Books to read with Toddlers

I realize it has been way too long since I last posted. I can blame it on being busy, or being lazy, or dreading all things technology-related and the woes that befall me whenever I attempt the majority of Internet-land.  Mainly, I don't blog during the day, and once the kids are in bed, I'm usually wiped, and curl up with a good book, an even better glass of wine, and promptly fall asleep.

I will eventually getting around to blogging on these past few months.

But, since we are in the full swing of summertime, I've been trying to take advantage of my kiddos being home to fill their little minds more with books than with TV or movies.

I found this perfect website on books to read aloud to your toddlers.  The podcast rocked my world.  5 minutes, just read 5 minutes a day to your toddlers when you have their attention.  Those 5 minutes quickly add up, and I've found my kids bringing me books to read throughout the day.

I also struggled with reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, but felt I had to read those asap to my kids before they grew up.  I'm still in the process of collecting these amazing books, but I have started with easier reads that interest all of us.  Please note, reading books with a 4.5 year old is much easier than my 2.5 year old.  But I still try, and I have found mealtimes can be a nice time to read, as well as at bedtime.  And, if I am too tired to read-aloud, or need to unload the dishwasher/clean up the dishes all over my countertops/throw in a load of a laundry, I have found our library has a great online resource of various authors reading various books, and that has been great to let these authors read short snippets to my kids at mealtime.  (My kids, I mean JACKSON, usually last about 10-15 minutes in listening at this stage.  Ellie is very hit-or-miss in her attention span.)

Without further ado, here are some books we've had success in reading, and books that I've enjoyed as well:

(note, I have found it to sometimes be helpful to let my kids see the movie as well, as it further enhances the book reading experience and can prompt Jackson's memory as to what he has seen and what we're reading)

Margaret Wise Brown, the author of Goodnight Moon, as written some other wonderful books, and we've enjoyed the various ones we've seen at the library

This is the beginning of our intro to reading chapter books, and while I still love reading Dr. Seuss, The Giving Tree, Max Lucado children's books, Llama Llama books, Where the Wild Things Are, and all the other children's books we read, I am slowly venturing into trying to read longer to the kiddos (when I'm not too tired!).

Hope y'all are enjoying your summer, and Happy Reading!

Some of my fave reads

As promised, here are some great reads.  Hope you enjoy!

Excellent reads: (as in, I am still thinking about the books)

any novel by Kate Morton is an addictive read

Vacation reads: (although some days you want an easier read in the middle of your week)

Encouragement reads:

By far the BEST book on parenting and grace that I've read. However, give yourself grace when first starting to read it. 

I'm still slowly reading through this one. Great read thus far

An excellent read that I recommend to everyone, whether you've faced immense suffering in your life or not. Invaluable information for those who are suffering, those you know are suffering, and as always, a solid book by Tim Keller.

If you end up reading any of these books, let me know what you think!

Book Nerd Alert

With Andy working long hours and being out of town often, I've been reading up a storm when kids are napping or after they go to bed.  It's my "me" time, how I relax, and how I end up going to sleep at night. Here are some books I've read lately:


"Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell
*while not the best written book, it is a must-read for all; the sacrifice the Navy SEALs make for our country is astounding. I can't wait to see the movie



"The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" by Syrie James
*a great read, based on historical facts of Jane Austen's life



"Moby Dick"
*I'm still working through this; this classic is mentioned in countless novels, and I'm surprised I've never read it before



"David and Goliath" by Malcolm Gladwell
*this is on my list to read; Andy just finished it and really enjoyed it



"The Bloodletter's Daughter" by Linda Lafferty
*reminiscent of Ken Follett; a slightly dark novel but so intriguing and I couldn't put it down



"These Strange Ashes" by Elisabeth Elliott
*a re-read for me; a great and quick read of her memoirs as a single missionary in the jungles outside Quito



"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne
*absolutely phenomenal and heartbreaking book from the perspective of the 9-year-old main character who is living in the main house right outside of Auschwitz, and he befriends a 9-year-old Jewish boy on the other side of the fence



"Washington's Secret Six" by Brian Kilmeade
*great historical novel on the spy ring that helped us win the American Revolution



"This is the Story of a Happy Marriage"
*Ann Patchett's newest novel



**disclaimer...this list makes me look incredibly dorky!  People often ask me when I read.  I have to read at night to wind down from my day, whether it is a paragraph or several chapters.  I also read some when the kids nap.  If I don't slow down when they nap, it can lead to a long day (especially because Andy is working longer days and usually comes home after the kids are in bed).  Dorky or not, that is what I do for "me" time. Here are some great quotes on reading, to show I'm proud of my love of reading!  :)

“It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.” ~Oscar Wilde

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” 
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” 
― Charles William Eliot

“We read to know that we are not alone.” 
― William Nicholson, Shadowlands: A Play

“Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live.” 
― Gustave Flaubert

“The world was hers for the reading.” 
― Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Freefall to Fly

I just read and finished, in under 24 hours (and yes, I stayed up way too late reading it), "Freefall to Fly" by Rebekah Lyons. 

I truly believe this book is a great read for all women, and especially all mothers. 

Rebekah speaks my heart.  Truly amazing, inspiring, raw, real, vulnerable.

A great, short read for those looking for a mid-summer book.

The Hills Are Alive....

The Hills Are Alive....

que angelic voices breaking into a rousing rendition of "Hallelujah!"

que ME, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Andy is BACK after being out of town the better part of 3 weeks.  Hallelujah, thank you Jesus, literally, as Jesus was my main Sustainer while Andy was gone.

Something was different this time with him being out of town (no, I'm not pregnant).  My sweet little Jackson is repeatedly showing off his sin nature, needing attention that I can't fully give with a distracted nursing baby, and discombobulated by Andy here, gone, here gone.  I'm struggling between grace and mercy, and all-out disciplining, figuring out which battles I need to tackle, and all the while chugging those last dregs of my coffee and praying, a lot, throughout the day, throughout the night.  The Lord, yet again, has been faithful in providing strength while I've been a single parent.  But man, are we all glad Andy is home, at least for a week?!

Jackson is so in love with his daddy (and I'm in love with Jackson's daddy too, for the record).

que, this amazing picture Andy just sent me

This boy loves some choo choos with his DaDa.  And he is loving running one-on-one errands with Andy.  They are so sweet together...melts my heart.

(And my pride as a mother must mention that I am blessed with a child who is fairly compliant, NOT strong-willed, pretty happy go lucky most of the time.  But then again, that's his personality, not a result of my parenting.  I didn't want any readers out there to abstain from calling us for playdates, fearing Jackson has turned into a Greek mythological figure from Hades.)

Now that I can abstain from my previous 3 weeks' diet of cut up fruit, an occasional piece of green something on my plate (thank you Juice Plus for filling in my lacking nutrients!), and 3 or 8 bowls of Lucky Charms, with an extra adult hand around the house, I can cook.  Yee-haw.  I feel like a sane lady.

My friend Emily encouraged me to cook a whole chicken.  Bones and all.  After I got over the fact I had to rub butter over the creepy little ribs, I realized this is a fabulous and wholesome and easy dish, and it makes your house smell like it stepped right out of the Martha Stewart magazine. (note, your kitchen will not look like a Martha Stewart kitchen afterwards. Just had to throw out that disclaimer. Nor was the Proverbs 31 woman all put together either...she had servants to clean her house, to scrub those dishes. You young mamas, give yourself some grace!)

Pioneer Woman's Roast Chicken

Recipe here.

prep work, courtesy of Pioneer Woman

With this recipe, I prepared BEETS (think Dwight Schrute from The Office).  I've never cooked with beets before, never touched one, and the only beets I've ever eaten have been prepared by the fanciest restaurants around.  However, I KNOW beets are packed with amazing nutritional content, and if you don't believe me check out this little article here.  This recipe is courtesy of Pinterest.

Balsamic Beets

Recipe here.

While I'm not jumping for joy about consuming these, I know these nutrients are needed for myself, for Ellie, and remember, Andy is back in town, playing with Jackson, so I can try new recipes.  Note, I took the easy way out and bought frozen sliced beets at Whole Foods.  It made the prep work super easy, and my hands are not stained a lovely shade of purple-y red.

Sloppy Joe's

Pioneer Woman

Recipe here.  (Also found in her new cookbook, which I love. I highly recommend getting your own copy)

Photo courtesy of Ree Drummond

And the key to losing any and all baby weight is....

Dessert.

Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe here.

Since I must seize the opportunity to cook/bake while Andy is here, I made these little beauties to take to visit family over the 4th.  (Surprise, YaYa!)

Cooking/baking is hard with two littles around the house, so don't beat yourself up if your diet consists of the occasional banana or watermelon or Lucky Charms, they're magically delicious.

If you need a GREAT laugh in these little years of motherhood, you HAVE to read "Sparkly Green Earrings."  It takes a lot to make me laugh out loud while reading.  I think I may have developed a stomach muscle while reading it and suppressing laughter so I didn't wake the kids.

 

 Some of my favorite excerpts from the book, along with the line: "Robert Frost took the road less traveled because he wasn’t traveling with children who need to go to the bathroom."

Funny!

Now to our survival...we did have fun, lots of laughter, some tears (by all 3 of us), lots of wine after bedtime (just kidding grandmothers! I am sane, I promise!)

First time watching "Pinocchio"

Mama needed a pedicure (after repeated instances of Jackson saying "O My, What's This" while pointing at the calluses on my feet. It.was.time.). So we all went!  Crazy and desperate mama.