Read This to Your Kids!

I really wanted to get this one up for Read Aloud Thursday...and here it is Saturday.  I'm going to do it anyway because this book is a gem!

A book Brian was reading referenced it.  He asked if I had heard of it and no, I hadn't, so I put it on hold and am so glad I did.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch begins with a lonely, friendless man who receives a Valentine package with a note that says "Somebody love you."  He doesn't know who sent it but it changes him.  He begins to smile and whistle and become a friend to many.  I won't spoil the end for you- it's so worth the read- but I will say this sweet story is more than just a Valentine's read.  It's a picture of what can happen to a person when they know they are loved.  Maybe it's even a taste of the freedom we have as believers to love when we know God loves us.

I think I'm buying my own copy of this one!

 Linking (late!) to Read Aloud Thursday!  Check out some of the other read alouds there!

Showing Some Love

A stomach bug has hit the house.  For over a week now.  It seems to have a long incubation.  That means there have been three big laundry days and three less than ideal-sleeping nights.  Four people down, two to go.  How much longer???  I really do hate stomach bugs.

But.

If there's an upside to a virus like this, I have seen it twice.  Only took a picture once.

Jack was the first victim and the other kids made him a box with crackers, Sierra Mist, apple sauce, and cards.

Kayla is the latest to go down, and Jack made her this little tray this morning.

I love that.

Because let's be honest- these guys aren't always full of kindness towards each other.  They squabble and annoy sometimes.  That's why it's so very nice to see that they in fact do care for each other and can show some love.

I'd be fine if it didn't take a stomach bug to prove it, though!

The Latest

It is 60 degrees in January!
We have been light on school work and heavier on outside time today.  There's been a stomach bug making its way around the family over the past week but today everyone feels good.  It's nice to see Sam smiling and doing rolls and flips around the house (his current method of transporting himself)  instead of laying in bed looking pitiful.

I never did much of a "looking back" post for 2014 but when I have thought about it, new activity seems to be a theme.  Jack and Kayla joined a summer swim team.  Sam learned to swim and loved jumping into the deep end by the end of the summer.  Lucy felt like a big girl in her life jacket swimming all around the pool.  I took up running with a friend, took a break, then got back into it because I feel better all around when I run or do some kind of exercise.  Brian signed up for a fitness swim class in November and has been at it ever since.
And now we've got basketball for Kayla and Sam.

I know it's blurry but a good action shot is hard to get!

If you've read this blog for a while, you know that sometimes jumping into a new activity has been hard for Sam.  He's done great with his basketball team!  He was nervous the first practice but here's what he said:  "You know how at first you feel like crying, then you just feel nervous, then you're ok?  That's how it was."