BOOK PARTY

    This family doesn't do horror. We don't watch scary movies. I don't like scary Halloween costumes or decorations. Needless to say, my kids were very skeptical when I pitched reading a "spooky" book for the month of October. I had a pile of five books for them to choose and we settled on Thirteens. (It actually isn't even listed as a horror book but a fantasy, so that tells you how mild it was.) We started off strong. Every night we would sit in the living room and read by candle light. Once Barry and Laycee started rehearsals for their musical, however, our routine was wrecked.

 BUT- It is January and I finally finished reading our October book. (Both a triumph and a fail.) I'm just glad the candles lasted.

One thing that became tradition many years ago, after reading book one of Harry Potter- Family Book Party. That first Harry Potter book party was epic. It was several hours long with crafts, activities, food, and a watch party. But come on... you only get to be introduced to Harry Potter once.  

I've calmed down a little since then, but still absolutely love to plan these silly little parties. 

Last night, it was time.  

In Thirteens, the three kids (spoiler) end up in an alternate world where everything is gray. Our kids were called upstairs to find gray streamers in the doorway with a book quote about the gray world. I heard one kid ask, "what is going on?" And another's response, "I think we're having a book party!" 

I planned a GRAY dinner and lemme tell you, there is a reason you won't find any Pinterest boards about "gray parties"! It looked absolutely disgusting! I dyed our sprite (which makes it explode, FYI, and turn kind of green). I dyed our noodles (turned out purplish). I dyed our beef stroganoff which made it look like literal barf (and also turned the meat green.) The breadsticks kind of came out with a marbled look but the rice krispy treats were a nice, simple gray. 

It was probably one of the most joyful dinners we've ever had, with everyone spending the whole time joking about how gross it all looked. Barry even said we should dye our food more often, we all laughed so much. 

After dinner, the kids had to pop gray balloons for clues which led them on a house-wide scavenger hunt to find thirteen keys that would "release them" from the gray world. The prize at the end was just a goodie bag of various rainbow treats in the trunk of Barry's car. 

My favorite memory of family time growing up was of my dad reading to us. I'm so grateful I can pass this on to my kids. With a little extra flair. (That's where my mom's genes kick in.)

Books my Dad read to us (that I can remember): 

War of the Worlds

 Shaka Zulu (which is how I learned what "impale" means and was scarred for life)

 A burning Within

 Charlie's Monument

Jock of the Bushveld

 Nobody's Boy (still a favorite)

Hatchet

Light in Darkness (about early settlers in Wyoming) 

Books I've read to my kids: 

Matilda

 James and the Giant Peach

Sideways Stories of Wayside School 

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Chocolate Fever 

Hatchet

Nightmares

The Spiderwick Chronicles (all) 

Percy Jackson (Books 1-3) 

The Christmas Pig (half until Barry had to take over because I got sick) 

Thirteens 

(Barry read Harry Potter 1-3. It was hard for me to let him, but I absolutely will never forget his voice for Ron! He made him sound like a 90's movie blond surfer dude and that will forever be how I hear Ron's voice in my head!)