Ten on Tuesday.

1. I thought May was busy, but summer has its own rhythm that is more hands-on, less things that the schools have scheduled and therefore caused me to add to my calendar. We are still busy, just a different busy, if that even matters.

2. Up until today, it has been pretty darn cool out. Yay for free air conditioning, and that 51 degree run this morning was mighty refreshing, but it's also nice to be able to sit outside without your hoodie up.

3. Finished reading Danny the Champion of the World to the kids - great read-aloud.

4. Also finished my own book, Posted, which I highly recommend. If my own middle schooler didn't have a ton of books on her list already, I'd hand it over.

5. I've become a [summer] morning runner. You will not find me as brave as Ron come winter, getting up and running in the dark AND cold. But while summer is here and I can run in 50 or 60 degrees instead of 70 or 80, I'm doing it. I am even going to hit my goal of 50 miles this month.

6. Summer = back to American Ninja Warrior!

7. Summer = back to the simplest ever cooking.

8. We have the sweetest little bunny in our backyard who comes and sits in the same spot right next to our (fenced) garden and naps. Alla thinks he might come while she's playing her violin.

9. Regular season baseball is now over for us. Fisher's team finished 4th for the regular season. The kid made a spectacular catch in their final playoff game, and now has to wait two weeks before extended season instructional league starts. He doesn't even care what anything is called or about, he just wants to play.

10. The kids have made a Monster Summer List, meaning there's no way we are going to do all of that stuff!

First Day/Last Day 2017.

Well, here we are. First day of summer, so I'm reflecting for a bit on how nine months changes my wonderful kiddos, who are upstairs with me today instead of at school!

One thing is for sure, that girl of mine is a tall drink of water!

Happy Summer!

Summer Reading Lists 2017!

Without further ado, let the summer reading begin!

A couple notes:

1. These are very customized to my own kids. Fisher likes non fiction so his list his heavy on that, with a couple of great fiction reads in there to give him something he wouldn't necessarily pick up on his own. Alla prefers fiction, so I've challenged her in that area, as well as sprinkled in a little non-fiction.

2. I keep a list all year long, of new releases, things that I've seen reviewed on Goodreads, etc., that I know my kids will like but might not have time to read during the school year. Some of the titles have summer release dates and therefore won't be available yet. Some of them I have on request at the library as they just came out last month. Others have been out and we can easily get them from the library. We already have a stack from each list for each kids to start on.

3. Reading is not optional in our house, but that said, the enthusiasm we show toward books has made it such that the kids love to read and don't argue about making it part of each day. For sure making these lists is fun for me, but also they ask for them each year, so they are invested.

Happy reading!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Kids' Summer Reading Lists are done! Check back on our last day of school this Thursday. Alla has started on this one, which was previously on a list for Fisher. She is the last in our family to read it, and the second one is coming out this summer.

2. After suffering through yet another very chilly baseball game just one week ago today, the switch was flipped and we are now experiencing joyful summer weather! In fact we had to turn on the A/C for a brief spell this weekend when the thermometer hit 90.

3. Counting today, kids have three days of school left! Joy!

4. Alla played her last concert of sixth grade last week. I cannot believe the growth from third to sixth grade.



5. We finally have a garden planted! Of course I waited until Sunday to do it, and although I got the plants in before the sun hit, by the end of the day they looked terribly wilted. I spent all day worrying about them and watered several times. Fingers crossed for you, spinach.

6. I finally finished Unbroken, and was so happy to move on to Loving v. Virginia, Real Friends, and now Piecing Me Together. All recommended!

7. Fisher hit an IN THE PARK HOMERUN last night.

8. We are thoroughly enjoying the summer show Beat Shazam, but also wondering where is American Ninja Warrior, our familiar summer Friday night fun?

9. Since we are in that busy time of year when we have activities several evenings a week, I hope my family is not going to grow tired of crockpot chicken. If you are not familiar, it is like this: put chicken breasts in crockpot. Sprinkle with some sort of favorite seasoning. Put a spoonful of salsa on each. Turn on crock pot - low 6-7 hours, high 3-4. We eat on brown rice with beans, cheese, veggies.

10. I know for sure they will not grow tired of the three-ingredient cookie: 2 mashed bananas, 1 cup quick oats, 1/4 cup chocolate chips. 350 oven, 15 minutes. The secret is to sprinkle sea salt over the top right when they come out of the oven. Perfect.

Happy Tuesday!