Listening for Lions

This is a TERRIFIC book. Jill and I read this one together out loud. I can't say enough about how great it is to read a book out loud with your child. She loves it and I love it. We have a great time enjoying the adventure together...but something magical happens when we read together. I'll have to do some more thinking about just what the magic is and blog about that another time. The same thing happens when Peirce and I read together. We were reading stories in the van today while she was swimming and it was interesting to see how he wanted to snuggle - even though there was really not enough for him, me, the steering wheel, and a book about dinosaurs which seems to cause him to have to get up and roar and stomp around like a dinosaur in the middle of any given moment. I've made a commitment to myself that I'll spend time reading every day with Jill and with Peirce....so maybe in time I'll be able to put into words exactly what the 'magic' of it all is.

It was difficult at first for Jill to get into this book because the writing was a little difficult for her - but reading it aloud together really helped. The story has some surprising twists. It's a story about a girl that is left an orphan in Africa during the influenza epidemic of the early 1900's. She gets stuck in a plot of deception where she's used to help a nasty couple who is making people believe she is their deceased daughter so that they can secure a huge inheritance back in England. Her experiences leaving her beloved Africa and adjusting to live in England is really well-written. There's a ton to be learned about animals and the natural worlds of both Africa and England.

The story is a great one of integrity, courage, and winning even despite impossible situations. We were hooked on it early on. It's a book I would totally recommend. A great read-aloud!

One Jam-Packed Saturday

Today our kids started Aikido classes. I was THRILLED to find a class they could take together. And they were thrilled to finally be a martial arts class. It was fun to watch them embark on this entirely new venture together.


They did all these weird races where they walked in many crazy different ways. By the end of the class Jill said her legs felt like jel-lo!





After the class was over we piled into Allen's new car and took off to Edmonton. We really enjoyed our first trip in his new car. It feels all the better too knowing that his car runs on propane. It's half the price!! Lovin' that!!





We went to Edmonton to go to Nathan Hawryluk's reception. They held it in an old school called the McKay Avenue School. It was so beautiful and such an interesting place to be! Inspired me a little to read up on some Alberta history! I wished we had Jill with us. She's quite interested in these kinds of things lately because of the book we're reading together. (Jill and Pierce hung out with Auntie Virginia and Uncle Andy instead). We had a great time at the reception anyway. Nathan and Jen looked wonderful and very happy....and we had a terrific time visiting and enjoying the building.

After the reception we went back over to Andy and Virginia's and had a great visit. Virginia had just run a 10K race and so she was tired and hungry. I only wish to look so great after a 10K run!

On the way home Peirce kept telling us he NEEDED to go to a playground. The best we could find was an oil rig on the outskirts of Edmonton at Leduc...the famous Leduc No. 1.

You can tell by this picture that Peirce clearly had some energy he needed to use up before a long sit in the car.

....the kind of poses a mother doesn't like. You can tell Allen took this picture. I'd never be having Jill sit on the ledge like that.

Chico always loves a road trip - and he gets pampered probably a little too much for his own good.


All in all it was a GREAT day. We had a fun time hanging out together. Our kids are a lot of fun (most days) and we really enjoyed hanging out with them this weekend.

Friday Five - The Books In Your To-Be-Read Pile

From challenge on a great blog I often read, here's today's post:

How many of you have a to-be-read pile a mile high next to your bed?
What are the top 5 books?
Here are mine (not counting the ones I’m in the middle of seriously reading...did you know there's a difference between what you're seriously read and not so seriously reading....well, there is my my life!):

1. A Thomas Jefferson Education - I read this one a while ago but Jenny Chan read it recently and said I really ought to read it. I figured it might be a good time in my life to read it again. I just might have a new perspective on the topic and gain some interesting things from the book.

2. Unusual Heroes: Canada's Prime Ministers and Fathers of Confederation - Jill's been reading about famous Canadians lately and it's been quite interesting. I snuck this book from her pile.

3. Busy But Balanced (Practical and Inspirations Ways to Create a Calmer, Closer Family) - this is one I've been glancing at now and then in preparation for the workshop I'm teaching next weekend/

4. Mothering With Spiritual Power - another book for the workshop I'm teaching

5. Bob Greene's Total Makeover - because I really need to read another diet book (sarcasm off) and maybe this one is the one that will do the trick and inspire me onto thinness!!