Book Review: The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society

This was a nice light read . . . exactly what I needed.  It’s the story of a few women that got together once a month to discuss a book and share their knitting project.  The group is a combination of a knitting group and book club.  Every month they would read a book and the knitting project they worked on would have to go with the book.  What a cool idea.  As you read through the book, you learned about the lives of each of the women . . . all dealing with some specific issue.  Partway through the story, a young troubled teen ends up joining their group and they help her out in a variety of ways.  But as you get further into the book you realize that through this troubled teen, they are each seeing things in their own lives that they need to deal with.  Like I said, it wasn't too deep or overly thought provoking . . . just  a simple enjoyable story.  

Finish that Picture

For art this past week, the kids each got a picture from a magazine . . . cut in half.  All they had to do was glue it on a plain white piece of paper and complete the picture.  I have to admit, I forgot about our Friday art time and so I was scrambling a bit.  However, the kids had a really good time and were up for the challenge.  We discussed symmetry and whether or not they thought their picture was symmetrical before it was cut in half.  And we talked about ways they could complete the picture so it was either symmetrical or not symmetrical.   The only requirement was that they fill up the whole page . . . no white paper showing.  I have to say, they did a really great job!  

This was Austin's.  He actually picked this picture and I was surprised he chose such a challenging one.  People aren't always easy to draw.  I love the way he added a present onto her other hand and the stack of presents at the bottom is great!  

I chose a picture that had a whole bunch of wrapped presents on it for Denver. However, he decided to pick his own picture and chose this one of a closet full of tea.  It was challenging and he really wasn't very interested in it.  But he participated and what more can I ask right??  

Samara picked a picture of cutlery.  I thought she did an excellent job.  She even made sure she completed the bottoms and tops of each piece of cutlery at the right angle.  So well done.  

I chose this one for Victoria because of her love of dogs.  I love the way she perked his one ear up.  She did a really good job too.  

 Considering it was a "let's just wing it" kind of art project, I was pleased with the outcome.  Good job guys!  

Another Bookstore Outing

I took the kids back to the bookstore on Wednesday for another program.  This one was a Lego program.  They loved it.  They sat and listened to a story first.  It was called "The Black Rabbit" about a rabbit who was always followed by a black rabbit that he was scared of.  One day a fox came along but was scared off by the black rabbit . . . which turned out to be the white rabbit's shadow.  So cute.  

Then they each got their own little Lego set . . . all the pieces to put together a little Easter chick.  It came in a little gift bag with the instructions to put it all together.  They also got their own VIP Ninjago badge so Samara is planning to work at the bookstore when she gets a little bigger . . . just like the lady!  

The kids had taken along some of their own money and since the Lego mini figures were on sale, they each picked  one out and bought it.  

And the whole outing was topped off by visiting Daddy at work and taking him out for lunch.  Fun!  

Book Review: Wild

I picked up this book at the library after seeing it on Oprah’s Book Club list.  I was intrigued. 

Finding herself at a low point in her life after having lost her mother to cancer and her marriage ending in divorce, the author decides to get away from it all.  But instead of just moving away, she packs up a (huge) backpack and sets out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) for a few months . . . might I add alone!  I know I could never do it.  Reading about her encounters with rattle snakes, bear sightings, coyotes howling at night . . . those that know me know I prefer the comfort of my own home rather than roughing it.  If I could hike all day in the beautiful mountains and forests and then be back in my own bed at night, I’d be all for it! 

Anyway, I really enjoyed the book.  There was some language in it that I would prefer not to read but I was able to look past it.  I loved reading about all the people she met along the way.  Everyone (okay, almost everyone) was so kind to her and no one could believe a woman was out hiking the PCT all by herself.  She proved to others and to herself that she could do what she put her mind to and along the way, healing took place.  She came to terms with things in her life and was able to deal with them and come out stronger on the other end (physically and emotionally!) 

All in all, an interesting read.  

Dr. Seuss

On Monday I took Samara and Denver to a local bookstore for a Dr. Seuss event.  Since Victoria and Austin are away at Grandma and Grandpa's this week, it's easier to do things with the younger two - things that are more geared for their age.  

A Dr. Seuss book - Cat in the Hat of course! - was read to the kids and then they got to colour their own Cat in the Hat hat as well as work on a bunch of different worksheets.  Denver was a little shy at first but once he saw Samara participating, he got into it too.  It was a lot of fun and they both had a really good time.  

Cute hats eh?  

Cross it off . . .

One more project completed and crossed off the list.  

2010/2011 Scrapbooks

What a good feeling.  I went away scrapbooking last weekend and completed this project.  Here they are.  The 2011 albums are done (and so are the 2010 ones!)  

And just to make this post more interesting, here is a page from each book:  

ER Visit

Guess where we spent a few hours one evening last week?  The emergency room!  Victoria hurt her arm and it was sore initially but then not so much.  Until she got up off her bed the next day, pushing up with the arm that was hurt. Excruciating pain shot up her arm and that's when we decided she should probably go in and get it checked out.  So off to emergency we went.  After sitting there for two hours, no one had even been called in and Victoria kept asking if we could just leave.  She said her arm felt better and she was tired and thirsty.  (not allowed to eat or drink just in case).  I was texting Mike and and trying to decide what to do. Three ambulances had pulled up and I figured we had a very long wait ahead of us.  So we decided we would leave and then probably head into our family doctor clinic the following day.  I went up to the desk and told them that we were just going to leave.  The receptionist told me she would let triage know.  Before I knew it, they were checking Victoria's arm and sending us off to x-ray.  X-ray was quick and then we waited some more.  They called our name and then guess what?  We waited more.  LOL!  Here's Victoria when we finally got called into a room where we were waiting for the doctor to come.  Doesn't she look excited?  

Anyway, the doctor finally came in to see us and said she actually has a fracture.  I have to admit, I was a little surprised   I just assumed it was nothing and we'd go home at least feeling better that we had checked it out and confirmed it was nothing.  But I guess not.  They fitted her into this splint and apologized they didn't have any pink ones left.   

I'm glad things were sped up when we had decided to leave.  Although I have to say, we were still there for at least two more hours.  Four hours in total . . . yawn!  So she has to keep it on for three weeks and then have it reassessed to make sure it's healed.  I'm so glad for her sake that it's not summer cause it's pretty hot wearing the splint all the time.  And hopefully three weeks will go by fast.  

And that's enough excitement around here for a while.