Sunday, February 14, 2010

Loving the Library!

On Saturday, while Rob was home with Avery, I took the other three kids to the library.  We perused the shelves for books we were interested in and spent a little time reading there.  Unfortunately, the library closes at 6:00 on Saturdays, so we couldn't stay as long as we would have liked.
 
Alex recently found he has a love of reading!  (Yeah!!!!) I've had a hard time even getting him to listen to books up until now, much less read on his own, so when he checked out his first "Magic Tree House" book (by Mary Pope Osborne) and read the entire chapter book in one evening, I tried not to get too excited.  Incidentally, this was the first chapter book he read.  Since then, he has read several Magic Tree House books as well as picture books and other books, too.  I'm so, so happy be has found how interesting books can be.
  
 (Above) Olivia started reading the novel she chose, but didn't get too far.  She wanted to follow me around upstairs, where I was looking for American history books.  She also chose some books about volcanoes because she thinks they're interesting.
(Below) Ashlie checked out another Harry Potter book on tape - even though she has read them already.  She LOVES the Harry Potter series.  She also got a couple of DVDs on ancient Rome and Greece and some other books I didn't pay attention to.
  
Alex simply could not wait until we were done at the check-out desk before finding a spot to read some more.  I think it's so cute!
 
The problem with the library is that I LOVE books.  Although I rarely actually sit down and read a book from cover to cover, I do LOVE reading and am interested in reading so many books that I always walk away with far more books than I can actually read before they're due.  I have a terrible time balancing reading books with keeping up with the rest of my life.  Once I start reading, I don't want to stop, so I end up not letting myself start reading.  I also have the problem of getting super sleepy when I read, so I want to read and then still have time for a nap!  And what mother has time for both?  And so I wind up feeling bad when I have to return books unread.  What a dilemma.  

Miss Viva's Hair Cut!

Olivia decided she wanted to cut off an inch or so of her hair and get some layers.  Our fun neighbor, Alaina, cut her hair and taught her how to fix it.  Olivia is getting old enough to take care of her hair on her own and I'm excited she has a fun new style she can fix all by herself.  Today (Sunday) fixed it by herself and it looked SUPER CUTE!
 
 

Just a few snap-shots to share...

 
 Below: My cute little Alex loves to wear ties, but he doesn't really like putting them in the traditional location.  Here's how he looked, just before we left to church this morning!
  
Ashlie always gets ready with time to spare, so she helps us get Avery ready and helps pack the diaper bag.  Boy is it helpful to have older kids!

 
Olivia (above) and Alex (below) watching a movie after church.
  
  
 

Stake Valentine's Dance

Our stake has an annual V-day dance for the adults.  Now that my dad lives with us, he's in our stake.  He invited my mom to go to the stake dance with him and on our way out, Rob and I snapped a couple of pictures.  They aren't very good, but at least I got a couple of pictures.


And, yes, several people asked who it was with my dad.  And then other questions, like, "Is that a good thing?" and "Wow, my parents won't even speak to each other."  My parents are actually pretty good dancers - they should do this more often!

Rob and I had fun playing board games (the activity for those not drawn to the dance floor).  They also had lots of treats and stuff and we had a good time.  Rob wanted to go to Texas Roadhouse instead, but I insisted this year on the dance.  It was our first time and we've been in our ward for 5 years!  Good job, honey.