Favorite Read Aloud Book Lately

Oh my goodness.  I wish this book was mandatory for every 4th and 5th grader.  No, wait it really should be mandatory for everyone.  Can you tell we loved it.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is about typical kids you meet in a class room, all with different strengths and different weaknesses.  You know the quote, “If you judge a fish by his ability to climb a tree he will believe he is dumb all his life.”  (Or something like that.)  The book is a lesson in playing to your strengths, and realizing you are not dumb.

 

As readers we get to listen in on the thoughts of Ally, who thinks she is dumb but really is very insightful and intelligent.  She is also good at making friends, which is a skill you can use to benefit your life forever.  Lucky for her a teacher enters her life who shows her she is very smart indeed.

We laughed, I cried– tears of joy!  There are a lot of life lessons here.  When Ally realizes the friendship bracelets she wishes someone would share with her have actually been purchased, it is a revelation I wish every child who feels left our or insecure could experience.  And they can!  Right here.  It’s worth reading out loud so you can discuss it and know your kids heard what you heard and you can hear what they hear.

I think we will read it again before 6th grade.  So good.

Happy reading!

 

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A good night sleep message…

Tonight I want you to know it is possible to be your own best friend.  In fact, I think everyone should be their own super best friend.

And how do you treat your best friend?  You are kind.  You are honest.  You let them go first.  You make sure they get what they need.

Do the same things for yourself.

Be your own super best friend.

When you talk to yourself—say something nice.

Make sure your get what you need:  Good sleep, healthy food, deep breaths.

And if you find a time when all your human friends let you down—it does happen—you already know your super best friend lives in your own body and in your own head.

Your super best friend is always ready to play.

You and your super best friend can count the stars, create a song, or bask in the sunlight.

There is super joy in being your own super best friend.

Now.  Deep breath.

Close your eyes.

Be still and quiet and you will go to sleep.

 

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Caught my eye this week…

We were on spring break last week which gave us time to practice.  It got pretty loud!

Some things I saw recently on the internet I thought you might enjoy also.

This shack and the story that goes with it.   I would love to go there!

Ok, ok, yes I need to de-clutter, too.  Following some of these time suggestions.

This discussion on Cup of Jo had me reading all of the comments.  This parenting advice is gold. GOLD!

I am so in love with the pink range in this beach house.  It is perfect for this spot.   I also think it would be perfect in my kitchen.

The “poem” that ends this post is the best part!  Enjoy!

Happy reading!

 

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Getting ready to get wet!

Swim suits for shorter legs

There are lots and lots of long, surf-type bathing suits out there!  They look cool, and provide good sun coverage, I get it.  But my boys are somewhat on the short side and aren’t comfortable with all that material.  It took a bit of looking around but I found some good looking options for us!

Number 1 is from Boden.  We used to have these swim suits.  I loved, loved, loved when they were little and wore these suits.  I still have them and plan on framing them to hang in our beach house one day! (When we have a beach house!)  But now, this style is, well, more their style.

Number 2 is so cute and simple.  And it’s on sale right now at Hanna Andersson!

Number 3 has a very nice surf vibe.  It’s flashy and easy to spot when there is a crowd at the beach or the pool.  This one is from H and M.  You can’t beat their prices.

Number 4 is the one my 10 year old went with.  This is his favorite color.  And it’s from good ole Target.  I got this one for my other 10 year old.

Number 5 is a classic beach/surf suit I found at Dick’s Sporting Goods.   The colors are more subdued and quiet if your swimmer doesn’t want to stand out.   Dick’s includes the out seam measurement in their descriptions.  So helpful.  15 inches on this suit.

Number 6 is the jammer my 12 year old loves.  This will be the third time I have bought this suit!  Very swim team even though we are no longer on the swim team.  He likes the unencumbered fit and we just got a red rash guard to go with it.  Not the sturdiest of suits but he loves it.

If you find others that are a good fit for shorter legs please let me know!

Happy swimming!

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You are You

Sweet words to send them to sleep.  I read from my ipad while the lights are off.  My husband likes to use his phone.

 

I love this Dr. Seuss rhyme; “Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!”

That is so great! No one alive is you-er than you. You are the best you in this whole wide world.

Keep that thought in the front of your mind. You are the best you in this whole wide world.

Sometimes the world will tell you you’re not good enough. In fact, Dr. Seuss was told that his books were “too different” and that no one would buy them. Different can be awesome, and popular. Now it seems most every child, and adult, has a favorite Dr. Seuss book.

The world was ready for different and ready for Dr. Seuss. I think the world is ready for you.

No one is you-er than you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you. Be true to you. Even if you are a little different. Different makes you you-er. And I love you.

Now, let’s get some sweet sleep. So you can be your best you.

Deep breath.

Close your eyes.

Be still and quiet and you will go to sleep.

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A Poem before bed…

Show up Filled Up 

Show up filled up

With grace and humor and love

Show up filled up

With cheese and bread and things you’ve dreamed of

Show up filled up

With kindness and desire and glory

Show up filled up

With peaches and pride and a true story

Show up filled up

With Nuts and berries and praise

Show up filled up

With song and dance because you’re brave

Show up filled up

With grains, and thanks and thought.

Show up filled up

With zest and time and all you’ve got!

 

Now deep breath.

Close your eyes.

Be still and quiet and you’ll go to sleep.

 

 

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Caught my eye this week…

Sam reading in car

 

I am still having a ball doing my own workout at home.  I start here and keep dancing.  Put YouTube on auto play and just dance.  See if you can sit still to “Bye, Bye, Bye” 

Showing these 6 different rugs is genius.  My furniture is very different but I love getting a feeling for each rug.  Thank you for rolling out all those rugs, and taking pictures!

Just finished this book.  I know its all over the internet and there is a movie in the works, but I loved it too.  Had to share.

Who knew we were NBA insiders.  Comfort food is power food.  Ask a mom.  She knows.

This lovely wallpaper feels so sweet.  But I think I love the floors the best.

Have a great week!  Spring is here!

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Thank you day, for today

To read aloud to my children, after lights out. 

yellow shark

Now that the day is over we can say, thank you for this day.

And good bye day.

This day will never come again.  It is now tucked into the library of our mind.

Thank you day.  Thank you for all the good things that happened today.

Thank you for all the challenges of this day.

We are grateful for both.  We can learn from both.

Good bye day.  Thank you.

Let’s use the lessons of today, tomorrow.  Tomorrow we get a fresh start.

We are grateful for a fresh start.  Grateful for tomorrow.

Thank you for tomorrow.  And thank you for today.  Good bye today.

Deep breath.

Close your eyes.

Be still and quiet and you will go to sleep.

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On our chalkboard this week…

No deposit

Last week’s quote was:  Success:  10% inspiration, 90% perspiration.  That generated a lot of conversation.  Things like, what is perspiration, what about annihilation, and even some serious talk about what it means to get the work done.  My husband says the thinks the quote is really 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration– and he’s propably right– but those odds just look a little daunting.  So I went with 10.

We will see what kind of dinner table talk this week’s quote brings up.  I got it from The Happiness Project.  Gretchen Rubin calls it a universal truth, one of the very few.

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