In a Box

I was recently asked to categorize what kind of books (fiction) I like to read. (The publisher of Andrew Peterson's novel is looking to do more online book tours through blogs so I might get a few more books tossed my way to read, review, and write about.) There were some suggestions listed: mystery, historical, chick lit, suspense, romance.

Um, is "good" a choice?

I tried to think into what genre some of my recent favorites would fall.

The Thursday Next series - sci-fi, crime, literary-geek-chic?

Dwelling Places - Midwestern/Americana, dysfunctional family, Christian lit?

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - multicultural feminist mystery?

I think the best novels defy genre-specific definitions. And some of the best books I read have a generic category on the surface but are really much more than that. I don't usually like Westerns per se, but I enjoyed Peace Like a River and The Whistling Season. I don't read much fantasy literature, but then came Harry Potter.

So it will be interesting to see what novels I might get sent based on the information I gave. There will also be some nonfiction stuff too. Of course, dear reader, you will see it all here.

The girl genius strikes again

I had a more reflective blog post started in my head, but then this happened tonight and I knew I had to post it.

So R is sitting on the couch tonight with Dad, writing on her Magna-Doodle. She's practicing some letters she knows how to write and trying to spell something. I come back from putting the baby to bed and see what she's written.

P...i...T. PIT, she says

Nice "T," Dave comments. "Now, what is a 'pit?'"

I'm thinking, well, they read the story of Joseph today at church...

"You know, when the race cars stop and get new tires."

Of all the definitions of "pit," that's the one my precious, girly, pink-loving, dress-wearing child says.

Of course, that led to her spelling other NASCAR related words: car, race, lap, Dale.

Oh, brother.

Spring Break Fever

Since we don't operate on a school schedule yet, Spring Break doesn't affect us too much, except that others were off school and could visit. D's sister-in-law and family came over for the first part of the week, so R had her only girl cousin for a few days. I believe R woke up in the 6 o'clock hour both mornings, woke at least one cousin up and promptly began talking. Her cousin loves books as much as R and read to her constantly. My sis-in-law and I took them to Kohl's where they ran crazy through the girls' section finding matching outfits and trying them on for us. We settled on matching pajamas for them to wear that night. The next day we took the girls (and the baby boy) to IKEA. What hilarity! The Goldilocks girls sat in every chair, sofa, and bed in the store but were generally well-behaved. I love girls who can shop!

I had to catch up on laundry and cleaning once our company left and I'm making my way around the house doing some spring cleaning as well. I started in March and I'm still going, bit by bit, curtains, closets, and corners. We reorganized R's closet this weeks, moving her shelves a bit and getting her clothes to where she can hang up things herself. Then D had the grand idea to dismantle her bed frame and move her bed to make a big space to play in. Which is nice, but....doesn't work aesthetically for me. I'm leaving the things that were his idea for the week and then we'll see what works and what doesn't. (See, I'm growing.)

Book wise, I finished The Painted Veil last week. I haven't seen the movie and I didn't expect to enjoy a book about adultery and cholera so much but I was captivated by the characters. I kept playing out the various ways the book could end, wondering would I be left with tragedy or redemption. I also couldn't help thinking of the parallels to The Awakening. Makes me want to teach them together.

I also sped through Thursday Next, the latest in the series by Jasper Fforde and the last one published. There will be another though as there is a definite cliff hanger. The plot can get a bit tiresome, at times repetitive, but it is what it is and is still enjoyable and funny in a literary, English-teacher/nerd way. There was more family in this one which I found very sweet.

Next in line, with my new book light as to not disturb D's semi-dark baseball watching, is True Fires by Susan McCarthy who wrote Lay that Trumpet in Our Hands, a previous book club read. This one is also set in central Florida and deals with race issues. I'll let you know. And I'm trying to get the first No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency book so I can jump on that bandwagon and have another go-to series.

I think that's everything. D has just three more weeks of class! We can see the light at the end! Evenings just run so much smoother when there are two to tag-team. And it meant this week that I could sneak off the dollar movie theater and watch 27 Dresses with a friend!

Finally...

Ben started walking last week. He's no longer a baby. We did a bit of a Dr. Frankenstein "He's alive!" at his first steps. Of course, as you can see from the video, he goes straight for the no-no's.

Here's more (a bit longer) with Ben showing off how he can walk while carrying something--one of his favorite books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Gee, I wonder why he likes that one so much? R is singing in the background, something about Galilee, four thousand tongues singing, and her own arrangement of Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Alleluia.

Inspired by Rebekah

I woke up on the dancing side of the bed today.

So I put on my blue tutu and my pink ballet slippers and pirouetted to breakfast.

I tapped my toes while I ate Cheerios and bananas.

I wiggled and giggled as I brushed my teeth.

I built the tallest tower ever and did the cha-cha.

At lunchtime, I arabesqued, tip-toe, on my step stool while I spread peanut butter and strawberry jam.

I tried to dance with my brother, but he’s too wobbly. He clapped for me instead.

Mom made dinner with the radio on. I jumped and hopped, raised my arms so high, and spun around and around and around until I was dizzy.

I boogied and I scooted. I leaped and I twirled. I did the jitterbug. I danced all day long.

And at night, I danced on my daddy’s feet all the way to bed, where I danced some more in the dreams in my head.