What to read next?

SO... we have over twenty titles on hold at the library. We are hoping they begin arriving shortly or we'll be forced to spend grocery money at Barnes & Noble! We want BOOKS!

Not just any book, really, but books about building houses. We need to know about getting contractors and bids; buying the land before the horse and cart er, house plans; arranging finances, what to do if we can't perc the land until MARCH of next year! *argh* We need to bone up on NEC codes and plumbing options... we're chomping at the bit to dive into a meaty wiring diagram and, well, ok Zorak is the one who can't wait to dive into the wiring diagrams. As a matter of fact, he's probably the only one in the house who would describe one as being "meaty". Still, I'm an enthusiastic onlooker on that one. The rest, I'm also excited about reading and absorbing. *tick, tick, tick* goes the clock, as we wait and search the web until our eyes water.

James has now read all of the books we checked out at the library last week. Good thing we're going again tomorrow so we can restock. He gives a high-five to Stone Soup and The Little House: Her Story. For quick, fun reads, he said to tell y'all that The Aunt Eater Mysteries are a lot of fun!

Our little bookworm is also developing a "favorite author" (which gives me warm fuzzies from the tips of my toes all the way to my frizzy hair!) He is in love with Dick King-Smith's books. You may know him as the author of Mr. Potter's Pet and Babe: the Gallant Pig, but he's written many more, equally enchanting books, as well. I found a cute biography of him online, complete with a picture. (He just looks like he could keep children rapt with attention as he spins yarns and tells stories!) James is waiting oh-so-patiently for the next few King-Smith books to come available at the library.

We have new read alouds. The Hobbit (yes, the large print edition- it's actually great fun to read in large print! I am working equally hard at trying to create just the right voice for each character, and that has strained every last creative bone in my body, but James is enchanted. We talk a lot during the reading, too. Good thing it's not a movie. *wink* It does seem to keep him involved in the story, though. "Oh, dear, this does sound like it's shaping up to be an adventure, doesn't it?" or "Who do you think is at the door?") We are also starting The Magician's Nephew (C.S. Lewis- James insisted on starting with this one because it's now marked as book 1, and Mom doesn't know what she's talking about... starting with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe... pffttt. Silly, silly Mother!)

John fell asleep at the dinner table again. He is at that difficult stage where a nap will have him either up until midnight if we let him sleep it out, or grouchier than when he lay down if we wake him up. If he doesn't nap, he's done-for by supper time (and we eat around five thirty!) He's been a trooper, though, and tomorrow he will be pouncing on the bed at four thirty, bemoaning the fact that he's "starving to pieces"!

Jacob, aka White Fang of the North, is doing great, eating everything in site, having a grand time being a little guy. What more can I say?

Tomorrow we're going to the reptile exhibit at the library. We are taking one of the Wonderful Neighbor Girls with us, and the boys are so excited!

Tuesday the water torture, uh, swim lessons begin again. Two weeks and then we're done. We are going to the beach on Tuesday afternoon, as well, to meet with another family from church.

Church- oh yes, we visited the other church again today. Really, the boys are in love. I am in love with some aspects of it, as well. *sigh* It's hard to know what to do... a few of the bumps on the road, though, are potentially big ones for me. I am not quite sure how best to proceed. Anybody want to come mentor me for a while? Pretty please??

I'm going to go peruse the how-to books with Zorak (we have a gazillion of them on the shelves here at home, yes, I know, we're strange). Have a lovely Monday, all!

Dy