Overall, I liked the books. I'd had several people tell me that they liked HG better than Twilight (whaaaat??), so I was interested. I still like Twilight better.

HG is a quick, easy read with an interesting idea behind it. Kind of makes you wonder what the author is like if she's thinking these things up! It sorta reminds me of the books they make you read in high school like Fahrenheit 451 and Animal Farm....politically based books. Books that warn us of the dangers of communism.

I enjoyed reading the books - they held my attention very well (ie. nothing much else got done around here), but I felt like there was something missing. Like the pot was simmering but never really got to a full roaring boil. I just kept waiting for that "something" to happen which would push the story to the next level - it never came. And no, I don't really know what I would add/change, I just know that for me it never quite reached my (high) expectations. Maybe more of the love story - not anything inappropriate, obviously, but just more depth between Katniss and Gale or Katniss and Peeta.

The final verdict:

I recommend reading the Hunger Games to those who haven't, but it's not a series I would read over and over again.

So our Beans started 1st grade yesterday! She was so excited and ready to go.

Of course, she had to look just right - she especially wanted to have curly hair.
Cutie pies!!



Here she is sitting at her desk, ready to work.

While getting ready for school, I told Janae that I was going to walk to her classroom with her today. She was vehemently opposed. She didn't say it, but it seemed like she was embarrassed that her mom would be walking to class with her. Umm....I thought that wouldn't hit until Middle School or something. Anyway, I told her that she didn't have a choice - for the first day I was walking her to her room. When we got into the school she power-walked ahead of me. I mean really, what 6-year-old wants to be seen with their mom? But by the time we reached the classroom door I think she was glad I was there. She had a moment of shyness, but quickly recovered. She even let me give her a kiss on the cheek, in front of the other kids!!

7 long hours later.....