Anna's Fit Girls Fitness Program

Look at Anna go!

Clinton's New Secret Reading & Napping Spot

Occasionally, Clinton has read in this spot, but it probably started up again because of last night. Anna had her friend, Lily Kraus, over for a sleepover. Clinton asked Justin if he wanted to have a sleepover. Since Anna and Lily were sleeping downstairs, Clinton and Justin were going to sleep in Anna's bed. Emma decided she wanted to join them both, so the three of them slept in Anna's bed (the bottom bunk in the girls' room). Now that Cameron's crib is in the girls' room, I didn't wanted Cameron to be in there with the three of them, so he actually slept in my bed all night. It wasn't as restful as when he is in his own bed.

In this picture Clinton is sleeping in Anna's bed. He had been reading a book earlier titled, "The Outlanders". This book is Book II of The Lon Tobyn Chronicles by David B. Coe. They have a long window next to the bed, so it provides a lot of light in addition to the comfort of lying down.

After reading a while, I bet he felt a little tired since he got up early this morning and made biscuits, gravy, and potatoes. Besides making breakfast, he has taken it easy today. We had the girls' Parent/Teacher Conferences for about an hour, but other than that and his nap, he has read the day away. I'm sure he has enjoyed himself. Benjamin is currently reading Book I in the same series titled, "Children of Amarid".

"I Wear My Reading Glasses at Night"

Yes, Clinton is wearing his reading glasses at night, but that's not the only time he wears them. In September of 2011, our whole family went to see the eye doctor. The last time we went was probably June of 2010, and that's when the doctor gave Clinton a prescription for reading glasses. Unfortunately, we left on vacation before getting some. Upon returning home, I did go looking at lenses once with him, but he never did go back out and continue his search.

Clinton has noticed more that he needs glasses for reading and working on the computer. He picked out a pair a few months ago, but rarely thinks about wearing them. I do the same with my glasses, too. A few days ago, I pulled my reading glasses out to see the difference it would make while we read scriptures. Getting mine out helped to remind him of his glasses, so the last few days he has used them. I think he looks great in them.

The prescription that he needed was so minimal that they told him any pair of reading glasses from a store would work. I think he got this pair for $10 or less. Not bad!

For someone who prefers solitary hobbies (like reading) to socializing, he has done more socializing recently. This morning Clinton went out to breakfast with three of his old bus stop buddies, two of which are now retired. Joe Durepos picked him up and they headed to Steven's Restaurant where they met the other two. Clinton ordered the Breakfast Skillet. He said it was delicious.

Clinton does enjoy reading a lot of the same books that Benjamin and Anna read. There are so many young adult fantasy/fiction books being written that are enjoyed by adults, too, especially by mine. He is currently reading a book titled, "Unnatural Issue" by Mercedes Lackey. He has read other books by this author, but it has been quite some time. I'm not sure if this book falls into the young adult age range, but if Clinton enjoys it, I'm sure he will be recommending it to Benjamin. It's fun to hear them discuss books that would be of interest to each other. This is one of a few ways in which Benjamin is going to grow up to be just like his dad. I see reading glasses in the future for him, too!

Like Father, Like Son

For those who Clinton and his LOVE of reading and know Benjamin and his LOVE of reading, you would say "like father, like son". You would never have thought that Benjamin didn't like to read when he was in 3rd grade or even younger. He needed additional help when it came to reading. In 3rd grade, it was a challenge to get him to read and take the required Accelerated Reader (AR) Tests. When Benjamin was in 4th grade, it finally hit. He developed a LOVE for reading.

Over the past few years, he has become much more of an avid reader, a book worm. The thing about Benjamin is that he loves reading books "he" wants to read. It was more of a struggle in 5th and 6th grade when he was on a "Battle of the Books" team. He and three or four friends had agreed to read certain books off of a selection list. They had to know about the stories, the title, and the author when competing. It wasn't his favorite thing to do, but he did it. He said that everyone would want him to be on their team because of his love of reading. I don't think his friends ever saw him without a book in his free time. They got a kick out of his laugh when he would be reading because he would laugh out loud. What he didn't like being on those teams, was having to read required books from the selection list, and not books of his own genre preference.

Now that Benjamin is in 7th grade, he doesn't have to read books and take tests on them, but instead, he has to read a total of 25 books this school year. He has to read books in various categories, which again, makes it less desirable, but it doesn't stop him from reading. The book he is currently reading is "Lord Brocktree" by Brian Jacques. It is a book from the Redwall series. Benjamin loves reading fantasy and fiction books, especially books that are in a series. There are various books that he is waiting to read once they are published. It kills him to wait for books.

I love that boy! I love that he has a passion and love for reading. Hopefully, that passion can carry him far with other studies in school.