Family Dinner Book Club

I just wanted to take a moment to share something fun Frances, Gloria and I are doing this January (and hopefully all year long).  We will be participating in Family Dinner Book Club!

The girls and I have many routines and weekly traditions - one of our favorite weekly traditions is Movie Night.  Every Saturday night we have Movie Night.  The girls have a huge collection of movies, and we pick one to watch, which can be a challenge!  Then I serve an assortment of snacks for dinner, so we can graze while watching the movie.  It helps us reconnect after they've spent a couple of days with their dad, and it helps reorient then to our shared rules and expectations.  There are very few Saturday nights where we don't have Movie Night, and when we don't, we all miss it.

And part of our daily routine, of course, is our nightly reading.  We usually read four picture books or easy readers - about twenty minutes.  Sometimes we include a chapter from a chapter book. Some nights we don't.  Gloria usually doesn't want to listen to more than a couple of pages of a chapter book, so she'll re-read a picture book while I read or play nearby.  But Frances loves chapter books and it's a good way to develop both their reading and listening skills.

So when I saw something about Family Dinner Book Club, it definitely piqued my interest.  I have always loved participating in book clubs, and I thought it would be a fun way to talk about books with the girls.  I wish I could remember how I first heard about this (maybe a tweet at the beginning of the month?), but once I read Jodie's post, I was raring to go!

Even better, the book this month is Winnie-the-Pooh.  We already had a copy, so we could start immediately.  Also, this book holds a special place in our hearts, although we had never read it aloud.  One of the girls' favorite snacks comes from Frances' third birthday party. It had a Winnie-the-Pooh theme because I had recently gotten a magazine (Phyllis Hoffman Celebrate!, Winter 2010) that had a Winnie-the-Pooh tea party in it.  They love Tigger Tails now, and they are frequently requested at our house.  The recipe is easy, in case you want to make them too.

Tigger Tails

1 14 oz bag orange candy melts

1/2 c vegetable shortening, divided

1/2 14 oz bag chocolate candy melts

1 10 oz bag pretzel rods

 

In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine orange candy melts and 1/4 c shortening.  Microwave on High in 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until melted (about 1 1/2 mins).  In a separate microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate melts and remaining 1/4 c shortening, microwave on High, stirring between each, until melted (about 1 1/2 mins).

 

Dip each pretzel rod into orange mixture to coat; place on parchment paper to dry.  Decorate with melted chocolate.  Store, covered, in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 

 

 

They'll look something like this when they are done:

We'll definitely be adding this beloved recipe to our feast.

And one of the great things about this book club is that it is hosted by three different bloggers.  Jodie provides the discussion questions.  Jill is providing unbelievable decoration ideas , including acorn bumble bees and a Pooh Bear hanging from a balloon - so cute and I can't wait to get started!  And of course Sarah is offering delicious foods for the dinner table, including Baked Honey Chicken - yum!  I love the thoughtfulness that went into all three bloggers' contributions and can't wait to keep reading with them.  There is also a Facebook group that I joined.  They've made participation as easy as possible!

Although A.A. Milne's birthday was Saturday, and would have been a natural day to have book club, we are going to wait to have our book club meeting until the end of the month.  Frances and Gloria can't wait.  But we still have chapters left to read before we get there.  I'm sure we will coordinate Movie Night around book club too.  Please join us in the Family Dinner Book Club!!