Book Reviews...

Well, I thought that I would read all of the assigned books that I was going to assign Stephen and Shane for next year now to be prepared.

I read My Antonia first. If you like a book that goes on and on about the landscape of Nebraska around 1900, you'll love this book. There were a few interesting points in the lives of the people in the book, but they were just mentioned and then the chapter would end. The new chapter would start with the landscape again.

Then I read The Home Ranch by Ralph Moody. I couldn't recommend Ralph Moody books enough. They are great read alouds or read alones for boys. Jessi and I like them also :)

Next I read Murder on the Orient Express. It wasn't bad, but not something I would have chosen. And the end disturbed my sense of justice.

Lastly I read All Quiet on the Western Front. It is very well written and thought provoking, but also very depressing.

After reading all these books since January, I realized why the kids complain when I assign literature. I don't like being told what to read either! Out of four books I really liked only one.

I have a new literature plan for next year. I bought a literary analysis curriculum called Lightning Literature, one for Jessi and one for Stephen and Shane. Jessi's covers 3 novels, 1 autobiography, and a few short stories/poems for the entire year. She will just study them in depth and mimic writing styles/types. Stephen and Shane will be studying great speeches in history. They will also get the Boy Scout reading merit badge for part of their school work. This should relieve the "Mom always tells me what to read" syndrome.

Catching up...

We went to Utah for Easter Weekend. OK, not exactly for Easter, but that weekend. We went for Grandma Smith's 80th birthday party. They had a great turnout with an Easter Egg hunt, family dinner, and reception after, all at the local church building. We saw cousins that we didn't recognize anymore and the people we did recognize just looked a lot older :) For the Easter egg hunt they had an area for the little ones and eggs hidden everywhere for the older ones. Even on top of the security light over the door (must have been 10 feet up). There was enough family there to fill the church gym for dinner.

On Sunday, Stan headed back home in the car we inherited, and I stayed with the Suburban and the kids. We had a partial Doan family reunion Sunday night--Jenny and Bruce (my siblings) and their families came to Mom's for dinner. It was great seeing you all again :)

Jenny and her two youngest stayed overnight so that we could all goto Hogle Zoo on Monday. We hadn't thought about the fact that there was no school that day and the zoo might be packed--and it was. It was fun anyway. That night we met Bruce and his family to see the new Joseph Smith movie at temple square. It was great. I hope to see more of it next time (without a 6yo son :).

Tuesday we spent relaxing with Grandma Sarah and Grandpa, and Wednesday we explored temple square. Thursday we went to the planetarium and saw a movie about taking a cardboard box spaceship to all the planets in the solar system. Joe and Sarah loved the movie. Joe was particularly impressed that they showed the movie on the domed ceiling.

Friday we spent in Logan with Jenny and her family. We just went to the park and let the cousins play. This was my kids favorite day out of all that we did. We'll have to do this again.

And Saturday we came home :) It's good to be home.

Home School Mothers

Here's an article to make all homeschooling moms feel good about what they do : )

Home School Mothers: The Beatrice Brigade

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