7 Quick Takes Vol 9: Summer Excitement and a Link to a Book Giveaway

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We recently finished a week of swimming lessons. Juggling our summer commitments and four kids all at different ability levels had me frustrated with our local pool lesson offerings. At the advice of a friend, we opted for private lessons this year and they were wonderful in so many ways! The kids learned a great deal, the lessons themselves were incredibly relaxing for me, and it was only one week instead of two.

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One day we packed a picnic lunch and spent the afternoon at a local lake. The kids were thrilled and, later, exhausted.

We also recently visited Grammy and PawPaw's neighborhood pool for the first time this summer. We still need to find time to visit a water park or the summer water fun will be incomplete.

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We celebrated the Fourth of July with another water fight, of course. It's tradition!

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Kansas Dad set up a tent in the backyard and had a sleep-out with the kids. They were a little excited. Can you tell?

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As if that weren't enough excitement, we also took the kids to the county fair. We hadn't been to a county fair since First Son was little (maybe before First Daughter was born), though they've been to the state fair a few times. For the first time, we bought bracelets for the kids and let them ride and ride and ride. We probably spent two and a half hours just on the rides. I think Second Son and I rode the carousel about twenty-five times in a row. Those were some happy kids! (Until we took them home and put them to bed and tried to make them be civil to each other the next day.)

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Earlier this week, I decided to devote an entire day to errands. I'm not sure why I felt inspired to do this. Kansas Dad filled the van with donations and things to sell. I loaded up the four kids. Off we went! Through the course of the day, we made four donations, delivered one political campaign sign, sold items at a resale shop, returned items at one store, shopped at three housewares or office stores, had lunch (at which First Son ate for an hour, ingesting about twice as much food as I did), spent an hour at a candy store, and met Kansas Dad for an afternoon frozen yogurt treat (not quite in that order). At which point the younger two children and I limped home while the others made a final stop to look for birthday presents from brother and sister to brother and sister.

The 10-year-old displayed a shocking lack of patience while the 3-almost-4-year-old staged a violent sit-in at one of the stores when I refused to give him an entire bag of cookies I had bought for the four of them to share. The 7-year-old alternated between complete silliness and attempting to herd her brothers and sister like a mama. The 5-almost-6-year-old alternated between running away from me and antagonizing her younger brother. My feet and knee ached.

So we were all showing our age.

It wasn't as bad as it sounds. For the most part they were reasonably behaved children. The employees at the stores and restaurants were always gracious.

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I can't decide if I should challenge myself to always mention at least one book when I do a quick takes post or if I should challenge myself to never mention a book in a quick takes post. I'll leave the debate for next time and let you know you still have a few days to enter to win a copy of Ben Hatke's not-yet-released book Julia's House for Lost Creatures at his blog, Art and Adventure. We love Zita the Spacegirl and I'm so excited for his new book!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes Vol 7: Reading, a Water Battle, and Other Random Thoughts

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May is almost over. I have been enjoying this month between the end of school and the beginning of summer activities. I gave myself this month without school planning (or at least, without too much of it). I spent most of it reading, and that was lovely.

I also spent much of May in physical therapy, which was not quite so lovely. I have at times been very discouraged about the likelihood my upper back and shoulder would heal, but I am currently optimistic.

Over the course of the last month, I have been thinking often of those who are always in pain. I have been horribly short-tempered with my children and know it's because I am a complete failure at handling pain and discomfort well. I have been trying to remember to offer it up for those who cannot go to physical therapy and get better. Surprisingly, this offering often makes it a tiny bit easier for me to be nice to my kids.

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Those of you who are facebook friends with me might have seen a link I posted to this blog post, How to Make Your Children Hate Reading. We signed up for one summer reading program this week and will participate in another one at a different library as well. I have been requiring a chapter a day from the two readers this summer (along with some math facts practice). The chapter has to be from a book I select, though I have let First Daughter choose from different options. First Son could, too, but he's mainly interested in getting it done, not wasting any time thinking about what he might like to read.
I try to choose fun books for summer. For example, First Son is now reading the The Half Upon a Time Trilogy and the third installment of the Hero's Guide series, which just came out, The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw. First Son and I did rock/paper/scissors to see who would get to read it first and I lost, so I have to wait my turn.

More than once, they have read more than one chapter of their books; that's what I want from summer reading programs. I look for books that are at or slightly below reading level with lots of humor and excitement.

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On Memorial Day, the children convinced Grammy and Kansas Dad to have a water balloon and water gun battle. When I told First Daughter I never liked water balloon fights very much, even when I was seven, she was shocked. Kansas Dad said, "I can think of one word for that."

First Daughter replied promptly, "Boring!"

Yep, that's the word.

Second Son didn't last very long before he decided it was too hectic and too chilly. He and his puppy snuggled next to me.

I think the children have now decided all summer holidays warrant swim suits and water battles.

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I'm not very good at following the news, but I saw this blog post linked off facebook about the Amazon/Hatchette disagreement. I'm an affiliate with Amazon and don't intend to stop shopping there entirely. When you live as far as I do from stores and have four kids to haul around with you, online shopping can be a great blessing.

I do, however, try to give my business to smaller bookstores when I can. My school shopping is almost entirely split between RC History and Sacred Heart Books and Gifts. (These are not affiliate links.) Unlike the local bookstores (and there are a few wonderful independent ones within driving distance), these stores carry books I need to buy for school. I've also had the pleasure of talking with both of the owners on the phone or through email, a delight unknown at giants like Amazon.

I also firmly believe in adequately compensating people for their work, whether it be making soap, writing or illustrating books, or making plastic do-dads. For that reason, I prefer to purchase fewer things or do without so I can a higher price if necessary to feel like I'm supporting someone's ability to properly feed, clothe, and support a family. It's not a perfect system and I'm not always consistent. Luckily, when you mostly want to sit at home and read a book, the needs are few.

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My birthday was this week. I don't feel like I should be old yet, but my gray hairs beg to differ. Can you guess where we went to celebrate?

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Kansas Dad has started painting our white picket fence. It's going to look amazing when he's done. We're going to try to get the kids to help paint, too. Luckily they really will think it's fun because the older two already know the Mark Twain trick.

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Have you checked out the Unbound blog yet? I've mentioned it before. If you've glanced at it and didn't find anything interesting, now's your chance to help guide the content. They have posted a short reader survey (very short, I promise) and are looking for lots of helpful responses.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Product Review: Tovolo Star Popsicle Mold

My girls and Second Son adore popsicles. The ones at the store are expensive or full of high fructose corn syrup or both! A few years ago, I used some gift certificate money to buy these Tovolo Star Ice Pop Molds, which I had read were BPA-free. I loved them so much, I bought a second set. All summer long, I leave enough room for them on the top shelf of my freezer and try to keep them filled. I like to send the girls outside with one each just after I put the baby down for his nap. By the time they come back in (sticky, of course), he's sleeping well and doesn't wake when they make a little noise.

It takes about five minutes to fill them up and another three minutes to clean up the mess. They usually have to stay in the freezer overnight before they're chilled enough to eat, but I bet it'd be faster in the deep freeze.

When I make popsicles, I use one cup of apple juice and one and a half cups of frozen fruit (whatever is in the freezer). I blend it up and pour it in - so very easy! First Daughter loves to put the tops on for me. The "recipe" is very forgiving; I've used other kinds of juice and yogurt for different tastes or textures. I've dropped marshmallows or tiny chocolate candies in before putting on the tops. I've made instant pudding and poured it in. I've even made hot chocolate and poured it in. My girls will eat all of it. (First Son just doesn't like any kind of popsicles. Ice cream is about the only thing he'll eat cold.) I've read some people put in a little honey or corn syrup to soften them up, but I've never had my children complain they're too hard.

These molds are easy to use and easy to clean. I just put them in the soapy water and pretty much rinse them out a few minutes later. (I think they're dishwasher-safe, but I hand-wash mine.) To get the popsicle out, run hot water over them for a few minutes. If the top comes off without the popsicle, just put the top back on and put them back in the freezer.

We dropped one once right out of the freezer and can see the crack in the plastic, but it still holds the liquid and freezes just fine.

Beware, though, some fruits stain badly. I can usually get out blueberry and strawberry but the blackberry (or something) in our frozen berry mix did not come out at all. Sometimes I make the girls change into "popsicle clothes" before they can eat one.

I only wish I could buy more of the pop molds without the star base (for less than the whole set). Then I could pull them off the base when they're frozen, leave them in a pile in the freezer and make more!