Great Reads

As a family we are trying to read 100 books this summer (with Sydney carrying the bulk of the weight on that goal, I have to admit!).  As part of my contribution to our goal, I have read two really great books lately.  Again, both nonfiction.  I seem to read a lot of nonfiction, but for now that is what I am enjoying.  The first is called “French Kids Eat Everything” by Karen Le Billon.

This book is awesome!  I have actually read it before, but enjoy rereading books.  The book follows one family’s year in France and how the mother (and author of the book) learned the French secrets for raising kids of healthy weights with excellent table manners and an open-minded willingness to try just about any food, as well as an ability to appreciate, savor and enjoy all kinds of food – not just junk.  After living in France, I have witnessed many of the same differences she outlines between French and American children and their relationships with food (and the differences are EXTREME).   The book breaks down the formula for healthy French eating habits and for raising kids with lifelong healthy food relationships.  If you are struggling with “picky” eating or with bad table manners, with constant demands for snacks, or a general refusal to try new textures and flavors in your house, read this!  You will be so glad you did.  Even if you only implement a few of the 10 basic “rules” she outlines that are the key to French eating, you will see big changes.  Although our family already eats a lot like the French, there are a few areas where I had sort of forgotten some of the tricks.  Rereading this book and implementing a few changes has improved my kids’ attitudes and our overall dinner experience as a family in just one week.  [As a side note... do not be fooled by the author's last name.  She is an Anglophone Canadian married to a Frenchman.  She was raised with horrible North American eating habits, and her year in France was truly an eye-opening, educational experience.  Reading from the perspective of a North American probably makes this book more relatable to the average American reader because the author can understand our own struggles with implementing healthy eating because of the way we were raised and the way our culture relates to food.]

 

The other book I wanted to share is called “The Nesting Place” by Myquillyn Smith.  It is a home decorating book (although when you go to look for it at Barnes and Noble, be warned it is not in the home décor section, it’s in the “inspired living/Christian” section! – I almost left without it because I couldn’t find it!  And, if you’re in no rush, it’s $5 cheaper on Amazon.  This is a newly released book, so it may be tough to find at your local library…)  From a decorating perspective, the book has some great suggestions for creatively using what you already have, being ok with your house not being “perfect,” shopping secondhand for furniture, and rethinking purposes for rooms, furniture pieces, etc.  She tells her own life story of moving 14 times (!), and of many years of being a renter when she really wanted to be a homeowner.  Her story is inspiring, and she does a great job of reminding readers to embrace where you live and make your current house your “home” even if it is not your dream home.  By placing contentment and gratitude far above visual or organizational perfection, we free ourselves to love our homes and the lives that take place inside that structure in spite of the inevitable imperfections that will always exist for those of us not living in a home being photographed for a home décor magazine (that would be just about all of us!).  She encourages readers to stop waiting for that “dream home” and start enjoying and decorating our current homes.  Her tips are very budget conscious and practical.  “The Nesting Place” is a fun read because it is partly an interesting personal story, partly very practical decorating advice.

Let me know if you try either of these books and enjoy them!  I need a few more to hit my goal, so if anyone has a book suggestion for me, PLEASE leave comment!  I'm looking for another good one to enjoy!

Update

I haven’t blogged in a long time for numerous reasons…mainly because I tried this crazy thing called working last semester.  With three young children to care for, teaching three undergraduate courses, and the queasiness and exhaustion that go with first trimester pregnancy… there was no time for blogging.  Yes, we are expecting baby boy October 12!  Yay!

So, I’ll just post a very brief recap of our spring/summer here and maybe I’ll get back into the swing of posting every so often!  We’ll see!

Some of the highlights included:

Pierce playing soccer for the Y.  Watch out soccer world.  Pierce is quick and fierce! J

Snacking spectators!

Sydney’s first communion.  A beautiful girl, a beautiful mass, a fun celebration afterwards.

 

Pierce turns 5!  Pirate party!

Pierce loves Legos!

The map to our treasure hunt!

Fashionable pirate Sydney.

Papa John arrived at the party in full pirate gear (eye patch missing in this photo).  The kids LOVED it!

Leading the treasure hunt. The kids were way too smart for my map and "hunt" - they wanted to go straight to the "X", but I made them play along and follow all the dotted lines to get there!

Pirate booty at the end of the "hunt"!

It’s a boy reveal "party"!

 

Last day of 2^rd grade for Sydney and pre-K 4 for Pierce.

 

Grant turns 2!  Elmo party!

 

Grant loves his new water table.

Summer fun: "Camp Cromer" for the kids, rainy day tea parties and beach time are among the few of the things keeping us busy.

Camp Cromer with cousin Addison.  Yes, mom and dad had them all spend the night at once - brave people!

When it rains - tea party for snack time!

Family beach time at Wrightsville.

A wonderful visit to the Outer Banks to kick start our summer, which included...



the consumption of a ridiculous quantity of Duck Donuts!  YUM!

Daily beach play.

The consumption (by some of us) of a little too much sand!

Hiking up and running down the dunes at Jockey's Ridge.  A little hotter this year than last, so our visit was brief, but fun.

Lots of boogie boarding - the big kids loved it!

A visit to the aquarium (the glasses are only decorative - a fashion statement at St. Mary in 2nd grade).

Shark viewing.

And a little celebration for our sweet 2-year old Grant!

Summer has been really good to us.  We are happy to be here in Wilmington.  The kids are enjoying camps and the freedom and relaxation of summer.  I am thrilled to be back home, and not working anymore.  Baby #4 appears to be healthy and growing just like he should.  Life is good.  God is good.  We are so excited about baby #4, but just enjoying our three as we have some free time in the summer until #4 arrives.