Books

So the two mommies that I have spent the most time with from my MOPS group like to read, and occassionally they will talk about the books they've read recently.  I couldn't exactly add to the conversation because I don't normally read just for fun. 

I didn't even read the books I was supposed to read in high school unless we read them together in class.  Well, I do remember reading one outside of school which was for my biology class called "The Hot Zone."  I read it all in one weekend while sitting outside on the toolbox of my mom's old grey truck.  And actually which I was at the book store this past week, I noticed that "The Hot Zone" is still on the reading list.  I know I read parts of "Jurassic Park", but I relied alot on my friends hoping they had read it, which Kate normally did and she would tell me the jist of what happened.  Thank you, Kate.  I know that wasn't very nice of me.  Please forgive me.  Of course I had seen the movie, but our teacher was very good at picking questions that had nothing to do with the movie, and as a teacher, I would do the same thing.  Well, I might give one question from the movie just to give those nonreaders a few points and not a total zero as a grade.

Anyways, I decided to start reading and I have enjoyed it to my surprise!  I absolutely love Nicolas Sparks, which I loved from the moment I read "A Walk to Remember" way back when.  (Okay, so in college I did read a few books.)  I also read the "Notebook" before it became a movie.  It's pretty awesome to read a book and then see it come to life in a movie.  Other Nicolas Sparks books I read are "The Choice", "The Wedding", "The Lucky One", and part of "Message in a Bottle."  I only read part of it because one day at Texas A&M I had long wait in-between classes, so I went to the library and just sat and read until it was time to go to my next class.  I never saw that movie, because I assumed it was boring, but I may be wrong.  Oh, and I've also read "Nights in Rodunthe".  And all the ones that eventually became movies, I read them first long before the movie was out.  For a while I thought, "Oh this one is probably going to become a movie since I read it."

For the ones that haven't become movies, I try to imagine who I would cast as the actors and actresses for the characters.  For example, the book "The Lucky One" is about a marine who finds a picture on the ground of an American girl.  No one claims the photo so he keeps it in his pocket during his deployment.  He survives many combat attacks so his best friend Victor tells him that it must be his lucky charm, and that he needs to find the girl when he returns home to thank her for keeping him safe.  Well, a lot happens but he does go on a journey to try to find her.  So here are the characters:  The marine is Justin from Brothers and Sisters.  The girl in the picture is Rebecca from Brothers and Sisters.  Victor is Fez off of That 70s show.  There are other characters that I've assigned roles to, but I don't want to tell you too much in case you want to read the book.

Currently I am reading "Water for Elephants".  I haven't seen the movie, but I remember the previews which showed the movie to be very glamourus.  Well, the book doesn't start out so glamorous, and if the movie is anything like the book I would hope it's rated R for "racey"!  This auther leaves no details out.  But so far it is a really good story and easy to follow.  I'm excited and curious to see the movie after I finish reading it.  Lindsey Williams read it a few months ago and she told me it was really good and that I should read it, but I wasn't a reader a few months ago.  If only I had read it a few months ago we could have talked about at her party. 

So right now I read in my free time, when I should be cleaning the house or making party pacs for my mom. But the dishes can always wait, right?

Independence Day 2011

I love the 4th of July!  I enjoy the parades, food, and fireworks.  Ever since I was little my family has always attended the Round Top 4th of July Parade. 

I used to ride on the back of my grandpa's tractor, and once all my cousins and I made a float for the parade.  We were all dressed as cotton pickers and pulled by a tractor of course.  Matt and I met at the parade one year because he was asked to drive one of my grandpa's tractors in the parade.

And two years ago, Matt and I found out we were pregnant with Brazos on the 4th of July.

The past few years we have been riding in my father-in-law's antique cars.  Last year, Brazos was miserably hot.  We had to cover him in cold rags just keep him cool.  This year he did a lot better.  He looked out the window with mommy and waved at all the parade goers.  He even sat on daddy's lap and help drive for a while.

Now after the parade is a different story.  We had a grouchy boy on our hands that wanted to be independent and have nothing to do with grown-ups.  Actually, he was really grouchy in the morning because we gave him oatmeal and he wanted an orange.

Here's last year's parade:

Here's this year's parade:

Our nephew, Cody

Our nephew, Cullen at his first parade





On great-grandpa's tractor

In the evenings we like going to Washington on the Brazos for the fireworks show.  This year we saw the laser light show, which was just as good as fireworks and lasted about the same amount of time.  Brazos did okay, but he wanted to push his stroller instead of sit in it, and he didn't want to sit on the lawn to listen to the music before the laser light show.  We let him walk around until he noticed and girl with a hot dog.  We walked up to her and slowly got closer and closer hoping she would share.  So then we held him down and he threw a fit.  It was a bit embarassing, but luckily the music was loud enough that not many people could hear him.  He did great during the laser show.

Here's last year's Washington-on-the-Brazos:

Here's this year's Washington-on-the-Brazos:

Independence Hall

At the Brazos River Overlook

The wheel kept him occupied for a while during the music.

Swimming

This summer Brazos has been enjoying the water.  Of course he's only gone swimming in kiddi pools, but a little one has to start somewhere.  He's had fun swimming at friends' homes, a birthday party, and in our yard.  Next Tuesday he's going to the Blue Bell Aquatic Center for the first time with my Girl Scout troop.  That should be fun!  On July 11th he starts Water Babies class and we're excited!  He'll be in class with his friend, Natalie.  I wouldn't have signed him up, but I finally found a swimdress that I feel comfortable wearing in public, so it's all good.  Here's his swimming adventures:

Playing with Audrie

Swimming at Jake's birthday party

Playing with Daddy