library love

Do you know your librarians by name?
Do your librarians know your name?

When we told the kids we were moving my daughter sobbed. THe only thing that cheered her up was finding out the the city we were moving to had 30 branches of the library.
Thirty - she could barely fathom it.
THen the questions;
"Does that mean we have 30 library cards?"
no honey, just one
"ONE card works for all 30 libraries?!"
"How do I get a card"
you have to prove you live in the city
"How?"
you give them your new address
"Then the librarian comes to your house to make sure you really live there?"
no, not quite. you just show them a hydro bill or something.
YOu know sweetie, they aren't going ot know us by name the way they do now. It is different in the city...

The potential of 30 branches out weighed the possibility of an impersonal library for her. I am not convinced yet.

Our librarians did know us by name. They knew what sort of books my kids liked, even what their favorite colours were. They asked how we had spent the weekend were excted to see us back after we went on holiday. My children's art was up on the walls.They let me know when books were added to the used book sale and they didn't need to ask for our card number for renewals.

We have now traded personal interaction for the convenience of self checkout.

If you are blessed to know your librarians, how many kids they have, what they like to read - appriciated it!
Make a point of bringing them cookies, flowers, home made thank you cards. You may even get your own thankyou are back from them (after you move and have to pay your overdue fines ;) ) that says you were one of their favorite families. Isn't it wonderful when the feeling is mutual.

I want to close with a little ditty my 7 year old daughter wrote about books ;

Books are wonderful
Some books are exciting and some books are sad.
Some books are happy.
There are lots of books in the world so....pick a book and read.
Books are a big part of my life.
They are fun.
I love books.


and if you are looking for some new titles to read to your little ones, here are a few of our favorites - go find them at your library!
The Biggest Bed in the World
Rattlebang Picnic
How to Make and Apple Pie and See the World

(and I have hundreds more suggestions if you need any...)

can we be honest here?

as I attempt to flee facebook, a little like Lot, trying not to look back for fear of turning into a pathetic pile of friendless salt
I come here to feel I have some sort of internet presence.
because, well, won't the world stop turnig once I stop posting my witty status updates....?

didn't think so.

but a girl can dream right?!?!

so, as was my intention in starting this blog in the first place, I come here to speak.
express myself.
keep you all up to date on the glamorous life of a twenty something homeschooling mother of four.
without facebook I hope to be more motivated (and have more time) to post here.

so here is the honesty part.

I am typing standing up.
holding a grumpy babe in the sling.
glass of wine just out of reach.
and I wish this day was over.

the hot water tank has stopped working.
(cold showers don't go over well with nine year old boys by the way)
and our housemates (my in-laws) are out of the country so we can't really make any major decisions tonight.
that is probably a good thing.

this wasn't really a bad day.
but just full
too full for my liking.
I like things to be simple and run smoothly.
I like to not worry about water heaters and septic tanks and I like the days when my kids are all angels best.
but,
where would I be without the crazy bedtimes and the dirty slings, the perma-grunge on the floor.
please be honest and tell my you have had these sort of days. not horrible.
just
too
full



now excuse me as I lay down my baby. I blogged him to sleep.

little miss yellow belt

cadence became a yellow belt a couple of weeks ago!
here she is sparing with dad - and winning I think!
and also, wearing the borrowed gi for the grading that was miles too big - the white belt went to her toes!. she did very well, but even her sensei addmitted that she got extra credit for being so darn cute!

preparing for Easter
we had a wonderful time making these with friends
can't wait to light it!

the laundry is hung outside!

it is march, and our sheets are drying in the sun.

what a gorgeous sun we have

with everything going on it has been wonderful to still find time to take walks
to smell the melting snow.

so much hope in march.

the longer i am alive the more it is the small things that make me smile.

he brought the kids ice cream bars

we put the house for sale today.
the first home we've owned.
this has been the longest we have lived in one place.
I have to admit I am not looking forward to selling the house....
but I am
at the same time.

mondays

today the phone has been ringing - a lot
to keep busy the kids sat themselves down and did all their book work independently,
then made a wonderful fort.


learning lots today! about love and co-operation, expressing ourselves....music is playing, all is well.