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Tuesday Tales – Closing out the 2012 Summer Reading Program

Posted on August 21, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

The summer of 2012 has been a fantastic summer of reading. Not only have I read some great new books for myself, but the boys have kept the love of learning and reading about things alive. TechyDad has been reading the Harry Potter series with NHL. Right now, they are in the middle of the third book. My fourth grader (yikes), has read many other books, magazines, and items on his own and to his little brother.

JSL and I started the Magic Tree House books at the end of May. Once he finished school, we really got into the series. Over the months, we have sailed on from book 1 of the series to starting 37. We have traveled with Jack and Annie all over the world, in many different time periods, and even gone into the world of Camelot. As you can see in the photo below, we have more books to read before kindergarten begins after Labor Day. We may catch up to where Mary Pope Osborne has written. The latest book release is A Perfect Time for Pandas #48.

When the summer reading program opened at our library, we signed up online. It was quick and easy to log in, record the titles of the books, and minutes the boys had read. Of course, the reality is that the kids read more than we managed to log. Still, they managed to have a lot of reading for the program which just ended over the weekend. Check out the stats:

I know the reading amounts at home will decrease as the boys head back to school, but I will cherish the memories that we have this summer.

With some more time until the official end of summer, do you have any reading plans? I would love to know how your summer reading tuned out. What books are you reading right now? I would love to know. Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Categories:
books Educational jsl nhl photos summer Tuesday Tales

Happy Birthday Papa the Brave

Posted on August 12, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Today is my father’s birthday. As I have grown up and started a family, I now see a different side of my father. He is so much more relaxed (most of the time) and has fun with his grandkids. Anybody that knows my father will tell you he doesn’t smile often. NHL’s request to zip line at Howe Caverns helped to bring one out.

Papa likes going on wild rides. So it was no shock that he was brave to go with NHL on the zip line. Of course, he also helped to make me into the Neurotic Disney Mom (NDM) that I am. It was no surprise that Papa and Nana agreed to help out with the boys in April when TechyDad and I went to a conference there. Yes, this photo pretty much says it all.

I have so many memories of going to Disney World as a child with my Dad. I will always remember my first time on Space Mountain with him when I was bribed for a large Figment stuffed animal. The boys also had some firsts with Papa. This time around he went with us on Dinosaur with JSL for the first time. Three years ago, he took NHL on Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest. My father also went with me on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith three years ago. It was a father and daughter moment that we experienced again this May. After NHL and TechyDad went on with us, we went right back for another spin and captured the moment.

Yes, he smiled again and I don’t think he had beans for breakfast (*wink* *wink*).

Thank you Dad for being a special part of our lives and being brave enough to smile from time to time. We all love you and are thrilled that we have had so many magical moments together. No doubt there will be many more in the years to come.

It's Me

Categories:
Disney family jsl looking back nhl photos travel vacation

Summer Days 2012

Posted on August 11, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL and JSL,

It is hard to believe that there is less than a month before the two of you go back to school. I have often wondered how I would feel that day. NHL, for some reason, it did not phase me as much when you went to kindergarten. Since JSL is the youngest, it has been tough to handle. My little boys are getting bigger.

I thought I would be excited, but the reality is that it scares me. I know the two of you will do fine in school. You are both smart kiddos. This really has nothing to do with school and more of time passing by. The two of you are growing up before my eyes and these days will forever change as you learn new things and figure out your paths in life.

While we were at Walt Disney World in April, they reminded us that you only have 18 summers of fun with me. Basically, you have to pack those moments with memories that will last a life time. While JSL is only five, NHL is going to be nine this week. That means that half of your family summers before turning 18 are over. It really does seem like just yesterday when both of you were born, and getting rocked to sleep.

So boys, please amuse me when I ask for a hug here or there, or pester you to take and let me capture a moment with my camera. I am not trying to bother you, I am making sure I document these times so we can look back and recall them years from now when you have your own children. Now, let’s make sure we get serious about the next few weeks and other summers ahead of us. We need to make lists of places to see, people to meet, and things to learn about.

Love,

Categories:
Dear Kid Saturday Disney DisneySMMoms jsl looking back me moments milestone nhl photos school summer

Olympics Reading and Learning

Posted on August 10, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

This year, the boys seem to be more intrigued by the Olympics. We watched part of the Opening Ceremony together the night it aired, and saw the rest of it with the DVR. The night before it started, we read Olympig! together. Then, NHL and JSL noticed books in a display at our library. The books were all about the Olympics, athletes, London, and more. There were books and movies for adults, plus a variety for kids.

NHL has been fascinated with the swimming and diving events. He has followed along as Michael Phelps made Olympic history with his medal count. It was not a surprise to me that he wanted to take out a book on this great athlete when he found it on the display.

As you can see, several of the books have come home with us to read. It goes to show that there are always books to help expand on subjects at home or expose children to a themes, travel locations, or people – it just take a little research at times.

My question to you this week:

What sport or athlete from the London 2012 games would you love to learn/read more about and why? If you have not been following along, what is your favorite summer game or what do you wish was in the Olympics?

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #215

Categories:
Aloha Friday books jsl nhl photos real world news

Making Dream Pillows

Posted on August 9, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

It is no surprise that I love our library. I write about them, the amazing librarians, and the programs they schedule often. Last year, I fell in love with one particular day when the Tang Museum came to make Story Towers inspired by the artwork of Josh Dorman. This year, I knew that we HAD to head to the afternoon when Tang was again reaching out to the local libraries to do projects.

They started off talking to the kids about three dimensional art and what it means. Then they showed a poster of one of Oliver Herring’s sculptures. What I didn’t realize until I went to their website at home is that the Me US Them, Queen Size Bed with Coat is huge. I knew they said it would take up the space the kids were sitting in. It is actually a sculpture made of Knit silver Mylar and 12 x 57 x 88 inches. As a knitter, I am intrigued to learn more about this type of sculpture. They showed this to the kids and asked them what they saw. Many mentioned a pillow, shining objects, and more. Then they saw another piece before it was time to learn about their projects.

Since the theme of New York State Libraries summer program is Dream Big READ, the Tang Museum decided to make Dream Pillows. As you can see above, the supplies needed were on the table for the kids. Foam pieces, scissors, bubble wrap, double sided tape, and their imagination. The only additional item needed was some colored tape to make a frame around their art when the top layer of bubble wrap was added. Before the kids were sent to the table to be creative, they were shown a few examples. Here are two that I took photos of to share.

As soon as NHL and JSL sat down, they seemed to have an idea and got started. While I was chatting with a friend who came in to surprise me, the women from the Tang Museum helped the boys to find items that they needed (thank you). By the time I arrived, they were already taking shape.

NHL decided to make a scene from Back to the Future (he’s been watching those with TechyDad lately). JSL opted to make a fun robot. Here are the boys holding their finished dream pillows.

Thank you again to our wonderful library and the Tang Museum for bringing more art education into the lives of children in our community. My boys have been asking to visit the museum soon and I hope to be able to do that. I would love to know, have your children done craft projects while learning about a new artist or style of art work? Art mixed with education is a powerful tool and I would love to know. Please share in the comments below.