Books With Butterfly

Feb 01

Everyone,

Lately for Butterfly’s bedtime story we have been reading the “Felicity” books from the American Girl collection.  My mom sent them to her because Felicity is based in our area!  Although I think they are a bit old for her, she has been lapping them up and asking a lot of questions.  She really likes that Felicity was born in the same state she was (Virginia).  My mom also sent a little mini doll that has to be present for each chapter reading.

Butterfly’s teacher sends a chart home that we can write all the books down that we read together on.  Since we’ve been reading chapter books, we haven’t been able to fill the chart up for January.  (December we filled the page front and back, even though it didn’t have a back.  Mrs. Madeline [her teacher] is smart and sent home 2 sheets for January.)  Butterfly was beyond upset that the chart was not full yesterday and begged me to read books to her.

I spent over an hour reading books and filling out the chart so that she could turn in something that was “done.”  Her part in this?  She had to read the first 2 pages to me and I would finish the book.  She has turned into a very good but reluctant reader. But since she insisted on doing this and it was important to her, I thought she should give something to it.

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Yesterday Butterfly needed either a plain white child sized t-shirt or $2 so the school could buy the shirt for her.  They are decorating it for the 100th day of school (which really isn’t the 100th day of school because they had basically a week off last week…).  I thought I would maybe save a dollar and go to the Salvation Army here in town and buy a plain white shirt.  I found one on the rack but was reluctant to buy it since it had no price.  There were no other plain white shirts.  I took it to the register to find out it was $4!  When did the Salvation Army become so expensive?

So we went to the dollar store, which had all colors EXCEPT for white.  Then over to Big Lots which had a pack of 3 white shirts for $4.  Brand new.

And then I thought that I would just send the money to school and be done with it.

Look, I saved myself $2!

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I am reading 4 books right now.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,

Safirebooks I read, Butterfly in School books, Butterfly

Books Books Books!

Dec 10

Everyone,

The week that I discovered that the big library in town was right next door to Butterfly’s dance class place, I was hooked. I went there every week. I picked up scads of books for the kids and loved having something new to read. I also decided to take a leap and read something for myself, beyond what my book club is reading.

This has been really hard to follow through with, despite having no book to read for book club in awhile. (We always do something fun for December.) But I’ve been trying to make time for one of my favorite past times. This is what I’ve been reading so far.

Everything by Shannon Hale. She writes mostly young adult fiction but it’s GOOD. She also wrote a book I just finished called Austenland. Awesome read. It was one of those feel good at the end books. I have read everything she has written now and am anxiously awaiting her next book.

Another author I’m working my way through is Elizabeth Gaskell. She is a Austen-like writer who was friends with Charlotte Bronte. Her books are more meaty than my mind can focus on at the moment but I do love the stories. Juice was kind enough to get me the DVDs for our anniversary in August. I’m hoping to get some time, and some sleep, to really enjoy them soon.

Wow, I’m into authors lately. Another one I’m following is Connie Willis. I think my mom first recommended a book by her to me when I was a teenager, To Say Nothing of the Dog, which I have read every year since. I picked up The Doomsday Book last year on a whim and cried at the end of it. We read it for book club a few months ago and talked about it at our last meeting. That book sticks with you! I also just finished one of her books and will be going through the rest of her list.

Other books that are in the que to be read: Bel Canto. My friend Lolli read it and loaned it to me. She couldn’t put it down and I’m itching to start it. The Striking Point is a book I just got as a present and that looks fascinating too.

Now if only I could put these books down enough to actually sleep at night, I might be sitting pretty!

Safire

Safirebook club, books I read