Our 1061 hours outside in 2021

(This is a super long post. It's a documentation of our 1061 hours outside during 2021. Here's a reflection of some of the highlights and what I learned).

1/1/21 - I’ve been an outdoors wannabe. I like it until it gets too cold. Or too hot. Or when it’s too difficult to get all 4 boys out the door. COVID helped us spend more time outside than ever before. I’ve decided to take on a challenge this year to let (and sometimes make) the boys play more outside. Today was an easy day with sunshine and 60 degree weather. 2 hours down, 998 to go...

Here's a link to the website with some of the rationale of why 1000 hours outside.

I'm keeping track on here to keep myself accountable (and to have a record to look back on)

JANUARY - 51 hours (51/1000 total)

1/1 - 1 hour ABC walk, 1 hour yard
1/2 - 1 hour yard, 2 hours Dogwood Park

1/3 - 1 hour forest
1/4 - 1 hour yard/forest (HS), 2 hours Mary Todd Park

1/5 - 1 hour Shillito Park, 1/2 hour Hill-n-Dale

1/6 - 1 hour yard (HS)
1/7 - 1 1/2 hours yard/forest, 1 1/2 hours Harrods Hill
1/8 - 1 hour yard/forest
1/9 - 2 1/2 hours Yuko-En, Suffoleta
1/10 - 2 1/2 hours Stonewall Park, Crank and Boom
1/11 - 1/2 hour yard, 1 1/2 hours Lansdowne-Merrick
1/12 - 2 hours Raven Run

1/13 - 1 hour yard (HS), 2 1/2 hours Burley, Duncan Parks
1/14 - 3 hours Masterson Parks (Hills, Station)

1/15 - 1 1/2 hours Belleau Woods, Gainesway Parks
1/16 - 1/4 hour walk around street
1/17 - 0
1/18 - 1 hour yard/forest (HS), 1 1/2 hours Jacobson Park
1/19 - 3 hours Southland, Lou Johnson, Elizabeth Street Parks
1/20 - 1/2 hour yard

1/21 - 2 1/4 hours Kenawood, Dixie, Eastland Parks
1/22 - 2 1/2 hours yard, Kirklevington, Meadowbrook Parks
1/23 - 1 hour yard
1/24 - 1 hour yard

1/25 - 0
1/26 - 1 hour Beaumont Preserve/Rosa Parks, 1 1/2 hours Preston Springs
1/27 - 0
1/28 - 1/2 hour yard
1/29 - 1 hour yard/forest
1/30 - 3/4 hour Thoroughbred, Northeastern Parks
1/31 - 3/4 hour Woodhill, Johnson Heights Parks 

FEBRUARY - 38 hours (89/1000 total) This month was brutal. We had three winter storms in a week and a half's time, and the temperatures were often very cold. We're trying to learn to embrace the outdoors in all seasons, so we went to parks and played outside even in the ice and snow. This was also the month when we finished our Lexington Parks challenge -- visiting all 87 parks in a Covid year. Because of this, we hit up a lot of parks, many of them small where we didn't spend much time.

2/1 - 1/2 hour Tandy, Phoenix Parks

2/2 - 1 1/2 hours Green Acres, Martin Luther King, Marlboro Parks

2/3 - 1 1/2 hours Armstrong Mill, Gainesway Parks

2/4 - 1 hour walk (Mamaw and Papaw's neighborhood)

2/5 - 1 1/2 hours yard/forest

2/6 - 1/2 hour yard

2/7 - 2 1/2 hours yard, back neighborhood

2/8 - 1 hour Coolavin and Elkhorn Parks

2/9 - 1 hour yard, 2 hours Oakwood, Highlands, Southend Parks

2/10 - 1/4 hour yard

2/11 1 hour yard

2/12 - 1 hour yard

2/13 - 1 hour Waverly Park

2/14 - 3/4 hour Mapleleaf Park (ice picnic!)

2/15 - 0 (ice and cold)

2/16 - 1 hour yard (snow)

2/17 - 1 hour yard/forest

2/18 - 1 hour yard, school (more snow)

2/19 - 1/2 hour yard

2/20 - 1 3/4 hours sledding in Memaw's backyard

2/21 - 2 1/4 hours Gratz, Charles Young, Isaac Murphy Parks

2/22 - 1/2 hour Douglass and Brucetown Parks

2/23 - 3 hours with Daddy

2/24 - 3 hours Speigle, Thompson Road, Cardinal Run North Parks and McConnell Springs

2/25 - 1 1/2 hours Kenwick, Clay's Spring, Lakeview Parks

2/26 - 2 1/2 hours Hisle Farm Park (LAST ONE!!!)

2/27 - 2 hours front yard

2/28 - 1 hour yard (rain)

MARCH - 65 hours (154/1000 total) . This was when tracking our hours got a little tricky and cumbersome. In the winter, we usually go out together for one block of time. Now that it's warmer, though, different combinations of people are in and out all day. Some of these are approximations. We also had finished our challenge of visiting all 88 parks in Lexington, so I was lacking motivation from not having something to work towards. Oh, and we had our first campout of the season! We waited for a dry, warm-ish night. Carter, Calvin, and I bundled up to sleep in the tent. The last time we tried sleeping in the backyard, we didn't make it all night.  I counted half of the hours we were asleep.

3/1 - 2 hours yard

3/2 - 2 hours yard

3/3 - 2.5 hours Veterans Park, 1 hour yard

3/4 - 1 hour yard

3/5 - 1 hour yard

3/6 - 1 hour yard

3/7 - 0.5 hour yard

3/8 - 1 hour yard

3/9 - 2 hours yard

3/10 - 4.5 hours yard, 2 hours (tent)

3/11 - 3 hours (tent), 1.5 hours yard

3/12 - 2 hours yard

3/13 - 2 hours (Jon)

3/14 - 1 hour

3/15 - 1 hour yard

3/16 - 3.75 hours Castlewood

3/17 - 3.25 hours Southland

3/18 - 2 hours Shillito and Harrods Hill, 1 hour yard (rain)

3/19 - 2 hours yard

3/20 - 2 hours

3/21 - 2 hours

3/22 - 2 hours

3/23 - 1 hour

3/24 - 2 hours

3/25 - 2.5 hours

3/26 - 3.5 hours

3/27 - 2 hours Sally Brown Nature Preserve

3/28 - 1 hour Lexington Cemetery

3/29 - 1 hour

3/30 - 2.5 hours yard, Riley

3/31 - 0.5 hours Parker

APRIL - 67 hours (221/1000 total). This was a fun month! We spent a week in New Castle at the beginning of the month.  We had a long weekend at an AirBNB in McKee near Flat Lick Falls.  We had a big day in Frankfort, KY at a sculpture park, the capitol, and Cove Spring Park. And we cashed in our membership at the Cincinnati Zoo and went for the first time.

4/1 - 1 hour Baker

4/2 - 1 hour (Indiana)

4/3 - 3 hours Memorial Park, campfire

4/4 - 3 hours yard, Westwood

4/5 - 3 hours Arts Park, Baker

4/6 - 1 hour yard

4/7 - 1 hour

4/8 - 1 hour

4/9 - 1.5 hours Harrods Hill

4/10 - 0.5 hour 

4/11 - 0.5 hour

4/12 - 2 hours Wolf Run, Addison

4/13 - 3.5 hours NorthEast, Kenawood

4/14 - 0

4/15 - 4 hours Frankfort (Sculpture Park, Capitol, Cove Spring)

4/16 - 5.5 hours Cincinnati Zoo

4/17 - 2.5 hours Stonewall

4/18 - 3.5 hours Clays Mill, Hill n Dale

4/19 - 2.5 hours Pleasant Ridge, 2.5 hours Sondra

4/20 - 3.5 hours Daddy

4/21 - 0.75 hour Shillito (snow)

4/22 - 2 hours Jacobson

4/23 - 1.5 hours Lexington Children's Theatre - Alice in Wonderland

4/24 - 0.5 hours McKee AirBNB yard

4/25 - 4 hours Gray Hawk Park, AirBNB

4/26 - 4 hours Flat Lick Falls

4/27 - 3 hours cows, playground, yard

4/28 - 4 hours McConnell

4/29 - 1 hour yard

4/30 - 3 hours Meadowbrook

MAY - 90 hours (311/1000 total). Another great month! Two more trips to the zoo. A couple extended outdoor times in Mamaw and Papaw's backyard. I had a 5-night solitude retreat, so I don't have good records of what the boys did outside on those days.  We also got a family membership to Evans Orchard and went several times.  I realized that although we've been outside more than usual this year, we're way behind in our goal of 1000 hours.  Hopefully, we can rack up more in the summer with vacation, camp, and sunny weather. Some limiting factors -- hassle of sunscreen and fear of ticks, snakes, and poison ivy.

5/1 - Thoroughbred and NE Parks, Derby party at Mamaw and Papaw's

5/2 - 2 hours Wellington

5/3 - 6.5 hours Zoo

5/4 - 2.5 hours yard

5/5 - 3.5 hours Evans Orchard

5/6 - 1 hour

5/7 - 1 hour

5/8 - 1 hour

5/9 - 1 hour

5/10 - 1 hour

5/11 - 4 hours yard, Wolf Run

5/12 - 3.5 hours Evans, yard

5/13 - 3 hours yard

5/14 - 2 hours yard

5/15 - 1 hour yard

5/16 - 1 hour Lansdowne

5/17 - 3.5 hours yard

5/18 - 4.5 hours Evans, yard

5/19 - 3.5 hours Bernheim Forest

5/20 - 4 hours yard, flower planting

5/21 - 3 hours Veterans

5/22 - 4 hours Mamaw and Papaw's house

5/23 - 2 hours walk to donut shop

5/24 - 3 hours McConnell

5/25 - 2 hours front yard

5/26 - 3 hours Evans

5/27 - 3 hours yard, pool

5/28 - 5.5 hours Zoo (rain)

5/29 - 2 hours yard (chilly)

5/30 - 1 hour verse recitation, Shillito picnic

5/31 - 6 hours Waveland, Southpoint, walk to snow cones

JUNE - 189 hours (500/1000 total).

This was a big month of outdoor adventures, big and small! I really wanted to get caught up and reach half of our goal at the halfway point of the year. And we did it! We discovered an awesome park in Winchester with a tall turf slide/hill that the boys LOVED. Since we're still avoiding crowds, I purposely picked a rainy day. We spent a week in Indiana with my parents and spent lots of time in the yard, on walks, and at parks. I had asked Lucas how many nights we would need to spend in our 2-3 person tent to justify purchasing a bigger one. He said 7, so that became our goal. We spent a night in the backyard at Mimi and Pa's, one at the Cornerstone campground (so fun!), and a couple in our backyard, including a solo night for Carter. I started counting all our sleeping hours outside, too, partly out of desperation for more hours and partly because it really is different than sleeping indoors. At the end of the month, we headed to Georgia for a VRBO vacation with Mamaw and Papaw, Dan and Megan and the cousins! The house had a pool in the backyard and a nature preserve across the street, so we got lots of outside time there.

6/1 - 3 hours Wolf Run, vegetable stand

6/2 - 4.25 hours Legacy Grove

6/3 - 4 hours yard, walk (rain)

6/4 - 4 hours Asbury trails, Centennial

6/5 - 5 hours Mamaw and Papaw's house (dinner), Wendy's

6/6 - 2 hours Colson party

6/7 - 4.5 hours front yard

6/8 - 3 hours Hill n Dale walk, rain van

6/9 - 3 hours Baker, Riley

6/10 - 6 hours Susan's farm, bubbles, sprinkler, Sunnyside, DQ

6/11 - 5 hours Summit Lake

6/12 - 4.5 hours yard, airplane, Baker Park, splash pad

6/13 - 13 hours 3 meals outside, Arts Park, tent

6/14 - 10 hours tent, Memorial Park, yard

6/15 - 11 hours tent Cornerstone Campground

6/16 - 18.75 hours Cornerstone

6/17 - 4 hours Rushville, yard

6/18 - 6 hours yard, reading

6/19 - 1 hour pool rain (Georgia vacation)

6/20 - 6 hours pool, nature preserve

6/21 - 6 hours pool, nature preserve

6/22 - 7.5 hours pool, nature preserve

6/23 - 7 hours pool, nature preserve

6/24 - 2.5 hours drive back from Georgia

6/25 - 6 hours High Bridge

6/26 - 6 hours tent

6/27 - 10.5 hours tent a.m., read, Wellington, ice cream

6/28 - 10 hours Carter tent, Pleasant Ridge, tree down

6/29 - 9 tent with Calvin, reading front

6/30 - 6 hours Evans Orchard

JULY - 129 hours (629/1000 total).

    Another fun month! We kicked off the month by stomping in the rain at Shillito (we've only gone there on bad weather days).  The little boys stayed with Daddy while I road-tripped with the big boys to Scripture Memory camp in Louisiana (my 41st state!).  We ate our meals outside, canoed on the lake, rode the zipline, and learned how to play carpet ball! We also spent the night in Arkansas on the way there and back and even climbed a mountain!  We used our new tent for the first time (Camp Nelson RV Park) and enjoyed (well, most of us!) a sunflower field.  We finished the month with a family Olympics competition.

7/1 - 1 hours Shillito (rain)

7/2 - 4 hours Southpoint, Waveland, Shillito

7/3 - 2 hours yard

7/4 - 3.5 hours Jubilee AirBNB (Arkansas!)

7/5 - 3.5 hours (Scripture Memory Camp - Louisiana)

7/6 - 6.5 (Scripture Memory Camp - Louisiana)

7/7 - 8 hours (Scripture Memory Camp - Louisiana)

7/8 - 7 hours (Scripture Memory Camp - Louisiana)

7/9 - 1 hour camp, 2.5 hours Pinnacle hike, 1 hour park/hot tub

7/10 - 0.25 (long drive)

7/11 - 4 hours yard, Stonewall

7/12 - 4 hours yard

7/13 - 3 hours yard

7/14 - 6 hours walk to Papaw's, yard, tent

7/15 - 7 hours Calvin tent

7/16 - 1.5 Riney B, 1.5 backyard

7/17 - 1.5 hours

7/18 - 3 hours walk to donut shop

7/19 - 3 hours Kenawood

7/20 - 5.5 hours yard, back neighborhood

7/21 - 3 hours Arboretum, front yard

7/22 - 3.5 hours downtown parks

7/23 - 1.5 hours reading

7/24 - 12.5 Camp Nelson tent and pool

7/25 - 13 Camp Nelson tent and pool

7/26 - 3.5 hours yard, deck pool

7/27 - 5.25 hours yard, pool, Wendy's

7/28 - 3.5 hours

7/29 - 3 hours sunflowers, Paris

7/30 - 3 hours yard, Lansdowne-Merrick

7/31 - 1.75 hours yard, Olympics

AUGUST - 122 hours (751/1000 total). 

    We spent over a week in Indiana while Daddy finished up his magazine.  We played at Summit Lake and the local parks and then we camped at Cornerstone, nabbing our first 24 hour day outside! We also stopped at the Cincy Zoo on the way home.

8/1 - 1 hour yard

8/2 - 4.5 hours walk to Southland

8/3 - 3 hours

8/4 - 3.5 hours yard, Rushville park (Indiana)

8/5 - 5.5 hours yard, Arts Park, Riley

8/6 - 5 hours Summit Lake

8/7 - 11.5 Cornerstone camping

8/8 - 24 hours Cornerstone camping

8/9 - 14 hours Cornerstone camping

8/10 - 3.5 hours Baker, yard

8/11 - 4 hours Memorial Park

8/12 - 4 hours (w/ Mimi)

8/13 - 4 hours (w/ Mimi)

8/14 - 5 hours (w/ Mimi)

8/15 - 4 hours Cincinnati Zoo

8/16 - 1.25 hours yard

8/17 - 2.5 hours yard

8/18 - 3 hours yard

8/19 - 3 hours yard (rain)

8/20 - 3 hours Evans Orchard, Memaw

8/21 - 2 hours yard, deck

8/22 - 1 hour Mamaw and Papaw's 

8/23 - 1 hour yard

8/24 - 1.5 hours yard

8/25 - 1 hour yard (HOT)

8/26 - 1 hour yard (HOT)

8/27 - 2.5 hours Jacobson, Hill n Dale

8/28 - 1 hour 

8/29 - 0.25 hour

8/30 - 0.5 hour

8/31 - 1 hour yard (rain)

SEPTEMBER - 101 hours (852/1000 total).

    We took some walks this month, to Wellington and to Wendy's and enjoyed the orchard.  We camped for two nights at Summer Shoals Retreat on the Cumberland River.  It was primitive camping with only a (clean!) porta-potty, but the land and the price were unparalleled!  We also took Mamaw to the Louisville Zoo for her birthday.

9/1 - 1 hour yard

9/2 - 4 hours front/back yard, Wellington, bike

9/3 - 3 hours Yuko-En, Evans Orchard

9/4 - 1 hour yard

9/5 - 1.5 hours yard

9/6 - 1.5 hours yard, forest

9/7 - 2 hours yard

9/8 - 0.5 hour yard

9/9 - 0.5 hour yard

9/10 - 10.5 Summer Shoals camping

9/11 - 24 hours Summer Shoals camping

9/12 - 12.5 hours Summer Shoals, waterfall

9/13 - 1 hour yard

9/14 - 2.5 hours yard

9/15 - 1.5 hours Charles Young Park

9/16 - 1.5 hours yard

9/17 - 1.5 hours (Lucas took them)

9/18 - 0.5 hour Shaker Village

9/19 - 0.5 hour

9/20 - 0.5 hour

9/21 - 0.5 hour

9/22 - 0.5 hour (rainy, chilly)

9/23 - 6 hours Wendy's walk, yard

9/24 - 5 hours Louisville Zoo

9/25 - 1 hour

9/26 - 3 hours

9/27 - 4 hours, chalk

9/28 - 4.25 hours yard, photography Waveland

9/29 - 3 hours yard, walk from library to Harrods Hill

9/30 - 2.25 hours

OCTOBER - 68 hours (920/1000 total) 

    We spent time playing at Bi-Water Farm and Evans Orchard, hiking in the Gorge, and exploring the Kentucky Children's Garden.  Carter and I took a quick one-on-one trip to Virginia (so he could mark it off his list).  We also went to Indiana for a week, but it was cold and we were unprepared.  We bundled up and went to Jacob's Orchard and the Fort Wayne Zoo.  We also spent a lot of time outside at Mamaw and Papaw's house on Halloween.  

    

10/1 - 6 hours Bi-Water Farm

10/2 - 2 hours yard, ABC walk

10/3 - 1.5 hours yard, Wellington

10/4 - 2.5 hours yard

10/5 - 3 hours yard

10/6 - 0.5 hour yard (rainy)

10/7 - 0.5 hour yard (reading)

10/8 - 3 hours Gorge hiking

10/9 - 2 hours yard

10/10 - 1.5 hours walk, yard

10/11 - 3 hours yard

10/12 - 1.5 hours yard

10/13 - 1 hour yard

10/14 - 1.5 hours yard

10/15 - 2 hours Evans Orchard, Memaw

10/16 - 3 hours yard 

10/17 - 0.5 hour (drive to Virginia)

10/18 - 1 hour (hike Breaks Interstate Park)

10/19 - 1.5 hour yard

10/20 - 4 hours KY Children's Garden

10/21 - 1 hour yard

10/22 - 0 (cold, rainy)

10/23 - 4 hours Lowe's Park, yard, downtown (Indiana)

10/24 - 0

10/25 - 1 hour yard

10/26 - 5.5 hours Jacobs Orchard, Baker Park

10/27 - 5.5 hours Ft. Wayne Zoo, Goggin farm, fire

10/28 - 1 hour yard

10/29 - 1 hour yard

10/30 - 0 (cold, rainy)

10/31 - 3.5 hours Halloween

NOVEMBER - 80 hours (1000/1000 total) .

    Carter wanted to visit all of Kentucky's surrounding states before he turned 10. So, as a family, we drove to his last one -- West Virginia.  The fall colors were ideal although the weather was not.  We went to Evans Orchard on a few days as well as Veterans Park and Legacy Grove. On a particularly cold day, we set up our small tent to huddle inside.  We experienced the holiday decorations at the Zoo (although we didn't stay for the evening lights).  We dug up a slide in our forest, potty-trained Colson outside on a warm day, and dug a hole for our new mailbox.  On the last day of the month, we finished 1000 hours at one of our favorite parks -- Valley Park. 

11/1 - 5 hours Veterans Park, yard

11/2 - 0.5 hour (West Virginia - backyard)

11/3 - 0.5 hour (WV)

11/4 - 3 hours yard

11/5 - 2 hours yard

11/6 - 1 yard 

11/7 - 1 yard

11/8 - 3 hours yard

11/9 - 5 hours yard, walk to Wendy's

11/10 - 2.5 hours yard

11/11 - 2 hours backyard

11/12 - 4 hours Evans Orchard, walk to Dominos

11/13 - 2 hours forest, backyard

11/14 - 1 hour front yard (cold, drippy)

11/15 - 2.5 hours front yard

11/16 - 6.5 hours yard (potty training)

11/17 - 6 hours yard (potty training)

11/18 - Phil, dig up slide

11/19 - 3 hours Legacy Grove

11/20 - 3 hours front/back yards

11/21 - 0 (cold, rainy)

11/22 - 6 hours Burnet Park, Cincinnati Zoo

11/23 - 3 hours backyard, Stonewall

11/24 - 3 hours Evans Orchard, yard

11/25 - 0

11/26 - 2.5 hours front (snuggle inside tent)

11/27 - 1.5 hours front

11/28 - 1.5 hours front

11/29 - 1.5 hours

11/30 - 2 hours Valley Park

DECEMBER -  61 hours (1061/1000 total) .

    I was surprised we got as many hours as we did in December, but for the most part, the weather was very mild.  Like always, we had forest time and yard time and park time.  We also experienced some night time outside -- fire station lights, Southern Lights at the Horse Park, and a fire and luminaries to celebrate the winter solstice.  We used the luminaries in the wood for the boys' first night hike.  They didn't really like it!

12/1 - 2 hours walk (Wellington, Crank and Boom)

12/2 - 4 hours forest, yard

12/3 - 5.5 hours Southpoint, yard

12/4 - 2.5 hours yard, Qwixx, fire station

12/5 - 1.5 hours yard

12/6 - 1.5 hours yard

12/7 - 1 hour backyard (tent)

12/8 - 1 hour front yard

12/9 - 2 hours Meadowbrook with Sievers

12/10 - 3 hours Woodland Park

12/11 - 1 hour front yard, Chinoe house

12/12 - 1.5 hours yard, Live Nativity

12/13 - 2 hours yard, Southern Lights

12/14 - 1 hour yard (New Castle)

12/15 - 3 hours yard

12/16 - 2.5 hours Wilbur Wright trail, downtown (rain)

12/17 - 2 hours Memorial Park, ornament hunt

12/18 - 0.5 hour WW trail

12/19 - 0

12/20 - 2.5 hours front yard

12/21 - 2 hours fire, luminaries, night hike

12/22 - 0 (Thomas Christmas)

12/23 - 1 hour Bloomington Karst Park

12/24 - 2 hours

12/25 - 2.5 hours yard, bow hunt (60 degrees!)

12/26 - 1.5 hours back neighborhood

12/27 - 3.5 hours yard

12/28 - 2 hours yard, creek clean-up

12/29 - 2 hours Garden Springs

12/30 - 2.5 hours Sievers' backyard

12/31 -  2 hours Castlewood, Graeter's

 

2021 Reading Reflections and Top Two Books of the Year

    2021 is in the books! And it was a year of books! Here's what Goodreads calls "My Year in Books".  I love looking through the covers of all the books I've read this year.  They've become a part of me.  The characters have become my friends.  The insights have re-oriented the way I view and live life.  

    I started tracking my reading seriously on the Goodreads website in 2017 when I landed my teaching job as a 4th grade teacher.  I knew that if I wanted my students to be voracious readers, I had to be a voracious reader.  I set my goal that year at 100 and read 109.  For 2021, I set my goal at 150 and read 261.  And yes, I count any chapter book (or poetry collection) but not picture books.  I want to track even the simple early chapters books so that when my two youngest are in that stage, I'll know which ones are tried-and-true!  Now that we're homeschooling, I have more time to read (since it's part of what we do all day!).

I've taken the time (mostly for my own records and reflection) to compile lists of my favorite books of the year:

5 Best Middle Grade Nonfiction/Historical Books Read in 2021

6 Best Middle Grade Fiction Books Read in 2021

5 Best Graphic Novels Read in 2021

5 Best Series Read in 2021

5 Best Audiobooks in 2021

All our Audiobooks from 2021

All our Read Alouds from 2021

6 Best Adult Books Read in 2021

But which were my VERY favorites?

Well, I'm going to start with "the Sunday School answer" (you know, when every kid says "Jesus" or "God" in Sunday School because that's always the right answer?).  My very favorite book was/is the Bible.  I try to read it every year, and it wins top spot in my heart and in my mind every year.  

I typically don't like to reread books, but this is the book that I will read over and over until the day I die.

On the occasion that I do reread a book, there are often new insights and perspectives.  With the Bible, though, this is exponentially true because it's not just any book.  I believe that it is the inspired Word of God and that it is living and active.  

I read it because it teaches me about God and His story.

I read it because it shows me how to live.

I read it because I'm supposed to.

I read it because I love to.

I didn't always love reading the Bible.  It used to be a check-off chore.  And there are still times that I go to it out of duty than out of devotion.  

2015 is when everything changed.

I had been memorizing and meditating on Scripture for the first six months that year without actually reading the Bible much (except to find my next verse to memorize!).  And then, as if I had been stacking stick upon twig upon log upon log that whole time, the Holy Spirit ignited in me a passion and hunger for His Word like never before.  And it has become food to me.  Manna that I need every day, or I starve.

Just about every year since then, I've read through the whole Bible.  I usually pick a different study Bible or translation.  For 2021, I listened to the audio of the Bible in the CSB translation.  Since "faith comes by hearing," I wanted to experience what it would be like to hear the whole Bible in entirety.

So, the Bible is my #1 favorite book of the year.  It's the book I will continue rereading. It's the book I read every single day.  It's the book I recommend to everyone.  It's the book I teach to my boys and the book I strive to live by.  

But after the Bible, which was my favorite?  That would have to be All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat. Here's why:

3:30 p.m. - pick up book from library. A little disappointed with the format -- the book is so large (width, height) that it almost looks like a textbook

before bed that night - open it up and read a few chapters. Pulls me in right away.

6:30 a.m. the next day - start reading again after my morning Jesus time while everyone's still asleep. Should be getting read to go to family Christmas celebration

1:00 p.m. - after meal and presents, I park myself on the couch in the middle of family time and keep reading, even if I'm interrupted every other sentence. I even carry the book with me while I walk across the room to pick up some oreo balls. I even tear up on more than one occasion (even though the title is kind of a spoiler).

7:30 p.m. - neglect family back at home, hurry through bedtimes so that I can return to finish the book (I eventually locked the door to stop from being interrupted).

In other words, I devoured this book. Best book I've read in a long time. I didn't realize it was classified as middle grade (probably a little too technical and detail-y for my 5th grade son, but I'll have him read it eventually), but I loved all the charts and details and science and profiles of some of the thousands of volunteers and here-are-the-million-reasons-why-this-was-an-almost-impossible-rescue. Having been to northern Thailand added to the allure for me. Wow. I'm planning on watching the documentary and the Netflix movie.

I also was intrigued with the boy named Adul, who was the only Christian (the rest were Buddhists) and the only one who spoke English. I’ve read some articles about him and am looking forward someday to meeting this brother in the Lord.

And now that 2021 is officially over, I have my sights set on 2022: 200 books including these 60. 

All our 2021 Read Alouds

    I'm reading aloud all the time, in various settings (front porch, living room couch, bed) and to various combinations (all four boys together, just the oldest two, just Calvin, just the little boys, etc.).  Calvin LOVES being read to, and I realized that I've read 49 books aloud to him from the end of August to the end of December.  These are usually early chapter books or graphic novels.  Sometimes, I make him read some pages, but I often just read the whole thing to him even though he can read independently.  When I read to all 4 boys, it's mostly picture books although we do listen to a lot of audiobooks all together in the van.  Anyway, I'd like to read more books to just the older two boys, especially when related to school, but it can be difficult to find the uninterrupted time.  

    Here's a record of the books I read to both Carter and Calvin this year:

What Are the Summer Olympics? - I love this series. We read it during the summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? - This was during our composer study on Mozart.

The Storm (Lighthouse Family) - I tried to read this one to all 4 boys, with some success. I'll probably continue the series with just Calvin.

Roll with It - This was on one of Carter's lists to read, so I decided to read it aloud to both boys.  We kind of slogged through it.  

I Survived the Attacks of 9/11 - I read this book aloud to my boys around the 20 year anniversary. I've read this entire series, and this was another good one. Ground Zero is a lot more in-depth and enthralling, but this was good for a 7 and 9 year old.

The Apostle - They got a little confused at times, but for the most part, it was great to have this visual depiction of Paul's life. I especially liked how it connected parts of his letters along with the Acts narrative.

Appleblossom the Possum - I think I discovered this book from a book-list recommendation as a good read-aloud. I was hoping for something that my 2yo and 3yo sons might also be interested in, but it ended up just being me and my oldest two (9 and 7). I liked parts of it and learned some facts about possums, but it took us forever to get through -- really dragged in some parts.

Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose - We have a book of Mother Goose rhymes, but I liked that this one had so many more. Sure, some of them are dark and/or odd, but my boys really enjoyed the rhythm of them.

Haggis and Tank #2 Digging for Dinos - I’m really enjoying this series! I read it out loud to my boys (9,7,3,2). The younger ones stay engaged because of all the illustrations, and I like drawing attention to and explaining all the homophones to the older boys. Well done!

Haggis and Tank #3 Howl at the Moon - I've enjoyed this series! It's helpful to read this one after #2 because #2 refers to some things they've never done before (that they do in this book). I love all the puns and homonyms/homophones. My 9yo, 7yo, and 3yo sons were all engaged as I read this aloud.

No. 1 Car Spotter - We had listened to the Anna Hibiscus series, so I was pleased to find this book when we were studying Africa. I read it aloud to my 9yo and 7yo sons. They weren't too thrilled with it, but it provided some good conversations.

Child Soldier - Very well done. I appreciate the disclaimer at the beginning, but this book may have been a bit much for my sensitive 7yo son. We've been studying Africa and have read A Long Walk to Water and When Stars are Scattered, but this one was even a bit more horrific, though presented well. It's longer than a picture book but shorter than a traditional graphic novel.

Best Christmas Pageant Ever - I've read this several times and was even the main character (Beth - the narrator) in a play in middle school. I wanted to read it to my two oldest boys this Christmas, but alas, we just finished it this morning on New Years Day. My boys weren't crazy about it, possibly because I tried to squeeze it in while we were incredibly distracted by their younger brothers. Maybe I'll try it again with them in a couple years. As always, I loved it.

The Christmas Pig - I wrote about this as one of my favorite middle grade fiction books of the year.  We read it together during the month of December. I love the imaginative elements and how short the chapters were.

Here were some of my other lists from 2021:

5 Best Middle Grade Nonfiction/Historical Books Read in 2021

5 Best Graphic Novels Read in 2021

5 Best Series Read in 2021

5 Best Audiobooks in 2021

6 Best Middle Grade Fiction Books Read in 2021

All our Audiobooks from 2021

6 Best Adult Books Read in 2021

5 Best Middle Grade Nonfiction/Historical Books Read in 2021

    I love learning via middle grade books! All Thirteen was probably my favorite book of the whole year.  The Goodreads reviews for the other four on this list all begin with "Wow."  

All Thirteen - 

3:30 p.m. - pick up book from library. A little disappointed with the format -- the book is so large (width, height) that it almost looks like a textbook

before bed that night - open it up and read a few chapters. Pulls me in right away.

6:30 a.m. the next day - start reading again after my morning Jesus time while everyone's still asleep. Should be getting read to go to family Christmas celebration

1:00 p.m. - after meal and presents, I park myself on the couch in the middle of family time and keep reading, even if I'm interrupted every other sentence. I even carry the book with me while I walk across the room to pick up some oreo balls. I even tear up on more than one occasion (even though the title is kind of a spoiler).

7:30 p.m. - neglect family back at home, hurry through bedtimes so that I can return to finish the book (I eventually locked the door to stop from being interrupted).

In other words, I devoured this book. Best book I've read in awhile. I didn't realize it was classified as middle grade (probably a little too technical and detail-y for my 5th grade son, but I'll have him read it eventually), but I loved all the charts and details and science and profiles of some of the thousands of volunteers and here-are-the-million-reasons-why-this-was-an-almost-impossible-rescue. Having been to northern Thailand added to the allure for me. Wow. I'm planning on watching the documentary and the Netflix movie.

I also was intrigued with the boy named Adul, who was the only Christian (the rest were Buddhists) and the only one who spoke English. I’ve read some articles about him and am looking forward someday to meeting this brother in the Lord.

Starfish - Wow. Powerful. Challenging. Thought-provoking. I was enthralled in joining Ellie on her journey of self-advocacy. And it helped me walk (swim? at least imagine?) a bit in her shoes. My eyes are officially opened.  (Note: this is technically fiction but reads almost like a memoir from the author's experiences)

Ground Zero - Wow. Intense. After scrolling through the list of potential audiobooks on Hoopla, I settled on this one because I liked Refugee so much. I listened to all 7+ hours in a matter of 2 days. So thought-provoking. Helps you see both sides of the war. Woven together so masterfully. Like Refugee, each chapter ends on a cliffhanger, but then you have to go back to the other person before you can return to the cliffhanger. This was definitely for more of a mature reader with the violence and some language. I would not recommend it for elementary students unless very mature. So, so good, though, and a reminder that I need to read more of Gratz's books!

Stamped - Wow—incredibly eye-opening, heart-breaking, and perspective-shifting. Loved listening to it and would eventually like to read the full version. (Note: this is probably technically considered Young Adult, not Middle Grade)

Lifeboat 12 - Wow -- this is excellent and gripping! Like many others, I hadn't heard of this story. I'm impressed with all the author's research.  It makes me thirsty just thinking about how they rationed their water.

(A few other excellent nonfiction/historical books are listed in other lists:

graphic novels -Cold War Correspondent, Becoming RBG, 

audiobooks- When Stars are Scattered, A Long Walk to Water)

Here were some of my other lists from 2021:

5 Best Graphic Novels Read in 2021

5 Best Series Read in 2021

5 Best Audiobooks in 2021

6 Best Middle Grade Fiction Books Read in 2021

All our Audiobooks from 2021

All our Read Alouds from 2021

6 Best Adult Books Read in 2021

6 Best Middle Grade Fiction Books Read in 2021

    I love middle grade books (for ages 8-12) since that's the main age I taught.  I also love that the books are fairly short and don't include a lot of swearing or inappropriate content.  Since I have two sons in this range (one as an independent reader, one as a listener), I often read with them or to preview a book to potentially recommend.

Here are my top six middle grade fiction books from 2021:

 

A Little Princess - I'm pretty sure I read this as a kid but didn't remember it much. This book was part of our homeschool curriculum, so I decided to read it parallel to my 9yo son so that I could discuss it better with him. There were some slow parts of the book, but overall, I loved Sara Crewe and her example of being content in vastly different circumstances. It reminded me of Paul writing in the book of Philippians -- "I know what it is to be in need, I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

The Green Ember - I had avoided this book, partially because of its length and partially because of the homeschool hype and partially because I usually don't go for animal novels or epic Lord-of-The-Rings-esque novels. The only reason we listened to it was because my 5th grade son has joined a reading club mid-year and their first book is book #2 of the series. With a few long car trips to Indiana and back for Christmas, we were able to knock it out. It took me awhile to get into, and I still can't keep all the characters straight. I'll probably have to go back and actually read it sometime since I tend to zone out occasionally when listening to audiobooks. The best part of the audio, though, was being able to hear the Mended Wood song by Joel Clarkson. I find myself singing the main line, "It will not be so in the mended wood." The parts that are parallel to Christianity and Jesus' new kingdom are awesome, although, of course, allegories always fall a bit short, and I'm curious how it will all come together in the rest of the series.  All in all, though, the critical reviews that had me hesitant and negative at the beginning turned out to be not a problem at all for me, and I'm excited to read and/or listen to Book #2!

The Wild Robot - I had started and abandoned this book a few years ago when it was a Global Read Aloud selection. This time I tried it with my two oldest sons. We stalled out a couple times but got pulled into the ending and already want to read the sequel (after Carter complained the whole way through but now loves it).

Prairie Lotus - I LOVED this book! I grew up on Little House on the Prairie and have felt the tug as an adult between these books that are highly recommended from some in my circle and highly denounced by some in other circles.  Prairie Lotus provides the prairie experience but also the diversity.  This book was an eye-opener. I had never considered what it might be like on the prairie for a half-Chinese girl. She also dealt well with the Native perspective. I’d love to read more from this author!

The Christmas Pig - I ended up doing this as our family read aloud in December (while also listening to The Cinnamon Bear and The Green Ember, so we were on a bit of fantasy overload). Short chapters with frequent cliffhangers make for good read alouds! We were also able to have a lot of neat conversations at the end and have made other connections with the book, like when we lose something. We probably won't do it every year, but it will definitely be in the rotation!

Song for a Whale - LOVED this one! First book in awhile that I've read through the day in any spare moment. Compelling on many levels. I also enjoyed learning about Deaf culture. The references to Alaska were fun since I've been there.

Honorable Mention:

Unsettled - I'm a sucker for novels in verse and immigrant stories.  This one was well done!

The Adventures of Nanny Piggins - Took me awhile to get into. The chapters (like short stories) are longer than normal and don't end on cliffhangers, so it's easy enough to drop the book for awhile and then pick it back up. There were times when I laughed out loud. Calvin said this was his favorite book I've ever read aloud to him. That's high praise!

Annie's Life in Lists - Loved this story told entirely through lists! Creative and well-done. I loved Annie and loved getting to know her. My son and I read this as part of the Battle of the Books list, and this was one we enjoyed more than some of the others.

Here were some of my other lists from 2021:

5 Best Middle Grade Nonfiction/Historical Books Read in 2021

5 Best Graphic Novels Read in 2021

5 Best Series Read in 2021

5 Best Audiobooks in 2021

All our Audiobooks from 2021

All our Read Alouds from 2021

6 Best Adult Books Read in 2021