Flashback Friday -- How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Today's flashback is sub-titled "How I Spent My Summer Vacation."  Which has been pretty much the same way my whole entire life -- READING.  Hahahaha.  {Those who know me well should not be surprised by this at all.}  For pretty much my whole life I've been a voracious reader.  I remember the first time I read an entire chapter book in one sitting: I had stayed up WAY too late {something that would become a recurring theme over the years} and I know I drove my sister Emily nuts for keeping the light on so long when she was trying to go to sleep {also a recurring theme}.  I was in the first grade and I had just finished reading Kristy's Great Idea -- the first book in the Baby-sitter's Club series.

One summer that stands out in particular was the summer of 2001 {aka The BEST Summer EVER.}  In addition to not really working and spending a lot of time at the pool, my roommates {Heidi and Natalie.  Hashtag Best Friends Forever.  Hahahahaha.} and I  took to raiding the juvenile literature section of BYU's library and checking out stacks of books at a time.  It was so awesome.  I guess I've always had a fondness for Young Adult fiction.  So, in honor of that not so long ago summer, HERE is what has been on OUR summer reading list this year in the junior division.

First off, let me just say that it KILLS me, absolutely KILLS me, that my children have done everything in their power this summer to do away with quiet reading time and assure me that they don't really like to read anymore.  Devastating, let me tell ya.  While quiet reading time during the day has not really worked out at all, we have managed to get through quite a few books at bed time.  Mostly because Grace has been holding us hostage these days with the request of "just one more chapter" every night when trying to get them to go to sleep.  She's far too lazy to read the books on her own -- even though she probably could read quite a few of the ones we've read -- and insists that she won't be able to fall asleep unless WE read to her.  It's become a problem.  Hahaha.  Among the books that she has really enjoyed are the Jake Drake series by Andrew Clements (sorry there's no picture) which we found at the library.  Ethan also seemed to be intrigued by them and was a bit upset when I brought them back before he had a chance to read through them.  The book I'm currently reading to Grace is THIS:



We are both enjoying it.  There is a bit of {middle school} lovey dovey stuff going on in it and I think that Grace secretly REALLY enjoys it while outwardly being embarrassed by it when I tease her.  I've had to resist from teasing her too much because there were a few days when she wouldn't even let me read the book anymore because she was so embarrassed.  Hahahaha.  I can't WAIT until she's a teenager.  The thing I'm liking the most about the book so far is the fantastic vocabulary.  And since vocabulary is my THANG, as they say, I'm really digging it.  Hahahaha.  Going right along with the actual story in importance is the cover art (in my opinion).  I personally find this cover rather interesting looking and found it very enlightening to hear Grace's opinion as well --  her take is that she really likes Juliet's hair except for that poof on top.  So there you go.

Jane has almost moved on from her Mary Englebreit's Mother Goose obsession and has begun requesting the Gosling books more and more often.  I find these little board books adorable and the illustrations delightful.  Precisely my type of children's book!

Ethan has been a bit of a challenge this summer in that he refuses to read pretty much ever.  I'm worried that his Harry Potter reading kick from last summer may have burned him out on reading anything for a good little while.  Aside from those Jake Drake books that he started to pick up and the occasional Encyclopedia Brown book sprinkled here and there, he hasn't really read much of anything.  I keep trying to get him into THIS book, but he's not biting.  Apparently he doesn't care for my recommendations.

Sophie, on the other hand, just might be my big reader.  She's usually up for any kind of book I throw at her, even if they're really long.  So far this summer we've read The Hundred Dresses and have just now started one of the American Girl books.  Forget that it's almost 100 degrees outside, Sophie's in the mood for a little Christmas in July.  Hahahaha.

As for ME, I have been reading up a storm this summer and you're welcome to be my friend on Goodreads if you're interested in seeing any of my reviews.  As for my KIDS, I wish the older ones were a bit more enthusiastic about Quiet Reading time, but I do think that deep down inside they have it in them.  Perhaps it will surface by next summer.  Hahahaha.  To close, though, here are some pictures of Grace getting into her part as "Wemberly" during an impromptu rehearsal we had the other day of a Reader's Theater I found online for Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes {another one of my FAVORITE children's authors.}  That Grace -- she's a creative one! 

Wemberly is a mouse who always worries and when she does she rubs her bunny Petal's ears. 

Priceless.