January 25, 2010 - It's almost the end of the month! Not that I'm looking forward to it.

This is my piano teacher, Mrs. H. She is an exquisite pianist despite what her shirt says!

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't like rain when it goes on unceasingly for 2 weeks!

January 24, 2010

It is the end of a long and rather tiring Sunday. But I think we are all exhausted. (Yawn!)

January 23, 2010

Our dog Madeline (Maddie for short) has never had puppies. And every time she is let outside in the rain, I need to hand dry her when she returns. It was during one of these instances that I created a new nickname for our dog.

The Virgin Maddie.

January 22, 2010

For the past week, we've been shrouded in overcast weather and rain. Early in the morning, I saw this sunny horizon. It seems as if there is hope in the distance, like Jacob's vision of heaven at the top of the ladder. Or, like in The Return of the King movie, the single star Sam sees above the ominous clouds of Mordor.

"Thank you, God, for revelations like these. "




This evening, Mama and I went shopping and worked up an appetite. As usual, I was given the discision of choosing where to eat. Guess what we brought home! :) :) My FAVORITE restaurant! I must have been extremely hungry, for I ate my first whole double-double. I even surprised myself!

January 21, 2010

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 I have an online class in which I learn the language of Latin. I love it! This is how it looks before I start. (By the way, the headphones are missing. I forgot to get them for this picture.)

This evening, I took a quiz on the U. S. state capitals and got 100%!!! This deserves a closer look!

Mikaela laetus est! (Latin-Mikaela is happy!)

January 20, 2010

Today in CREW Physical Science Jenny and I (Wyatt was sick) did 2 experiments on the first of Newton's Laws. Somehow, flicking a card out from under a penny and watching the coin plummet to the bottom a cup intrigued us!

(L) In our house, the delighted cry "HAIL!!" always sends us running to the window to see if this phenomenon is real. It always is.









(R) Random fact of the day: Did you know that you can play the piano in a snuggie?

January 19, 2010

(Sing to the tune of the chorus to Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from The Phantom of the Opera)

Wishing you were somehow here again.

The rain keeps falling still.

Sometimes it seems, if I just dreamed

That you were shining bright!

Now these days grow dim and cold,

There's no warmth in the sky....

-an ode to the sun (which is taking the week off)

As part of dinner, Mama made us pizza bread. It's one of my favorite foods! Bread is one of my favorite foods!

This is at Ethan's and my fencing class (we do sabre fencing). I asked my dad to take pictures of us, that's why I'm in this pic.

This is during 'bagwork.' During bagwork, we practice our attacks/fingerwork/lunges and get tips from the instructors. (For those interested in fencing, I am doing a #3 attack.) After that period, we spend the rest of the hour bouting (fencing our opponents).

Apparently I made a joke with Ethan, hence the smiles. Also, note the girl behind me. She and I get paired together every week. Probably because of our skill and height similarities, although I'm about a foot taller than her!

Another note: those masks (helmets) are metal with cloth lining. It gets hot, stuffy and sweaty in there!

January 18, 2010

Early in the morning, our family went to work all day at a care center for women and children. I think my dad and I were the only ones tired when we came home.

I think this is a beautiful picture. (B) Although, I did not intend for the figurine to glow like that. It adds more symbolism.

January 17, 2010

This is a picture of our driveway to show how wet the outside is. Today is the first of many rainy days. *Sigh*

January 16, 2010

This evening, Boy Scout Troop 401 celebrated 10 years of God's faithfulness. This picture (L) was taken this morning when a few of the boys and moms set up the room for the festivities. Below are some more pics of the event.

(Below) A handmade revolving door.

(L) Thank you, dinner crew!

January 15, 2010

Boy and vaccum + Maddie (our sheltie) = Maddie with "Liberty Spikes" on her rear!

January 14, 2010

Everyone, meet Shock. This poor bird flew into our kitchen window and stunned himself. I problably spent around 20 minutes watching him to make sure he was okay.

(L) (Random Fact: I really like this picture!)

As you can see, Shock recovered and led Papa on a chase around the yard. We think the bird's wing might be injured, even though he could flap it. I hope he's alright.

Later on this night, I made more macaroni-and-cheese and joined Ethan in watching The Mask of Zorro. That is such an awesome movie!!

January 13, 2010

Before leaving for co-op (we calls ourselves CREW) I was going to fill my bowl with some oatmeal for breakfast. The bowl was covered with this paper plate. When I lifted it off, BEHOLD! CONDENSATION!! I had recently learned about it in physical science. (The droplets of water may be kind of hard to see in this picture, but they are there.)

January 12, 2010

At last, my waiting for the removed teeth to be exchanged has been rewarded!

Also, tonight Ethan and I went to our fencing class. I didn't take my camera, but this is what my sword hilt looks like.
Maybe next week I'll post a couple pictures of the event.

January 11, 2010

Monday morning at 10: 50, driving to my speech therapist at the public school near my home.
Somehow I don't think we are supposed to be entering through this way.



Meet Mrs. C. and her plants!

January 10, 2010 - first two-digit-day of the year!

I love Mac-and-Cheese!

Last Tuesday I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. Unfortunately, Mama seized a long-awaited for moment....getting my 2 1/8 loose teeth removed. The replacements had already been growing in for a year, and I am exremely frightened of getting teeth pulled. But it had never happened with a dentist.
Drinking with half a numb lip is a very weird experience!

Finally, tonight I put the fragments under my pillow to be replaced with money!

January 9, 2010

We celebrated my dad's 48th birthday. Although it is officially tomorrow, we observed it today because Sunday is AWANA. The theme is 'Man Vs. Wild,' which is a tv show we enjoy. (L) Papa's grand entry. (R) the chandelier I decorated with live branches.

This is the piece of chocolate cake we gave Papa. Note the gummy worms. All our cake-slices had one gummy worm included, in keeping with the wilderness theme. They (both cake and worm) were delicious!!

January 8, 2010

PIZZA!!! PIZZA!!! PIZZA!!! PIZZA!!! PIZZA!!! PIZZA!!! PIZZA!!! PIZZA!!!

(Can you tell I love pizza?)

January 7, 2010

Tonight, my family and I had dinner with the Lewis' (a family who go to our church) at their house. Ethan is in the background shuffling a deck of cards. The girl is the youngest Lewis-daughter Miriam. Her older siblings, Brahms and Shannon, are on the other side of the table.
(This is the only good picture I got. Wish I was able to shoot more!)

January 6, 2010

Every Wednesday Mama and I attend a co-op made up of two other mothers and kids. In it, the moms teach us science, history and writing.

This is the basic set up of our stuff waiting to go at 7:30 AM.

In the physical science class, we performed an experiment demonstrating velocity. It involved eggs. Raw eggs. At the end, our science teacher Mrs. C., her daughter Jenny, and Wyatt (the other student) played an egg toss game with the victim that had remained in tact. As you can see above, Wyatt had the worst of luck.

Personally, I think this is a great picture!



This is Wyatt's dog, Leia (I don't know if I spelled that right). She is a beautiful creature. What she has in her mouth is the tennis ball she likes to offer you to throw. Just don't mind the slobber.

January 5, 2010

I must not have taken any pictures today.

Opps. :)

January 4, 2010

My first planner! And my first markings in my first planner!

I had another piano lesson today. This is the front of my teacher's house. Because she and I pull weeds after we're done, I did not get a picture. Who would want to weed out a garden with a camera around their neck?

My brother Ethan drove Mama and I the teacher's home. (He does her lawn job as I have my lesson.) My dear sibling parked rather close to the fence and had a little trouble getting to the wheel when he went to drive us back home!

Oh Ethan!