5 Books I'm Currently Reading

Some people read one book at a time. I’m not always one of those types of people. Especially considering reading aloud to my kids (WHICH I LOVE). So, here’s a list of what I’m currently reading. For myself and to my children.

Auto-generated description: A Kindle with an open case is displaying text from a book, resting on a light green cushion.

Pride and Prejudice

I recently watched the movie (2006 version) for the first time. Which made me want to read the book. So, that’s what I’m doing. It has taken some practice getting used to reading older English terms mixed in much more complex sentences, but I’ve improved at understanding it all as I’ve read. I like it a lot!

I’ve read it on Kindle, but love this pretty clothbound version.

Auto-generated description: A hand holds a copy of Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, featuring an illustrated cover of a girl leaning on a wooden fence with animals, accompanied by a Newbery Honor badge.

Charlotte’s Web

I’ve had this on my read aloud list (even told my son not to read it to himself because I wanted it to be a read aloud) for a long time. I intended on reading it to both kids at the same time, but that had not worked out, so my son asked me to read it to him at bedtime. We actually just finished! (We were still reading it when I started typing this out several days ago, so that’s why I’m leaving it on this list.)

My Side of the Mountain

My son read this a year or so ago and recently suggested it to his sister for her next bedtime read aloud. I wasn’t sure if she would like it because it’s about a boy who learns to survive on his own in the mountains, but she likes it a lot! And so do I!

Auto-generated description: A Kindle displays a page from a book, showing Chapter Ten with the title Isle of Old Kaltak and an illustration of two rabbits holding spears above diamond shapes.

The Black Star of Kingston (Green Ember: Old Natalia Book 1)

My son read the entire Green Ember series over the Summer/early Fall, and his enthusiasm was contagious. So, I read the first book–The Green Ember–to both of my kids (because B couldn’t not sit down to listen :)) not long ago. And we’re now on this second book.

Side note: Many of the books in this series are frequently available for just $0.99 on Kindle, which I think is so awesome. Even at full price on Kindle, they’re around $3.99 (some are less). That’s how we purchased all of the books for my son to read, which worked out nicely cost-wise. And it was also great because I could just download the next book whenever he finished one. He ended up reading I think 3 of the books on a 5-day trip we took in July.

I did purchase a signed hard copy of the newest book (which releases in a couple of days) from the author’s website for my son for his birthday. He thought the signed copy was really cool and loved getting to read it as soon as he could!

Auto-generated description: A hand is holding the book The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 2: The Middle Ages by Susan Wise Bauer, with a blue cover featuring an illustration of an archer.

Story of the World, Volume 2

We cruised through the first volume earlier this year and learned so much. We’ve slowed on this second one a good bit, but we still pick it up here and there (and the kids always remember where we leave off), and I expect we’ll get on a kick where we breeze through it soon. The Story of the World series is a fantastic history resource for all ages (even adults).

Closed out the Fall ball season for my bud (and Coach Matt (aka Daddy)) yesterday. Glad for it to have been and glad for it to be complete now. ⚾️❤️

A young baseball player in red is crouched in a ready position, preparing to catch a ball on a field surrounded by a fence and trees.A youth baseball game is taking place on a sunny day, viewed through a protective netting.

Recent Thrift Finds | October 2025

These are actually more accurately recent-ish thrift finds. I think from a month or so ago. We’ll say early October. Not that that matters anyway.

Got a football for $1.

A bag of pens for, I think, $0.50. Maybe $1.00. It had Sharpies, a Microtel, tons of colorful Ink Joys, a few nice Zebra pens, several branded pens, plus some junk stuff.

A small crystal bucket (that you can’t see very well in the photo) for $2.

A picture frame for either $0.25 or $0.50.

4 books for $1.30.

And a map of Rome for $0.25.

A counter displays a football, a frame, a jar of colored markers and pens, various books, and a folded map.

Had a busy wedding weekend. For my baby sister! It was a happy and beautiful celebration. And I’m excited for the next chapter for her (and our family). ❤️

A chocolate dessert in a clear cup is held up, with a couple dancing in the blurred background of a decorated reception hall.A man in a blue suit and a woman in a red dress stand smiling together on a grassy area with trees in the background.

Started the day yesterday (and spent most of the rest of it) outside (in this cool and windy Louisiana weather) with school (and coffee). So refreshing.

Field trip to a local news station yesterday. The weather guy showed the kids his whole setup. Their favorite part was clicking through options for the green screen and pretending to do the weather. Or just dancing and seeing themselves on the monitor. 😄

A group of children and adults gather around a weather station setup in a studio with bright lighting and large screens.

We celebrated my boy’s birthday last week! He chose everything for the day! Homemade waffles, whipped cream, and strawberries for breakfast. Coffee out. A little shopping at Target (he got a LEGO from us and his sis ❤️) and Academy. Lunch out. Family game time. And Cajun pasta at home for dinner. 🎉

A smiling child sits at a table enjoying a breakfast of waffles with strawberries, milk, and sausage.A family of four, with two adults and two children, smiles while posing for a selfie outdoors on a sunny day.Two children happily holding a LEGO set in a toy store aisle.

Ro made the menu for the week. 😂

She did get Mac ‘n’ cheese and gumbo. And chicken and gravy is on the menu for next week. 😄

A weekly meal planner on a countertop lists dishes like Mac 'n' Cheese and Gumbo for each day.

Project clean out and reorganize what we call the playroom (but it’s actually more of a craft room/library with a Pac-Man arcade ha) started yesterday. Just pulling stuff out makes a HUGE difference (wish I had taken a true “before” photo). Planning on going through every book, bin, etc. though.

Recap of The Week: 2 Baseball Games, Teaching Co-op, + An Antique Fair

I intended on micro blogging different parts of our week last week as they happened. But then, I didn’t. Decided I still wanted to have some things recorded digitally, so I’m recapping the week all together (monthly round-up style).

Our week started (last Sunday) with my Dad leaving to head back home (about 3 hours north of us). He spent a few days with us last weekend. Brought me a traffic light for my co-op lesson (more below) and shopped a citywide garage sale with us. He also actually stayed and went to church with us on Sunday, then to eat at his favorite place here—Vermilionville—before heading home. It was a fun weekend.

Monday brought us the first of Brigsby’s (and Coach Matt’s) baseball games for the week. IT POURED. But they played.

Auto-generated description: A baseball game is taking place in the rain on a field surrounded by trees, with one player pitching and another at bat.B is at 1st base.

Tuesday was a teaching day for me at our co-op. We are studying inventors and inventions this semester. My lesson was on “Inventions That Protect.” There are so, so many. But we discussed Benjamin Franklin and the lightning rod as well as different kinds of fire extinguishers and the history of traffic (or stop) lights. We did some experiments to go along with the first two. And it was fun having a working turn signal light to show the kids. I’d seen one before, but they’re bigger than I imagined for some reason. We also got to open it up and see the circuits inside. Thanks, Dad (and his friend who just happened to have multiple lights sitting around his home).

Wednesday was another baseball game. Thankfully, no rain. And a win!

Auto-generated description: A baseball player in a red uniform is pitching the ball on a field at night, viewed through a net.B is pitching.

Thursday was yard work day that I didn’t participate in because allergies. Ragweed pollen, ugh. Matt and Brigsby got it done, though. B was precious. He weedeated around our house and driveway. In the process, he stopped many times to pick wildflowers that he “just couldn’t weed eat” and brought them to the door for his sister.

Auto-generated description: Two amber glass bottles hold delicate wildflowers against a plain background.The wildflowers B picked while weed eating ❤️

Friday started with a short trip to Washington, LA to shop and look at all the interesting things at the Old Schoolhouse Antique Fair and ended with dinner with my brother and sister-in-law as the were passing through on the way to Baton Rouge for some LSU football on Saturday. A good day.

Auto-generated description: A smiling couple is posing together outdoors at a park event with booths in the background.

Saturday was a day at home for me and the kids (while Matt worked). Among other things, we played a couple of games of outdoor laser tag. That was fun.