Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Summer reading

I am a girl who loves organized activities for my children that I don't have to organize (following me here?). So naturally, my children are enrolled every year in the local summer reading program. It suits us well....they get little chintzy prizes, I don't have to organize it, and in the end they win tickets to a Diamondbacks game, which makes Randy as happy as a clam. This year, however, the reading program is starting to drive me bonkers. Here is how it goes:

Tuesday Morning- We pack up, head to the library with mounds of books. Turn them in while Anna and Hallie fight over who gets to put what book in the little slot. Trudge around the library shushing my very loud kids, trying to find books that are not too babyish, but definitely not too long (yes, I am a bad mom who doesn't want to read to my kids for hours on end). Check out, continue to shush kids. Head to the HOT car, continue to shush kids. Get through the door with kids, baby, and books....immediately the girls start bugging me to read to them.

Tuesday Afternoon- By now, I have read them all of their books (which is a feat, as they ask questions the whole way through. Why is she doing that? Whats that? Where is she going? Why is she wearing socks? Where is her mommy?....the amazing thing is that I rarely have answers to these crazy questions). They immediately want to fill out their forms, which requires my to write in the names of the books we read and them to color in some circles. I politely decline.

Wednesday morning- I have politely declined their request for me to help them fill out their reading forms about 157 times now, I finally give in to the peer pressure and fill out the dang forms. They realize that they now qualify to get a sticker....amidst their jumping up and down with glee, they decide that we must go to the library right this very second to collect our fabulous stickers....and start the whole process again.

5 comments:

Jesika said...

I'm totally laughing right now because I can totally relate! Although, I do have older kids to help me out while IN the library and older kids who can read! Woohoo!! Your time will come! :o)

The Lee Clan said...

Been there, Done that! My oldest is now 11 though, and Jodi starts school next year. In some respects it gets easier when they get older, and in others it gets harder. I was looking around on blogs and came across yours. So glad to see that all is well with you and your family, and Linc is 1 where has the time gone? Check our blog out at http://jaleeclan.blogspot.com/ . Love Alyssa

Anonymous said...

This made me laugh. Grace does the exact same thing when I'm reading her a book- asks a gazillion questions! It drives me nuts! It doesn't matter how many times we've read the book, either, she still asks questions!

The Davis's said...

That is so cute! I can't wait until I can interact with my kids like that. They are still too little. We read books like...Brown bear, brown bear what do you see? I see a red bird looking at me...

tessa said...

I am with you on the love/hate relationship with the summer reading program:)

About Me

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Phoenix, Arizona
I am a stay at home mom of 4 beautiful, energetic children. Anna is 6, Hallie is 5, Linc is 3 and Port is our newest addition. Randy and I have been married for 8 years and love every minute that we get together.