Literary Tourism - Maryland

One of my goals for the year is to revisit old, not yet completed goals. And so I return to traveling the United States through literature. Maryland is a state that I visited often in my childhood. I visited Annapolis, the Baltimore area, andthe D.C, suburbs. It is a great state.

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

Molly and her brother Michael are struggling to adjust to life in a blended family.  They feel like their younger stepsister, Heather, is moody and intentionally difficult.  Their mother and stepfather keep reminding them to treat her gently because she witnessed the death of her mother by fire.    They are less than excited to be forced to move from their row house in Baltimore to a renovated church in the country.

Molly is disgusted to discover that the property has a graveyard, but Heather is fascinated with it.  She discovers a gravestone with own initials.  Molly fears that Heather's obsession with the gravestone might have ghostly consequences and sets out to save her.

This book has a decent sense of geography.  The author spends time time contrasting life in the Maryland countryside with life in Baltimore.  It helps that the author lives in Maryland.  I was disappointed that Holwell, Maryland is merely fictional.

This is a light, horror story for children, thus not a masterwork of literature.  Molly seems to have adult tastes like reading Emily Dickinson and Shakespeare.  The parents' characters are underdeveloped and maddening at times.  Besides the characters, the plot is well-developed and spooky.  If you are looking for a light read or an appropriate "scary" story for a child, this is a good choice. 

It's Raining, It's pouring

I have felt very blessed that this winter has been drier and warmer than last winter, and that we've had a lot of rides.  But the rain has settled upon us and my regular rides are coming to an end and thus we have taken to the bus.

I have a bad attitude about it, but Joshua loves it.

Me:  Tomorrow, we have to take the bus to preschool so we ned to be sure to get ready quickly in the morning.

Joshua:  Wow, thanks, mommy!

At the bus stop

Me (in my head):  The bus is never going to come.  It's rainy.  I am so wet.  This is crazy.  Where is the bus?  Why am I doing this?

Joshua (while splashing in puddles):  It's raining, it's pouring.  The old man is snoring ...

Henry recently got his first pair of rainboots which are about 3 sizes too big, but the smallest I could find.  He is warming up to puddle jumping nicely.

An Afternoon in Poulsbo

Yesterday, we took advantage of the mild, sunny day and walked around a town called Poulsbo.  It is a town north of us with Norwegian heritage and quaint street names like Viking Ave. and King Olaf V Street.  As we walked along the downtown, Joshua sang "I Am a Child of God" while Henry hummed the ABC song.  We stopped at a famous bakery.  Jerry and I enjoyed pastries and the kids got smiley face cookies.  They had the option of frowny face cookies, but Joshua said "I want the smiley face cookie, I do not want the sad face cookie."  And thus it was so. 

2018 Goals

I have so many ideas of the things I would like to accomplish this year and have decided I need to write them down.  This post is mostly meant for myself and will hopefully a a reference for me.

Personal Goals 

1.  Update some of my professional skills through professional training.
2.  Revisit some old reading goals like Literary Tourism and reading 30 books this year
3.  Find a way to learn more about science.
4.  Use technology particularly social media as a tool rather than a time waster.

Spiritual Goals

1.  Improve daily scripture study and prayer.
2.  Attend the temple every quarter or at least 4 times.
3.  Complete my visiting teaching and calling assignments well.

Family Goals

1.  Spend more quality time with my kids.
2.  Create more nutritious meals. 
3.  Record family memories. 

Merry Christmas 2017

Well, it's been another year and another opportunity to wish our friends Merry Christmas.  We've had a busy 2017 with lots of travel.  We did a few mini trips to British Columbia and Vancover, WA as well as big trips to Edmonton, Maine, and Utah.  We feel blessed to have spent so much time with family.

Jerry has been busy and challenged at the Stretch Island Fruit plant.  Je jas also had a lot of opportunities to visit Kashi headquarters in the San Diego area.

Michelle is busy with the kids and getting settled in their newly purchased home.  She loves having the space of a home and a yard.

Joshua started preschool this year and loves it.  He is still obsessed with cars and trains, but has also discovered the joys of puzzles and board games.
 
Henry continues to be sweet and cuddly.  He has recently started walking and babbles all day long.  He, too, loves cars and trains.  Additionally, he loves emptying the cabinets, flirting, and making messes.  He hates sleep.

We hope this letter finds you all well and happy.  We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2018.

Sweet and Small

You sat on my lap 

And cooed me a promise

To always stay little and sweet.

You give me slobbery kisses,

Nap snuggled on my lap,

And burrow your head into my shoulder.  

But today is the first time

You will break the promise 

You never intended to keep.

I will rejoice and sorrow 

As you gingerly discover frosting

And grin while family celebrates.

Next you will stand and toddle away from me,

Throw tantrums, sing the alphabet,

Steal toys from your brother and ride a bike.

Time will betray me over and over.

You will ramble endlessly about Harry Potter,

Spider-Man, Legos, and knock-knock jokes.

I will watch you with gladness and grief

Knowing that no bribe can keep you

From growing, learning and achieving. 

Leaving me overflowing with sorrowful joy.

*This is a roughly written poem composed on my IPhone while Henry napped on me.  

Hand Prints

Lately, Family Home Evening has been very basic.  We mostly have read stories from The Friend Magazine.  But Joshua has been asking to make hand prints so I turned it into FHE.  It took about 30  seconds to prepare.

We read Psalm 82:6 and talked about how God gave us our bodies.  Then we made pictures to remind us that we are children of God.

Joshua wanted orange fingerpaint so we even added a little science lesson into it.  (Red and yellow make orange)

One set of hand prints was not enough for Joshua so we let him go crazy.  Then we ate ice cream and gave him a thorough bath.