Happy Read Across America Day!

March 2 is Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read Across America Day.

(In May 1997, a small reading task force at NEA came up with a big idea. "Let's create a day to celebrate reading," the group decided. "We hold pep rallies to get kids excited about football. We assemble to remember that Character Counts. Why don't we do something to get kids excited about reading? We'll call it 'NEA's Read Across America' and we'll celebrate it on Dr. Seuss's birthday." And so was born on March 2, 1998, the largest celebration of reading this country has ever seen.)

Two things. First, I find this "holiday" to be a fabulous idea and a good reminder to use books as inspiration for our scrapbooking. Here, for example, are two layouts that I made that were inspired by book covers (both appeared in Creating Keepsakes' Sept 2009 issue):

...inspired by this book:

And then this layout:

 
...inspired by this one:

 
Give it a try sometime! Like a sketch, book covers can be a fabulous starting point!

Second, given that I'll be spending at least some of today reading to my boys and need to head to the library again soon, I'd love to hear your favorite children's books. Really. Please share! :) In return, I promise to start posting my belated Lists of Me album layouts later today. Honest. I might even have to make another list of favorite children's books...here's the one I made last spring for my Lists of Me album:

Some of these are still favorites. Others have fallen by the wayside. So. What are your favorites?

Monday.

And it's March already. March I tell ya! Oy. 

Well, in honor of Monday (and because I'm not thinking clearly quite yet), here's a quickie list:

- A new challenge was posted over on the Good Grief Blog this morning. Go check it out!

- I had an awesome time over the weekend getting in some scrapbooking with some moms in my local homeschool group. Managed to finally finish my Lists of Me album and play with paper for the first time since before Christmas (sad, but true). Going to go take pictures and post 'em this week, so stay tuned. ;)

- Boys and I are sad that the Olympics are over. Asher and Micah are huge fans now of Shaun White and Apolo Ohno. ;) On the bright side, I may actually get stuff done now that I'm not glued to the tv, lol!

- The sun just came out...which makes me oh so happy. Hoping it melts all the new snow that fell last night (which wasn't much, just enough to annoy me, lol).

Hmmm. That was pretty much it for the moment. Lots on my to do list today. Off to photograph those layouts now...Happy Monday to you all!

Olympic thoughts...

1. I'd like to donate all my snow to Canada. Can I do that? Who's with me? ;)

2. I think they should have a massive party for all fourth place finishers and that those athletes should each get a giant trophy. 

3. I love our new couch. (Yes, this is Olympics related as it's where I've been sitting/laying as I watch, lol.)

4. I think I could do a good job with the whole "standing at the starting line and yelling encouragement as the athletes start" thing. Do you suppose they'd let me do that?

5. Who gets to name the various turns and such on the tracks and courses? I'd like that job, too.

6. Who's responsible for the wardrobe of the NBC announcers? Is it just me or does it seem, um, not the best? ;) Nathan wondered whether possibly NBC's going so low-budget that the announcers are responsible for their own wardrobes, lol!

7. Yes, I've been watching too much Olympics again today. ;) On the plus side, I didn't watch any yesterday and have made a start on the front room. Even managed to clean the bathrooms and clear some more pathways through the house this morning before getting hypnotized by the tv and the couch.

Gripes

Just to get them off my chest...a few quick gripes...

1. Dear NBC, please (for crying out loud) don't interrupt my Olympics coverage to show Tiger Woods talking about something that isn't even sports related and that I could completely care less about. Your coverage is already lacking...don't waste what time you have.

2. Why, can someone please tell me, is size 9 for boys missing?! Seriously. Have you looked lately? They have size 8 and size 10 and often go from size 7-8 to size 10-12...but what about size 9?!! What's a mom to do when she has a 9 year old boy who actually needs a size 9?

3. Sigh. Why is it snowing again? Really.

Okay, that was all for now. ;) And, hey, still looking for more ideas for number 4 below (thanks, Carrie, for your comment!)...

Five on Friday

1. My layout's up over on the Good Grief Blog today. Check it out, pretty please? ;)

2. Is it just me or do the little headshots of the athletes they've been showing on the Olympics seem very unflattering and rather 80's-ish? (I personally feel that there seems to be a movement to bring back the 80's lately and I am not a fan, lol.)

3. Yes, the new snow covering up the ugly old snow is nice. But, I'd rather be able to see my ugly matted grass and start hoping for greenness.

4. Any ideas on how to keep boys occupied during a two day road trip? We'll be driving to LegoLand this spring and can only watch so many dvds, kwim? We're hoping to stop along the way and do some sightseeing to help break up the driving and have a few audio books to listen to as a family, but any other ideas would be very appreciated!

5. I hereby vow not to watch any Olympics coverage today until I make a dent in sorting the boxes in the front room. Really. ;)