Things the Boys Like - June 2022

Usually, these end of the quarter Things I Like posts are dedicated to books each of the boys are loving lately.  BUT, since I've been doing a lot of picture book posts lately for summer...we're going to take a slight break to just things they are loving.  I surveyed them and the most popular answer was playing with the neighbor friends (which is wonderful, love that they have friends that I don't have to drive them to!) but hard to blanket recommend.  So, besides that and just the general fact of school not being in session right now...some things they are liking lately:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, links for which are included within this post, at no additional cost to you.  Thanks for helping support this blog!   Of course, utilize the library or shop used or from an independent bookstore, if you prefer!

1) Scooby Doo DVDs from the library
Screen time has been a pain to manage every summer since Luke started school and maybe a little bit ever since he was old enough to watch screens.  We've finally landed on a plan we are all happy with.  They pick out Scooby Doo DVDs from the library (free).  They feel like they get to do some of the picking.  The DVDs tend to be about an hour long.  I don't have to have arguments over "just one more episode!" like there is with anything streaming or policing what sort of content they are consuming OR the endless fights over not agreeing over what to watch.  They have to have chores done and silent reading done and the house generally picked up AND we've read books together...THEN they get screen time in the late afternoon and it's over when the DVD is over (or before if we're on a time crunch for something).  I get a little break, they know when it's happening so they (rarely) ask all day, and we all know what they will watch.  WIN WIN WIN.

2) Popsicles
Look, the part of me that is aiming for zero-waste HATES these.  However, the part of me that likes an easy treat to cool everyone off...loves these.  And the boys love them.  And I hate to admit how many we might consume in a day.  I KNOW...the waste.  I hate to even admit we eat these (a lot) BUT maybe it's still offset by all the other changes we've made?  I don't know, popsicles might be saving our summer.

3) Water guns
Our neighbor likes to give the boys gifts (All. the. time.  Too much, in my opinion) and one recent one was water guns...for the family.  The stipulation being Matt & I get the big ones and the boys get the smaller ones.  Some days last week when it was REALLY (100°) hot, we had full family, fully clothed, water gun battles in the backyard and it honestly was a lot of fun.  It's nice they have matching guns (with theirs or when they borrow our set) so they are (somewhat) equally matched when playing together.  And with the summer heat they can be a relief!

4) I Survived Graphic Novels
These have been Luke's current favorite books.  We carefully picked out 8 books for him to take on our Maine trip and instead of reading all of those...he pretty much just reread one of these over and over and over again.  I think we have all of them currently checked out from the library and they've kept him busy!  And he's learned about some historical events too!

5) Little Tikes Gas 'n Go Mower
Sam got an early adoption day present when Matt picked up one of these for half off.  Matt figured this might be the last summer Sam will be interested in pretending to mow so we might as well not wait until August to give it to him.  Luke does about 75% of our mowing (that the aforementioned neighbor doesn't beat us to) and Sam always wants to "mow" too.  We've been borrowing an old fashioned (I keep describing it as "like Mickey Mouse") from the neighbor (same one) so it's not a danger to have Sam "mowing" in the backyard the same time as Luke and Sam takes great pride in his work.  He also requests he gets paid like Luke (Sam get a nickle or dime...Luke gets a few bucks).  It's pretty hilarious how much he loves it.  

If you have kids, what have THEY been loving lately?

{31} Picture Books that Feature Summer

Happy almost July!  July is PEAK summer and maybe my favorite month of the year (although December is very good competition).  We have adventures planned, lazy pool days hoped for, and lots of soaking in a full month without school to think about (I may have to start thinking about supply shopping by the end).  

To that end, here are 31 picture books that feature summer or some element of summer (the beach) in some way.  I love reading seasonally with my boys (and my own books!) and while there are many books that can be read any time of year, there is something so magical about a book that can encompass a whole season so perfectly.  

I've done a bunch of previous picture book posts for summer: 100 from summer 2017, 100 from summer 2019, 30 to kick off summer 2021, 36 summery books, 30 to wrap-up summer 2021, and 30 to kick off summer 2022.  There's over 300 there!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, links for which are included within this post, at no additional cost to you.  Thanks for helping support this blog!   Of course, utilize the library or shop used or from an independent bookstore, if you prefer!

Summer Color! by Diana Murray, illustrated by Zoe Persico
Lovely celebration of all the colors of summer and all the fun that can be had outside enjoying them!

The Seashore Book by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by Wendell Minor
A boy desperately wants a trip to the seashore and his mother paints the most vivid word descriptions of what that is like.

Pete the Cat's Family Road Trip by Kimberly Dean and James Dean
This was a big hit on our recent family road trip, especially since it featured one of our destinations (Niagara Falls).  Although the Cat family needs to work on their packing, I believe.

On the First Day of Summer Vacation by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Sarah Jennings
Yes, this may have been more applicable nearly a month ago but we didn't read it on our first day of summer and I think there is plenty to celebrate about summer adventures at any time!

Shadow Chasers by Elly MacKay
I have fond childhood memories of many accumulated hours spent outside in those magical hours when the shadows are very long.  Just like chasing each other's shadows while playing shadow tag, this is about chasing those dreams that might be hard to catch. 

Summer Song by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
I really like Kevin Henkes' seasonal series and this, like the ones for the other 3 seasons, paints such a beautiful and accurate picture of the magic of summer.

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Is there a more summery fruit than watermelon (I mean, there are certainly BETTER fruits than watermelon) but this crocodile has the classic childhood fears of wondering what happens if you swallow a seed.

Me and You and the Red Canoe by Jean E. Pendziwol, illustrated by Phil
I have NO interest in an all day fishing trip (or even all day fishing) but this describes two siblings doing that, from their red canoe, so perfectly, you'll feel like you were there too.

Pool Party by Amy Duchene and Elisa Parhad, illustrated by Anne Bentley
Pool parties were a magical thing in my youth, there was no better invitation to get.  This captures those feelings without having to actually get wet.

A Stick is an Excellent Things: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
I can say firmly that my children would agree with this, although they never seem to think of it when they are complaining of being bored.  But their collection of sticks ("But it's such a good stick!") should remind them.

It Began with Lemonade by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Lian Cho
Is there a more summery drink than lemonade? (Well, I prefer sweet tea but nobody in my family does.).  An adventure follows a girl when she realized everyone on her block has the same idea as her to have a lemonade stand.

Bubbles....Up! by Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Sonia Sanchez
A celebration of water and it's refreshing nature in the summer.  I can still remember the absolute relief of jumping into a pool in very hot Charleston South Carolina almost 20 years ago.  There is nothing that quite matches that feeling.

You're My Little Firecracker by Nicola Edwards, illustrated by Natalie Marshall
Celebrates so many very summer things, I find this book super adorable for summer even though I have one kid who definitely thinks he's outgrown board books and one who maybe has.

Ready, Set, Sail! by Meg Fleming, illustrated by Luke Flowers
A fun little sailing adventure between two friends.  Afterwards they tell tales of what they saw!

Summer Camp Critter Jitters by Jory John, illustrated by Liz Climo
My summer camp experience is limited to a total of 4 nights (over 2 summers) at 4-H camp but I can still relate to the nerves of being away from home and with strangers!  All of the animals have different fears of what they are going to face but realize there was nothing to worry about!

Into the Outdoors by Susan Gal
A family travels up a mountain, over a bridge, and under trees to get to their campsite (I personally prefer campsites I can drive right up to...). 

Monster and Mouse Go Camping by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Jared Chapman
So, turns out, monsters are great camping companions.  They might eat the tent, sleeping bags, etc.  While a mouse might forget to pack food.  This was a charming one, I'm glad I don't camp with their of them.

Long May She Wave: The True Story of Caroline Pickersgill and Her Star-Spangled Creation by Kristen Fulton, illustrated by Holly Berry
I don't do many biographies on these lists but one about the American flag is just perfect for Flag Day (June 14th!) or 4th of July (date obvious). 

Living Lights: Fireflies in Your Backyard by Nancy Loewen
The most summery bug, at least of ones that people don't despise with every fiber of their being (you all know the insect to which I refer).  We loved catching LIGHTNING BUGS as kids.  (The name is wrong but the book is good.)

Night in the Country by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Mary Szilagyi
I grew up spending most of my nights in the country and this book just captures all those noises so well.  Living more in the city took me a long time to get used to!

Fred and Ted Go Camping by Peter Eastman
An easy reader about two dogs, with very different preparation techniques, go camping together.  We've been experimenting with being campers again and it's fun to work some of those books into rotation!

And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jaime Kim
When the days start getting longer and school lets out...then comes summer.  An ode to the summer staples of things like flip-flops, fireworks, and ice cream trucks (even though we never buy from them). 

We Love Fishing! by Ariel Bernstein, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal
A bit in the style of Elephant & Piggie, 4 friends are going fishing together and they all love fishing!  Except for Squirrel...who doesn't (my thoughts line up with Squirrel). 

The Sandcastle That Lola Built by Megan Maynor, illustrated by Kate Berube
When kids accidentally knock down part of Lola's castle she gets them to help instead!  A take on The House That Jack Built except this time it's a sand castle! 

Here Comes the Ocean by Meg Fleming, illustrated by Paola Zakimi
A simple story about the wonders of time spent at the ocean, sand dollars, chasing waves, and sneaky animals.

Camp Tiger by Susan Choi, illustrated by John Rocco
I was reading this one in the car on our recent road trip and Matt was very confused.  I'll admit, it doesn't make complete sense.  A family is going on a end of the summer camping trip when a real tiger wanders into their camp and then the youngest son befriends it over the course of their trip.  We just go with it, which would not be my response if this happened in real life.

To the Beach! by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
This is a delightful one about a family trying to go to the beach when they keep realizing something they forgot and have to go back.  Until they are FINALLY all ready to go...and it's raining. 

Cannonball by Sacha Cotter, illustrated by Josh Morgan
It's been a VERY long time since I did a cannonball but I have one kid who loves to do them and reading this feels like a much dryer version of doing one. 

The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann
Ernestine is so excited to go camping with her aunt and cousin, try out all her new gear, have a new adventure...and then camping turns out to be A LOT of work and Ernestine isn't sure she's quite ready for that much adventure.

The Truth About my Unbelievable Summer by Davide Cali, illustrated by Benjamin Chaud
A kid gets the classic back to school assignment of "What did you do over summer break?" but this kid starts telling a fantastical story spanning the globe, treasure hunting, and so many characters.

Beach by Elisha Cooper
Elisha Cooper writes such gorgeous and beautifully told books about a variety of subjects and there isn't any more summer appropriate than one about the beach.

A Different Me After Vacation (but still mostly the same)

Last week we had a wonderful family vacation to Maine, specifically Acadia National Park and a bit in Bar Harbor.  Maine, specifically Acadia, have been on my list of places I've wanted to visit for awhile.  It got bumped around a bit when the pandemic messed up our vacation plans but all the way to LAST June, I mostly mapped out the trip, had Matt request the week off, and then a year later...we went.  

The biggest problem with Acadia and Maine is that they are really stinking far from Indiana.  The drive was around 18 hours before stops.  And even once we got to Maine there was still another ~3.5 hours in the car.  We were gone just a few hours over exactly 7 days and yet we spent FORTY-FIVE hours in the car, close to 2500 miles.  It was a HAUL.  (That does include our time driving around Acadia).  Let me tell you, that kind of proximity to your family for that amount of time will change a person, even if just a little.  It was A LOT of hours in the car but our time in Maine was so wonderful that it was worth it.  More coming from that trip once I finish sorting the 1500 pictures!

It was the best kind of vacation in that we made some wonderful family memories in a truly beautiful place, visiting somewhere none of us had ever been before.  The boys were at times grouchy, tired, and annoyed at the audacity of us to make them do hikes in a National Park (all of which, but one, were rated excellent for children!).  None of us got quite enough sleep, our plans in the park were scrapped more than once due to lack of parking (and they aren't even in their prime season yet!).  BUT...there were so many good things about our trip too.  The scenery was AMAZING and the air felt so clean.  Plus, home was going through a 90°+ heat wave while we were gone and our hottest day was 78° (and that hiking was so hot we had to get ice cream afterwards).  We picked, a year ago, a very good week to be gone!

I don't even know how to explain it but I felt like a bit of a different person in Maine and I'm not entirely sure what to chalk that up to. Staying in a very new place was part of it.  I also nearly lived in the same, new, sweatshirt all week (it was chilly enough for one!) and it was exciting to enjoy a new piece of clothing that much!  I also paused my "must drink 24 ounces of water before anything else" in the morning rule by, gasp, having some tea nearly first thing (although I still hit my water goal almost ever day, just not all the ones we were mostly in the car, for time saving reasons!).  And then there was a belly bag.   

Back in the mid-90s, most of my sisters and I rocked belly bags ALL. OVER. THE. COUNTRY.  I'm pretty sure I wore mine from the Grand Canyon all the way up to our brief stop in Maine.  They were the handiest things.  Then I started high school and that wasn't cool anymore even though I'm 95% sure I still have my nylon one in the basement.  We had been through a lot together!

But then this summer, with this trip and a short one to Kings Island looming...I started to reconsider the belly bag again.  In Kings Island we hoped to split up to take Luke on bigger coasters and it seemed the easiest way to hold onto my phone when on coasters while also being able to get a hold of Matt to figure out where he was when we got off.  And then there was all the hikes we planned to do in Acadia.  I have a small cross body purse that I've used on past trips but that seemed like a bit of a hassle on hikes, especially jumping over rocks.  But I still wanted to have my essentials (phone, wallet, keys, lip balm, park map) close.  

SO...belly bag it was.  I kept my sisters more updated than they probably would have liked on this journey, first when they started arriving in the mail (I ordered 3, returned 2) and then started wearing them.  You all, they are wonderful.  It's not the most fashionable thing but also I am close to 40 and also highly value convenience.  It even holds my wallet easier than my cross body.  And, you all, after jumping and clambering over countless boulders last week...that belly bag earned it's keep.  Plus Kings Island.  

Is it silly to feel different just from a new sweatshirt, a new belly bag, relaxing my water rules, and some fresh air?  Maybe.  (Also, my hair seemed to behave very well on the trip which is not a small thing!)  But, also, nothing can clear our minds and reset routines like a good vacation out of the house.  I even forgot my face washing routine by the time we got home!  It took me a few seconds longer than it should have to remember what to grab!  But it feels like a good reset, like restarting a computer or phone.  It's easier to break in new routines or adjusting to the summer of having Luke home once we've shaken up our schedule a bit.   It's easier to mentally turn our habits and routines over and around in my mind to see what might be working and what isn't.  Just getting a break from everything we do all day makes us look at those things differently.  

(Also wearing my beloved new sweatshirt here, I'm sure more of that will be popping up!)

I know we are lucky that we are able to travel, for a variety of reasons, especially given these gas prices (our gas budget for the trip had to increase quite a bit from what I planned in December!).  I want my kids to see the world from different places, even if that's just parts of the US, it always helped me care and understand different parts of our country better.  The recent news about the flooding in Yellowstone means something different having been on those washed out roads!  And I firmly believe our National Parks are a treasure and hope to take my kids to many more.  It's easier to want to make a smaller impact on our Earth when you've seen the beauty beyond our paved roads and streets filled with buildings (although I love a good city visit too!).  

Not taking a trip in 2020 really made me appreciate even more the break and reset that comes with actually traveling.  I never want to leave my house in the days right before a planned trip but then once we are more than an hour-ish from home, I'm so excited to be headed somewhere new, to shake up those routines, and maybe play with being a slightly different version of myself.  I'm not looking for radical changes and I do love our little life here, but it sure is nice to know I can still rock a belly bag and appreciate small changes.  And all that fresh air never hurts.  Maine was marvelous and really might be my favorite vacation we've taken the kids on, it's certainly up there. 

A Handful of Graphic Novels I've Enjoyed

Graphics novels are great if you are behind on a reading goal and need to catch up.  That is sort of how I started reading them.  BUT they also can tell wonderful stories, often personal stories, in words AND pictures.  I am always blown away with how the author/artist can tell a story and be good at both words AND art.  These always seem like they would take FOREVER to make.  I'm not sure how true that is, but it feels true.  Just drawing pages and pages of pictures but also being able to do it in a way that enhances a story!  I am always amazed at the talent that is displayed.

I haven't read a lot of graphic novels, although Luke is a big fan!, but I have enjoyed almost all the ones I have read.  Here a few that might be worth your time!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, links for which are included within this post, at no additional cost to you.  Thanks for helping support this blog!   Of course, utilize the library or shop used or from an independent bookstore, if you prefer!

1) Displacement: a Travelogue by Lucy Knisley
When I was thinking about this list, Lucy Knisley is the first author that came to mind (and maybe the only graphic novelist I could name).  I've read nearly all of her books.  This is a travel journal of a cruise she took with her Grandparents.  It made me really miss my Grandparents AND cruising, and also a bit glad I never mixed the two.  She shows her love for her Grandparents but also the struggle of caring for elderly adults with health problems on vacation.  She's also coming to terms with mortality and parts of her Grandfather's WWII memoir are excerpted too.  It was a bittersweet story but beautifully told.

2) Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks
I've read quite a few books by Rainbow Rowell but I am not sure what compelled me to pickup this Halloween themed graphic novel.  This is probably YA and up appropriate since it follows two teens in their final year of working at an elaborate pumpkin farm in October.  They are both seniors in high school and next year will be off to college so this is it, the last night of the last year.  This pumpkin farm is EXTENSIVE and sounds like a lot of fun but maybe also somewhere I would refuse to take my kids because of crowds.  I've read it the past 2 Halloweens and it's a fun, short, seasonal read for someone who just barely tolerates the holiday.

3) Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder
Tyler had just finished her first year of college when her Mom is diagnosed with late-stage cancer.  Her Mom actually does seem like she was pretty wonderful and it's a heartbreaking and love-filled story of her Mom's final months, from her first oncology appointment through the funeral and navigating her Mom-less existence afterwards.  The author is telling the story a decade later, when she's had time to process and live with her grief for awhile.  It made me want to call and hug my own Mom and hope I can be a great Mom to my own kids.

4) Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
Did I know I was interested in a story of a high school basketball team?  No, I did not.  The author is (or was?) a high school teacher when his school's team starts having a phenomenal season, a record breaking kind that is getting them closer and closer to the California State Championships.  I haven't paid much attention to high school basketball since I was in high school and went to all the home games as part of the pep band.  BUT, I got sucked into this story pretty quickly.

5) The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui
This is the real story of the author's and her family's escape from South Vietnam in the 1970s after the country fell.  It's incredibly emotional as they go through the anguish of immigration after barely escaping their home country.  She explores her own family's journal through her new lens as a first time parent and how parental love can transcend so many things.  I think this is the graphic novel I read that had the author's note that she learned to draw in order to tell this story in this format and that just blows my mind.  What an incredible determination and feat!  

Have you read any graphic novels?  I'd always love some new recommendations!

Summer Shopping

We really try to be minimalists in many parts of our lives.  It's a constant project to just have less things.  However, there are about two times a year I let myself do some impulse shopping.  One is in December (hello, bottle brush trees!) and the other is right at the start of summer.  We're two years into a tradition of doing some summer prep shopping on one of Luke's last days in school.  I still try to mostly be intentional about what we are buying but also allow myself a little more indulging than usual.  I never NEED more summer (or Christmas) decor BUT it sure is fun to add a few new things to the rotation each year.

To be clear, we don't own nearly all the items below but they did all catch my eye as fun summer things when doing some online browsing!  We do own at least one thing from each grouping though.  Some that have been reliable for awhile and some new things bought this year!  Window shopping is fun, even without buying anything!  Maybe especially then!

 flamingo cross-stitch | Sea Turtle coloring book | Sea Turtle & Dolphin Lego Set* | hooded flamingo towel

pineapple pop-it | flamingo iron-on patch | sea turtle suncatcher

 

*we obviously own this.

watermelon placemat | gingham plates** | sea turtle plates | camping placemats***
pineapple serving dish | corn on the cob holders**** | ombre glass***** | summer food storage****** | ombre beverage dispenser | pineapple tumbler

**I bought a few of these to round out our outdoor plate set
***Yes, we have these too.
****Bought more of these in case we have guests when eating corn on the cob, we have a nearly identical set that has served us well for years!
*****REALLY liked these and then went back for them.  Replacing 2 stemless wine glasses Matt & I have broken in the past few months (both times in the dish drainer!)
******Bought these too...

glass flamingo | pineapple sheets | pineapple (fake) succulent*******
mountain art | stars & stripes wreath | star wreath
large pinwheel******** | blue glitter pinwheel********* | patriotic pinwheel | stars & stripes pinwheel

*******Bought these last year and still have it!
********This really is large, we have one in our yard!
*********Glittery blue always gets me.  We have this too.

flamingo towel 1 | flamingo towel 2 | flamingo floatie | pineapple doormat********** | pineapple floatie
pineapple backpack cooler | sea turtle sand molds*********** | Eiffel Tower sand mold | flamingo kite | pineapple floatie

**********We don't have this exact one but we do have a pineapple doormat! 

***********I had these in my cart but have resisted so far! Sam really likes some castle molds we bought at the beach last year.

Do I need to do more shopping??  Maybe.  There are still a few of these that I'm eyeing!  And maybe eyeing is enough!  We'll see!

Book Love: The Lazy Genius Kitchen by Kendra Adachi

The kitchen has never been my strength.  Organizing it, yes, feel pretty good about that.  But going all the way back to my 1st year in 4-H at the age of 10 and winning a blue ribbon for my chocolate chip cookies...I've long been drawn to making the kinds of foods you aren't supposed to eat in excess.  You know, desserts, ice creams, mixed drinks, etc.  Making the foods that make up the bulk of a meal...never been a thing I excel at or enjoy much.  I firmly believe in family meals, when possible, and we do all sit around the table together almost every night.  

However, while our meals are largely homemade, none of them are elaborate and I really prioritize easy meals that my kids will actually eat (that last one isn't a given, what they eat one night they might hate the next night.  I have a 4 year old who is especially picky right now.).  I can't say I enjoy my time in the kitchen making meals most of the time, even though I know we all need to eat, 3 TIMES A DAY! (Or more, if you have kids who seem to be constantly snacking...says the person who just finished a bag of something at my desk...).

Kendra Adachi is a Lazy Genius - the tag line from her podcast that I've been listening to for many years is "Be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't" which is pretty much exactly what I am trying to achieve in my life right now.  Or for always.  I wrote about her first book, in the summer of 2020 and really appreciated and use her Lazy Genius principles probably every day (My particular favorites are "start small" and "what can I do now to make _____ easier later."). 

The Lazy Genius Kitchen: Have What You Need, Use What You Have, and Enjoy It Like Never Before by Kendra Adachi already has me making changes in how we use our kitchen.  Besides for the obvious cooking and eating.  It made me look at so many little things that we could be doing better in order to ease the tension points of our eventual eating.  It's been a bit spotty implementing changes with summer adventures but something I really hope to keep working on over the course of the summer.

Cookbooks are fun to read (especially dessert and/or pastry focused ones) but this book is not that.  It actually only has 2 recipes.  AND YET, I feel much more competent in the kitchen, or at least on my way to being more competent in the kitchen, after reading it.   And I initially didn't think this book would be relevant to me!

This book made me realize the two big problem points in our making and eating supper rhythms.  One is the menu planning of it.  I still follow this same basic system I wrote about 9 years ago (except I've long planned just 2 weeks at a time instead of a whole month).  However, I really, really, dislike menu planning.  I see the importance.  I hate going to the grocery without a list.  I have a good habit of checking for what we are out of before buying, say, a new box of pasta.  And we typically add things to the list when something runs out.  The making of the grocery list or over stocking up on things isn't the problem.  It's the picking the meals to go into the menu plan that is the problem and causes me more work than I would like.  

I haven't finished revising this system but it's hopefully going to happen in June still and then I will blog about it.  But it was reading this book that finally helped me put a new plan in motion.

The other big sticking point to our eating is that I usually need to be making supper about the same time Luke also needs help with homework.  That is currently not a problem but will be again in a few months.  I haven't figured out a solution to this one yet  (other than living off of leftovers which we already do at least 4 days a week...I rarely will make meals that only last for one day).  BUT I have some ideas or some ways to ease this pain point. 

Kendra (she feels like a friend I am on a first name basis with at this point) doesn't give you instructions for how to make your kitchen life easier.  There is no one solution that is going to work for everyone!  However, she helps you figure out what YOU prioritize in this season of life and figure out, with her 5 step system, how to make it happen.  It's a bit more interactive than a "this is how you fix all your time in the kitchen" book but the genius is that you are figuring out what really matters to you.  What matters to me (ease, that my kids will (usually) eat it, and relatively healthy) might not be the same things that matter to you.  And everything can't matter.  There have to be priorities.  And Kendra will help you figure out what those are for you.

Besides all the prioritizing and essentializing that Kendra helps you figure out, she also goes through a lot of basic kitchen things.  What different terms mean (which I knew most of but not all!).  She goes through the liquid index which, honestly, blew my mind a little even though we had used elements of it for years without knowing it.  There are chapters about actually enjoying your meal and personalizing the whole experience for you and whoever you eat with.  Really, it's amazing all the tips and hints and genius she packed into this 200 page book.  And it's a really pretty book too! 

I'm still not a genius in the kitchen but I've also accepted that I don't need to be.  I know what matters to me and I have some ideas for how to make it all easier to me while still feeding my family.  This is definitely a book I will return to again and again as I fine tune our kitchen routine and as seasons change in our lives.  It was a very worthwhile read.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, links for which are included within this post, at no additional cost to you.  Thanks for helping support this blog!   Of course, utilize the library or shop used or from an independent bookstore, if you prefer!

{30} Picture Books to Kick Off Summer

Our picture book reading certainly increases in the summer.  Ideally, I'll read to the boys every morning after breakfast, everyone is changed, and we all do a chore (mine is usually cleaning up from breakfast).  That hasn't happened a single morning, YET.  I still have hope that it will become routine soon.  However, we do read together nearly every single day in the summer and it's so much easier to fit into our schedules without the school runs, homework, and school night bedtimes.  The problems are hauling all the books home from the library (we checkout SO. MANY. BOOKS.) and constantly finding ones to read!  

I've done a bunch of previous picture book posts for summer: 100 from summer 2017, 100 from summer 2019, 30 to kick off summer 2021, 36 summery books, and 30 to wrap-up summer 2021.  There's almost 300 to get you started!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, links for which are included within this post, at no additional cost to you.  Thanks for helping support this blog!   Of course, utilize the library or shop used or from an independent bookstore, if you prefer!  

You Matter by Christian Robinson
A lovely little story about how we are all different in this world but how we all also matter.  Charming illustrations and great message.

Bob Ross and Peapod the Squirrel by Robb Pearlman, illustrated by Jason Kayser
What 80s kid didn't spend at least one sick day watching Bob Ross paint?  In this Bob Ross is helping his friend, Peapod the Squirrel, find a home.  With actual paintings by Bob Ross featured.

Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chin
This shows the size of a kid and how they compare to Redwoods, space, ostriches, and more.  It's a fun way to show kids how small we are, especially compared to things they've never seen in person (my kids has seen an ostrich but never a Redwood and none of us can really comprehend the vastness of space!)

Curiosity: the Story of a Mars Rover by Markus Motum
Before my kids were born (in August 2012), the rover Curiosity touched down on Mars.  This is showing her journey, first hand.  We love space books!

For Spacious Skies: Katharine Lee Bates and the Inspiration for "America the Beautiful" by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Olga Baumert
I try to mostly stay away from biographies for these lists but one about the woman who wrote "America the Beautiful" is just too perfect for summer to pass-up (I think I think of this as a summer song because we used to sing it at lake Mass every Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekend).

If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall
A guide to Earth for visitors and for those of us who already live here!

The Storm Whale by Benji Davies
A boy and his father live near the sea.  The Boy finds a whale washed up on shore and wants to help it but you can only hide a whale for so long (my boys would probably like to try this). 

Mapping Sam by Joyce Hesselberth
We probably got this because my Sam recognized his name on the cover.  It's a fun way to learn about different kinds of maps, through the nighttime adventures of a cat. 

Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin
We've been a fan of Stephanie Graegin's illustrations ever since I first read Luke the Heartwood Hotel series.  Charming story of a girl who brings her stuffed fox (and I have a kid with a beloved stuffed fox) to the woods and the fox takes off!

If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams
LOVE these "If _______ disappeared" books, showing how important different animals are to our ecosystem.  And sharks are perfect for summer.

Little Blue House Beside the Sea by Jo Ellen Bogart, illustrated by Carme Lemniscates
Beautiful story of a child living next to the ocean, in a little blue house, looking out and thinking about all the other kids who might be in other little houses next to the ocean wondering about the other kids. 

Miss Colfax's Light by Aimee Bissonette, illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen
In 1861 a woman, Harriet Colfax, took over as lighthouse keeper for the Michigan City lighthouse on Lake Michigan.  There were very few female lighthouse keepers in the US at the time.  And she kept the job for 43 years through storms, harsh winters, and bad conditions.

Where Happiness Lives by Barry Timms, illustrated by Greg Abbott
This is the sweetest story about some mice who live in a very modest house and dream about how much happier the mice who live in the big mansion must be.  These poor mice go on an adventure where the learn that those rich mice are looking right back at them and thinking the same thing. 

Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton
Little Owl has fallen from his tree and can't find his mother.  With the help of a new friend, they seek her out and while they find many animals with some qualities that match his mother, none can be her except her. 

Flamingo Sunset by Jonathan London, illustrated by Kristina Rodanas
I'm pretty sure one of my kids picked this off the end cap at the library, knowing that I like flamingos.  It's just a brief introduction to their life cycle and how they grow but it's flamingos so feels summery.

One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies. illustrated by Jane Chapman
I actually just put this on library hold today!  This is all about loggerhead turtles, how they swim thousands of miles and then return to the same beach to lay their own eggs.

Things to Do by Elaine Magliaro, illustrated by Catia Chien
Explores all the things kids can do in day if they are outside.  Clouds in the sky, spiders in the bushes, flowers in the ground.  A whole amazing world to learn about. 

Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer
Shows kids many different ways they can be strong, from the playground to recess to bike rides.  It shows how kindness can build friendship and community.

Ferry Boat by Michael Garland
The story of riding a ferry boat in Manhattan, seeing the skyline, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the bridges.  We did this boat ride with Luke so we had some familiarity with it but would still be fun without that!

A New Day by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Dan Santat
Sunday quit.  She was tired of being a day.  So the other days had to advertise for a new day, one that can be relaxing and tranquil.  Things quickly get out of hand.

The Perfect Birthday Recipe by Katy Hudson
Beaver has a summer birthday which he thinks can be lonely (I disagree) until his friends offer to bake his birthday cake.  Beaver, being a perfectionist, would really prefer to do it himself so how does he make himself and his friends happy?

When the Storm Comes by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
What do people and animals do when there is a storm coming?  People stock up on supplies and check the news.  Animals look for a cozy den and hunker down to wait.  Really not too different.

A Friend Like You by Andrea Schomburg and Barbara Rottgen, illustrated by Sean Julian
Squirrel and Bird are very different but they are both happy to try something new!  A story of an unlikely friendship.

Nature Recycles-How About You? by Michele Lord, illustrated by Cathy Morrison
Recycling is one of my favorite topics and I loved learning with my boys about how animals recycle too!  Different ways they reuse materials is just fascinating!

Grandad's Island by Benji Davies
Syd's Granddad lives at the bottom of Syd's garden but one day when Syd goes to visit, Granddad isn't where he normal is.  When Syd finally finds him, they set off on a magical journey.

The Boy Whose Face Froze Like That by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Russ Cox
Who else heard their parents say this at least once in their lives? **Raises hand**  BUT WHAT IF, it actually happened?  Wendell is the first kid whose parents aren't lying when they give him that warning.

Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor
This is one of my very favorite picture books that we've read.  Everyone things Mel is just falling out of her nest while the ants and spiders and squirrels are trying to save her.  Turns out Mel wasn't falling, she was flying for the first time.

One Giant Leap: The Story of Neil Armstrong by Don Brown
The story of the first human to walk on the moon, always fascinating to see how ordinary kids can grow up to do extraordinary things.  And we just drove past his hometown yesterday!

Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Loren Long
It's all good if someone is planning the dream but then we need the people who actually put dreams into reality.  The builders of bridges and builders and more.  Wonderful celebration of those workers.  

The Ocean in your Bathtub by Seth Fishman, illustrated by Isabel Greenberg
The ocean connects us all, from weather, to water from the sink, to how our food grows!  Sam has recently gotten fascinated about how water is cleaned and reused constantly, this would be a good one to reread with him!

Happy Reading!

May 2022 Reading Recap

It's officially summer reading season!  I've had a good reading year so far, quite a few books I've really enjoyed and a few too many I haven't.  Haven't been reading quite the quantity I would prefer but hoping that changes with no homework or school runs on the schedule for the next 2½ months!  

I'm very active on Goodreads here, somewhat active on Instagram here, and linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy on the 15th!

A few other book posts in the past month:

                                                          {8} Books about Hotel Life

                                        Book Love: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

 And now everything else I've been reading!

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
This read very much like a Liane Moriarty book, with a hinted at mystery, multiple points of view, and set in Australia.  There is the man getting remarried to a much younger woman, even though his first wife is still alive (and has dementia and living in a home).  The adult daughters, older than the new wife, aren't sure what to make of this development other than being protective of their mother.  And then there seems to be an accident at the wedding.  What actually happened?  A bit twisty.  3 Stars

Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott
I enjoyed her previous book, I Miss You When I Blink, and was looking forward to picking up this one.  It was about aging (which I related to the most) and a health scare her son was going through, and just living life in her 40s.  Some parts were deeper than others and I remember reading parts aloud to Matt and telling him about others.  It really resonated with me.  4 Stars

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
This was a fun an engaging romance about a woman who is, somehow, the black sheep of her family despite being an ER doctor (because the rest of her family is surgeons) at the hospital her family helps found.  She's on a drive home from a funeral when she has car problems outside a small town and gets help from the mayor, who happens to be a decade-ish younger than her and who comes from a long family line of the town's mayors.  Will they be able to be together?!?!  A bit cheesy but the ending wasn't quite what I was expecting.  It was fun (and a bit open door at times).  3.5 Stars

Subpar Parks: America's Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors by Amber Share
This was a fun read about all the National Parks, and a bad review each has gotten.  The author illustrated a picture for each one and then talked about how the review was wrong and how great each of the parks actually are.  It made me want to visit many more than I had barely heard of before this.  3.75 Stars

Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close
I appreciate a good, juicy, family story and that's what I was hoping this was, and it largely was that except it was set back in 2016 so there was way more politics than there needed to be.  The story is set in Chicago and the Cubs won the World Series that year which I'm sure is why it was set then...but we lived through all the division in our country around then, I just really don't need it popping up in fiction.  BUT, otherwise, lots of adult family members and the restaurant that's been in their family for decades and how none of the next generation seems to want the responsibility of it after the death of their patriarch.  3.25 Stars

Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum
This was a YA book and those just haven't been clicking for me lately, maybe I'm finally, 2 decades out of high school, too old.  I can't remember all the plot details, just that I was annoyed with many of the characters and wanted to tell them to grow up.  Which is probably the whole point because they are in high school and their brains aren't fully developed yet.  2 Stars

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
It feels like everyone who I know that reads, reads Emily Henry (my sister sent a picture of catching someone reading it in the school pick-up line).  This was as much fun as her previous two books, more Beach Read than People You Meet on Vacation.  Former "enemies", both in the book industry, who end up in the same small town for an extended period of time.  They had a bad meeting years ago but now seem to be getting along much better.  It was just fun to pick-up every time, I looked forward to reading it (heads up for a few open door scenes). It's just so lovely to have a book be as enjoyable as you hope. 4 Stars

Birds of California by Katie Cotugno
I heard this billed multiple places as a "post 'me too' Hollywood romance" so I kept waiting for something to come up that we Me Too related which put me a bit on edge the whole time? (It was like 80% through before the reveal).  Former costars from a family show are reunited when the network wants a revival show and they start a romance.  More casual drug mentions and such than I prefer but there were parts I did enjoy.  And it was very short, under 300 pages.  3 Stars

The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Who Were There by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey
I have been listening to The Office Ladies podcast since it came out 2½ years ago and so of course I was going to buy the book (it may have been a mother's day gift).  It was as delightful as the podcast, felt like two best friends chatting and, surprising, not much was a repeat of stories shared in the podcast.  Some were but the large majority were not.  I loved this, it was so fun to pick up.  4.75 Stars

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand
I just finished this for the 10th time and it was as delightful as every other time.  It's my Memorial Day weekend tradition.  Sisters, mom, and aunt on a remote island with no hot water (unless you heat it on the stove) and groceries only showing up when delivered by their caretaker.  This book just feels like summer.  4.75 Stars

Read with Luke
Caleb's Story by Patricia MacLachlan
We read this partially because we had enjoyed the previous two in the series and also because I was looking for something shorter to read with him before we start another long one.  It still took us awhile to get through but a nice continuation of the story.  3.75 Stars

What have YOU been reading lately?

Looking Back at May 2022

WE HAVE SURVIVED MAY.  You all, I thought May wouldn't be that bad or that I was sufficiently prepared...then there was more than one day where I laid on the floor and just cried.  The end of the school year is NO JOKE, plus we had some other things going on too.  May is just A LOT plus the weather finally, mostly, cooperated for time outside which always helps wear kids out but also makes it hard to wrangle for homework.  We are ALL very glad to have a few months off from that.

We're only a few days into summer break as I write this and still struggling to find some rhythm.  But also, only a few days in.  We'll get this!  This is the point in the summer when I am full of ideas for productivity and children who sleep in and never fight and all the fun we'll have, closely planned, together.  By August it's VERY laid back.  Summer contains multitudes.

BUT first, before we fully transition to summer, looking back at May!

Looking back:
1 year ago: {10} Green Changes We're Making
2 years ago: Our Quarantine Homeschool Process
3 years ago: {5} Surprising Benefits to the pre-8am School Run
4 years ago: Reflections on Mother's Day
5 years ago: Balancing Work and Play (this is strangely relevant again this week...)
6 years ago: If I Could Write a Letter to Me...
7 years ago: Attacking the Problem Areas: Painting (Inside) Kitchen Cabinets
8 years ago: Dollar Decorating: Practically Free Organizing Boxes (all these I made here I STILL USE!  As well as more I've made since.)
9 years ago: An Ode to our (Former) Jet Skis (also strangely relevant right now)
10 years ago: London Day 2 (I've been thinking about this trip a lot lately!)
11 years ago: 5 Years =)

 

1) Pretty flowers!  Early May was full of flowers!
2) The time of year when I frequently get slowed down (on my already slow runs) to take pictures of flowering trees.
3) More flowering trees while running, this is one of my favorite kinds.  I'd like one.
4) Our tree that I spent the last a lot of years thinking was a Dogwood and just learned it's a Redbud.  It's still pretty.
5) And the lilac I planted was beautiful too!
6) Beer tastes better outside!
7) Rode my bike with tulips in the basket and felt very European.
8) Baked scones for a breakfast picnic with my local sisters and our not yet in school kids!  This was also the morning we turned in Luke's last book report of 3rd grade, that was a relief!
9) I made baguettes for Matt for our anniversary, I used to make these weekly but that was 9ish years ago!
10) Sunset at the drive-in for our anniversary date!
11) Planting flowers!  SO PRETTY.  I bought too many and this is not a problem I mind having.
12) Got the garden planted a few days later.  We are mostly growing flowers and I am perfectly ok with that.
13) Flowers on The Landing on a downtown bike ride!
14) Flowers in the neighborhood on a run!
15) Bike ride to celebrate the last day of school!
16) And ice cream in a small town to honor Memorial Day!

Books finished: 13
Miles ran: 30.5
Currently watching: We are suffering through Moon Knight which I am not really enjoying.  Then maybe we'll start catching up on all the Star Wars shows on Disney+.
Most read post this month: Mixed Drink Monday: The Fizzy Flamingo, for the first time in 2+ years it's not Stripping: Laundry Style! (That was second.)
Luke's current favorite song: Anything on the classic hits station, preferably played VERY LOUD during his showers.
Sam's current favorite song: "We Will Rock You" by Queen, he's a big fan of the "mud on your face" line. 

June brings full summer, vacation, and some adventures!