Thursday, August 24, 2006
So this summer we signed up for the local library's summer reading program. Mostly the boys wanted to do it because it meant they got to spin a giant, noisy wheel over and over again--something the grouchy old librarians have told them not to do for the past several years. I decided to do it because the school said Hunter was supposed to read some books this summer and since they failed to send home any sort of guidance as to what they wanted him to read, I figured the librarians would have that all figured out for me. Plus, I liked the thought of driving those cranky old librarians crazy with my kids spinning that wheel over and over again.
For me, it was a lot of work. I mean, try and find a biography that a three year old will be interested in or a book of poetry that your seven year old computer game addicted son will enjoy reading to you. Not an easy task. And then multiply that by three (since I had to do it with each of the boys) and add a fussy baby who really doesn't want to be there and who is really speedy at crawling off and pulling every book off the shelf before you find where he's crawled off to. It was probably more work than it was worth. At least for me.
But for the boys, it was a whole different story. Not only did they get to spin the noisy wheel but after reading five books, they received a giant poster, a free kids meal at Subway Sandwiches and their picture in the library scrapbook. After twelve books, they each got to pick a brand new library book and be the very first to check it out. And not only that, they got their names put in the book so that everyone would know that they read 12 books in the summer reading program. We didn't quite finish the entire program which required reading 15 books and meant they'd receive their very own paperback book to take home for keeps, but we got close and I think when all was said and done, they were very proud of themselves for doing as much as they did.
We also decided that we would finish the Book of Mormon this summer. We started reading it last September with the Prophet's challenge and after Christmas, sort of lost momentum. We read sporadically through the spring and about a month into summer I decided enough was enough, it was time to finish. So we did. . . last night. As a reward, the boys each received their own pocket-sized version of the Book of Mormon with their names embossed on the front (thanks, Grandma Stout) and a candy treat. Again they sure were proud of themselves. And they should be. I don't think I read the entire Book of Mormon the entire way through until I was in college and even then it was only what I needed to do to pass the Religion classes. Our new goal is to read the book again, but this time to finish in time for the Hill Cumorah Pageant next summer. Hunter has already started reading the book by himself and is doing a great job--6 chapters in one day. (He's also listened to the first four Harry Potter books this summer and can't wait to get his hands on volume five.)
**After reading the Book of Mormon last night I was talking to the boys about how Moroni will meet us after we die and ask us if we read the Book of Mormon and if we believed it and followed its teachings. All of the sudden Noah and Denver got really excited. Denver enthusiastically chimed in, "Oh and the dead baby bird will be there."
"Yeah, and Mr. Rodgers!" added Noah.
"Yeah. . . ." was about all I could say. Our discussion was obviously over their heads and there was no point going backwards. At least they have a hope of life after death and that they'll see their loved ones again someday. For now, that's enough.
posted by Shana # 10:47 PM 
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