Chillin' in the Summer Heat

The past few weeks have been true summer. Heat index hovering around 100 degrees Farenheit everyday. We go swimming with Grandma once a week, and have had some time with friends. Summer reading is in full swing, and I am very excited with Anastasia's interest and progress in reading. Tristan is also gaining confidence and able to read longer books. He is beginning to read on his own with retention.
I have been trying to walk every day in preparation for the coming birth of baby #4. I am ready to go any day, though we are still a few weeks out from due date. I am excited to meet the little guy. To keep myself busy and happy during this time, I picked up some new sewing projects. Mostly baby  gifts for friends and family. I got kind-of addicted to the bib/burp cloth combo. Fun little projects that I can sew up in an hour of free time and then put the sewing stuff away if necessary.

We are still reading about the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln. We began reading Clara Barton's biography, written by Helen Dore Boyleston. This is a book that was on our shelf, one from my childhood. I like having a female hero to read about, and this story paralleled F.N. Monjo's Me and Willie and Pa nicely.

Other books we've really enjoyed these past few weeks:
The Cemetery Keepers of Gettysburg, Linda Oatman High (Gave me a new perspective on work during 4th pregnancy. Grateful that I don't have to dig graves!)
A Lucky Dog, Dirk Woods (True story about a dog who belonged to the United States Post Office of Albany, NY. He traveled around the world with the mail.)
All the World's a Stage,  Rebecca Platt Davidson (A very pleasant introduction to a dozen of Shakespeare's plays. Written as a building rhyme.)
Where's the Baboon?, Michael Escoffier (A fun book to read with Ana. Taught her a few new sounds, like -oo. Tristan got a kick out of it, as well.

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