Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

I am sick.

This is mostly why I didn’t manage to post until today–I am miserably congested and thus sleeping badly. Unfortunately, I’m not the only one under the weather. My hubby has had an iffy tummy since Thursday or Friday, making him miss our ward (local church group) day trip to Bear Lake. My youngest got fried on the trip (everybody thought someone else had helped her reapply her sunscreen, meaning I’m ultimately to blame) and then threw up when we got home; whether it was a canyon hangover (so! many! canyons!), too much sun, or whatever her daddy’s got, her tummy’s been iffy ever since, and she stayed home from church on Sunday and school on Monday. (At least she’s moving normally again!) My 16-year-old hasn’t been feeling terrific, and my son’s back was really hurting him yesterday. Good times for the whole household!

Still–I told myself that besides going to Ream’s and doing a bit of laundry, I would prioritize book reviews today, because I’m just plain sick of being so far behind. To that end, then, I’m starting with Elana K. Arnold’s Just Harriet, which I listened to before passing it on to my youngest to read. Arnold isn’t difficult reading, but her characters deal with big emotions, and that’s something my youngest girlie consistently struggles with. Whether she’ll relate to Harriet–who’s staying with her grandmother for the summer while her mother is on bedrest–or not, I’m hoping some ideas about how Harriet deals with things might linger. Either way, she’s bound to love Harriet’s cat, Matzo Ball, and I think she’ll enjoy Harriet’s emotional journey. If you have an elementary schooler who will be gaining a sibling or is struggling with the occasional bad habit, this is an excellent read.