7 Quick Takes - Magic Tree Houses, Antelopes, Blue Bikes & Imaginations

1. The Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne

Back in January, I shared our goals for the year (I should probably revisit those...). One of them was to read a book series aloud to the boys. And, wow! We are now on book #15 - Viking Ship at Sunrise (starting tomorrow night actually!). They are LOVING these books! So much, in fact, that after a day at the Space and Rocket Center again, the boys asked for Magic Tree House #8 - Midnight on the Moon from the gift shop. It's a book. I'm not going to say no to a book. So, they currently have #8 and #39-40 (Thank you Nancy and David!). But!! I took a bunch of books to 2nd and Charles a few weeks ago and added to their library for $1 out of pocket. Gotta love a good trade-in.

But what I love even more than that is hearing Andrew and Alex talk about the books every day. They talk about Jack and Annie, their latest adventure, and how they are going to go on an adventure to a "cool place" in the backyard. They talk about them in the car, too. They even talk to other kids in the library about the books when they see someone looking near that shelf. I just love it!

Magic Tree House #13-20 are all theirs!!

2. Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

week in my life post

This book is awesome. A great read. Just don't read it where you need to be quiet - unless you can laugh super quiet or in your head. You will laugh out loud at every chapter. Especially if you are a parent!

3. The Antelope in the Living Room by Melanie Shankle

Oh, if you are married...please get this book. HILARIOUS. I love this book. I got it from the library a few days ago and I'm just a few chapters from being done. There are stories in this book that make me laugh out loud that I interrupt my husband's gaming experience (can you see the headset on him??). So funny. I love it! There are little bits of wisdom and faith woven within the stories, too. Like, for instance, the difference between Young Love and Old Love. Hilarious. And, so very true. Just read it. Jason is reading it, too! He had to find out what all the noise was about. He found out. I heard him crackin' up!

4. Notes from a Blue Bike by Tsh Oxenreider

Goodreads

Oh, this book. You know I love this book. I learned a lot from this woman. I have been a fan of hers since I became a mom and Google pointed me to her blog then called Simple Mom, now The Art of Simple. So great. Life-changing. And, yes, I will keep on saying that. Life-changing!

5. The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Goodreads

How are there more than one of these Dark Tower books? I'm sorry to all the die-hard Stephen Kings fans out there, but this was just terrible. But I read it. I read it for my husband. We are reading books together and talk about it. We have our own book club. We are the only members. I let him have the first pick and this is what he does to me. Maybe because I've been reading all these non-fiction, life-changers I just have no imagination anymore or something... It was just awful... Then toward the end it just made zero-sense. He tells me that the next one is better. I mean, really? How are there more?

6. The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell

Goodreads

Now that I think about it...it can't be my imagination. I loved The Reapers are the Angels and I'm not really one of those zombie-apocalypse fans. But I had heard about this book through a favorite podcast of mine, A Good Story is Hard to Find. The hosts talk about books and movies from a Catholic perspective. Pretty interesting stuff. And, as I said I'm not usually a sci-fi reader, but I loved Temple! I was really rooting for her. Go read it, you'll see.


7. Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen

Speaking of imaginations... Wow! The homeschool mom group I have been going to the past few months (only 2 meetings so far and I have learned so much from these ladies). This is the book that they are currently reading. I am playing catch-up right now. And, just wow. It's not a typical "parenting book" or anything. It is more like a giant laugh at modern society and the things that today's parents do that are just backwards really. Like these adult-organized tee-ball or soccer teams, for instance... First, I personally cannot stand to be near any of these "coaches" anyway. So, I don't see our kids joining any teams just yet. They haven't asked, so I'm not pushing any of it right now. But, really. How many of you reading this remember those hot summer days where you and the neighborhood kids would go play kickball or softball or make up a game because it was fun? And, now? Nope. Now it's all about my kid can kick hard, run faster, has more trophies, etc. I went to one of these tee-ball games a few years ago and wow. Really, Coach Dad? They are 4. Sit down and let them play.

Oh, and while we are on the topic of those hot summer days... This must have been the quietest summer ever. I know that there are a ton of kids on this street of our because the bus stops right in front of my house. There has to be at least 10 kids getting on/off every day. Where are they? I heard a few out every now and then, but it wasn't every day. I think we need a campaign to bring the summers back or something. It was very odd.

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Need a good book to read?? Have you joined Goodreads? I have and I can't wait see what gets recommended after I add a few more books to my shelves.

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