While in Texas, I was able to read "The Hunger Games". I thought it was pretty good and there are two more in the series. It is basically about 12 districts within what used to be the US and they are controlled by a demanding and heartless government. Each district has a boy and girl that represent them in the "Hunger Games." Basically, they put the kids in a huge arena or location and the last kid alive, wins food for their starving district. It sounds crazy, but it is actually entertaining.
For some time now, I have been wanting to read the "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Lutrell. While in Texas, Shayne and Jen loaned it to me to read. This book is based on a true story that happened just a few years ago. Four Navy SEAL's were on a very dangerous mission up in the mountains of Hindu Kush, Afghanistan. It is a story about their bravery, committment to each other and to their country, and how he was the only survivor of that mission. He swears alot in the book, but that was kind of expected. He talks about God, his country, his life-long friends that he lost and about how the liberals and the media put the military in a predicament with their riduculous "rules of engagement" and their lying and deceitfulness. It is definately a book that I would recommend you read. Makes you appreciate the military more!
I also just finished "Broken Things to Mend" by Jeffrey R. Holland. What a great book! Full of inspiring messages about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The book is easy to read and also easy to understand.
I like this part of the book and it applies to us today. .. if only we had a president that believed in God and offered up prayers unto Him like our forefathers:
"Lincoln asked his fellow citizens to pray earnestly to the Almighty God and "to implore Him, as the Supreme Ruler of the World, not to destroy us as a people, nor suffer us to be destroyed by the hostility or connivance of other Nations, or by obstinated adhesion to our own counsels, which may be in conflict with His eternal pruposes, and to implore Him to enlighten the mind of the Nation to know and do His will; humbly believing that it is in accordance with His will that our place should be maintained as a united people among family of nations."
They spent alot of time in the hot tub out in mom and dad's backyard. It was neat to watch Cooper adore his uncle Sean. Sean also helped Cooper and Annika build a fort in our room and he played "knights and princesses" with them. 
Kellye and Sean both read books to Clayton and he loved it. If he was fussy, they would sit down and read to him. It would calm him right down. Sean and Sherrie couldn't believe his red hair.
Mom is so good with children. Every morning I would drop Cooper off and go in for a few minutes to see what they were doing that day. I am amazed as I watch my mom with those little kids. She is so patient with each one and she genuinely cares about them. I kept thinking, "those kids are so blessed to have her as their teacher." 
Cooper enjoyed painting pictures, making the different crafts, and playing with his new buddy, Carter. He also had a good time out on the playground riding on the big tricycles and playing in the water, sandbox, and shaving cream.
The water was pretty cold, but it didn't slow Cooper down. He even jumped into a little swimming hole and waded out in the water up to his chest. At one point, he tripped and went down into the water. When he came up, he started crying, and said, "mom, I drowned for a little bit." 
Uncle Shayne took him across the little lake and Cooper thought that was neat. Sherrie had a killer headache but still managed to help me with Clayton. Clayton wasn't quite sure about the water. He would stand in it but didn't want to sit in it.
We sat on the side of the river in the shade while the kids played in the water. Cooper thought it was neat to float down the river in a little tube. He did it over and over again!
The river was perfect because it wasn't too deep and the kids could run and play in it with out us being right by their side. Turner Falls is a place that I would definately like to go to again. Thanks Shayne and Jen for suggesting the idea.
I ran into my high school friend, Courtney. Her little boy, Carter, was going to Summer Fun and Cooper and him were in the same class. I haven't seen Courtney since high school, so it was very exciting to spend some time with her and Sam, her husband. We went to the pool with them and then went over to their home to eat dinner. 
We spent the second week with Mom, Dad, Sean and Kellye in College Station. Dad had a mini-mester so we didn't see him much, but the time I did get to spend with him was nice.
