Saturday chores

Troy took the car in to get some work done this morning and took the girls with him. So I've had 2 hours at home by myself - it's amazing what you can get done when there are no interruptions. I've done two loads of laundry, remade beds, cleaned the kitchen stove, refrigerator, counters, vacuumed and made my menu plan and grocery list for the week. It feels great to be all caught up!

We hosted a dinner party last night with three other couples from our Bible study. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and eating homemade pizza.

I'm been doing some research on books for Madelyn and have come across the term "living" books, first termed by Charlotte Mason. She defines a living book as “whole books,” firsthand sources, classics, books that display “imagination, originality, and the ‘human touch.’". I want to make sure the books we are reading are not only fun but add that spark to my child's mind. Mason also said in another of her books, "
“For the children? They must grow up upon the best . . . There is never a time when they are unequal to worthy thoughts, well put; inspiring tales, well told. Let Blake’s ‘Songs of Innocence’ represent their standard in poetry DeFoe and Stevenson, in prose; and we shall train a race of readers who will demand literature--that is, the fit and beautiful expression of inspiring ideas

and pictures of life.”

This is a well stated idea of what I want to purpose to do in our reading times. For more reading on this subject here's an interesting article to read. Philosophy of Education is the book Mason wrote that expands on her educational views.

If you have a book (preschool age) that you consider a "living" book, please respond by leaving a comment! It will help my compile my growing reading list.