Learning to Sew

Hi, everyone,


Grammy is teaching us how to sew. Arianna already made a Girl Scout / Brownie skirt.


Here's a picture of me making a little bag.

Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas, 
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas, 
And a Happy New Year!

Yes! The first snowfall of the season -- December 6, 2009.  


Merry Christmas to all!

Time to Write Your Letters to Santa!

Now that Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is over, it's time to start looking forward to Christmas.


My sister and I writing (printing) our letters to Santa Claus!


If you haven't written your letter to Santa Claus, you need to start today. Before you know it, Christmas will be here.


Some of us will be printing.

What's Next? Pigs in Space?

I put up Thanksgiving decorations today.


First, I had Arianna draw the outline of my hand so I could make a turkey. Then I put that on the refrigerator.


Then, I had Arianna draw me a circle. I colored circles around it.


"Grammy, I made a planet! Do you know which one?" I asked.


Grammy said it looked like Jupiter! 

"No Grammy, it's Saturn!"


Arianna: "Yes, Grammy, don't you see the rings?"


So, I put Saturn up on the refrigerator next to my turkey.


I called it "Turkey in Outer Space."

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Decorations for Thanksgiving!

Wow! A busy week. We made decorations and place mats for Thanksgiving. It was a lot of work but I am so excited. I hope you all have a nice Thanksgiving!


Here's my sister, Arianna. She has so much reading to do. I help her at night. When she gets tired of reading then I tell her stories so she can rest. She says even if you can't read, you can tell stories.


My sister's reading program!

My bones and tummy! What's that all about?

At lunch the other day while eating my sandwich, I opened the top of the roll, and clamped it down, saying, "Hey, Grandma! Remember at the aquarium when the clam squished out water at me? This is just like the clam!"


And then I asked my mommy, "What's inside of us? I don't mean this sandwich, but our bones and tummy. What's that all about?"


Mommy got out one of her anatomy books and explained to me what's inside me. Pretty interesting.


But I still like my books with Baa, Baa Black Sheep, The Cat and the Fiddle, and London Bridge is Falling Down.


You know, mommy's anatomy book needs to have some songs and poems.

Too Many Parties! That's Silly!

Two days ago Grammy and I were discussing the holidays when she said we had to get ready for the Halloween party.

I said, "ANOTHER Halloween party? That's silly! That's too much!"

Grammy asked me what I meant. I told her, "When you're cooking, and you put in too many eggs or too much sugar, it's too much. Too many Halloween parties."

Oh well, I guess I'll find a way to drag myself to the party, along with Arianna. She never seems to get tired of all this activity.

Tea Party

Everybody was so busy today. Daddy had a class to go to -- and it was a Saturday. What is that all about? School on Saturday!

Arianna and Mommy went to a birthday party. Is this the first birthday party Arianna went to without me? Maybe, I can't remember; there have been sooooo many over the years!

But I was glad to stay home after a busy week at school. It was such a busy week. I needed a break. So Grammy and I stayed home and had a bit of tea. We used the very fancy Peter Rabbit dishes.

I sure hope things slow down next week, but I know it won't. The holidays are just beginning. First Halloween and then Thanksgiving. Life goes by just too fast.


More tea?

Getting Ready for Halloween

I sure am happy for Arianna. She says all the kids are wearing Halloween outfits to school and she wanted one, also. So Mommy found her a Halloween top and she was so happy.


Arianna and me; ready for school.

Tonight, Mommy, Daddy, and Arianna went out for dinner at Daddy's school. I got to stay home with Grammy. I spent the evening playing school downstairs and serving Grammy dinner. I even "pretended" to eat my carrots.

At school, all the students are given jobs. My job this week is line leader. I am first in line and my responsibility is to make sure all the kids in my class line up behind me when we go outside for recess or to special events.

Three Little Pigs

Wow, what a great day!

We saw a live play, the Three Little Pigs! It was sooooo gooood!

And then when we got home, Mommy and Daddy were already home and I told them the whole story.

I'm going to have a brick house when I grow up. Arianna can come over to stay with me when the big bad wolf comes by.


Arianna, two little pigs, and me!

Practicing for a Boston Papas Audition

It's been a busy, busy week.

We just learned there's a musical group in Boston called the "Boston Papa's."

Arianna and I each composed a song; here we are practicing.


Arianna's new composition: Waiting for the Red Line


My new composition: Suite No. 2 in E-flat major

I had trouble drawing the notes, so Arianna drew my notes for me.

[Update: Grammy is taking fencing (sword-fighting) lessons. Arianna wants to make a movie when she grows up, adding Grammy as the fourth musketeer. I guess we better start working on a score (music) for the Fourth Musketeer soundtrack. Posted October 9, 2009.]

Boston English

Hi, everyone!

We're starting to get cooler weather with rain.

I still love school. The biggest problem is keeping the boys in line. If they would just pay attention to me, or at least the teacher, the day would go a lot better. But they will probably get better.


Relaxing after a long day of helping boys with their classwork.

Last week we cleaned up the school yard, sweeping the sidewalks and raking the leaves. Again, the problem was the boys. I had a plan, but when I was explaining it to them, they just walked away. (But that's better than getting punched. That's another story.)

And I'm not BOSSY!

I'm starting to figure out Boston English. It has a lot to do with "r's." If the word ends in an "r" you drop it off; you don't say it. Like "finger." "Finger" is pronounced "fingah."

And if the word ends in a vowel, you add the "r." Like "idea." It's not "idea," it's "idea-r."

Papa Bruce tells me its the law of conservation of "r's." If one word loses an "r," another word has to get an "r."

Whatever.

I think when a word loses an "r," the "r" is lonely and looks for another word to hang on to. "R's" need friends, too.

Arianna, I think, needs to get more focused. She says her favorite subjects are recess, lunch, and "p.e." Whatever that is.

I don't see English or arithmetic in her list of favorite subjects. Hellooooo.

Anyway, I have to go. Arianna has left some books lying around and I have to pick them up.

Driving Bobcats in Boston

Hi, everyone,

Wow, we had another great day in Boston! I love Boston.

We visited the Children's Museum again.

There was so much to do and so many photographs to choose from but since Papa Bruce is from North Dakota where "Bobcats" are made, I thought he would enjoy these most.

Maybe later I will post more photos.


Driving a Bobcat.


Arianna driving her Bobcat.

Rainy Day Project

It was a rainy day today, so we stayed in and worked on a project.

We built a little town with a road, stores, and an opera house. I made the opera house out of a jello container.


Our little village

Grammy also worked with Arianna and me on our numbers.

The letter for this week was "B": building, buildings, bridges, baking, bananas. We made banana muffins for dessert.

Mommy and Daddy went on an outing while we stayed home.

Welcome to Olivia's Boston!

We moved to Boston this summer!


Mommy, Arianna and me in Boston. Grammy took the picture.

Grammy is staying with us.

My older sister Arianna started first grade this year. At first I stayed home every day going to school at home. Grammy May was my teacher.

But then, all of a sudden, I found myself going to school at a very nice pre-K school not too far from home. I go half-days for three days each week. The other two days I continue with Grammy's school at home.

Mommy and Daddy told me I got a "full ride" to attend pre-K school. Of course, I get a "full ride." It's too far to walk, and I don't think Mommy would let Grammy drop me off half-way to school. I would get lost.

Today, Arianna, Grammy and I are visiting the Boston Children's Museum which sits right on the water. It is so cool.

Papa Bruce is in Texas reading about the Bakken.

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For The Record

Before moving to Boston, the family lived in Summerville, north of Charleston, South Carolina.

While living in Summerville, Arianna and Olivia attended Ridge Christian Academy. Arianna was in kindergarden; Olivia was a two-year in day care and thrived.