Newbery Books

Since I was little, I've always loved to read. I still do and I hate it when I finish a book and have to decide what to read next. I'm always asking for suggestions. My mother in law one mentioned to me that she was trying to read all the Newbery Award books. The Newbery Award is the longest running award for children's literature. It is voted upon and awarded by the American Library Association to the author of the book making the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The first winner was "The Story of Mankind" by Hendrik Willem von Loon way back in 1922. This is were my Newbery journey will begin. After I finish I will give a review and start another book. If you would like to join me, you can read and give your review as well. The next book will be this year's winner, "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman. Happy reading!
Follow my journey at www.newberyjourney.blogspot.com

24th and stuff

We had a good Pioneer Day. On Thursday we went to the Bountiful parade and the kids enjoyed all the candy they got. Friday we visited the Draper Historical Society museum. I have some ancestors that were involved in developing the area in pioneer days. It was nice to remember my pioneer heritage on pioneer day. Saturday we worked hard fixing up the yard at our Magna house. We've decided to sell it and Raymond has been working hard to get it ready. Later we went to the Olympic Park in Park City. We saw some freestyle ski jumpers and then went on the Alpine slide. Samuel and Gideon got to go down with Raymond and me. Poor Ammon got sick and threw up after we got there so he didn't get a ride. Raymond also went on the zip line. He really enjoyed that.
Raymond has been working with my dad as well as trying to get his own business started. He's also trying to get our house ready to sell. I've been getting used to chasing five kids around. It's been a challenge and I'll be glad when school starts to I can go to the grocery store again.

G Health Scare

After we went to bed on the July 4, I heard a strange noise coming from G in the boy's room. I went to check on him and discovered him covered in throw up and convulsing. I went and got Raymond and my mom. We called the paramedics. He went on for about ten minutes total. He had stopped by the time the paramedics got there. They took him to the hospital where they watched him for a few hours before sending him home.
The next two weeks were filled with testing and doctor's appointments. All of his tests have come in normal. We are grateful for that. Sometimes a child's brain will misfire in an isolated incident and it never happens again. Since his tests have been normal, that is what we think has happened. We think he'll be fine from now on.

Welcome Aaron

We are proud to announce the birth of our fifth child, Aaron Phillip Crane. Aaron was born June 30 at 7:50 in the morning. He weighed 8 lbs 1 oz and was 19 inches long. We are so glad he is here!

Summer flu

On Thursday evening I started not feeling so well. Friday I was still sick and A had developed a fever. J started getting a fever on Saturday and the rest of us were still sick, so we went to see a doctor.
They gave us a flu test (which was more uncomfortable than I thought it was going to be) and told us we all had influenza type A, which probably means "swine flu." Getting pandemic flu was not on my list of things to do this year. Luckily we saw the doctor fast enough to get the Tamiflu and everyone is feeling much better. I still have congestion and coughing, but the kids fevers are gone.
Raymond, S, and G haven't gotten sick. I'm hoping it stays that way.

Free Summer Fun

The kids are out of school. What are you doing to keep them busy this summer? We will be having our own little summer school. To keep it interesting, I've been looking into free or nearly free events to keep them busy and occupied. Here are some I've found mostly in Northern Utah since that's where I live. If anyone wants to attend these events with us, let me know! We'll have our own little summer camp.

-Saturday, June 6 Free Fish Day in throughout the state.
- Thursday, June 11 Free admittance to This is the Place Heritage Park
- West Fest, June 25-27 Parade Saturday morning
- First Wednesday of the month free at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts
- First Monday of the month free at the Utah Museum of Natural History. We will go on Monday, August 3.
- Free admittance to many National Parks across the USA on the third weekend of the month throughout the summer. See http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm
-Salt Lake County Fair August 5-8. Admittance is free, parking is $5.

That's what I know about so far. If anyone knows about others, please let me know!

Preschool Program

Well, A's done with preschool. His class wrapped up the year with their end of year preschool program. This program is something that even I did when I went to school there. A had the parts of the Beast in "Beauty and the Beast" (which is what my brother Josh did too) and the Huntsman in "Snow White." He did a great job on his parts. Now that school is over, he keeps asking if he's going to kindergarten next week. I have to keep reminding him that summer needs to happen first.