Read-a-thon

I'm not the only one who loves reading challenges. The elementary school recently had their annual read-a-thon. This year, a Book Bandit escaped from the book and it took reading so many minutes to get him back in his book.

Jet got very excited about it when they had their opening assembly. He came home and told us about the Book Bandit. He even decided he had a certain color shirt that was his "case solver" shirt to solve clues about the Book Bandit so he alternated between two shirts during the whole read-a-thon. Oh my. He is so cute. 

But let me let him share about it:

 

yeftefytrreggdytdyrtderfyg;lgblkghjghjbnhjbioiuio jioojuojujojiiiiiiiiiiiiikuiiooiuoyiiigtjjirtjrithgiirgthghtiththitgthhfthtrhfrjtgjrgihhrugrftbrth hjrknfrg fjrmfrnfm

 

Translation (as fast as I could keep up):

Mystery solver. mystery solver solved the clues. Boom, solved the clues.

something about the book thief.

Find the clues, mystery solver. 

 

Told you he was cute.

Daddy read a bedtime story (or two or three) to him every night then told me how many minutes they read so I could record it the next morning.

Lucky, of course, did his own reading, and read he did.

On the last day of the read-a-thon, he came home with a medal for being one of the top readers (reading the most minutes). Not really a surprise. This kid also loves reading challenges.

Lucky told me that Jet's team got the most minutes overall, though, so that's also fun.

The Timing

 

The timing. 

 

I wanted to get a picture of me reading to Jet. He came home from school one day so excited for the Read-a-thon at the elementary school. They need to read enough minutes to trap the Book Bandit that escaped and is causing chaos at their school.

I checked out several books from the library and he picked this book for me to read to him. "Just Me and My Mom" by Mercer Mayer. 

 

So it was funny that this was the book we were getting a picture of when my husband was leaving and stopped to be in the picture. Just me and my mom, huh?

Catching Up March 2025 part 3

March 16 was Artichoke Hearts Day. We used it as an excuse to make a yummy alfredo pizza.

March 17 was St. Patrick's Day. I made two recipes from Sarah M. Eden from The Fiction Kitchen Trio Cookbook. Dublin Coddle and Katie's Irish Soda Bread. 

For dessert we had Oreo Mint Truffles.

 

March 18 was Sloppy Joe Day. We had open faced sloppy joes. It was also Forgive Mom and Dad Day. I kept asking the kids to forgive me for silly reasons. 

Lucky, Jeremy, and I went to see one of Jr.'s orchestra concerts that day. I love that he enjoys orchestra so much because music is very important to me.

See Lucky hiding behind that book? The elementary school read-a-thon was going on during that time so Lucky wanted to get as many minutes in as possible. He ended up being one of the top readers in the school and got a prize for it. The read-a-thon was Roald Dahl themed this year. One morning, Jeremy, Jet, and I were able to go to Parents and Pastries with Lucky.

March 19 was Poultry Day. We ate chicken that day. 

It was also Chocolate Caramel Day. I may have celebrated that observed the next day by making Olloch the Glutton's Caramel Biscuit Bars to go with our Vernal Equinox (March 20) food, Easy Fairy Folk Tortilla Pizzas, both from The Fablehaven Cookbook.

 

March 21 was Fragrance Day and French Bread Day. We took some of those artichoke hearts and made Cheesy Artichoke Bread from the Six Sisters' Stuff cookbook, A Year With Six Sisters' Stuff.

March 22 was World Water Day. It rained. 

I got a little break from the rain when I went out to the water of the lake. I was just going to take a quick jaunt out to look at the pelicans on the lake then I kept going and going and going. There were plenty of birds to see. What else was I supposed to do? I ended up making a complete loop around the Geneva Ponds between Vineyard Beach and Lindon Boat Harbor.

I finally got some sun... but it was in my eyes. Did I mention that March 22 was also National Goof Off Day?

After my morning off, my ministering sister invited me to her house for lunch with my other ministering sister to celebrate Nauryz, a celebration of the new year and Spring and a renewal of nature. We enjoyed some traditional foods from Kazakhstan. 

What a wonderful day for that.

Later I went for a nice little drive up the canyon. Beautiful on that rainy day.

Read-a-Thon

The elementary school had a read-a-thon again this year so Lucky did a lot of reading during those times. It was Star Wars themed this year.

Jet and I went to Parents and Pastries with Lucky again to have treats and read books.

At the end of the two weeks, Lucky was one of the top readers in the school so he got to be on stage during the final assembly doing an act with the other top readers. It's a good thing he was wearing Jedi clothes that day.

He also got a medal and all the kids in the school got light sabers to take home. Fun.

Once again, I'm glad my kids love reading so much. And it's fun that Lucky likes a challenge... especially a reading challenge.

Celebrating Other Than Holidays in March

There were opportunities to support and cheer on family members in March.

Lucky had a 3rd grade concert at school and he did a great job.

 

The elementary school had a read-a-thon that was Harry Potter themed. The students tried to read the most minutes possible. Jr. Jr.'s "house" got the most minutes of the school and won the "house cup."

Lucky got one of the highest amounts of minutes in his grade.

Jeremy, Jet, and I went to school with Jr. Jr. and Lucky one morning for "Parents and Pastries" to listen to a storyteller and have breakfast.

Lucky participated in Battle of the Books. His team made it to the final battles and got second place overall. He got his first trophy! He also got a book for being in the finals. For reading all 20 books, he got a box of candy and another book. And earlier, all the students who participated got a box of candy. 

I know he worked hard on this and it paid off. I got to go to four of his five original battles and Jet and I went to his final battle.

I was going to support Nichole by going to see her get an outstanding student award at school but I ended up sick that day so I couldn't go. She was understanding. She is such a sweet girl. Her orchestra teacher nominated her and had this to say, that she "has been a consistent example of hard work, dedication, and quiet service through her three years at Orem High. She notices things that need to be done and goes about making a difference without any request or expectation of acknowledgement." Way to go, Nichole.

The kids supported me a few times by coming on drives with me. The boys were content if they got to bring devices. Nichole and I got to chat. One day she and Jet and I went for a walk while the boys hung out in the van.

Another day we drove into Provo Canyon and were able to see where avalanches were.

That second picture is Bridal Veil Falls. There was an avalanche back in January. This picture was taken while driving by in March. I'll talk more about it and share more pictures when I catch up on May. Stay tuned... for a while. Let's just say it's now June and the road down by Bridal Veil Falls is still closed (it usually opens the beginning of May).

Jeremy got me a present. The kids wanted me to open it so Lucky tried to hurry me through eating my food so I would open it sooner. 

It was a comfy hoodie. Jeremy has a matching one but in a different color (and size). They are so comfortable.

 

March was busy and chaos and exhausting. But we made it through. Go, Telfords!