Books Books

I loved reading when I was a child.  Then I started school...and I grew to hate reading.  I disliked being told what to read.  I LOVED being able to go to the library at school when we could choose our own book to do a report on--I read Wait Till Helen Comes more than a few times--and Nancy Drew and Box Car Racer books--oh I loved them!  I took a hiatus from reading for, oh, about 15 (?) years.  I finally started loving books again.  I have tried since Rico was born to read a lot to him.  I want him, and all of our children to love reading and to never lose that love. 

I've been made fun of because I don't really read the typical books: mystery, spying, romance, etc.  I love herb books.  Specifically, I love books that talk of how herbs have healed.  I never grow tired of reading about the miraculous things that herbs can do in a body.  I love Maria Treben and Dr. Christopher.  I also do occasionally read novels.  Jane Eyre was the most recent, but that was back in late winter.  I also read a lot of Montessori/parenting books.  Latter-Day Liberty is an amzing book that I read and think that all LDS people should read.  Hopefully it will motivate people to be more active in politics.  This summer I have been focused on cross-stitching because I am trying to accomplish a young woman value (divine nature) before Christmas.  I think I'll make it in time (more on this in another post). 

Back to books...Rico has had his spark lit.  He wants to read books throughout the day.  I try not to pressure him to read and if he doesn't want to I don't think I've ever forced it.  He now sleeps with his books.  He has a pile in his bed and he reads himself to sleep and reads before his nap time.  It is so wonderful to watch and I'm hoping that because we are homeschooling he'll have a better shot at not growing tired of reading.  I hope that I can help this new found love of books to flourish and that he will choose books that make him want to be a better person.  At 2, this may be difficult.  But at 10, 12, and 14 I think it will be so fun to watch. 

He is already 2.  That means in less than 6 years he'll be baptized.  Wow.  I can still feel the total elation I had for him the day he was born and somehow it has only increased--I never thought it was possible!  Family does bring the most joy in life!

Where's Your Spirit?

No, I'm not talking about the one in your body...or anything that has to do with school spirit, especially BSU school spirit.  This is the time of year J and I secretly cringe about.  All the BSU talk and the "we" talk gets to us.  ("We won the game!" Really? YOU helped win the game??)  Anyway, we aren't really that cynical, but we're happy when football season ends. 

I'm talking about The Spirit of Boise.  I informed J that now it is a tradition to wake up early and go see the hot air balloons take off from Ann Morrison Park and he is always nice enough to indulge me.  I remember seeing them as a kid, and my mom even let us get doughnuts to eat before school.  I don't have very many memories but that is one of them and it always makes me smile.  This year Rico fell in love with the balloons.  It was so much fun to see him excited and wave at all the people he couldn't see in the balloons while saying quietly "Hi people."  A couple of them flew right over our heads and that was pretty exciting.  This is one of the few traditions we have started as a family.  What are some of yours??

Self Portraits

Painting Our Nails

J does not like when Rico has his nails painted.  We try very hard to distinguish the differences between boys and girls but for some reason, letting my 2 yr old paint his nails just doesn't seem like it will confuse him for life.  I found the perfect compromise.  WATER COLORS!  He can paint his and my nails and practice his fine motor skills and then we can wash it off!