Library Finds

Yesterday was the first day of the library's summer reading program so we went to sign up and get started. Cupcake wasn't up for a long trip so we kind of ran around for 20 minutes grabbing what looked interesting. I don't get a lot of questions on this blog, but one that I do get frequently is what my kids are reading so I hope you won't mind if I list them here. These are not necessarily reviews because not all have been read yet, just what we spied on the shelf that struck our fancy. If you have a recent library finds post, please link to it in the combox! I'd love to read it.

From the recent acquisitions shelf...
This is where I hang out because it's in a open space with room for Cupcake to crawl around and I have a pretty good vantage point of the kids as they frequent their favorite sections. Plus, is there anything more fabulous than being the first one to crack open a crisp new book?

Grandpa's Gardenby Stella Fry
I love gardening picture books but that's as close to tilling up the backyard as I get. I know my grandpa is shaking his head at me where ever he is. My grandpa was no gardener, he was a farmer, but those genes just didn't trickle down to me. The pictures in this books are lovely and the colors so inviting. It was a feast for the eyes and chocked full of wonderful information about gardening. There is an entire 10 page section in the back that shows you how the garden was plotted out and what Grandpa does in the winter, autumn, spring and summer to tend the garden. There is even advice for those brave enough to try their own garden. The story itself covers composting, planting, beneficial bugs, harvesting and more. Very informative this cute little picture book!

In the Garden with Dr. Carverby Susan Grigsby
Are you sensing a theme? I swear, these were all on the new acquisitions shelf so the fault lies plainly with the library! This was a really interesting book and a lovely way to introduce your children to Dr. George Washington Carver. There was a very pro-nature-journalling message that I think homeschoolers will like.

"When I was a boy," said Dr. Carver, "drawing and plants were my two passions. I mixed my own paints and covered stones and discarded boards with pictures of the flowers. And always asking questions. I wanted to know the names of every strange stone and flowers, every insect, bird, and beast that visited the garden."

Grandpa Greenby Lane Smith
Delightful! Love the illustrations! Topiaries shaped like the Cowardly Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow!

In fourth grade he got the chicken pox. Not from the chickens. He had to stay home from school. So he read stories about secret gardens and wizards and a little engine that could.

The Professor: I guess he had a theme going too

Gladiatorby Richard Watkins

Life of a Roman Soldierby Don Nardo

Life as a Gladiator: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose Books: An Interactive History Adventure)by Michael Burgan

Technology of Ancient Greeceby Melanie Anne Apel



Sunshine:

Making Musicby Susan Bonners (Looks like a nice multi-generational story.)

Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell, 1847 (Dear America Series)by Kristiana Gregory

Lucy's Wish (Orphan Train Children)by Joan Lowery Nixon

The Cats in the Doll Shopby Yona Zeldis McDonough



Shortcake:

I've Lost My Hippopotamusby Jack Prelutsky (She loves My Dog May Be a Genius.)

Roverandomby JRR Tolkien (A re-read for her!)

The Third Giftby Linda Sue Park (This is a Christmas story but was on the new shelf and she thought it looked interesting.)


BigBoy:

Young Henry and the Dragonby Jeanne Kaufman (really awesome pictures and a cute story too)

A Boy Called Dickensby Deborah Hopkinson (haven't looked at it but it looks intriguing)

Colorful Puzzles for Wise Eyesby Keith Kay (visual puzzles, not for the colorblind)

P.S. The links take you to Amazon because I like using Amazon reviews to check out a book I'm not familiar with but please don't feel pressured to buy one. We borrowed all of these from our library free of charge. Maybe your library has them too!

 

Good Shepherd's Garden Party ~ Week Seven and Pentecost!

After two birthdays back-to-back on Thursday and Friday, my husband said "no" when I mentioned celebrating our last Garden Party on Saturday. He played the obedience card! He's such a good man. Saturday was a day of rest. We had a visitor on Sunday who helped us celebrate Pentecost with a 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit Salad and a Pentecost cheesecake (white with 7 strawberries which I forgot to take a picture of) and other food too. So our final Garden Party was rescheduled for today. Here's how it went:

~ The Heavenly Zoo ~

The Beehive

Stole Jessica's idea for beehive buns. The little almond bees were so cute!

The Deer

The Professor was so excited! He loves deer sausage.

The Pelican

Gone Fishin' Pelican Trail Mix... Jessica was right. This was a hit!

The Lion

This lion pizza looks kind of creepy to me but BigBoy thought it was cool.

The Phoenix

 Fiery phoenix chips and salsa

The Peacock

We had enough treats in the house and didn't want to add any more so I just set out my sweet peacock mug and added some leftover Mother's Day flowers. Can you believe these are from Mother's Day?

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter Season!

 

Celebrating Pentecost 2012

12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit Salad

Watermelon, peaches, pears, apples, blueberries, red grapes, green grapes, kiwi, pineapple, oranges, nectarines and strawberries

This is going to become a tradition for sure! Thanks, sweet friend!

Using up the last of the cascarones from Easter... maybe not.

 

BigBoy and the Chocolate Factory

A golden ticket for the birthday boy in a real Wonka Chocolate Bar! I typed up the following on a piece of gold vellum:

Greetings to you the lucky finder of the Golden Ticket from Mr. Willy Wonka. Present this ticket at the factory gates at 11 o'clock in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of May and do not be late! You may celebrate one birthday party on this day... and only one...but no more! In your wildest dreams you cannot imagine the marvelous SURPRISES that await YOU!

The factory gates

Watch out Veruca! Sebastian the Squirrel is looking for bad nuts.

This was an image I found online that I glued to a regular pack of gum.

Courtesy of Violet. (Blue Hawaiian punch, actually.) 

We had Mike TeaVee dinners for lunch... well, Lunchables, actually, but they looked like little trays.

We took a dip in the chocolate river with Augustus Gloop and enjoyed a little fondue at snacktime. 

I made this banner with cardstock and a free Willy Wonka font.

The cake!

An 8 year old boy's dream, right?

A tired mama's dream too. It took me longer to open the (blasted) KitKat wrappers than it did to decorate this cake (those things are wrapped in some kind of child-proof packaging I swear). BigBoy even poured the M&M's on himself and was very pleased that he got to help make his cake. Thanks to Kacky for the inspiration!

Also a dream... getting an original comic from his new favorite comic artist along with a special birthday greeting and a sneak peek of a few pages of Mr. Hatke's new book coming out in September, Legends of Zita the Spacegirl!

When I was at Party City looking for tablecloths and stocking up on candles, I found this purple velour hat. It screamed Willy Wonka to me. Well, first it screamed something else, but after I cut out a green "W", then is screamed Willy Wonka. 

We are waiting for dad to get home so we can eat dinner and slice into that cake. (And then go to bed! Mama is T. I. R. E. D!) 

Happy Birthday to our big 8 year old boy, BigBoy!