I Love Reading Challenge Events

On Chocolate Mint Day, February 19, besides eating chocolate mints,

Nichole and I had a lovely mother-daughter date at The Hobbit Book Club Discussion at the Orem Library.

We had great conversation at our table discussing the book and so many other things.

We also got to make pocket-sized Shires. I always love to see how people can have totally different styles when creating things. I also love that, even though we were all book lovers at the event, we could have different interests in books or different favorite and least favorite characters in the same book. 

I loved that event.

I Learned Some New Skills

Superb Owl Sunday was on February 8. Jeremy, Nichole, Jr. Jr., Lucky, and Jet all contributed to Sunday Sketches. I will post about that later.

Jeremy fed us some Rootinest Tootinest Breakfanootinest Casserole (his own creation- we haven't had it in years, though). 

Since the weather was nice, I wanted to take a nice relaxing drive in the afternoon. Several of us got in the van and went for a drive through Provo Canyon, around Deer Creek Reservoir, up into Midway, around Heber Fields, and back through downtown Heber, around Deer Creek Reservoir, and through Provo Canyon again, where we had a tire blow out after we got out of the canyon.

So I got to learn some new skills and recognize many blessings. If I was on my own (without Jeremy), I would have freaked out. As it was, we were both able to support each other. Jeremy looked up YouTube videos and was able to get the spare tire out of the trunk (and managed to get the old tire off and into the trunk- it was heavy). I was able to crawl down on the ground and figure out where to put the jack. We both took turns lifting the van with the jack. I got to put the spare on and put the lug nuts back on. Jeremy did more tightening than I did. We both got to see that the spare was flat so I called some friends and since we were not too far from home (huge blessing), I was able to get a ride home to get our portable air compressor and drive back with our other vehicle. Then I got the experience of learning how to use the air compressor to fill up the spare tire. Jeremy and I worked well together. That's another blessing.

It was a beautiful night. Kids were well behaved. Nichole took Jet walking up and down the sidewalk because we pulled over off the main road to a road that didn't have much traffic. Jet was well behaved in his cute Seahawks jacket. I put that on him because the Seattle Seahawks were playing in the Super Bowl that day (and won). Jr. Jr. kept himself entertained by juggling.

It ended up not being too late when we got home, too.  

The next day, I was able to get kids to school then drove to get a new tire. I got to read some more of The Hobbit at the tire store while I waited and then found out the tire was still under warranty. Woohoo. Yay for more blessings. 

A Room of One's Own Day 2025

January 25 was A Room of One's Own Day.

 

It was also Opposite Day so one of my children was trying to get away with things by saying the opposite. Silly child.

When I could (that evening), I celebrated A Room of One's Own Day relaxing in my bedroom. I read The Hobbit. I took a nap. I read some more of The Hobbit. You know. The usual.  

I Love Reading Challenges

You know I love reading challenges. I participated in the 2025 Adult Reading Challenge with Orem Library and got a notebook and pen. I love what they both say. The notebook says, "Just one more chapter." You know I love that. The pen says, "My weekend is all booked." So fun.

Nichole and I both signed up for the Winter Reading Program at Provo Library. That one runs December and January. I was thrilled when I picked up my main prize from reading enough minutes. It's a tote that says, "The book was better." Ha Ha Ha Ha. I love things that have sayings related to books and reading.

Nichole and I took some bonding time one day to finish up the activities for the Winter Reading Program. We went on a scavenger hunt, we wrote poems, we texted each other, we colored bookmarks at the library. Then we picked up the prizes that still needed to be picked up (hot cocoa mix, candy, chips, etc.). 

On Peculiar People Day, January 10, Nichole and I had more bonding time. We went to the kickoff event for the 2026 Adult Reading Challenge at Orem Library. This year's challenge centers around The Hobbit. We got to be with other book lovers for "second breakfast," while listening to Lord of the Rings music. We got to learn about this year's challenge. We got a copy of The Hobbit to keep. We made junk journals to keep track of things during the challenge this year. We got pins that say, "Make reading a hobbit." We got to interpret some Elvish. It was nice.

As soon as we got home, I told people everyone was welcome to read The Hobbit. Jet immediately asked me to start reading it to him. So cute.

I keep the book and junk journal in my reading tote now so I can take it all with me while waiting for kids after school or after play practice.

I love reading challenges.

 
P.S. One of the book categories for the challenge is a book published in 2025. This is me going for a walk while listening to the audiobook of The Rules of Matrimony by Anneka R. Walker. I loved reading it last year and heard that the audiobook had good narrators so I listened and laughed out loud and loved it just like I love the physical book. Narrators really can make a difference for me wanting to listen to audiobooks.

I'd say Anneka R. Walker is one of my favorite authors. I can happily reread her books and get excited about reading those I haven't read before.

 

Balloon Bag End

No more sneak peeks.  It is done.  Balloon Bag End. 
Jeremy built a room from Bag End from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" out of balloons.  It took up most of our living room and took 3 days to build.  It stayed up for a couple days then was demolished by our family in a couple more.
Jeremy and I had been working on putting together a time lapse video of it, and we finally finished.  Phew.
So here you go.

I Did Miss It

Well, I missed it.  Yesterday was my first day not posting something on this blog since the end of August (that's right.  Every day in September.  And half of October.  Woohoo).  But I had good reason.

This was me yesterday.

 
All day long.

Except for a few breaks, in the morning getting the kids ready for school, and Jr. Jr. had a pediatrician appointment.  I did get to sit down with the family for dinner.  I also needed adult conversation every once in a while.

It's just another sneak peek for you.

Last night after the older kids went to bed, we found Jr. Jr. like this.

Yep, children do learn by watching adults.

Sneak Peek

I mentioned Jeremy had BIG plans for celebrating this week.  This is why we didn't celebrate much for Hobbit Day.

Out of balloons, Jeremy built a room from Bag End (Bilbo Baggins' home from The Hobbit) in our living room.  It took him about three days to build and was displayed for about two after that.
Above is a sneak peek picture.
You can find another on my post about Happy Goose Day 2012.
More will be revealed later.  Bwah ha ha ha.