Author: Kelly Page 7 of 8

I do not have much time to write this morning but today we start swimming lessons and Mom starts calculus.  I can’t wait but we will have to work hard and get things done quickly if we want to do well today. Yesterday we went to our first Gospel Meeting with Kent Williston.  That was lots of fun.  Tommorow we will go to my piano lesson.  That’s about it!
-Kelly

Yesterday I went to piano lessons and my teacher, Mrs. Hickenlooper, helped me with the hymns that I am trying to learn. She also gave me a new piece instead of my Bach piece. The Bach piece was too difficult but this new one looks like fun. Mrs. Waldo put up a comment yesterday asking Christian and I if we would be able to go over and play some music for her Mother at the home where she lives. (is that right?) I was thinking about it just this morning and I cannot wait to go over there and play. I will practice my songs this morning so that I can play them well when I go over.

I am reading an awesome book called The Dark Frigate. it is a Newberry Award winning book and although the old English and the Scottish accent is hard to translate it is a wonderful novel.

I was reading the Bible this morning and I turned to John 19 and started reading. I read through the rest of John because it was so good. I never really read any books of the Bible thoroughly save Matthew and Genesis. John was amazing. He said that Jesus did so many things that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. He also said that these things are written that we may believe in God, that we may find life in His name. It was pretty interesting. One thing that I didn’t understand too well though is the fact that Jesus told the disciple whom he loved to take care of his mother I think, and in later chapters he speaks of the disciple whom he loved also. But it says in the 21:20 that “The disciple whom Jesus loved following, who had also leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord who is the one who betrays you?” and then if you read up to the 24th verse it says “This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true” Was John the same disciple who took care of Mary? I don’t know. But it sure was interesting reading that chapter.

That article that I read yesterday got me thinking. One of them started when he was 13 and they all talk about deep, debatable subjects. I wonder what I can talk about that is deep and debatable. Perchance you would enjoy hearing of the Chapman Acadamy of Homeschool Dictionary? Well there is a link to it on this page. It only has three words, phrases and definitions but I already have an idea of another one. We should not use apostrophes when we type. They are crude and terribly primitive. Examples: They’re, it’s, don’t etc. etc. etc. This is how they should be written: They are, It is, do not. Now there is a deep and debatable subject. Oh, I have a question for the five people that read this blog, It has to do with titles and apostrophes: Where do the titles Mrs., Mr., Miss, and Ms. come from? Do they stand for anything? Just a question. Okey Dokey, I’d better get back to school now…

Homeschool is going well. We’ve gotten into the full swing of things here and I’m reading some great books. We met some new neighbors the other day and we hope to meet many more now that we are seeing so much development around the neighborhood. Today we are going to meeting at the Myer’s and I have to read the chapter (don’t tell anyone) I just read a magazine article about 6 homeschooling teens who have their own blogs. That made me jump off of the sofa and sprint upstairs. I spun onto Dad’s chair and lunged for the mouse. I clutched it and tapped the mouse. Here I am now typing away and using my verbs like I’m my writing book says I’m supposed to do. Ok that’s it for now. If you see me, remind me to blog some more!

(Sob) Don’t you MISS us Dad and Mom? We are having such a good time here with Grandma and Grandpa that we just might stay here forever. We went to OMSI today and had a wonderful time visiting the planetarium and looking at their new ROBOTS exhibit. Yesterday we went to the Oregon Zoo and got to see an exciting bird show and the butterfly exhibit which, believe me, was exhilirating; the highlight of the visit from my point of view. The day before that we went to the Columbia River Gorge and had lunch at Timberline Lodge. Kylee had never been to Multnomah Falls I don’t think, so we had a wonderful time there. We also saw the big sturgeon (HUGE!!!) and touched a few slimey trout at the Fish Hatchery. There isn’t much snow on the mountain at this time of year but it was still chillly. Grandpa’s birthday was today so Christian and I made him some cards and we sang Happy Birthday! We will be home in a couple of days, if Mom and Dad want us, but I’m sure that if they don’t then Grandma and Grandpa will so you (Mom and Dad and the cats) better be nice! (-:

Gimme a W! Gimme an A! Gimme a Y! Gimme an N! Gimme a E! What does that spell??? WAYNE!!!! Who likes Wayne the Mexican raise your hand. If you read this blog and don’t write any comments (ESPECIALLY about Wayne the Mexican) then you’re not REALLY reading this blog. Come on everyone! We know you’re out there!

This is a special reminder from yours truly, Kelly, the Susie Social Butterfly of the ChapmanKids blog. If you don’t agree with Miss Susie Social Butterfly’s latest post then you will have to actually FACE Miss Susie Social Butterfly, ooooOOOooo (that is a WARNING) O-= , Comments make this blog *SPECIAL* C-:

Today Christian and I are going to go sing at the library’s annual talent show. You can win twenty dollars, ten dollars, or five dollars. We are saving up for a new Nancy Drew computer game OR a rocket OR a new King of the Trees book! Even if we don’t win anything it’ll be really fun! Wish us luck!

Today is the first day of summer vacation for the neighborhood kids but I have looked outside the window and no one seems to be running around. Maybe that’s because it’s cloudy. My friend Ethne in Texas says that it’s HOT down there, 80’s or 90’s. We are sure waiting for the summer to start. I forgot to mention in my last entry that William D. Burt (that’s the name of the author of the King of the Trees) signed the first two books. Thank you Aunt Julia! That’s all for now.

The lights went out at Dad’s work and we all know how much he uses the computer so he’s pretty bored right now. I suggested that he practice drawing like in our Draw Squad book and he thought of writing a letter to the workers. All for now.

It’s almost done and we (mostly Mom but us too) are very excited about the whole thing! No more cereal and cold pizza! No more McDonalds and hamburgers!! Not that I don’t like McDonalds, I have nothing against it. But after 5 bazzilion yogurts, sausage biscuits, and orange juices, I really, really feel like eating some steamed broccoli.

I have a job! Bigger than last time. Now I get to water a thousand pots and walk, feed, water, and clean up after a big golden retriever! The neighbor kids will be glad to help me walk the dog for a week, they like Kona. (I remembered the dog’s name! see below) I hope everyone liked our reports! Thanks to all that posted comments. We appreciate that a lot.

There is something that I have to tell everyone about but no one will listen. Aunt Julia got me these awesome books last Christmas. They are by a guy from Oregon and they are a series called The King of the Trees by William D. Burt. I have tried countless times to get Dad, Christian, and my friends to read them but they are too interested in Harry Potter. I mourn for them… oh well, life goes on and I guess I’ll just have to enjoy them by myself. (sigh)

Christian and I are just about done with our reading reports. We’ll just go through them once more I think and then we can print them out and send them to everyone. Christian did the Internal Combustion Engine and I did a comparison of the Pyramids of Egypt to the Pyramids of Latin America. Last year Christian did a report on Flight and I did a report on Newspapers. I’m already thinking of what I should do next year. Maybe the history of door knobs or something interesting like that. Yesterday, after meeting we went to the Home Depot with Mom and Dad and then we came home and played outside for the rest of the day. It was fun. Today we will finish up our reading and history ): and then maybe make a list of all our books.

UPDATE
We are also planning to do our math and Spanish. (Don’t worry Dad)

Monday is just about the last day of school! We have 5 gazillion plans for the summer. Last summer we didn’t play outside as much but we sat around inside and read or played on the computer. This summer will be different. I resolve to play tag, hide and go seek, capture the flag, kickball and anything else that is outside. We are going to do the Independence Day Parade, the Summer Reading Program, and all the cool stuff that they have at the library (including the Albany Idol Competition) I are going to pick berries, ride bikes, swim in the pool and read The King of the Trees. I think we are ready for the summer. But I’m a little sad about the ending of the school year. It always gets so familiar and the books are so good and everything… and then summer comes.

Mom’s kitchen is looking awesome. We all can’t wait until it’s done! They put the Quartz Countertops on yesterday and like Dad said, they will bring most of the appliances today!! I think Mom LOoooooooooooooooooooooves her kitchen.

Oh, one more thing. To our family and friends who read this blog (besides Mom and Dad and Christian) on behalf of Christian, Hannah, Hailey, and Jacob, Kaktus Kids would like to offer you an oppurtunity to get our magazine!! (we are very desperate! Please send us some mag material!) Do all of you read it?

Today… is a regular day with nothing to do but watch the rain drip down the window and fix another math problem. Ahhhh… that’s the life. Actually today Christian gets to go to do Cub Scouts at the Church Gym down the road!! This is the second to the last week of school but it sure doesn’t look like summer outside to me. Of course it beats Texas where they are roasting like weenies on a wooden stick but we are swimming like wet dogs in a mid-Atlantic whirpool (notice the witty analogies)

Today Mom, Christian and I are going to Fred Wright’s funeral in Portland. Tony and Martha Nelson are going to take us along and Christian and I are going to bring our school. Christian is going to join the Boy Scouts and he is all fired up about it. So am I, there are plenty of cute boys in boy scouts right?(: (kidding) It is raining right now. We thought it was going to be nice all month but I guess not. I had my recital yesterday that was really fun. There were some kids who were VERY good there. I played Sonatina in D Major by George Anton Benda and Celebration, a concerto by Lynn Freeman Olson. At the end we had a Blues Jam and I played in it. That sounded really cool and it was lots of fun. Dad should be posting more pictures soon. All for now!

I got a small job at the neighbor’s watering their plants for a week while they are gone to Cancun. That and my new mathematics program will keep me busy. The new program is called Teaching Textbooks and it includes a textbook, CD-roms that are really cool because it has a teacher that explains everything that is in the textbook really well, correction CDs that also have a teacher that explains the problem to me, and a teacher’s guide. I already have done the first lesson. Today I accidentaly got up almost a HALF HOUR late! (tee hee) so I am going to try and get everything done quickly. Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing! Dad talked to the Larsons last night and they said that they were planning on homeschooling their twins David and Daniel. They will be using Sonlight Core 6 next year. I have almost finished that and will go on to Sonlight Core 7 (which is World History Part 2) next year! Christian will be using Sonlight Core 5, the same one that I used when we first started with homeschool.

Yesterday everyone in Mexico celebrated Mother’s Day. We are supposed to do it on Sunday buuuut… Mom wants flowers but since we are getting a remodel Dad says that she can’t get her anything for five more years.(: Thanks to everyone in Mexico who reads this blog. (Gracias a todos en Mexico que leen mi blog.) I thought no one read it. Sorry it’s not in Spanish. Mi espaniol no esta muy bien pero estoy trabajando en eso. Adios!

Marloncito

That’s our cousin Marloncito. I’m trying out posting up pictures. They are working very hard on the house now. The following is his big brother Lynncito.

Saturday we gave back Trapito the Attack Dog back to our neighbor’s grandma. It was quite sad, but Dad says that we might get another one when the remodel is over or something like that. My birthday party was great! We stayed up till two and then the next morning I was sick with allergies (and I was tired) so they played hospital with me. Three girls couldn’t stay the night. I want to have a pool party this summer with the same group of friends. The construction group worked all day yesterday and I think they will today too. Mr. and Mrs. Waldo came over yesterday and Dad helped them pick out a computer. I don’t know if Dad has posted any pictures of Trapito or my party in the Gallery yet.