Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Emily's Book Club

This one of those things that I am really happy with. Emily and I started a Mother / Daughter book club a year ago after seeing how much fun her cousin Maddie and Aunt Andrea were having. We invite her friends from school and church and started with Misty of Chincoteague. Now a year later we are still doing it. We have read so many great books.

I had gotten out of the habit of reading to the kids. With all of my novels and chapter books packed away in boxes stored under the house I got lazy. I love to read children's literature. The other kids read along with us. But the parties belong to just Emily and I.

I think she really needs that just Mommy and me time. I have enjoyed spending that special time with her alone too. Sometimes you forget how wonderful your children are until they are alone with you, one on one, and no siblings to play off of.

This last month, after a whole year of really great books we read Trumpet of the Swan. It was my very favorite book in 5th grade. I loved it so much more than Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little and have never understood why it gets so much less attention. For our end of the month celebration Emily prepared some discussion questions for her friends. We talked about honor and friendship and tried to figure out how animals have instincts like flying south and how to build nests. Emily helped me make swan cream puffs. The crazy oven cooked them too hot and I made them too big maybe so we could use some more cream puff baking practice. Then Emily and I taught all the girls how to make swan shaped balloon animals. It was a lot of fun.
I am so grateful to all the good Mom's and Daughters we have in our group to make this such a valuable club for Emily and I.

You can visit our book club blog here, put together by one of the Mom's in our club. We hope we inspire you like Maddie and Andrea inspired us.

6 comments:

RuSty and LaLa said...

Yumm! I want one of those!

Sarah said...

What a fabulous idea! I LOVE Trumpet of the Swan best as well. I love your cream puffs and the balloons too. I am inspired (just need to wait a few years;))!

Anonymous said...

Glad you are having a good experience. Emily keep reading it will take you far.
Love
Grandma D

Nicole said...

Wow- you guys went all out- good for you!

Cathy said...

I love you you guys do this and I hope I can do it with Emma some day! Very clever swans!

Sarah said...

Did you know you already inspired ME?! We started a Mother/Daughter group for the 1st graders last Fall after hearing about yours. It's been a lot of fun, so thanks!