We had our spring break earlier than usual this year, and we decided to do something different. Instead of going to the beach or Disney like many of our kids’ friends, we went on college tours. It was quite an experience as we visited several well-manicured campuses with our kids, one of whom is a high school junior. Throughout the tours, we made mental lists of the pros and cons of each school, which caused me to feel a mix of unfamiliar and strange emotions.

If you’ve been through this before, you know the mix of emotions that I’m talking about – feeling happy and excited as your young adult sets off on their new journey but also experiencing a faint sense of grief. It’s like a cocktail of emotions that comes with a twist of uncertainty and a thin layer of anxiety on top. Our son is thrilled, and although our break felt different from the ones we’ve had in the past, it was still great to spend some quality time together. We also got some extra time to catch up on sleep and reading, which was nice.

During our college tours, we explored various colleges located near Nashville. We decided to stay at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, which is home to Soundwaves Waterpark. It was a great way to add fun to our trip, especially for our youngest, who patiently walked around different college campuses. To keep myself entertained, I downloaded a few audiobooks for the car ride and a paperback for some relaxing time by the pool.

Here’s what I’ve been reading over the last couple of weeks. Let me know if you’ve read any and what you think of them!

Oh, how I wish I could trust the groundhog. How lovely it would be to depend on a giant marmot for his prediction of this year’s dawning of early spring. However, his past accuracy has left me doubting. For the record, no ill will intended for the groundhog. It is my favorite holiday. I even check in with all the neighboring critters to see if their predictions align.

So, as much as I wish winter were nearing our rearview window, my heart knows there is one last lap on its farewell tour. So, if a snow day is in your immediate future, here are three books to add to your reading list that will entertain you, from watching today’s falling snow to the appearance of those first spring blooms.