Two Things

I finally have my own computer again after about a year, so it may very well be that I will blog more often. And comment on other blogs more often. As it turns out, sharing a computer with your husband who works at home doesn't leave much time for all the blog perusing and commenting and other computerized activities that one used to indulge in. Also, I finished my new Nancy Drew game in record time, as senior detective, with ALMOST no help (I had to look online about a couple of things, but they were MINOR, I promise). I determined that in my real life Sarah is Nancy, I'm Bess, and Liz is George. No arguments.

The other thing is I HATE feeding my kids. It is the very worst part of parenting for me. And it is daily. Multiple times a day. And, although I do not hate parenting, I hate this part of it daily, multiple times a day. That is all.

Book love!

Out of sugar-addiction, depression, OCD, disposaphobia, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, one thing I am THRILLED my kids inherited from their parents (well, from me, actually) is BOOK LOVE!

Charlotte brought home a Scholastic book order last week, and I asked the kids to circle something they wanted to order. I did this hoping it would help me not go overboard and order stuff that they wouldn't appreciate. Because, frankly, I usually order for myself. Nothing that comes home from school is so wonderful as a book order!

Well, I got that book order back from them today, and practically everything was circled. Claire used pink marker, Gabe used blue crayon, and Charlotte used pencil. I was both happy that they love books so much and sad that I can't order all that for them. (I did add up what it would cost if Donald Trump graciously offered to pick up the bill, though: $1373.55. Not even kidding.) SO, I paired that down, painfully, added a Nancy Drew computer game for myself for ONLY FIVE DOLLARS!, and sent it in. 

At least I got a good feel for what they are into. Claire circled anything that came with a piece of jewelry, Gabe went for Legos Ninjago and anything Star Wars, and Charlotte wanted it if it came with a key (like a diary). Hopefully, I got a smattering of what they like.

Because I'm so dorky about books, this all made me super excited about summer reading. I'm already contemplating the list of books and activities...

Wonderstruck!

I loved this book. It is by the same author and in the same format as The Invention of Hugo Cabret (I didn't see the movie, so I can't comment on that, but the book was fantastic). The format, if you haven't read either of these, is part picture book-part novel. So, for like 20 pages you just have a series of illustrations that tell part of the story. It's quick, it's descriptive, it's effective. Then back to a few chapters of words. It is awesome. It obviously cuts down on how long a book can be because pictures, frankly, do tell a thousand words. And it is more interesting. And a little mysterious feeling.

ANYWAY, I read this book several months ago, but it is coming up NOW because I went here yesterday:

This is the Menil Collection, an art museum in Houston. And I was delighted because it had a Cabinet of Wonders! And Wonderstruck is all about cabinets of wonder. I would never have known what I was looking at and experiencing if I hadn't read this book. Since I had, however, I was thoroughly delighted above and beyond just looking at whatever was there (which was cool and creepy also). Plus, the whole time I was reading the book, I was wanting to see a cabinet of wonders. Lo and behold!

I am now going to pull a sweet idea from my friend Courtney by reading this book to my kids and then taking them to a real cabinet of wonders. It will be awesomely awesome. At least for me. And for Gabe because he loved the cabinet of wonders, and he has never even read the book.

Speaking of Gabe, see that picture up there of the museum grounds? That is an art installation in the grass. It is a series of ditches in different shapes - zig zags, swirl, lines - that vary in depth. You can't tell they vary in depth unless you walk in them or see someone walking in them. Naturally, when Gabe saw them he started running in them (they are only about one person wide, and the one you see right there is maybe 6 inches deep). I did it with him. Not only is it surprisingly fun, but it inspired this artsy couple to take pictures of us "experiencing the art and becoming the art together. It's so beautiful." Not kidding, they said that. It was nice and also funny to me.

ALSO, Gabe was inspired to make his own cabinet of wonders. We will be looking for just the right cabinet for him to begin. I'm stoked. Since my kids are hoarders collectors, I think he'll thrive at this endeavor.