Battle of the Books

Colton participated at school in something called "Battle of the Books".  Basically, kids form teams.  All the teams have to read a bunch of books (usually ones that have either won awards or are best sellers for their age group), then they get asked questions about the books at the Battle of the Books event.  I think there were 3 or 4 battles at different times during the school year.  Each battle, the questions were over 4 different books, so these kids ended up reading quite a lot of books!  Not a problem at our house.  These kids LOVE to read!

When the proctor asks the team a question, they have a certain time to answer. They are allowed to discuss the answer between themselves before answering...

books make great friends

It is always so fun for me to see my children wrapped up in a book.  This is because I completely understand being able to lose yourself in a fun story.  It becomes painful to put the book down because you have to see what is going to happen next.  It's like living in a dreamworld in which your mind is guided in creating a completely different world.  You lose track of time and anything else happening around you.  For awhile you get to become someone else - you experience the excitement, heartaches, fear, joy, and learning of a character.  You become a part of that story.

My kids have learned this joy created by reading a book.  Each one of them LOVES to read...just like me.  It's really fun to see them choosing to read.

It's funny, because although I periodically go through toys and clothes, donating what has been outgrown, I will never donate a book (unless it's one we really don't like).  Books to me are like old friends.  I love them and will hold on to them for my kids to share with their children at some future point - or there will be some waiting for future grandkids to enjoy when they come to grandma and grandpa's house.  I enjoy seeing picture books that my kids have completely outgrown, because it brings back a flood of memories associated with each book.

In the picture below, Colton and Kyle had created a fort in the hallway outside both their rooms.  I passed that hall and found Kyle quietly reading by his fort. He was totally wrapped up in the story and never even noticed me as I took this picture.

bookworms

I LOVE that my children love to read as much as I do!  One of the things we all look forward to at Christmas is the tower of new reading material.  I am on the lookout through the year for new books or series of books my children might enjoy.  I secretly stockpile them, just waiting for Christmas when I can finally let them loose on my children.  In the days following Christmas there's lots of playing with fun new toys, but there are also moments of absolute silence where everyone in the family is curled up in a comfortable corner somewhere reading nonstop and into the night.  I end up reading their books too!


In the pictures below, Kyle is reading to Jace.  Jace is the son of a couple of my closest friends, Josh & Sarah Carroll.  They became like family to us when we were living in Texas, far away from our own families.  They just moved back here to Arizona this summer and we LOVE having them so close again!


Kyle and Jace were holed away in Kyle's room on his bed with Kyle reading and Jace listening intently.  No one else was around.  We snuck over and peeked through the door without them knowing we were there...

Jace starting to get a little sleepy...(way to go Kyle!)

I love my little Kyle.  He's not so little anymore.  That has both a happy and a sad side.  It's so fun to watch him learn and grow and excel, but it is also a little bit hard to watch my youngest outgrow different things that are cute about being little.  But mostly it is absolutely amazing, beautiful, and fun!  I feel very blessed to be a mother to these wonderful four amazing people!