More Books with Ben February 26, 2007

As Ben gets older, it’s opened the door to new choices for the books we read together. While some Young Adult books are still way too much on the Adult side of things, we’ve enjoyed some others that I would have put back on the shelf a few years ago (basically anything with anyone dying, seriously ill, getting divorced and more). Here are a couple of my favorites from the past year or so (and not all of them deal with serious themes):

•  Ida B. – Katherine Hannigan
• The Secret of Castle Cant – K.P. Bath
• The Secret School – Avi
• The Wright 3 – Blue Balliett
• The Anybodies – N. E. Bode

This last book (note the clever author pseudonym) is one we just finished this afternoon. It started off clever and comfortably weird and got better and more intriguing as it went along. It’s chock full of references to other children’s literature, which were fun for Ben and I to figure out. There was only one that stumped us – referring to children running away from home with their things in violin cases. After a Google search, I believe the book in question is From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, a book Ben has read but I haven’t.

I’m so glad Ben hasn’t grown out of sharing books with us! It is still one of my greatest joys in parenting.

Emerging February 26, 2007

The busiest season of the year in my job is over and as the buds on the trees outside our window barely contain themselves from bursting forth, I feel a similar sense of potential. A clean slate, new possibilities, fresh focus – matched by the changing weather and limitless blue sky. Springtime here is an over-the-top experience. Having endured just enough winter to be tired of the cold and the requisite winter coats, Spring explodes on to the scene, unabashedly bright and full of promise. These are the days when I tip my head back and let the absolute fullness of the season wash over me, profoundly thankful for the rebirth.

After focusing so intently on work this past month or so, our family life is quickly taking its turn. We’re wrapping up our preparations to send Ben off to camp soon – the outdoor school is a very cool part of his curriculum this year. And just before he leaves, Ben and I will join one of his classes in a day trip to Austin for Explore UT. Later in the month, Brian’s sister, Laura, will be traveling from Michigan for a long-awaited visit.

In the meantime, I’m happy to get back to cooking a few things (I went one whole week without making even one meal!), catching up on laundry, reading through the stack of magazines on my bedside table, and, best of all, soaking up time with my two favorite people in the world.