Timmy Termite Days

Jet and I were on a Timmy Termite kick for a few days. Timmy Termite books are written and illustrated by our good friend, Stephanie Goodman. You know we love her so much.

She asked me to take a look at the text for a new Timmy Termite book she's working on so I was doing that while waiting to pick up high schoolers. 

One day I had the other two Timmy Termite books with me in the van so I could look through the three and compare them. I was mentioning some things to Jr. Jr. when his friend got in the van and noticed what I was holding. He hadn't read them and he got excited about them so I handed them back for the drive.

Fun. Even high schoolers read Timmy Termite. 

 

We used Timmy Termite for some daily literacy activities for National Literacy Month with Shadow Mountain Publishing. We also did other things those days. 

Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to let you know what the literacy activities were for those days (from the adult and children's calendars), then I'm going to just explain how those days went in general. See if you can keep up.

 

September 16 Leave a review for a favorite book

Create a bookmark 

 

September 17 Create a cozy reading space

Read with a grandparent or friend 

 

September 18 Discuss a book with a friend

Read your child's favorite book again 

 

September 16 was Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day. I was going to put raisins on cinnamon toast then realized we were out of raisins. Ha Ha Ha Ha. We always have raisins. It's like BBQ sauce. We always have BBQ sauce then all of a sudden one time I'm expecting to use some, we're out.

After school, Jet and I made a worm bracelet bookmark like the older kids and we made many many years ago (I blogged about it March 3, 2011).

I cut it out and put slits in it to put the bracelet together and Jet made the face. Teamwork!

 

He can wear the bracelet as we read then use it to keep the place when we need to stop.

Of course we used it for the book, Timmy Termite Job Shadow.  

 

September 17 was Monte Cristo Day. It was a busy day.

In the morning I helped the humanitarian center tie quilts. 

In the afternoon, Jet and I FaceTimed my grandparents and introduced them to Timmy Termite.

Afterward, I tried to quickly make Monte Cristo sandwiches, 

Jr.: Mom, that's unsanitary. You put your tong on it.

 

then ran out the door as Jr. finished them for me so I could make it to a bird walk with Utah County Birders. We walked along the river from Provo Delta Gateway Park.

There was thunder and rain during the walk and lightning at the end. 

 

When I got back, Jet and I made a cozy reading space to read a dinosaur alphabet book.

September 18 began with a huge storm.

After school, Joseph picked his current favorite book for me to read to him: Timmy Termite Job Shadow.

That evening I went over to Stephanie's house to pick up my signed copy of Dallon Dolphin Makes a Friend and discussed her in progress Timmy Termite book. 

Thank You, Agatha Christie's Hat?

September 15 was National Thank You Day. Those words were said in our home, of course.

It was Linguine Day but I didn't have any linguine so I made spaghetti with alfredo.

It was National Double Cheeseburger Day. To go along with Shelftember, I used a tamale casserole from the freezer (it had both hamburger and cheese in it). I made Spanish rice to go with it and homemade bread and applesauce (not homemade).

It was Agatha Christie's Birthday. I checked out an Agatha Christie book from the library.

It was Make a Hat Day. I watched Alice Through the Looking Glass while doing dishes and making dinner.

One of these years, we really need to make an Agatha Christie themed hat.

   

The Shadow Mountain Publishing calendars for National Literacy Month had the following for that day's literacy activities, in order of adult calendar and children's calendar:

 

September 15 Join a discussion online

Read a book about friendship

Parents Day Off? Ha!

September 14 was Parents Day Off. Ha! Too much to do. I even made dinner even though the menu plan said FFY (Fend For Yourself). And Jeremy had to go to work.

I did go for a walk that morning, though.

 

We needed some necessities so among my other errands that day, I went to Costco and bought flour tortillas. I spent a lot less than I normally would at Costco. #shelftember

With the flour tortillas I bought at Costco, I made fajitas with...

green bell peppers and yellow banana peppers from our garden, onions from the shelf, chicken from the freezer, fajita seasoning from the pantry, and sour cream from the fridge for those who wanted sour cream. 

Another errand I went on was to the library to check out a bunch of Terry Pratchett books that all reference a certain card game that some family members wanted to play. It helped for our literacy activity that night. Still going strong following Shadow Mountain Publishing adult and children's calendars for National Literacy Month.

 

September 14 Ready poetry or essays

Have a family reading night

 

Jeremy read us a passage from one of the books that talks about the game, Cripple Mr. Onion, then we played it.  

That was our Family Home Evening activity. Our treat was ice cream. Jet is so independent... sometimes (sometimes when I don't want him to be). He wanted to dish out the ice cream. Cute.

September Continues

September 9 was Wonderful Weirdos Day. We never have to put any effort into that holiday. We celebrate it by being us.

 

September 10 was National TV Dinner Day. I put a little more effort into that one, putting together a dinner with things you might find in a TV dinner. Crispy chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, brownies. Shout out to Jr. who baked the brownies for it.

On September 11, I took some time to reflect what happened 25 years ago. I found out that day someone I know was in the same building experiencing the same thing I did at the time the second tower was hit so we were both reflecting on similar things this year.

I also got out for a morning walk, which I hadn't done in a while.

On a brighter note, it was also Make Your Bed Day so I made pigs in a blanket. 

 

September 12 was National Video Games Day. The kids played video games. 

It was also National Chocolate Milkshake Day. Jeremy did some sketching of a chocolatey scene.

It was also Hug and High Five Day. Nichole, Jeremy, and I went to a funeral for my uncle so there were lots of hugs but not so many high fives.

You know family means so much to me, including extended family. Even if I haven't seen some of my cousins for years and we've gone in different directions, that love is always still there. We are always still family. It was also good for the three of us sisters to be there as well, representing the rest of our family.

 

Jeremy's sketch from that day must have been in my mind because the next day, September 13 was Roald Dahl Day and International Chocolate Day and National Peanut Day. Someone at church was wearing a purple dress. It made me think of Willy Wonka and chocolate. I pointed it out to her. Later she told me she had peanut M&Ms to celebrate. 

That day was also Positive Thinking Day. There was some positive thinking going on.

It was also Grandparents Day. I wished that happy holiday to my mom and sister.

And it was Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day. I told them to make dinner. I think they maybe made pizza? I don't know. I wasn't in charge. And I didn't take pictures.

 

Lots of emotions that week. 

National Literacy Month

We've been continuing with the Shadow Mountain Publishing calendars for National Literacy Month. 

Here are some more literacy activities we've done with the adult and children's calendars (in that order):

 

September 9 Visit the library (Bonus: look for a Shadow Mountain book)

Visit the library (Bonus: look for a Shadow Mountain book)

 

September 10 Unplug and read before bed

Read a rhyming book

 

September 11 Reflect on a book that changed your life

Count how many books you read this week  

 

September 12 Read a Shadow Mountain Publishing book

Read a Shadow Mountain Publishing book 

 

September 13 Post your current read

Ask your child what happens next before turning the page

International Literacy Day

September 8 was International Literacy Day. #LiteracyAtEveryAge

The Shadow Mountain Publishing National Literacy Month adult and children's calendars had these literacy activities listed:

 

Read for 45 minutes

Read an extra book together 

 

September 8 was also the 60th Anniversary of Star Trek. I have friends who are big Star Trek fans who had a whole weekend of it. I let them know I was thinking of them that day. 

He Left and Came Back

Jeremy built a balloon scene at the Twin Falls County Fair again this year. I always miss him when he leaves but I'm always happy when he comes home.

And I'm not the only one. 

 

While he was gone, we had a day or two where we were able to FaceTime with Jeremy. We would still do family prayer and scripture study by phone but it was nice to see his face. 

 

This is what he built at the fair. The signing of the Declaration of Independence with agricultural references. Happy 250th, America.

My favorite part of his sculpture was Ben Franklin. I love his pose with him touching his spectacles.