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. 

Relaxation Day

August 15 was National Relaxation Day.

The public library is always a relaxing place for me.

I love the new outdoor courtyard/greenhouse area at Orem Library. Very relaxing. That's where I spent some time that afternoon.

When I got home I took Jet for a scooter ride around the neighborhood. I was happy to get my walk in because I wasn't able to go out that morning.  

I find walks relaxing.

I also made myself a smoothie earlier that day (I've been making a lot of smoothies lately). Also relaxing.

Morning Walks

I've been trying to get out for morning walks again. I did not do such a bad job in July. 

When kids came with me for Story Trails, it usually ended up being later in the day.

The last of the Story Trails we (or I) did:

 

"Why the Sea Moans" at Spring Creek Park. We read this one back in 2022 at the same park. 

"The Three Billy Goats Gruff" at Provo Library. We read this one in 2021.

 

"The Wise Old Woman" at Quail Orchard Park.

 

When I get out on my own, I like to go to a variety of places: parks, waterfall, lake, river. Sometimes I'll go to the same place multiple times in one week. Sometimes I'll go to different places in one week. 

On one of my Bridal Veil Falls Walks, I saw an actual slug. An actual decent sized slug. I was so happy about that. I miss slugs. I see lots of snails in Utah but not as many slugs and the slugs I do see are pitiful.

I like going for walks. 

Pacific Northwest Trip 2026- part 11

Monday morning, Jeremy and Marcus headed to another fair in California and I went for another morning walk, this time by myself.

I walked to the covered bridge that used to be the scene for so many pictures in the past- when it wasn't closed and you could actually reach it. Several of my nieces/nephews got senior pictures there.

I then walked down the road to a walking trail in the area. 

I got my juggling pics and videos.

June 29 was National Waffle Iron Day. Here's how I figure celebrating works sometimes- rationalization. My dad grilled hot dogs for us to have chili dogs. I figure that the grill has a lid that you close just like a waffle iron has a lid that you close. Boom. Celebrated.

After lunch, while Jr. and Jr. Jr. were playing frisbee, 

Jet, Nichole, my mom, and I celebrated National Camera Day by going on a "color walk" photo hunt. It's one of the activities for library Summer reading. Pick a color and take pictures of everything you see of that color as you go. We let Jet pick the color. He picked green. It's Oregon. We didn't take pictures of everything we saw.

When I showed him we could attach his camera to my selfie stick tripod, we was very excited and used it for the rest of the walk.

At one point, my mom showed Jet a line on the road where cracks had been filled in and he followed her following it.

This shows you're never too old to have fun.

 

When we got back to my parents' house, Jet said, "Let's do a family picture." I think he's been around me... and my mom. He set his camera up on the tripod with the timer and got his picture. 

Then when we got inside, he wanted to get another family picture with everyone so I just had everyone gather around Grandpa so he didn't have to move and Jet got his picture(s).

He really wanted to use the remote that goes with my selfie stick tripod, but I let him know it doesn't work with his camera. I let him take a few pictures with my phone on the tripod and he was happy.

Later while we were playing another game, 

Jet set up his camera on the tripod again and took more family pictures.

He even photobombed his own selfie. Did you know you could do that?

Jet certainly celebrated National Camera Day. It was terrific.