Gold Medal Reader

Since it was a fond summer memory for me growing up, I made sure to enroll Norah (and Eli) in the summer reading program at the public library. One of the perks of the program is that the kids are rewarded with a free book when they turn in their reading cards at the end of the summer. (They get to color in a space on the card for every 15, 30, or 45 minutes that they read, or in the little ones' case, that they are read to, until the card is full)

Since we read a lot, Norah finished her first card in early July, prompting the librarian to give her a second card, explaining that since Norah had already earned her book, finishing a second card would result in the awarding of a special medal. I wasn't too sure how the whole "medal as a reward" thing would go over...but then we started watching the summer olympics...

Norah has watched some with us ("Buh-nasticks" is her favorite event), so she's seen the champions awarded their medals, and I think she felt pretty honored when the librarian slipped her very own medal around her neck last week. I think N felt sorry for Eli, since he only earned a book (what can I say, when you sleep and eat as much as he does, it just doesn't leave as much time for recreational reading), so she decided to share her medal with him. She slipped it around his neck and said, "Gladulations, buddy. I'm so berry proud of you!" (She quickly recalled said medal when she realized he was only interested in chewing on it)