More About Books

So, I have decided to make a list of books to read/listen too with Emma. This list is mostly for myself, but I thought I would post it here so 1.) I don't loose the list, and 2.) Just in case anyone else is interested in a list of books to read.

These books are in no particular order. We will read them or listen to them as they become available.

1. The Harry Potter Series (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
2. The Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
3. The Chronicles of Narnia (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
4. Charlotte's Web
5. Stewart Little
6. The Borrowers
7. The Black Stallion
8. The Little House on the Prairie Series (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
9. The Velveteen Rabbit
10. Huck Finn
11. Tom Sawyer
12. Snot Stew
13. Fantastic Mr. Fox
*updated 3Oct12*
14. The Spiderwick Chronicles (1,2,3,4,5)
15. The 39 Clues (1,2,3...)
*Updated 12Nov12*
16. The Wolves of the Beyond (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
17. Horse Diaries (1, 2, 3...)
*Updated 17Dec12*
18. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (1,2,3,4)
19. Once Upon a Marigold
20. A Mouse and His Child
21. Black Beauty
22. War Horse (one of Emma's favorites)



I need to make breakfast, but I will update this list as I find more books that I think we might enjoy. I would love suggestions, so please leave me a comment or send me an e-mail letting me know what your favorite book was as a kid.

Thanks!

Love to Listen

We have rediscovered our love of listening to audio books as a family. I think the reason we had stopped listening to them as a family is that Da was having a hard time concentrating on his school work. Now that he doesn't have school work to concentrate on, we are free to craft and listen to audio books all day long.

Unfortunately, that is sometimes what we do. All. Day. Long.

Not that I am really complaining because while listening to audio books is when Emma and I get most of our creating done. Maybe I should try listening to audio books while doing some chores...

Our current favorites are Harry Potter (we are on book 2), and The Underland Chronicles (we are waiting for book 3 to be available).

Last night we started listening to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and we finished it up this morning. Did you know that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was originally published in 1900? So cool. I loved the story. I had never listened to the story all the way through before, only heard snippets of the story as Gramma read it to Emma. I have seen the movie, but books are SOOOO much better. Always.

I think we might have to start listening to more of the classics.

If you are wondering where we are getting all these audio books, I will let you in on a secret (that isn't really a secret). Through our public library, we are able to borrow audio books. For Iowa, we go though NEIGHBORS, and until our Ames library card expires, we also utilize WILBOR. At this point we are limited to 3 books from each website, but some of the books can be returned early.

If you have a library card (and really, everyone should have a library card), you should check out your libraries website to see if they offer an on-line library as well.

We are always looking for book recommendations, so if you have any favorites, please share them!

Emma's Watercolors

Emma has been enthralled with watercolors lately (check here and here). She likes working on a smaller scale, and her latest work was created on 1.5"x1.5" pieces of watercolor. On her own, Emma decided to do an alphabet set. Here is the "A."

To see the rest you will need to pop over to our flicker site.

Have a great day!

Would You Rather...

In the car the other day, Emma and Gramma were play the 'Would You Rather...' game that Emma invented. They had been playing for a while, but I was only half paying attention. For whatever reason, this is when I started paying more attention:

Emma to Gramma- "Would you rather be a 'D' or an 'A'?"

Gramma- "An 'A' so I could be first."

Emma- "You could be an apple, or appaloosa. Would you rather be a 'P' or an 'F'?"

Mama- "I would rather be an 'F' because 'P' ends up the butt of a lot of jokes. Would you rather be a ballerina or a construction worker?"

Gramma- "A construction worker because I get to build things. Emma, would you rather be rich, beautiful, or intelligent?

Emma- "I am already beautiful, so I would like to be rich."

Mama- "Do you know what intelligent means?"

Emma- "Um, no."

Mama- "It means smart."

Emma- Oh, well I am already smart too, so I would rather be rich."
(This led to a short conversation about money, beauty, and intelligence)

Da- "Emma, would you rather have feet that smell or a nose that runs?"

Emma, Gramma and I just started laughing. Sometimes Da is just hilarious :0)

This week in Photos

Here are a few photos from this past week. 

Emma making clay creatures for her Ocean Diorama Art Class

A beautiful leaf discovered on our way home from the park

Goofy photo from an old camera- We are standing in front of a Grampa Ott flower.

Emma working on her bike skills

Walking home from the park. 

One of Emma's favorite things to see on our walk home

Horse! This horses name is Cash. We think.

Emma's horse made from clay. His name is Midnight. He was created from a hunk of clay by Emma with the help of Christine from The Smoldering Bowl. It took Emma about 3 hours of steady hard work and concentration to create Midnight. Emma's first time working with clay that requires firing.  

Emma's reading is going really well. She is finally convinced that she can indeed read and so she reads, or tries to read, just about anything. At this point she doesn't like to read for very long- it still takes a lot of concentration so her brain gets pretty tired, but she will read an entire Elephant and Piggie book. I love listening to her read them. She reads with such enthusiasm and spun! Totally fun. 

That's it for now. I will try to do another post next week or so. 

Have a fun weekend!