Drama Queen - A Superhero Story

I had another writing assignment from this book by Rebecca Olien, which I highly recommend.  The book is full of fun writing prompts and story ideas.  My job this time was to create a superhero and write about her superpowers.  Here's the finished product:

Meet Swan.  She is the daughter of the Sun and Moon.  At age sixteen million, she wanted to leave the Solar System and go to Earth.

Her parents gave her powers and sadly let her go.  When on Earth, she became irresistible, almost.  She had long flowing brown hair, deep blue moon dust eyelids, sea green eyes, and cherry red lips.  She wore a sea green dress that hid her legs and gave her the ability to fly.

Now you’re probably wondering what powers the Sun and Moon gave Swan before letting her go.  They highlighted some of her natural abilities and gave her the superhero name of, Drama Queen, because she is very good at acting.  On top of drama, her other powers are invisibility, super speed, and plasma ray.

Swan turned on the news (superheros need to know what is going on in the city).   “There is a fire downtown. Four children and their mom are stuck on the 8th floor!” exclaimed the news reporter.

Swan put on her special flying dress and zoomed through the air to the burning building.  She went in through the back door so she would not have a big crowd around her.  When she got in, she felt the hot fire; she flew as fast as she could could to the 8th  floor.  All of the family was huddling  in the corner behind the mom.

First Swan did some drama, acting like a silly clown, to get them all to stop quivering and to smile.  Then she used super speed to put the fire in the room out, like when a normal person blows out a candle.   And finally she used plasma ray to blast the roof off and fly each of them down to the ground, where she became invisible so as to not spill the beans about her identity.

Her work was done for today.  The family was safe.  As she flew home, she whispered to herself, “A beautiful defeat.”  Such a dramatic line.  The End.

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

Race to Castle Enchantment

My assignment was to make a map and then write a story about how my main character gets through the places on the map to where the story ends.  So without further ado this is...

Race to Castle Enchantement

“Where am I?” muttered Sharlet.

There are four figures standing over her saying stuff like:

“It can’t be true!”  

“It’s not possible!” 

“What if the rulers find out there’s a human in our world?”

“Then we’re dead!  That’s what!”

“GET AWAY!” screamed Sharlet.  Suddenly, all four figures screamed and ran for their lives. Then Sharlet’s eyes focused and she saw. . . a two headed troll, a fairy the size of a pinky, and a giant talking, walking SUNFLOWER. 

“Where am I and what am I doing here?” demanded Sharlet.  The giant sunflower walked forward and said, “You are in the dream universe of Lake Beauty, and you need to leave!  Humans are not allowed here!”

“Well how do I leave Dirt Face?” argued Sharlet.  The sunflower did not like that one bit, but she still answered.  “You need to get to Castle Enchantment and open the door to the human world or else our entire universe will cease to exist!”  Everyone gasped!

“Well how did I get there Petal Brain?” asked Sharlet. This time the fairy answered because the sunflower was now violet with anger.   “Here, let me draw up a map,” said the fairy.  

                                                                   

“Well let’s see, first the Forest of Fears, then the Maze of Truth, after that the Cave of You’re Not Good Enough, and last, Lake Anger - then after all of that, you will reach Castle Enchantment,” the fairy said. “Well, what are we waiting for?” asked Sharlet. “WE! That is not happening,” said the sunflower.

“Fine. I guess that I will just stay here,” said Sharlet. “Fine. We will help you, but first everyone has to agree,” said the sunflower.  “Fine with me,” said the fairy.  “Well ok,” mumbled the right head of the troll.  “Hhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllloooooooooooo,” said the left one, who happened to be drooling.

“By the way we haven’t told you our names.  The right head of the troll is Nick, the smart one, and the one on the left is Rick, the not so smart one. The fairy is Main, and I am Sun,” said the sunflower.  “Well what are we waiting for? The Forest of Fears is only ten minutes away,” said Nick. “Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,” said Rick.

Ten minutes later, Sharlet was at the Forest of Fears. As Sharlet looked over it, all she saw was a normal forest, but then she walked in and the sunlight was gone and so was the entrance, plus everyone else had just disappeared.  She heard them, but she could not see them.  Suddenly her fears seemed to be growing and she felt as if the life was being sucked out of her.  And it was.

Sharlet’s skin was getting white and wrinkley.   Her eyes suddenly felt like they wanted to close to escape the fears of the forest.  Then she heard a shout, “Don’t let the forest scare you!  It just makes you weaker!” screamed a mystery someone.  Sharlet took the stranger’s advice and she started to gain her courage back slowly, but then her greatest fear came out from behind the tree.  GHOSTS.

Sharlet screamed at the top of her lungs, then something swooped down from a tree and pulled her out on the other side of the forest. “Are you crazy?” demanded an enchanted boy who looked about 13 and was kinda cute.  “I am Sharlet, and I am trying to get to Castle Enchantment,” panted Sharlet.  The boy turned to Sun, Main, Nick, and Rick, who were all getting up from the pile they were in.

“Sun, you are taking a human girl through the top four obstacles? ARE YOU CRAZY!”  “Yes I am, Prince Tom,” said Sun.  “But you know the rules!  No humans allowed in our universe or we will be destroyed.  She must pass through the four obstacles in order to return to the human world.”

“What!? PRINCE!?!” exclaimed Sharlet. “Yes, I am sorry I did not tell you earlier, but I was stunned by your stupidness,” said Tom.  “Sorry, but I had to get to the other side of the forest to get to Castle Enchantment,” said Sharlet.

“Haha.  You think this is your last obstacle? Well then, I better go with you to the Maze of Truth.  You’re gonna need me,” said Tom.  “The Maze of Truth is an hour away, so we better get walking,” said Main.  So for an hour they listened to the two headed troll whine about the length of the journey until their heads spun and they arrived at the Maze of Truth.

“Be careful when you enter the maze.  You will have to face the real you in order to exit.  If you cannot, you will be removed from history,” warned Tom.

Sharlet stepped into the yellow colored maze and she saw the entrance slowly vanish behind her.  “Typical!” grumbled Sharlet, and then she saw an image up ahead. She slowly walked through a labyrinth of golden walls toward a glowing orb and saw herself inside of it - it was like a movie of all her actions from the past.  She watched the movie, looked at her real self, and froze.  She was mean!

She was pulling her little sister’s hair until she cried.  She was calling kids at school names until they burst into tears.  Then there was just the fact that she was always getting into fights and losing friends.  This was her.  Sharlet was stunned and It seemed as if she was disappearing.  She felt so hot and ashamed and then she screamed, “I Know how mean I am!  As soon as I get out of this maze I am going to change my ways and change the real me!”

In an instant, she was outside of the maze looking at a cave.  She had done it!  She made it through the Maze of Truth without being erased from history.   Sharlet wondered where everyone else was.  One after another, her guides popped out of the maze and landed on the ground at her feet.  They too had managed to escape.  Each one stood up and congratulated her, but not for long because they had the Cave of You’re Not Good Enough to tackle

“Well, Nick and Rick know the most about this cave,” said Sun “Yes, indeed.  This cave will try to tell you lies about how you look and how you do things.  The lies can lead you down the wrong path, so you best avoid listening to any mysterious voices,”  warned Nick.

So, like always, they entered the cave one at a time, and as they entered the entrance vanished.  Sharlet was always the first one in.  She found the cave to be pitch black.  She crept carefully forward in the blackness, and this went on for about 10 minutes until she heard a voice.

The voice whispered, “You’re not very brave.  You don’t know what you’re doing.  Follow me and I will help you.”  Sharlet remembered Nick’s advice.  She knew she was brave and smart.  She could figure this out on her own. Instead of listening to the voice, Sharlet walked the other way away from the voice, and as soon as she did, she was walking out of the cave.  She and the group were standing up to their necks in black water.

“Okay, I am guessing this is Lake Anger, right?” joked Sharlet. “Very funny.  You’re a clown.  Now listen to me - you need to dive under the water and swim until you overcome the anger of the Lake, then and only then, will you appear in Castle Enchantment,” instructed Sun  “What about you guys?” wondered Sharlet.  “This is something you have to do on your own,” said Tom.  Before sharlet could protest someone pushed her down into the black water.

Once she was under the water, she felt as if she was mad at everything, like her friends not saying goodbye and just pushing her aside like a piece of junk.  Then Sharlet remembered that she could not get out if she did not control her temper.

She counted to ten and took three deep breaths of the mystical black water to calm down.  Just then, she popped up out of the water and was standing dry as could be in front of Castle Enchantment.  This place was the most beautiful place Sharlet had ever seen in her life.

A lady stepped out to greet her, “Hello Sharlet.  My name is Princess Meamora, and I am guessing you need to get out of Universe Lake Beauty and return to your human world.”  Before Sharlet could answer, Meamora spoke again, “No time for talking.   To save my universe and return to your world, you have to answer this riddle: What have you learned on this journey?” rushed Meamora.  Sharlet thought about her adventures through the Forest of Fears, the Maze of Truth, the Cave of You’re Not Good Enough, and Lake Anger, and then she answered.

“In the Forest of Fears I learned that sometimes you need help.  I also learned that if you let your fears overtake you, then you will be weak.  In the Maze of Truth I learned that I have been very mean in the past and I am ready to change.  In the Cave of You’re not Good Enough I learned not to let people get me down.  I also learned that I am very brave and smart.  In Anger Lake I learned how to control my temper and accept what I cannot change.”

“You have learned a lot on your journey.  You have passed the test in time to save our universe from destruction, and now you may return to your human world.  When you wake, remember the lessons you learned on your adventures here.  Now farewell my human friend.”  Princess Meomora threw some sparkling dust in the air and waved goodbye.

Then Sharlet woke up in her bed, in her house, with the noises of her family all around her.  She had done it!  The dream universe was safe and so was she.  Sharlet would miss her friends, but they all needed to live happily ever after.

The End.

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

The Three Branches of The United States Government

For the common core standards for fourth grade, I needed to learn about the three branches of the United States government and understand their major responsibilities.  To do this, my mom found some awesome websites that taught me what I needed to know through songs and games.  I love homeschool!  The links are listed below.

To wrap up what I learned, I created a government tree.  You can see that there are three branches on the tree, for each of the three branches of government.  And the leafy limbs attached to each branch describe the major responsibilities for that branch of government.  You can also see that the Constitution is the root system of the tree, because the Constitution is the root system of our government.

This was a fun project!  I like project learning better than test learning.



Flocabulary video on The 3 Branches of Government:

http://www.flocabulary.com/3-branches-of-government/?_hse=sandlerk%40tas.edu.tw&_hsh=1995c8646c5139f4ba397ca97b47c940&_hsmi=3036864



Games about the 3 Branches of Government and Checks and Balances:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/usa_game/government/branches_government.htm

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/usa_game/government/checks_and_balances.htm

http://www.usmint.gov/Kids/games/branchesOfPower/

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

The Pencil Boogie (a.k.a. Light Refraction)

I did an experiment on light refraction that I would like to share with you.  Light refraction is a change of direction in a light ray due to a change in speed.

I like to call this experiment The Pencil Boogie.  It's easy to do, but surprisingly fun.  Here's a video of the experiment:

Materials

• Pencil 
• Empty glass
• Glass full of water

Protocols 

• Put the pencil in the empty glass and look at it from eye level.
• Put the pencil in the water and look at it from eye level.
• Start to spin the pencil in the water slowly, then look at it from eye level.

What's Happening

• The light is playing tricks on you. Light moves slower through water than through air, so when the light enters the glass of water it slows down and changes direction.  When it leaves the glass, it speeds up again, making the pencil look bent.  This is called refraction.
•  When the pencil is put at an angle the light exits out at an angle, but if you hold it up straight the pencil still looks whole because the light is not at an angle. 

Signing Off,

Evalynn and Mom

Savannah, Georgia

My Grandma and Grandpa Woolf, and my Aunt Mallory, came to visit me at the beginning of April.  We took a trip to Disney World, and it was amazing!  Then we spent a couple of days in Savannah, Georgia.  We had a good time walking around, looking at the old buildings, learning about the city, eating at the Pirates' House, and playing at Tybee Island.  Here are some facts and pictures for your enjoyment:

Savannah's history began in 1733, the year General James and 120 passengers of the ship Anne landed at the Savannah shore.

During the American Revolution, the British took Savannah in 1778, and held it into 1782.

Savannah is known as America's first planned city.

Savannah was really worried about the Spanish, who lived in modern day Florida, attacking.

The city was planned and built around square parks. Everyone who lived in a house around the squares were assigned to protect their square in case of an attack.

Savannah's wealth came from cotton.  Many of the world's cotton prices were set on the steps of the Savannah Cotton Exchange.

According to USA Today, Savannah is the fifth most haunted city in the United States.

When I ate at the Pirates' House, this robotic pirate told me many ghost stories and said I should ask my server for more stories.

This was our server, Kim.  She told us a story about ghost children who haunted the restaurant she used to work at.  At Christmas, she put gifts out for them under the tree at night.  In the morning, the packages were open and the gifts strewn everywhere.

The Pirates' House is thought to be the oldest standing building in Savannah, and was built in 1753.

The Pirates' House today is a restaurant that is supposedly haunted by pirate ghosts.

We found this crazy looking pirate at the Pirates' House.

He photo-bombed the family picture.

My mom says the Pirate House has the best fried green tomatoes.

And the biscuits there are out of this world.

Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low was born in Savannah.

In the last 10 years, more than 50 million people came to visit Savannah.

Tybee Island is the easternmost point of Georgia and is unofficially considered Savannah's beach.

My brother and I created our own little beach town at Tybee that we call, EvieOllie.

The Sugar Shack is a nice little ice cream restaurant that has been at Tybee Island for more than 30 years.

 They serve the BEST almond joy ice cream EVER!

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about Savannah and my awesome trip.

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

My Green Thumb

For science, I got to learn how to plant, grow, and harvest salad, spinach, and carrots.  First I had research the plants, then I had to make some hypotheses based on what I had learned about the plants.  Next I had to water and wait.  During this time, I took careful measurements of the plants' growth and charted it.  In the end, the mesclun mix (salad) was a phenomenal success and the carrots were an epic fail.  Here are the nitty gritty details:

Mom: How did you come up with your hypotheses?  Did you just guess?  What conclusions can you make from your hypotheses after completing your garden experiment?

Evalynn:

Well, I did not guess, I used the information on the seed package for all of them except for the last one.  My conclusion is that all of them are right, too bad the carrots didn't turn up. 

Mom: Why did you pick these plants to plant?

Evalynn: It was time for all of them to be planted (they are Spring or cold tolerant plants) and they could grow in pots.

Mom: What process, procedures, and protocols did you use to grow your garden?

Evalynn: I made sure the soil was damp and fresh, also that the soil was not too tight so the plants could breath.

Mom: Why do you think the carrots were an epic fail?  Were there any outside influences that could have contributed to the carrots' demise?

Evalynn: It may be that it got too hot too quick, or some people got into them (like my little brother), but either way the carrots are dead.

Mom: What did you learn about how food comes out of the ground?  Is it the same as the food you buy in the grocery store?

Evalynn: The food is not the same as the grocery store, you still have to wash it.  If you do not you will be eating bug and dirt infected food.


Mom:  How did your salad taste?

Evalynn: It tasted bitter, but that is because of the mix.  My mom says it could also be because the weather was a little warm, and that can make lettuce taste bitter.   Other than that, it was delicious.


Mom: What are five important things you learned from this experiment?

Evalynn:

1.  I learned that you have to water plants almost every day.
2.  I learned that the plants needed sunshine, but not too much heat.
3.  I learned that when you grow your food yourself, you have to wash it really well before you eat it.
4.  I learned that taking care of a garden is hard work.
5.  Next year we should plant these plants a month earlier.

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month.  In light of this, and because I'm learning about the American Revolution this year, my Mom had me read these two books.  I liked them both.  I cannot pick a favorite.

For my assignment, I had to pick 5 of the women featured in the books and do poster reports on them, highlighting 5 facts about each woman.  Here are my posters:

The Nancy Hart State Park in Georgia is only a little over an hour away from our house, so we are going to have a field trip soon.  At the park is a replica of the cabin where she shot the British soldiers.

I hope I can be brave and courageous in my life, like these women were in their lives.  The saying goes,  "Well behaved women never make history."  I'll try to make good choices in my life, but not necessarily do what others think I should do . . . because being ladylike stinks.  (Direct quote.)

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

Library Clubs

Last week I went to my library clubs again and had a lot of fun.   Here's what I did...

Jewelry Club

In Jewelry Club we learned and practiced the ladder stitch, and it was harder than it looked.   Now that I have a jewelry business, I had to get some supplies, so I spent forty dollars of my own money on my own supplies.  Since then, I have made my Grandma and Mom some gorgeous earrings.  

Ick Club

In Ick Club we played two games.  One was we picked an animal out of a card pile and learned how to use the book search to find a book on our animals, and to find out if they are rodents or not.  My card said mice and rats, and I found two books, one for each.   Both mice and rats are rodents. The other game was Gopher Guts (a memory game).  We had to match cards of different internal parts (like guts) with cards of the external animal, but if we got the spoon we had to turn our backs while someone mixed up the cards.

Book Club

For Book Club we had to read any Magic Treehouse book, then we had to have a good time and create a story diagram using our imaginations.  I read the 10th book in the series, which is called, Ghost Town at Sundown, and this is how my story diagram turned out. What do you think?

The main characters of the story are Jack and Annie.  The genre is fiction.  The problem is they have a riddle to answer.  The solution is they find the answer: echo.  In the beginning of the story they are transported to the Wild West.  In the middle of the story they help Slim, a cowboy, get a little colt back to its mother.  At the end of the story they find the answer to their riddle when Slim calls out, "Who am I?" and the echo answers, "Am I."

This is me and the best librarian ever, Miss Natalie, making our story diagrams.  Thank you Miss Natalie for three fun clubs!

Signing Off, 

Evalynn and Mom

The Story That Must Be Told

 Last Monday, March 11, I had my tonsils and adenoids removed.  They were causing me some trouble . . . like frequent strep throat, loud snoring, sleep apnea, lots of mucus, and dragon breath.  The doctor took one look at them (they were huge!) and said I definitely qualified for removal.

This was my waiting and dressing room for the morning.  I had a TV that I could move around!  The nurse put numbing cream on my hands.  After a few trips to the bathroom we were off to THE BED, where the nurses and the doctor would get me ready for: The Deed That Must Be Done.  

It was almost time.   I was in the bed of doom and the nurses had given me THE HAT and asked me many questions.  They calmed me down a bit, but I was still having a nervous breakdown.  Then I said, in my head, "O.K., I am going to make a run for it!"  But then the wheels started to turn and I had no chance of escaping.  When we got to the surgical room, the lights were bright and the nurses asked me to move onto the surgical bed.   Then the nurse gave me steaming hot blankets and some laughing gas.  And the next thing I knew, I was aslee....        

I woke up and my mouth was in indescribable pain!  My mom was by my side and the nurse was on the computer.   Then I asked the nurse if she could give some pain medication, so she gave me a popsicle and some stuff through my I.V.
  

We had to say at the hospital for four hours after surgery.   The whole time,  I got to be queen of the hospital, with unlimited popsicles and apple juice.  I got to watch TV - which was awesome -  and I got to leave in a wheelchair.  Even more awesome.

I was welcomed home with presents and hugs and TV.  I was going to be Queen Eva for a week.   I got an ice cream maker from my Uncle Sean and Aunt Amber, which was awesome, and many more gifts after that.  Thank you everyone for the rad presents.

 

O.K.,  first, any cooking magazines who want this picture, just leave a comment and I will get back to you.  This is the ice cream we made with the ice cream maker.  We combined my two favorite flavors: coconut and chocolate.  There are only four ingredients: 1 can of full-fat coconut milk, 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of dark cocoa powder, 1/4 cup honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.  

My mom made me soft foods that I could eat, like cake, and I helped clean up.

To top off my week, I was watching TV and wiggling my tooth, when suddenly it flew forward and came out!  So, Queen of the Week, also got a vist from the Tooth Fairy.

The End.  I am almost fully recovered and going to Disney World in a couple weeks!  Bye.

Signing Off, 

Eva and Mom

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Saturday, March 2, was Dr. Seuss' birthday.  To celebrate, I watched a documentary about his life and gathered some facts for you.  Here are ten interesting things about Dr. Suess:

1. Dr. Seuss won two Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and the Pulitzer Prize.

2. Dr. Seuss was born in 1904, on Howard Street, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

3. Dr. Seuss left Springfield as a teenager to attend Dartmouth College. 

4. He became editor-in-chief of the Jack-O-Lantern, a humor magazine at Dartmouth.

5. Dr. Seuss' books have been translated into more than 15 languages.   

6. Over 200 million copies of his books have been bought around the world.

7. He died on September 24, 1991.

8. Dr. Seuss had written and illustrated 44 children's books by the time he died.

9. Dr. Seuss do not really like children, they scared him; he really liked being alone. 

10. To please his father, who wanted him to be a college professor, Dr. Seuss went to Oxford University.  However, it was not right for him and he quit after his first year.

This is my sketch of Dr. Seuss.  He was very difficult to draw!  

Here are 3 of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes:

1.  Everything stinks until it's finished.  (Like this report!)

2.  Be awesome!  Be a book nut!  (Check.)

3.  Why fit in when you were born to stand out.  (So right.)

Here are 5 of my Mom's favorite Dr. Seuss quotes:

1.  Be who you are and say what you mean, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

2.  Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

3.  You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

4.  Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

5.  A person's a person, no matter how small.

How about you?  Do you know any interesting facts about Dr. Seuss?  Do you have a favorite Dr. Seuss quote?

Signing Off,

Evalynn and Mom

Caddie Woodlawn

My Mom is making me read all these books about pioneer girls!  Actually, it's sort of fun to learn about what it was like to live in the Wild West through stories.  I am learning that I really like historical fiction.

I just finished this book, Caddie Woodlawn.  It won the Newbery Medal in 1935.  It's about a pioneer girl named Caddie, and her amazing adventures on the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s.  Caddie is a tom-boy and refuses to become a lady . . . until later in the book.  Her father allows her to be a tom-boy for her good health.  Caddie gets into trouble because she is a prankster.

I REALLY liked this book!  I highly recommend it.

My Mom gave me the assignment to compare Caddie and me.  She listed some character traits of Caddie, and I had to show examples of home Caddie exemplified the traits in the book.  Then I had to write an example of how I exhibit the traits too.  Then I had two bonus questions.  So - without further ado - here it is:

Jealousy

Caddie

Her best friend gave the most expensive Valentine in the store to a girl who never ever talked to him.

Me

Every year on my brothers' birthdays when they get presents that I want.

Generosity

Caddie

There were three little *half-breed boys who lost their mother because their dad was embarrassed of her Indian heritage.  To cheer them up Caddie spent her whole half – dollar on little things they wanted.

*This the word they used in the book to describe that the boys had an Anglo-American father and a Native-American mother.  My Mom has explained to me that we don't actually use this word anymore.

Me

I showed my little brother how to make cleaning fun, and helped him clean up the blocks by putting them on the train to happy-land in the playroom.

Anger

Caddie

She gets whipped by her mother for a trick she and her brothers played on their aunt, and her brothers don't get whipped.  In the morning her father thought it was unfair that she got whipped and had to stay in her room with no supper while the boys got home free, so he whipped them too.  

Me

When my brother Oliver is teasing and provoking me.  Also when Berrett will not leave me alone or be quiet when I am doing home school.  

Kindness

Caddie

Caddie watched Indian John's dog and scalp belt that his father made.  John's dog was hurt in a bear trap and John had to leave for a little bit, so Caddie nursed the dog back to health.  The scalp belt was really old and it could fall apart on the journey, so Caddie kept it safe until John returned.

Me

Babysitting my brothers while my mom gets stuff done or when she is not feeling good.

Daring

Caddie

The town thinks there is going to be an Indian attack.  After waiting for three days, Caddie hears men talking about killing the Indians.  Caddie rides to the Indian camp, where they are not planing an attack, to warn them.

Me

Moving around the world to represent America with my Dad.

Patience

Caddie 

When an Indian attack was rumored, they had to sit in a barn and help the adults until they could go home.

Me

I have to be patient for my birthday and Christmas every year . . . WILL YOU HURRY UP!

Patriotism

Caddie

Her father had a chance to become a lord in England, but he gave his family a chance to vote and Caddie voted to stay in America.

Me

 My Dad is in the Army and I have to move around a lot from America to Germany and then back to America.

Courage

Caddie

With some help from John's dog, Caddie gave everybody a waring about the forest fire that was heading to the school, but somebody else saved the school.

Me

I ran a 5k, and even though I thought I was going to come in last, I believed in myself and did it in 30 something minutes.

Dependability

Caddie

When her brothers and she played a trick on their aunt, she wanted to go back on her promise to the boys, but she did.

Me

My mom can always count on me to get my chores done on the weekends.


Bonus Questions: "How far I've come!" Caddie says at the end of the book.  "I'm the same girl and yet now the same."  What does Caddie mean?  How has she changed and how has she remained the same?  How have you changed and remained the same?

Caddie means that she still has her pros and cons, but she has gained more knowledge.

I changed and remained the same when I moved from Germany.  I learned some life long lessons, like it's hard to say goodbye to friends, but I am still the fun and loving Evalynn I was before.

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

Fun Facts About Valentine's Day

1. The oldest valentine was made in the 1400s.  It's on display at the British Museum in London.

2. According to the story, in the third century A.D., Roman Emperor Claudius II, seeking to bolster his army, forbade young men to marry. Valentine, it is said, flouted the ban, performing marriages in secret.  For his defiance, Valentine was executed in A.D. 270—on February 14, the story goes.

3. In America over a sweet billion dollars of candy is sold for Valentine's Day.  Over 75% of the sales are for chocolate.

4. The tradition of presenting elaborate handmade messages, cards and gifts to each other became popular during the 17th century.

5. More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold for Valentine's Day each year.

6. Over 50 million roses are given onValentine's Day each year.

7. The date February 14th is traditionally known for the time when birds choose their mates.

8. The Roman festival of 'Lupercalia' - 'The Wolf' was celebrated on February 15th - where young men held a lottery to decide which girl would be theirs.

9. In the Medieval times, girls used to eat unusual foods on St Valentine's Day. It was believed that by doing so they would dream of their future husband.

10. The number of Valentine's Day cards exchanged annually is around 180 million.

xoxo
Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln!

Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday.  My mom thinks he is possibly the best president of the United States of America.  So today, in honor of his birthday, I read a book about him and watched two documentaries.  Here are ten interesting facts I learned about President Lincoln:

1. Abraham was very little when his mom died from milk fever.
2. Abraham was very close with his stepmom.
3. Abraham taught himself how to read, and most other things.
4. Abraham did not have much education as a kid since he had to work on the farm.
5. Abraham's father rented Abraham out to neighbors, but Abraham had to pay his father all the money until he was 21.  This is why some people say he sympathized with slaves.  In one of his speeches he said he thought it was unfair that a person had to toil all day in the hot sun while another person reaped the profits.
6. The reward for Abraham Lincoln's murderer was $100,000.
7. Abraham was a traveling lawyer before he became a politician.
8. Abraham's face is on both the penny and the five dollar bill.
9. Abraham died at age 56.
10. Abraham was the first president to have a beard.

As part of my assignment today, I was to find three quotes I like from President Lincoln.  Well, I found four:
1. All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
2. Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
3. Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
4. Most folks are as happy as they make up their mind to be.

Do you have a favorite quote or interesting fact about President Lincoln?

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom