Harry Potter, a bittersweet ending

I remember being irked when my now 22-y-o daughter brought home the book Harry Potter way back in the beginning. I had given her twenty dollars for the school book faire, and I hoped she would buy some low-priced paperbacks. She bought one expensive hard-backed book on the recommendation of the book lady. Of course we all fell in love with the book and camped out at bookstores at midnight as each new book was released.

I still read a chapter a night to my 8-y-o son, and look forward to re-reading the books with my younger kids. It is the gift that keeps on giving. Many thanks to the cast and crew for making such wonderful movies. I can't believe that they were able to keep up the quality through EIGHT movies. Usually sequels are terrible. They all deserve much kudos.

L to R, the actors who play Voldemort, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco at the British premiere

July 15th is the official U.S. release date, but there may be opportunities to see it earlier.  Studio lot fundraisers and the like....

The Harry Potter Incentive

Getting boys to *love* reading can be a tricky business. Having the Harry Potter series in the house makes it easier. The most crucial time is the mid-grade-school years. If kids don't develop a love of reading by then, it may never happen. Enter Harry Potter. I have read this entire series to my 10-year-old boy already, and he asked me to start it again. But this time he began reading ahead. I come back for the next evening's bedtime story and we have skipped 3 chapters. I can't describe the feeling of exultation that this brings. Like watching a child swim across the pool alone, or wobble on their first solo bike ride. When a child reads for pleasure, and not because it is an assignment, a huge chasm has been crossed. And this affects the child's future. The best writers I know are people who love books.

No early testing for me, for SURE!

I now have my coverline, so I am 3 days past ovulation. That puts me 14dpo on March 20. I'm out of town in Sonoma County, CA that entire prior weekend at a relationship seminar with my husband. So with the kids running around and MIL there to watch the babies, I doubt I will have the luxury to use hpts in the morning and obsess over them day after day, posting pictures for everybody. Maybe that's a good thing.

Maybe the morning of the 19th after I get back. 13dpo is a nice day to test. And I'll just have to sneak around with my pio and Lovenox injections/sharps container in my luggage. Not that I have any real hope. It was hard this month to even justify the pio shots. I really don't know why I bother. :-(

On a lighter note, have you checked out the Harry Potter video links on the left? Those are fun and your kids might enjoy them too. I can't believe the last book is coming out in July too. I sure hope she (the author, J.K. Rowling) doesn't kill Harry. That would hurt too many kids world wide, I think.