Good Reads {September 2016}

The kids are ripping through the Bluebonnet books this year and we're all finding some gems!

Here's a quick peek at my favorite books from the month of September:

Wool by Hugh Howey

Wool is a collection of five novellas that tell the story of a dystopian society. In this post-apocalyptic world, the air is toxic and what's left of humanity lives in a massive 100+ story silo. The story is gripping and full of unexpected twists and turns.  

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

A.J. Fikry is a the grumpy owner of Island Books and is mourning the death of his wife when a mysterious package arrives that changes his life. Uplifting and hopeful, this sweet story's chapters are interspersed with book recommendations and is perfect for book lovers.

Nine Women, One Dress by Jane Rosen

This is a quick, fun read that tells the story of the season's "it" dress -- a little black number -- and how that dress impacts the lives of nine different women. 

Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon

This graphic novel's cover is plastered in sparkly pink and purple and is not a book anyone in our family would have picked up if it weren't a Bluebonnet nominee, but was one we all enjoyed. In this fractured fairy tale (a retelling of Sleeping Beauty), princess Harriet Hamsterbone is not your typical princess. She craves adventure and finds it in spades in this riotous adventure.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys is a master storyteller and Salt to the Sea is the heart-wrenching tale of four young refugees who are trying to escape from East Prussia at the end of World War II. Told in alternating perspectives, the story centers around the greatest maritime disaster in history (the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff). An incredible story, beautifully told by a talented writer. 

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Another Bluebonnet nominee, this story is about Jackson and his imaginary friend Crenshaw, an oversized cat. Jackson's family has fallen on hard times and are facing eviction from their apartment. A sweet, hopeful story about the power of friendship.

Still Life by Louise Penny

This cozy mystery is set in a village south of Quebec, where a beloved community member has died mysteriously. Inspector Armand Gamache and his team set out to solve the crime. Though mysteries are not usually my genre of choice, this was an engaging read.

What have you read lately?

Lately: The Arts and More

September means that our calendars are full once again -- sports, after-school activities, Scouts, plus the never-ending homework keep us all busy! In spite of our full days, we're trying to make the most of our weekends and getting out and enjoying time together as a family. Here's a peek at what we've been up to lately:

Mass at Holy Rosary downtown

Henry found a leaf-footed bug on his window one afternoon. We watched it lay eggs! 

An evening walk with Ruby -- now that she's been to training, the boys can actually walk her without getting pulled down.

My book club met at our house last week (we discussed A Man Called Ove and feasted on Swedish meatballs and other treats from Ikea). The timing worked out perfectly because it was WUES spirit night at the Rice football game, so Gene took the boys to the game. The kids were able to walk onto the field and high-five the players.

Dinner and a book at the game

Last Saturday, we visited two art museums. At Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, we explored the the Best If Used By exhibit. This piece, Sugar Bucket, is a sugar-encrusted bucket that is decomposing and melting over time.

This green tree frog was not part of the exhibit but he grabbed our attention anyway!

Next up, we visited the Blaffer Gallery to see the Matthew Ronay exhibition.

Ronay's sculptures, created out of gouache, wood and colorful dyes, are surreal and intriguing.

After lunch, we poked around some antique stores and discovered that the boys are big fans of antiquing.

On Saturday evening, Gene and I got gussied up for the Houston Symphony's opening night and gala dinner. The concert was wonderful and we spent a lovely evening with friends.

Dessert included a chocolate oil derrick!

And finally, on Sunday afternoon, we took the boys to see author Nathan Hale, who spoke as part of Inprint's Cool Brains! series.

If you aren't familiar with Nathan Hale, he is the author of the wildly popular Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series of graphic novels. He was one of the most entertaining authors I have heard, and he kept us all in stitches for most of the afternoon.

What have you been up to lately?

Lately: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

We're getting close to the end of baseball season for the Houston Astros, but baseball is just starting for Henry! 

We finally made it to our first Astros game of the season last Friday night. We played the Cubs and it felt like we were in Chicago -- over half of the folks at the game were in royal blue!

The Astros lost, but we still had a blast.

Henry is a true fan and was SO mad that the Astros were losing. It really didn't help that we were surrounded by Cubs fans!

In the meantime, Henry has decided to play Fall Ball. Little League in West U is pretty intense, but playing in the fall is more laid back, so Henry is trying it out for the season. We missed our first practice due to open house, but Henry and Gene got some practice in before his first game.

 

 

Will preferred sitting with Ruby.

Decked out and ready to head to his first game with zero team practices!

Henry arrived early and got some batting practice in and met his teammates.

Heading to the outfield.

Henry played well for someone brand new to the game and had a lot of fun! 

Take me out to the ball game? Anytime!

Open House 2016

Open House was last week and it is always such an exciting night as the boys show off their classrooms and hard work.

Henry's "I Am" poem

Exploring the classroom with Dad

Mirror Name

Henry's hidden butterfly -- they were all around the room!

Henry and Mrs. McClintock

This is the first time that Henry has a teacher that Will also had and we feel so lucky! Mrs. McClintock is a fantastic third grade teacher and Henry is so happy in her class. 

Will with the front page of his newspaper 

Showing off his work in homeroom

Will's homeroom teacher is also his reading teacher! Mrs. Miller is great and Will's having a fantastic year so far.

Here's to an outstanding school year! 

Good Reads {August 2016}

During the dog days of summer, we read, read, read...  with our dog!

Here are some of my favorite books from the month of August. 

When We Were the Kennedys: A Memoir from Mexico, Maine by Monica Wood
I love a good memoir and had read and loved The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood earlier this summer, so I was excited to grab her memoir from the library. Funny, engaging, and bonus points for being set in Maine!

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
This YA novel is full of twists and turns. A rich, powerful family summers on a private island. One summer, tragedy strikes, but what happened and why? It kept me guessing all the way til the very end.

Delancey: A Man, A Woman, A Restaurant, A Marriage by Molly Wizenberg
I savored Wizenberg's first memoir, A Homemade Life, and was so looking forward to her second book about the opening her pizza restaurant in Seattle. The memoir is good, but not as good as the first. But, if you're a foodie, though, it's worth reading.

The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin
Four-year old Noah keeps asking to go home even when he is home, is petrified of baths, and has knowledge of things that he has no business knowing (Harry Potter, guns, how to score a baseball game). The novel is a fascinating look at reincarnation and the bonds between mother and child.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
A good friend recommended this to me as a more sophisticated cousin of Big Little Lies. The story is told through email messages, memos, and the like as Bernadette's daughter, Bee, sorts through her mother's past and PTO drama to figure out where her mother has gone.

A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman
I picked this novel for my next book club meeting before I even read it! Translated from the Swedish, the story of grumpy old Ove explores the power of community. You will laugh and cry. It's a sweet story -- a must read!

Woof  by Spencer Quinn
School's back in session, which means that the boys and I are busy reading Bluebonnet books again. This middle grade mystery is told from the point of view of Bowser, a mutt, and it's a cute story that will charm dog lovers everywhere.

What have you read lately?

Lately: Back to School and Labor Day Weekend

School has been back in session for two weeks, so our days are jam-packed. I think we're all missing the slower pace of summer break!

Here's a peek into some of what we've been up to lately:

Ice cream with my big boy after his well-visit check-up

Jess gave us monarch chrysalises again.

College Colors Day at school

Look who's home from training (aka manners camp)

Ruby is so much better behaved now!

It's only early September and it still feels like summer here, but the retailers are convinced fall is coming. We could barely drag the boys out of the Halloween candy display at Randall's.

We spent Saturday in Galveston, playing at the beach and hanging out with some of our favorite friends, Jonathan and Julie.

We love our visits with them at the beach. Gene and Jonathan grill and swim and Julie and I talk books, while the boys run and play. We are so thankful for these friends!

We were out and about on Sunday and took a quick photo at the Lawndale Art Center in front of Russell Etchen's About ____ Rocks mural.

Henry has to present a science project to his class in the next few weeks, so we tried out a few at home. This "Bubble Inside a Bubble" experiment was a hit -- sugar in the bubble solution makes the bubbles sturdier!

We spent Labor Day at home and it was so nice not to have to be anywhere. Gene smoked a brisket all day; Ruby was his trusty sidekick.

 It was SO good and tender! Mmmmm.

Brisket, homemade pretzel rolls, roasted squash and raw carrots, and the Hefeweizen Gene brewed with his friend Jim back in June -- the perfect Labor Day feast! 

I hope your long weekend was spent enjoying good food with family and friends too!