Book Nerds

"His house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Evil things did not come into that valley.

"I wish I had time to tell you even a few of the tales or one or two of the songs they heard in that house. All of them. . . grew refreshed and strong in a few days there. Their clothes were mended as well as their bruises, their tempers, and their hopes. Their bags filled with provisions light to carry but strong to bring them over the mountain passes. Their plans were improved with the best advice." (J.R.R. Tolkein, The Hobbit, 61)

This description of Elrond's house from The Hobbit is just what a home should be - a place to sleep, work, eat, sing, rest, where physical and emotional ailments are mended, where evil does not come.  

Jane finished reading The Hobbit in no time. She read it right after I finished reading it to the boys. I'd find her all snuggled in her room, by the lamplight with a sneaky smile on her face. A smile that meant, this book is good mom, real good. Afterwards, for her narration, she drew this fancy picture of Smaug sitting a top of his treasure hoard. The detail in her picture made me realize how much her imagination was stretching as she read this and how well she understood everything. She even decided to memorize one of the dwarf songs for her recitation piece this month. 

Charlie finished reading this Curious George Anthology to Jacob so that he could earn his watch. Now they all have watches, which is nice for me since I never know what time it is. We were looking through our recitation binder today to find him a new piece to memorize and we came across a poem that he liked but when he saw it was written by George Cooper, he said, "I'm not doing this one, I'm sick of reading that word." He never wants to read the word George again ;)