Skipping rocks

In order to get a really great skip, you must find the right rock.

The best ones are smooth and flat and round.

There is a subtle art to rock skipping.

My boys finding the right skipping rock

I know what you’re thinking now, you’re thinking. Wait isn’t this a little family blog? We are supposed to be talking about cute crafts, and kids and cooking. So I will just tell you to hold your horses for a min ( that part is coming).

(here is that part)

Making memories with our kids is like skipping rocks. We send out in a direction traveling the long distance; but , and here is the key part. Only occasionally does the rock skid down and smack the water. Its like life really, we don’t usually remember the whole journey just certain moments.

My point-I don’t really have one, I just think it’s important to make as many memories with our families as we can (logically the increased frequency  would improve the chance of one of those memories actually being remembered. )

We went to the nearby Lake for FHE (Family Home Evening) again, we go there a lot. I just love getting out and away.

Also yesterday I began painting some dark shelves. I am painting them white and I will probably hang them up today. I love simple refinish fixes!

Summer reading-go to your local library!

So those of you who know me can attest to this- I am an avid reader. Every Wednesday my kids and I head to the library and I pick up my holds and grab a stack of home decorating books while I am at it. I let my kids fill a big bag full of whatever books they want and we read those books until next week when we return them and get more. My good friend Holly who lives down the street from me is a book reviewer (the link to her blog is here) so I get plenty of good reading material from her as well. 

In case you are squinting trying to read the spines-from left to right- a Chinese LDS hymnbook, A Year Down Yonder (Richard Peck), Inspired You (Miss Mustard Seed), The trial of Mary Lou (Ron Carter) The Nesting Place (Myquilyn Smith, and My Dear Sisters (Gordon B Hinckley)

When I was at the Library this week I saw the summer program advertisements getting set up (school is almost over), I got excited! Last summer I made a halfhearted but decent effort to participate in the programs for adults and I ended up winning some small prizes like a free car wash- can’t sneeze at that! 

Also did you know that reading is incredibly beneficial? No really it is! Go here for a long list of articles about the benefits of reading! Did you know that the CDC report says "In 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that children watch no more than 1 to 2 hours of "quality programming" per day," If you have kids at home this summer those 1-2 hours will go by very quickly which is just one more reason to get them involved in reading!

 So today I have a challenge for you (I heard that moaning!) Go to your local library- or the website for your local library, and see what programs they have in your area! Most libraries have programs for all different ages including children and teens. It can be a really great way to stay motivated to learn over the summer vacation! I set a personal goal to participate on my own and with my kids in the summer reading programs too!

It might be just what you need to help you look forward to a productive and relaxing summer (because reading can be relaxing)! 
*Too see some of my favorite books click here to go to my amazon read and loved wishlist page. It is a list of books that I find myself rereading the most often-as well as some of my kids favorites most of them are books I have in my own home for keeps!