Mid-Year Reading Check In

January:          7 books   ::    3 audio / 4 novels    ::        Total- 7/52

February:     10 books   ::   4 audio / 6 novels     ::        Total- 17/52

March:           8 books     ::   3 audio / 5 novels     ::        Total- 25/52

April:              9 books    ::    5 audio / 4 novels     ::         Total- 34/52

May:               9 books    ::    3 audio / 6 novels      ::        Total- 43/52

June:               9 books    ::    5 audio / 4 novels       ::        Total- 52/52

Only halfway through the year, I met my reading goal of 52 books.  I was kind of blown away.  But really excited! Most months I read 9 books, and in February I read 10! If I keep this up, I could read 100 books this year! That would be a first!

I know one of the main reasons I have been able to read so many books is because I use audio books.  Listening to them while I do chores around the house; walk the kids to and from school; and when I drive to appointments (Logan & Wyatt's specialists are out of town) or to visit family gives me far more "reading" time than if I was strictly reading books myself.  I use the Overdrive & Hoopla apps for audiobooks.  Overdrive works by using your library card to check books out to you, for 14 or 21 days.  Hoopla also uses your library card to check books out to you, but instead of waiting for books to become available, you are allowed 7 books per month (audio or ebook) and they are immediately available.

I also am reading more this year because I've made it a priority.  I want to be spending my time reading.  So I try to always have a book with me wherever I go (doctor appointments, to the pool or park, in the car, etc.), and I try to do at least some reading everyday.  I also have started setting page goals when I sit down to read. Like, "I'm going to read 50 pages" for example.  That has helped me read books a lot faster than usual.

Also this year I gave up ebooks, and am only reading real books.  I found that I just much prefer the feel of the pages in my hand to my phone or kindle.  When I was nursing Carly for her first two years, reading via the Kindle app made my life easier (the one handed convenience) but now I am happy to be back to real books.  In addition to all that, I have given myself permission to DNF (Did Not Finish) books that I don't like.  In the past I forced myself to finish every book I started.  But no more.  And my reading life is so much better because of it.

Now, without further ado, 

I will share the best (and worst) 

books of 2019 thus far.

Best Audio Books:

Honorable Mentions:

Most Disturbing Good Reads:

 Midwife Novels:

DNF/Do Not Recommend:

Great Biographies:

If you're looking for book accounts to follow on Instagram for reading recommendations, I suggest Readwithkat and Modern Mrs. Darcy and Haverlee.  They are my favorites.

As you can see, I went through a midwife period and I found I really love biographies.  I think getting on a kick of certain kinds of novels also increases my reading speed and consumption.  I get excited and am really motivated to keep reading.  

I truly am curious, what genres or themes get you excited? What kind of "book kick" have you been on in 2019 so far?  For the rest of 2019, I will be reading my neighborhood book club picks (Eden's Outcasts, Murder at the Brightwell, and A Severe Mercy) as well as The Inspired Readers Book Club books- The Perfect Couple and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Other than that, I am going to try and follow my heart and just keep reading!!!

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Week 19 Around Here {2019}

{credit: @gorkiegork}

Grocery shopping... with all four kids Saturday to get it out of the way, and feeling amazed at how quickly we were done.  We really can divide and conquer and man, are we fast!!!

Taking... Wyatt to a birthday party in the park this weekend and having the best time with all four kids.

Watching... Brain Child with the kids on Netflix.  We've only watched one episode so far, but the kids can't wait to watch more.  (We all learned so much!)

Thankful... the guys washed my van this weekend with Carly's help, which motivated me to vacuum it, and now it's so fresh & so clean, clean!  I love that feeling.

Learning... so much more about the enneagram. If you've heard people talking about it, but have no idea what it is (or want to know more) click this link and listen to Christina Wilcox give a super quick (less than 4 minute) spiel about what the enneagram is, how it is best used and a few other important facts. I am a firm six. I believe with a wing 5.  Knowing this has made figuring out why I do what I do really fun as of late.

Walking... to school everyday this week and enjoying all the gorgeous weather and spring blossoms.  The walking is so good for my stress level and just makes me feel great about myself.  So grateful!

Baseballin'... three nights this week and feeling so proud of my boys.  You can really see the difference in their ability as time has gone on this season.  Jack & Logan both did great pitching and hitting, and Wyatt got on base multiple times this week.  Jack is becoming quite the catcher, and I love how he cheers on his teammates.  I loved seeing the twins get out and practice a couple times this week as well after school with the neighbor boys, taking advantage of the green space we have near our house.  This is the stuff I always dreamed of when we lived in Alaska and talked about someday having a house.

Growing... tiny, baby grass in our front yard and feeling so proud of it!  Josh and his brother worked really hard to till the land, lay dirt with manure in it and fresh baby seeds, plus so.much.watering everyday to keep it moist at all times.  I can't wait to see how awesome our yard (and adorable picket fence) look with a lush lawn this summer.

Doing... Carly's hair in little twists this week and loving the look so much!

Reading... That Kind of Mother and identifying with it on so.many.levels. There's something I am underlining on almost every page- some kind of truth about motherhood or parenting.  It's amazing. And the fact that it has so resonated with me, but was written by a man is blowing.my.mind.
I also finished Verity, which was insanely disturbing and still has me a bit stunned.
Meanwhile I am also listening to the last of the Midwife trilogy (Once A Midwife) by Patricia Harman, and hoping I can find some other books I enjoy as much once this series is over.

Sharing... my book choices for The Inspired Readers Book Club summer reads (over on Facebook- come join us!) in last week's Around Here post, as well as on social media.

We will be reading:
That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam for May
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett for June
The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand for July
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid for August

Sending... Carly to Grandma's on Thursday to play & learn at "Grandma School".  She had a great time, and even came home with flowers she had planted for me for Mother's Day! Awww!
On the way home (as always) she fell asleep, and when Josh got her here, he was able to hold her as she slept.  It was the sweetest.

Envying... everyone with mature lilac trees.  My aunt gave me three trees when we moved here, and they are growing beautifully, but they are still babies, so they aren't producing a lot yet.  I can't wait until they are bigger and full of blooms!

Researching... more on pineal cysts since Wyatt's begun complaining of visual changes (mostly having trouble focusing) in addition to his insomnia and headaches.

Playing... outside as much as possible this week, soaking up the sunshine after school, and loving the green grass & longer hours of daylight.

Making... wishes on "wishies" with Carly (who only wishes for her wishes to come true, but never actually ever wishes for anything), which is the sweetest thing ever.  She thinks it is so magical to find them, blow the little whisps into the air and watch them disperse.  I swear, seeing the world through her eyes never gets old.

Attending... Muffins with Moms at the boys' school on Friday morning and seeing so many of my mama friends with their kiddos as well.  The kids were thrilled to get chocolate milk with their muffins and I enjoyed sharing some special time with them.

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{credit: @justmyenneatype}

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