheeler off Dad (ouch).  I can't imagine being the "first one on scene" and am glad Mom was not alone.

So, there we stand, my sister and I, as they bring Dad out of the pasture.  Let me tell you something...there is no greater feeling than to hear the voice of the one you are worried about...consciousness is not something to be taken lightly.   There was concern of breaks in his pelvis/lower spine but the biggest concern was his core body temperature.  94* in the ambulance, but by that time he'd already been warmed some with the blankets and coats when he was found. 

Dad being dad, he attempted to make jokes as we shined flashlights and they loaded him in the ambulance.  I jaunted to the house to make sure the oven/stove top was off, grabbed clothes for dad on a whim and headed back out to ride with Andrea and Vance to the hospital (Mike drove the ambulance).  There was talk of landing the helicopter at the golf course but because of the cloud cover it couldn't fly.  On the way to the hospital I checked in with younger sis, Lauren.  She lives an hour away and had started our direction as soon as she heard of the accident so we directed her to meet us at the hospital instead of the farm.  She was shaken.  We all were.  I hated that Andrea and I were together and for the time being, she was alone (though Lance was with her).  

Off we trooped to the hospital.  I firmly and politely let the front desk gal know that we didn't want to sit in the front waiting room with people who needed medical attention - we wanted taken back to the family room where we could alternate seeing Dad, being with Mom, etc.  Thankfully she was kind.  {How did I know about the back waiting room?...as Dad would say "this wasn't our first rodeo."  We'd walked this road in the middle of the night after he had a motorcycle accident that called us to the ER.}

Your mind can play a lot of tricks on you while you wait to see "the patient" with your own eyes.  It's times like this I'm ever so thankful for sisters and my husband and brothers-in-law and mom to share the journey {be that as it may} with.  

We joke now about how Lauren (who was finishing her nursing degree) drove the nurse crazy with her comments regarding her lack of hand sanitizing/overall cleanliness practices.  We laugh at Andrea who found a broom and started sweeping up the piles of cow manure and mud that came off Dad's chore gear and clothes when they removed them.  We chuckle at Lance who'd had a big day and was quite the entertainment for us all in the family waiting room.  As God's grace would have it Dad was discharged the same night from the ER with no breaks.  That's not luck, my friends. 

So why this walk down memory lane?  Just to revisit a hard night?

Not exactly.

To help you put into perspective our family and what they mean to me.  

My mom and I were talking about my growing up years on the way home from Natalee's ENT appointment the other day.  I feel like one of the most blessed people on earth to have been raised the way I was raised.  My sisters and I have talked about this often...how we were taught respect, perseverance, and love for family.  Sure, we like to chuckle and laugh about memories like Dad's catch phrases {"after this..."} but it's only because we hear them in ourselves as parents now.

Nope - we might not have been the coolest kids at school.  We didn't have the name brand of everything.  Our house was an old farm house full of love and memories and cracked walls and uneven floors.  But - we weren't drug from activity to activity, we got to go out and get dirty, we experienced new life every spring, we knew the value of hard work.  By watching our parents, we were taught to not give up.  We had expectations to meet with consequences if we failed.  

I wish I could journal all the memories that often roll through my head from my time in that old farm house.  Sometimes when one pushes forward and I share it with Mike I think he looks at me and thinks "for REAL!?"

Yes, for real...and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.  We are among the blessed - to have had two parents who stuck out the good fight to intentionally raise children with character.  

So, Mom and Dad - here's to you.  For continuing to "raise" us up, pushing us to think for ourselves, but always being in our back corner. 

I've heard Dad comment before that Mom had to do more of the "raising" of us because he worked too much.  Not selfishly worked - just that combination of a full time job and a full time farm.  I do have to say that I disagree though...we were raised by a terrific team.  The kind of team that teaches you blow dry calves in the kitchen through a winter storm, bottle feed lambs in the barn...a team who teaches you how to cook {mom} and eats it anyways when you try solo and fail {dad}.  I could go on, but I'm sure I'm pushing the 5 minutes on my "sappy essay" so I'll have to exit and save some memories for another day.

Here's hoping Mike and I can be 1/2 the team in raising our children that I had growing up.

Big Kid Update

We had a quick jaunt to "the big city" yesterday to check up on Natalee's ear.  About a month ago she had an eardrum rupture.  We were blessed to have my BFF and local nurse practitioner, Steph, walk that journey with us, complete with house calls to check up on Miss N and make sure the ear was clearing.  

(things came out of that ear that I don't ever care to deal with again...grossness)

Yesterday's appointment was an audiology screening and ENT check to make sure everything was healing properly.  She passed the audiology test with flying colors (listening is a different story - ha!) and the ENT confirmed that the hole was completely closed, fluid gone, tympanic membrane fully functional, some other fancy words...in other words completely healed up with no permanent hearing loss.  We give praise to Jesus for this...this is not the first time He has healed Natalee's ear (previous infections, rupture, 2 sets of bilateral tubes...it's been a wild ride!).

Waiting for our dear Dr. Campbell...beloved ENT!

Grandma Num accompanied us to the big city yesterday as no one thought it wise to send a 39 week pregnant gal alone with two kids.  We had a fun day with her - it's always a treat to have an appt. go terrifically and get to enjoy each other a bit!  We ran to Target (this gal had no desire to walk the mall!) for a few specific things.  One of them was a "big boy" booster seat for the soon to be big brother.  Xavier was still using the convertible car seat - while he was still within the weight limits for it he wasn't as comfy in it because he's GROWING so Dad and I decided it was time for him to move up to a bigger seat (Natalee moved at 3 because Xavier needed the car seat she was in...he's 3 3/4 so it was time for him!).  Though there was really only one seat that met my brand and price guidelines in the store he still felt like he was a part of the "choosing" process and is very pleased with his new big boy seat.

His favorite, FAVORITE part of the whole seat is that it has cup holders!  It sat in the living room last night and he tried them out.

Backing up a couple days...on Sunday night the kids got to go spend the night with Aunt Lauren and Uncle Lance.  This was a huge treat and helped ease the ache of no daycare friends coming on Monday morning.  I had a dr. appt. in the same town Lauren lives in on Monday morning so it worked out great for me to pick them up.  They had a big time and have told me lots of tales about their adventures.

The children eagerly await the arrival of Baby #3.  We're all trying to be patient.  We pass the time doing things like this

Today is our first day without daycare friends that we are home (baby appt Monday, ENT Tuesday).  It's strange but terrific being alone with just the two of them.  We enjoyed a laid back morning, school with no interruptions, baked "lactation cookies" (which they sampled!) and now they are playing "Bible teacher" while I blog.  Anxious to see what our "groove" looks like but not eager to push a routine before baby comes...we ALL know it will change with a new little one.  So for now we're just enjoying our time together, finishing up loose ends of school and playing away the day!  We miss daddy and he misses us.  Anxious to get moved and be able to share lunch hours and morning times with him and have him home more in the evenings!

Are We There Yet? {39 Weeks with #3}

39 weeks.  Almost there.  I have nothing negative to say.  Through this journey we must remember that there are others holding hurt, fear, and broken dreams.  I am among the lucky blessed.

 yesterday

 today

Fill Her Cup Up

Worship at LCC is always phenomenal but today really took the cake.  If you don't believe me you ask my little girl.  That child could NOT sit down.  I wish I could have snatched a picture of her with her tiny little 5 year old hands in the air praising Jesus, oblivious to the world around her. 

The worship team started with a mixed medley of "Oh Happy Day."  Think Sister Act 2 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdmw7VdFYjg) and you've got the right feel.  Immediately, little Natalee was clapping and standing.  At one point she got embarrassed at herself when she realized not everyone was quite as enthusiastic and I quietly whispered her the reminder "if you're happy worshiping, Jesus is happy listening...go ahead sweetheart."  She resumed.  As per the usual routine, we sang a couple more songs as a congregation - both very upbeat - and then they permitted us to be seated for a third song.  It just so happened that the 3rd song was "10,000 Reasons" - one of Natalee's FAVORITES.  She sat as it started and, bless her ever worshiping heart could not keep her seat.  Finally she gave in to herself and stood up to worship with all her being.  She's a bit off tune and the words might not all be correct, but the music washes right through her and fills her cup up to just pure overflowing.

As a side note I have to mention that Mike and I always choose to sit very near the front for the very reason that our children (and us) can't see the rest of the congregation.  It frees us (especially Natalee) to stand or raise our hands and be led to worship how we feel called to worship and not do what everyone else is doing or be embarrassed by our actions.

I pray over this headstrong, full of life girl, that she might always give in to the call to worship and Jesus whispering to her.  That she may always be brave enough to stand when the rest of the world sits and to raise her hands even if she's the only one.

Thank you, worship team of LCC, for filling her cup up (and mine).

Once a Teacher... {nerd alert...all about curriculum for 2014-15}

...always a teacher.

I'm so grateful to be at home teaching my two little scholars.  There is nothing quite like being able to pour myself into my own children.  And knowing that when baby is born I won't be sending him/her off to daycare is simply the greatest feeling in the world. 

I gotta tell ya though...once a classroom teacher, always a classroom teacher.  I love the other homeschool moms who are able to take a less structured, more relaxed view of homeschooling their children, and while I've tried I realize I just am.not.one.of.them.  Ha!  I'm used to an organized, scheduled classroom environment and that's how our home is run.  To relax is to have a movie night that wasn't planned 2-3 nights in advance.  Or to push math to a different time and go outside because it's 60 degrees and we've had winter for FIVE MONTHS NOW.  Lame, I know.  We have our own kind of fun but if you ever meet my slightly uptight and schedule loving daughter, please know it's truly not ALL her fault. ;)

This time of the year, as we finish up our studies, I find myself already looking giddily towards the coming fall and purusing curriculum catalogs and websites. (I used to do this as a public school teacher, too!)  After a lot of reading and talking with Mike, we settled on our curriculum choices for the 2014-15 year.  This year we are introducing Social Studies/History and Science (very introductory but we're still excited!) into the mix of things and we are all (children included) psyched!  For any of you who care (maybe surprisingly few of you!) and for my records later, here is what we've chosen.  We are keeping the children separate for their Reading/Writing/Phonics and Math instruction and grouping them together for History, Science, and Bible (and other fun stuff!).  We specifically chose curriculums where grouping them for these areas was not only possible but encouraged.  Because of their closeness in age, we realize that they will need some individual instruction, but it only makes sense to combine them when we can.  I already told you about the Year 0 Ambleside books we've included for the coming school year.  In addition to those read alouds that we'll snuggle up with here is what is on the docket:

Natalee (grade K/1...I'm not sure Natalee will ever be a single "grade" in homeschool...some areas she excels in and moves through quickly and some aren't as easy - thus I'm labeling her grade K/1 for this coming year)

Continuing Sing, Spell, Read and Write Level K:  This came so late in the year b/c of a backorder that we'll just continue working through it.  We purchased the Level K/1 kit so we can move on when she's ready.  She's almost finished the first book and I can say with certainty that she's mastered the letter sounds.  Becoming fluent with the songs so that those sounds some quickly and automatically to her is up next and then we'll move to blending and segmenting words.

Math-U-See Alpha - 

 

We are finishing up her Primer and I'm SO impressed and excited about what she's learned!!  There were things in the Primer I thought she'd NEVER get and she did.  This is an excellent curriculum for our family!

Xavier (formal preschool - last year before Kindergarten...this kid has it going on up top but I'm not willing to push him as far as maturity and sitting to make him do kindergarten this year.  He enjoys school in short spurts and I think the preschool material I chose for him will suit just right!  He still needs lots of unstructured, learning through play time!)

This book gives several pages of activities to do with each letter of the alphabet.  It likely won't take us quite all year but I'm planning to pace him at a letter a week so we can have mastery of the sound and a good start on forming each letter.  I can supplement in other activities during the week, also!

There were two levels of this book in the PK section and after some deliberation I chose the first level.  Pencil/paper tasks aren't Xavier's top skills so I'm thinking if the book is a bit easy maybe it will help encourage the pencil/paper things we need to work on.  He *can* write, quite nicely, if only he wants to.  I'd rather take time to teach him to find it a joy than to make it a forced effort.  Boys!

Combined Classes

History - Mystery of History Volume 1

I've done a lot of deliberating over whether this (and the science I chose) were too hard for kiddos our age.  After talking with Mike and chatting with some moms on a couple of Facebook groups, Mike and I decided we liked that both curricula run on a 4 year cycle.  There are 4 volumes and then in 4 years we can repeat at a more advanced stage of learning.  This curriculum (science also) are designed to be learned as a family...the books have activities for "early learners, middle aged learners, and advanced learners...so as the children grow it stays age appropriate.  We decided to go ahead and try it.  It can always go on the shelf for another year if we find it too much for us.  However, I have to say, I'm super impressed with the little sponges God gave me so even if they just soak up the very very basics, we'll still see it as a win!  We've also considered doing this first year over a two year span...after I get the curriculum in my hands I'll be better able to decide what our plan of action should be.  Overall after looking at other programs that were designed for younger ages I found them to be quite lacking and a bit "twaddle-full"...just not deep, quality learning. 

Science - Answers in Genesis God's Design for Life

Answers in Genesis puts out a four year program called God's Design for Science so each year for 4 years we'll purchase a new curricula and then we'll repeat.  It's amazing to me to think that by the time we're ready to repeat our Baby #3 will about be ready to join big brother and sister!

For both Science and History Mike and I talked a lot and decided it was important to us to choose curricula that intertwined with the Bible so the children would understand the importance of Him in all we are learning.  Both of the above curricula are Bible based.  It is, after all, one of the very reasons we are choosing to educate the children at home.

Bible - Bible Study Guide for All Ages

A blogger, friend, and fellow homeschooling mom recommended this program to me last year and we are OVER THE MOON for it.  I can't even begin to tell you the things my children (and I!) have learned and the discussions we've had at the supper table.  We are keeping both kids in the Beginner Pages this fall and are ready to start Unit 3.  I can't tell you what a joy it is to me to hear my children say "Is it Bible lesson time, Mommy?" and then to hear them recall what they've learned to their daddy later!  We already have the timeline and CD's and use them daily. 

Other Fun Stuff:

I purchased the Speedy Spanish Primer & CD last year for the children and we were not successful in using it.  We may retry it this fall and see where we get.  Mike and I chose Spanish as a foreign language because the children are lucky enough to have a bilingual uncle and we can perhaps forsee some bilingual cousins in their future...we think it'd be fun if they had at least a few basics in their pocket!

Art Smarts...I'm not too artsy but my little people love to doodle and draw.  For fun, we are going to get them each inexpensive sketchbooks and dabble through these books together (mom too!).  My hope and intent is that they'll have a few more tools in their minds to really be able to create what they want on paper.  Not that I don't love depictions of me looking like a giant rectangular robot. ;)

I really only intended to do the first 2 Usborne ones but this funprint book was on sale when I ordered through Amazon the other day and I think it looks like some super fun stuff to do together.  We might not create masterpieces but we'll have a great time!!

Of course, art is more than drawing and there will be plenty of painting, cutting, gluing and mess making through the year, I'm sure!

I drew impromptu rainbows on cardboard yesterday for the children as a fun activity on the last official day of daycare and they loved getting out the paints!  I wish things like this came easier to my mind.  Mess making is not usually in the forefront of my brain - ha!

 Miss Perfect made her's ROYGBV, of course, but did ask for an extra arch to add pink.

Mr. Ornery chose to make a "silly rainbow" and not do ROYGBV.  I do take note that he kept his warm and cool colors grouped and wonder if that was by accident.

It's exciting to tweak and add/take away to this all as the year progresses.

In addition to ALL this Mike and I have toyed with allowing the children to choose one outside activity to participate in.  Natalee has tossed around violin lessons as a possibility...Xavier hasn't said much.  We may wait another year until we are actually settled in our new town and get plugged into a homeschool coop before committing to anything.  We'll see.

Alright - that was one big nerdy mom post but I won't apologize.  These are the things that EXCITE us and, if you made it through the WHOLE post, then next year when I blog about these curricula choices and activities we are doing you'll know what's happening.  Right? ;)

Our Interesting Natalee

The last couple of mornings Natalee has been up EARLY.  She's not allowed out of bed until 7 but at 5:30-6 I've heard her up stirring in her room.  She makes her bed, lays on it, reads, and tries to be still.  She's also not been napping at nap time.  For a few days I thought maybe she was really requiring less sleep - then I kept an eye on her at night, when we were having the most meltdowns and realized by 6 at night she's EXHAUSTED.

This morning I talked to her about it.  I asked her about her clock and she told me she saw 1:00, 3:00, 5:00 and at 6:00 she finally made her bed and stayed awake.  While she can't tell time to a tee, she knows the first number is the "important" one that mommy and daddy focus on.  She's also told me a few times the last couple days that her feet hurt but I hadn't started piecing things together until today. 

Interestingly enough, the last few days, especially today, Natalee has requested nuts and broccoli several times a day.  Broccoli at meals and nuts all throughout the day.  Do you remember about three years ago when we met Dr. Waddington and got our Natalee back?
I decided we might be dealing with a bit of low magnesium so Daddy picked up some Epsom salts on the way home from work tonight and Natalee just got out of a high dose soak.  It's interesting to me how her body is craving the foods it might really need to feel better!  Here's praying our little girl can sleep tonight without seeing so many hours on her clock.  While she always wakes up perky she has been deteriorating rapidly throughout the day - we'd love to have her longevity back!

*******************

Here's a little something to make you chuckle.  A conversation I had with my growing up girl yesterday:

Me:  "Natalee, I've noticed there's been big wads of toilet paper in the bathroom trash cans.  I feel like you are being wasteful.

Natalee:  {not angrily, but quite matter of factly} "Well, Mom.  You guys musta bought that bad kind of toilet paper because I have to use lots to get dry so my panties don't get wet spots in them.  If you don't want me to use so much then maybe we should buy the good stuff."

As it turns out we had been buying a cheaper brand as of late.  Apparently Natalee is anti Angel Soft

and instead prefers the absorbancy and softness of Charmin.

What's in a Name?

 Choosing names for our children has always been a spiritual journey for me.  I just re-read the blog posts I wrote when choosing Natalee's name (and in turn, Xavier's, since we kept the boy name we chose when pregnant with Natalee), and realized what a roller coaster it was (a fun one!). 
While Mike was set pretty firmly on Xavier for a boy, it wasn't until late November that we settled on Natalee for a girl (she was born Dec 9th).

When choosing a name, I love a name with (1) meaning and (2) unique spelling.  Middle names are family oriented for our children, a tradition we started with Natalee and will continue for all of them, Lord willing.

After choosing a name, Micheal and I choose a Bible verse/passage for the child.  The verse or passage loosely ties back to their name meaning and reminds them of our prayer for their lives.

Natalee {gift at Christmas} Cynthia {goddess of the moon}

• Natalee was born just two weeks before Christmas.  The uniqueness in the spelling of her first name is that "Lee" is my middle name.  Cynthia is my mother's first name.
• It is our prayer for Natalee that she might shine brightly for Christ, realizing she is a true gift, meant to be just as she is and that with her light she will serve Him wholly.  We loosely took "moon" and translated it to light, and, as Natalee was the first gift in the form of a child that God blessed us with, we chose her passage to be James 1: 17-18
• ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

 Xavier {new house} Micheal {who is like God?}

• We chose this name when expecting with Natalee and weren't able to let it go.  So when N was 9 months old and we discovered I was carrying a boy we already knew what he was to be called.  Xavier is a unique enough name all in it's own, especially for our sleepy town, so we didn't mess much with the spelling.  Micheal is, of course, his daddy's first name.
• We combined the meanings of Xabe's first and middle names to mean "one who builds his house with God."  It is our prayer that as Xavier grows and matures from a boy to a man to a daddy/husband with a house and family of his own, that he will keep Christ as the center of that home and be reminded to seek firs the will of Christ.  Therefore, we chose his passage to be Matthew 7:21, 24
• ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven... ²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

So, the time has come to name Beeler baby #3.  What a fun journey it has been to again be at the forefront of praying over and choosing names for a new life.  Like last time, we love both the boy and girl name we have chosen and will likely hang on to whichever one doesn't get used this time for a "next time."  While I'm not going to divulge the actual names to you just yet, I'll tell you that some good time has been spent choosing verses for the life growing inside of me. 

Name #1:  {the work of God} + {deer park}
I know what you're thinking.  Deer park?  Remember, middle names are family and mean a great deal to us.  We didn't find a great way to tie the middle name into the chosen verse (though the song "As the Deer" keeps playing in my head) but I think the meaning of the first name with it's verse screams loud and clear the message we pray for our child.
²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”  ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” {John 6:28-29}

Name #2:  {God is my strength} + {brave power}
What a name FULL of meaning! 
So many times in the Scripture can you find that God is our strength.  After praying over choosing one for this child we came to David's song in 2 Samuel 22:2-3
He [David] said:

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
³     my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior...

So there you have it, folks.  Before they are born, we are already praying over our children.  Praying Christ into their lives and that He would equip us to do our best at instilling the things that are truly important into their little beings.

I'm curious to know...what's in a name for you?  No judgement here - I've often wished I could take the naming of my babies a little more "lightly" but for some reason it's a serious task to me!  Do you choose by letter name, by family ties, or by just what sounds nice???

Case in Point

Did you read yesterday's blog post about growing an avid reader?

Case in point:

It takes Xavier a long time to fall asleep.  We've tried it without books and then he's just quite obnoxious and struggles to stay in his bed.  He's just a night owl.  Period.  I put a basket of board books by his bed (so they don't wrinkle when he sleeps on them) and we've seen this image more than once.  Our sweet little bookworm...

Daddy took this picture at about 5:30 this morning when he got up for work.

How to Grow a Reader

How do you grow a reader?  READ TO THEM.  

There were a lot of things we didn't have growing up (we weren't deprived, just...lived a simpler lifestyle) but we always had books.  Always, always.  And to boot, my folks ALWAYS read them to us.  I can remember when Mom bought the Little House series and read them aloud to us girls...what a treat!  All 3 of us girls are avid readers because my parents made us that way.  I intend to do the same with my children!  (and I think I'm well on my way).  Mom also made sure we got to the library regularly, especially in the summer, and allowed us to check out stacks and stacks of books.  I loved our local library and would hole up in the back room or upstairs kids' sections and read and read before making my decisions.  

Mike and I have decided to use the Ambleside Online suggested booklists as a guide for the children as they grow through their homeschool years.  This year and last we budgeted and purchased books from the Year 0 (kindergarten) list. 

Last year I bought titles including:

 

http://www.amazon.com/MaMa-Goose-Rhymes-Poems-Little/dp/0740731300/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395020952&sr=8-2&keywords=mama+goose

 

http://www.amazon.com/Mike-Mulligan-More-Classic-Virginia/dp/061825627X/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395021078&sr=8-2&keywords=mike+mulligan+and+his+steam+shovel

 

http://www.amazon.com/Beatrix-Potter-Complete-Tales-Rabbit/dp/072325804X/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395021173&sr=8-1&keywords=beatrix+potter

 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Tales-Winnie---Pooh/dp/0525457232/ref=sr_sp-btf_title_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1395021261&sr=8-6&keywords=a.a.+milne

We have enjoyed our year with these classics, and although we haven't read them all, we will continue on with them.  Winnie the Pooh delighted the children more than I might have thought it would and Mama Goose wins hands down as the FAVORITE of the books I purchased last year.  I've also been conscious, through the year, to pick up at used book sales, other books on the Year 0 or Year 1 book list so we can continue to grow our library (some people who saw our library might say it does NOT need grown!).

This year's purchases that *just* came in the mail and are "really" intended for this fall (but of course we dug in early) included:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Rumphius-Barbara-Cooney/dp/0140505393/ref=sr_sp-atf_image_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395023452&sr=8-1&keywords=miss+rumphius

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402750617/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402756984/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i04?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So far the crowd favorite has been the Fairy Tales and Fables book.  Xavier likes it because not everything ends "glossy and cheery," thus appealing to his boy-ishness.  The other day when we read The Gingerbread Boy and the cookie got eaten instead of getting away his chuckle was hilarious.  Likewise, when we read Little Red Riding Hood and the huntsman killed the wolf instead of some do-gooder reforming him to be a better 'person' his eyes got big.  Don't get me wrong - I have nothing against a happy ending, but in life not everything ends with roses so embracing and enjoying these stories together is good for all of us (in my opinion).  Natalee loves that there are sweet stories, mixed with some action...between them all no one has gotten bored!  Each night both children get to pick out a story - there are 50 in the book so I'm looking at getting through it in a month.  I bet they can convince me to go back and repeat!  There are familiar stories alongside some that are even new to me...all around we are all having a ton of fun with this book.  It's a delight to have the children begging to read it each night.

(Ignore the swollen mommy cankles propped up on the chair...focus on the sweet children soaking up good literature!)

The other day when at our local library for Story Hour I perused the table of free for donation books.  I chose a 2-3 that I thought our family would like and brought them home with the books we checked out.  Among them was

I showed it to Xavier a couple nights later and explained it was a word book with not very many pictures but if he wanted to try it we'd be glad to.  He decided he wanted Daddy to read it through to him and Natalee chose to join in.  So, every couple of nights Daddy curls up with the kiddos - on the couch or up in their beds - and they enjoy a few pages or a chapter. 

Natalee and I have previously read through Charlotte's Web so she has a good understanding of what a chapter book is about and she pays attention well so she doesn't miss the details.  I tried Charlotte's Web with Xavier but he had little interest....however this book appeals to him much more and he is soaking it in.  Tonight, we got jammies on early, played a card game, and then had time for a chapter of this book before our fairy tales!  The children were in heaven...as a matter of fact, neither mom nor dad seemed to mind all the cuddle time either.

I won't tell you that we don't also always have a basket full of seasonal books that we keep in the living room, too...these are sillier, easy, less thought provoking reads that we still enjoy (like There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover) but I think, when my children look back, that it will mostly be the "good" literature they remember.  Perhaps partly because of the quality time with their folks but also because these books make them laugh, cry, think, and reason.  So, tell me, my few and faithful readers...what good literature are you reading with your little people?