8.28.2019

Week 32 Around Here {2019}




































{August 8, 2003}

{August 8, 2019}


Go Wyatt!!!!
Reading... Molokai & Maybe You Should Talk To Someone.  Molokai is somewhat slow paced, but in a nice way, and I love the characters.  I've been devouring Maybe You Should Talk To Someone.  If you are at all interested in therapy, counseling or psychology, I highly suggest this one.  It is easily readable, yet very insightful.  I have loved it!

Enjoying... our backyard the last few days, knowing our time here is limited.  Carly has enjoyed playing on the picnic table and I've done lots of reading out there.

Watching... Jack's trip from afar.  He went with my sister and her three kids to Vancouver to visit my parents for a week.  He had the best time with his cousins.  George (our cat) missed him terribly and cried for him often.  It was adorably pathetic. 

Packing... our belongings for our big move, which should happen (if all goes well) on the 24th.  I am really glad to have as much packed as I do this far in advance.  It will make actual moving that much easier when it comes time.

Dealing... with some smoke in the air from a local wild fire.  It's crummy for Wyatt because it means keeping him indoors because of his asthma.  Hopefully our awesome firefighters will get it under control soon and the air quality will improve.

Comparing... our gorgeous hibiscus plant on Year 3 with Year 1.  It has grown so much! And it's bloom time has grown from four short weeks to more than eight weeks.

Swimming... with our fun crew at the pool a bunch of times.  Carly has turned into quite the swimmer, and asks Josh over and over to throw her into the air.  She's such a thrill seeker! Just like the twins were/are.
One night we got to swim in the evening when our orthodontist rented out the pool for the night and we were able to go, just the boys and me, to try swimming in the dark.  It was so much fun!!
That night Wyatt passed the swim test and then, after many long minutes of encouragement from the entire pool on the diving board, he jumped into the deep end.  I don't know if I have ever cheered so loudly in my life.  I was so proud of him!  His courage was amazing.
The twins spent their time over at the Flow Rider surfing.  Jack has gotten really good in a very short amount of time, and Logan's just behind him, having missed a few days at the pool.  Their athletic ability always astounds me.

Breaking... up fights between my kids as we count down the weeks until school starts again.  I think we are all a bit anxious for the move, for new schools (the twins start middle school and Wyatt will move to a new elementary school) and for all the changes headed our way, and it's showing up for the boys in the form or much (!) shorter tempers. Whoo! Lord, give me strength!

Feeling... proud of Carly as she has learned to make her bed, and won't let anyone help her.  When she's done, she takes my hand and leads me into her room to show me.  It's so adorable.  Also feeling proud of Logan and Jack as they have really gotten breakfast cooking under their belt.  Sausage, bacon and ham, as well as eggs are their forte, and I'm so grateful.  Their ability to cook lightens my load tremendously. 

Loving... how Wyatt reads to Carly at bedtime while they wait for me to meet them in there and tuck them in.  They'll take a few books into their room and he will read to her, then when I come in, they each choose one they want me to read.  Then I sing to them and get them cozy for sleep.  Wyatt has this baby voice he uses when he's reading to Carly and it is just as sweet as molasses.  I can hardly stand it.

Celebrating... our 16 year wedding anniversary with a lunch date thanks to Josh's mom (who had Carly & Wyatt) and my bestie Shana (who had the twins).  We had the nicest time, just talking about our future, the new house and what life will look like for us in the fall.  Time is funny- In some ways it feels like we just got married yesterday, but on the other hand, I can hardly remember life as newlyweds.  Mostly I just know that there's no one else I'd rather do life with. 


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8.15.2019

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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