10

Happy Birthday, Meredith!

Basketball Game - 1/26/2013

Yesterday was another basketball game. This was the first one our girls lost. The score was 17-9. And about half of those points were scored from foul shots so it was a very aggressive game. One of our girls ended up with 4 fouls.

I am very pleased with how well Meredith is doing this year. She seems to have made great strides. Granted, I don't know much about basketball but I think next year is going to be HER year. Just in this game, she stole the ball, she took a shot at the basket (missed but she took the shot which, I think, is a first for her), caught a pass at arm's length, then (and most importantly) caught another pass, DRIBBLED THE BALL WHILE MOVING, and then passed it on. I've been waiting all year to see her dribble the ball! I was so excited for her.

I was afraid since she got smacked in the face with the ball at practice this week that she might be afraid of it today. My fears were unfounded. I'm going to try to keep her with this coach. He's very good ~ he's aware they are only 9-10 years old but he gets more aggressive with them as the year goes on. (I hate pansy coaches.)

WAY TO GO, MEREDITH!

Cowgirl Up

Last night I dropped Meredith off at practice and went home for awhile. I got back about 7:40 and she was sitting on the sideline holding her face. She had gone for a rebound and instead the ball smacked her in the side of the face knocking her glasses off. She got hit right beside her right eye.

She's okay. Not even a black eye. Her glasses need adjusting though! I had to dig out her old ones for today and tomorrow since I'm working and won't have time to take her to the eye doctor to get them adjusted.

2012 Books

Meredith read 228 books in 2012! Those are only the ones I know about and keep track of ~ I'm sure she read others in school that I never found out about so these are her 'bedtime-reading' books.

I am betting she won't read quite as many in 2013. She has started the first Harry Potter book and it is much thicker than what she normally reads. We'll see if she decides to read all 7 Harry books ~ I hope the bigger ones don't scare her off!

{The Secrets of Droon Series by Tony Abbott}
    "The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet" (#1)
    "Journey to the Volcano Palace" (#2)
    "The Mysterious Island" (#3)
    "City in the Clouds" (#4)
    "The Great Ice Battle" (#5)
    "The Sleeping Giant of Goll" (#6)
    "The Golden Wasp" (#8)
    "The Tower of the Elf King" (#9)
    "Quest for the Queen" (#10)
    "The Hawk Bandits of Tarkoom" (#11)

{Cam Jansen Mysteries Series by David A. Adler}
    "Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball" (#6)
    "Cam Jansen and the School Play Mystery" (#21)
    "Cam Jansen and the First Day of School Mystery" (#22)
    "Cam Jansen and the Tennis Trophy Mystery" (#23)

{Poison Apple Series}
    "The Dead End" (#1) - Mimi McCoy
    "This Totally Bites!" (#2) - Ruth Ames
    "Mis Fortune" (#3) - Brandi Dougherty
    "Now You See Me..." (#4) - Jane B. Mason
    "Midnight Howl" (#5) - Clare Hutton
    "Her Evil Twin" (#6) - Mimi McCoy
    "Curiosity Killed the Cat (#7) - Sierra Harimann
    "At First Bite" (#8) - Ruth Ames

{Roscoe Riley Rules Series by Katherine Applegate}
    "Never Swipe a Bully's Bear" (#2)
    "Never Swim in Applesauce" (#4)
    "Never Walk in Shoes That Talk" (#6)
    "Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin" (#7)

{Flower Fairies Series}
    "Candytuft's Enchanting Treats" - Cicely Mary Barker
    "Willow's Underwater World" - Cicely Mary Barker
    "Sweet Pea's Precious Promise" - Pippa Le Quesne
    "Buttercup and the Fairy Gold" - Pippa Le Quesne
    "Strawberry's New Friend" - Pippa Le Quesne
    "Lily's Seaside Adventure" - Pippa Le Quesne
    "Jasmine's Starry Night" - Kay Woodward
    "Almond Blossom's Mystery" - Kay Woodward

{Ivy and Bean Series by Annie Barrows}
    "Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record" (#3)
    "Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance" (#6)

{Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist Series by Jim Benton}
    "Lunch Walks Among Us" (#1)
    "The Fran That Time Forgot
    "The Invisible Fran" (#3)

{Agent Amelia Series by Michael Broad}
    "Zombie Cows"
    "The Case of the Ghost Diamond"

{Arthur Chapter Books by Marc Brown}
    "Arthur's Mystery Envelope" (#1)
    "Arthur and the Lost Diary" (#9)

{Bad Kitty Series by Nick Bruel}
    "Bad Kitty vs Uncle Murray"
    "Bad Kitty Meets the Baby"

{Ramona Series by Beverly Cleary}
    "Beezus and Ramona" (#1)
    "Ramona Quimby, Age 8" (#6)
    "Ramona's World" (#8)

{Tales of Pixie Hollow Series}
    "Rosetta's Daring Day" (#14) - Lisa Papademetriou
    "Queen Clarion's Secret" (#16) - Kimberly Morris
    "Vidia Meets Her Match" (#19) - Kiki Thorpe
    "Four Clues for Rani" (#20) - Catherine Daly
    "Tink in a Fairy Fix" (#22) - Kiki Thorpe

{My Weird School Series by Dan Gutman}
    "Miss Daisy is Crazy!" (#1)
    "Mr. Klutz is Nuts!" (#2)
    "Mrs. Roopy is Loopy!" (#3)
    "Ms. Hannah is Bananas!" (#4)
    "Miss Small is Off the Wall!" (#5)
    "Mr. Hynde is Out of His Mind!" (#6)
    "Miss Lazar is Bizarre!" (#9)
    "Mr. Docker is Off His Rocker!" (#10)
    "Mrs. Kormel is Not Normal!" (#11)
    "Ms. Todd is Odd! (#12)
    "Ms. Coco is Loco!" (#16)
    "Miss Suki is Kooky!" (#17)
    "Mrs. Yonkers is Bonkers!" (#18)
    "Dr. Carbles is Losing His Marbles!" (#19)
    "Mr. Louie is Screwy! (#20)
    "Ms. Krup Cracks Me Up!" (#21)

{My Weird School Daze Series by Dan Gutman}
    "Officer Spence Makes No Sense!" (#5)
    "Ms. Leakey is Freaky!" (#12)

{My Weirder School Series by Dan Gutman}
    "Miss Child Has Gone Wild" (#1)

{Chet Gecko Series by Bruce Hale}
    "Farewell, My Lunchbag"
    "The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse"

{Freddy! Series by Peter Hannan}
    "King of Flurb"
    "Deep-Space Food Fighter"
    "Locked in Space"

{George Brown, Class Clown Series by Nancy E. Krulik}
    "World's Worst Wedgie" (#3)
    "What's Black and White and Stinks All Over?" (#4)

{Party Fairies Series by Daisy Meadows}
    "Cherry, the Cake Fairy" (#1)
    "Melodie, the Music Fairy" (#2)
    "Polly the Party Fun Fairy" (#5)
    "Jasmine, the Present Fairy" (#7)

{Petal Fairies Series by Daisy Meadows}
    "Tia, The Tulip Fairy" (#1)
    "Charlotte, the Sunflower Fairy" (#4)
    "Ella, The Rose Fairy" (#7)

{Twilight Fairies Series by Daisy Meadows}
    "Ava, the Sunset Fairy" (#1)
    "Lexi, The Firefly Fairy" (#2)
    "Zara, The Starlight Fairy" (#3)
    "Morgan, The Midnight Fairy" (#4)
    "Nia, The Night Owl Fairy" (#5)
    "Anna, The Moonbeam Fairy" (#6)
    "Sabrina, The Sweet Dreams Fairy" (#7)

{Princess Fairies Series by Daisy Meadows}
    "Elisa, the Royal Adventure Fairy" (#4)
    "Lizzie, the Sweet Treats Fairy" (#5)
    "Maddie, the Fun and Games Fairy" (#6)
    "Eva, the Enchanted Ball Fairy" (#7)

{other Fairy books by Daisy Meadows}
    "Rebecca, The Rock 'N' Roll Fairy"
    "Bethany, The Ballet Fairy"
    "Tasha, The Tap Dance Fairy"
    "Jade, The Disco Fairy"
    "Alice, The Tennis Fairy"
    "Shannon, The Ocean Fairy"
    "Helena, The Horseriding Fairy"
    "Sadie, The Saxophone Fairy"
    "Victoria, The Violin Fairy"
    "Maya, The Harp Fairy"
    "Rihanna, The Seahorse Fairy"
    "Leona, the Unicorn Fairy"
    "Trixie, The Halloween Fairy"
    "Juliet, The Valentine Fairy"
    "Lara, The Black Cat Fairy"
    "Paige, The Christmas Play Fairy"
    "Whitney, The Whale Fairy"
    "Emma, The Easter Fairy"
    "Courtney, The Clownfish Fairy"
    "Pia, The Penguin Fairy"
    "Tess, The Sea Turtle Fairy"
    "Amelie, The Seal Fairy"
    "Cara, The Camp Fairy"
    "Ashley, the Dragon Fairy"
    "Erin, the Phoenix Fairy"
    "Sophia, the Snow Swan Fairy"
    "Olympia, the Games Fairy"
    "Amy, The Amethyst Fairy"

{My Sister the Vampire Series by Sienna Mercer}
    "Switched" (#1)
    "Re-Vamped! (#3)
    "Vampalicious!" (#4)

{Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne}
    "Night of the Ninjas" (#5)
    "Ghost Town at Sundown" (#10)
    "Viking Ships at Sunrise" (#15)
    "Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve" (#30)
    "Summer of the Sea Serpent" (#31)
    "Carnival at Candlelight" (#33)
    "Night of the New Magicians" (#35)
    "Blizzard of the Blue Moon" (#36)
    "Dragon of the Red Dawn" (#37)
    "Dark Day in the Deep Sea" (#39)
    "Eve of the Emperor Penguin" (#40)
    "Moonlight on the Magic Flute" (#41)
    "A Good Night for Ghosts" (#42)
    "A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time" (#44)
    "Dogs in the Dead of NIght" (#46)
    "Abe Lincoln at Last!" (#47)

{Junie B. Jones Series by Barbara Park}
    "Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business" (#2)
    "Junie B. Jones is a Party Animal" (#10)

{Candy Fairies Series by Helen Perelman}
    "Chocolate Dreams"
    "Magic Hearts"
    "Gooey Goblins: Halloween Special"
    "A Valentine's Surprise"
    "The Sugar Ball"
    "Bubble Gum Rescue"

{A to Z Mysteries Series by Ron Roy}
    "The Canary Caper" (#3)
    "The Empty Envelope" (#5)
    "The Falcon's Feathers" (#6)
    "The Invisible Island" (#9)
    "The Kidnapped King" (#11)
    "The Ninth Nugget" (#14)
    "The School Skeleton" (#19)
    "The Yellow Yacht" (#25)

{Geronimo Stilton Series by Geronimo Stilton}
    "Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye" (#1)
    "All Because of a Cup of Coffee" (#10)
    "It's Halloween, You 'Fraidy Mouse!" (#11)
    "My Name is Stilton, Geronimo Stilton" (#19)
    "The Search for Sunken Treasure" (#25)
    "The Mummy With No Name" (#26)
    "The Mouse Island Marathon" (#30)
    "A Fabumouse School Adventure" (#38)
    "The Giant Diamond Robbery" (#44)
    "The Haunted Castle" (#46)
    "Run for the Hills, Geronimo!" (#47)

(Thea Stilton Series - most by Thea Stilton}
    "Thea Stilton and The Dragon's Code (#1) - Geronimo Stilton
    "Thea Stilton and the Mountain of Fire"
    "Thea Stilton and the Star Castaways"
    "Thea Stilton: Big Trouble in the Big Apple"
    "Thea Stilton and the Ice Treasure"
    "Thea Stilton and the Prince's Emerald"

{The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Chandler Warner}
    "Surprise Island" (#2)
    "The Yellow House Mystery" (#3)
    "Mystery Ranch" (#4)
    "Mike's Mystery" (#5)
    "The Pet Shop Mystery" (#7)
    "The Lighthouse Mystery" (#8)

"The Many Troubles of Andy Russell" - David A. Adler
"The Cat Who Got Carried Away" - Allan Ahlberg
"Is Anybody There?" - Eve Bunting
"The Secret Garden" - Frances Hodgson Burnett
"The Buddy Files: The Case of the Missing Family" - Dori Hillestad Butler
"Cat Diaries: Secret Writings of the MEOW Society" - Betsy Byars
"The Mouse and the Motorcycle" - Beverly Cleary
"Gossip from the Girls' Room" - Rose Cooper
"Nora and the Texas Terror" - Judy Cox
"Garfield Travel Adventures" - Jim Davis
"Garfield Makes it Big" - Jim Davis
"Garfield Weighs His Options" - Jim Davis
"What's Bugging Bailey Blecker?" - Gail Donovan
"Dessert First" - Hallie Durand
"Harriet the Spy" - Louise Fitzhugh
"Big-Top Bonanza" (Phineas & Ferb) - N.B. Grace
"Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade - Stephanie Greene
"Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream" - Jenny Han
"Taking the Reins" - Alison Hart
"Fourth-Grade Fuss" - Johanna Hurwitz
"Disney Princess: Ariel: The Birthday Surprise" - Studio Iboix
"Save the Earth!" - Abby Klein
"Song Lee and the 'I Hate You' Notes" - Suzy Kline
"Horrible Harry and the Mud Gremlins" - Suzy Kline
"Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown" - Jarrett J. Krosoczka
"Trouble Magnet" - Nancy E. Krulik
"The Case of the Green Guinea Pig" - Nancy E. Krulik
"Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand" - Gail Caron Levine
"Gooney Bird on the Map" - Lois Lowry
"The Secret Book Club" - Ann M. Martin
"The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt" - Megan McDonald
"Daredevil Days" (Phineas and Ferb) - Molly Mcguire
"Ready Freddy: Shark Attack" - John McKinley
"Zippy's Tall Tale" - Olivia Moss
"Skipper Gets Spooked" - Olivia Moss
"Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Stupid Stinkbugs from Saturn" - Dav Pilkey
"Taylor Swift: Country's Sweetheart: An Unauthorized Biography" - Lexi Ryals
"Splat the Cat Takes the Cake" - Rob Scotton
"No Girls Allowed" - Trudi Trueit
"Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake - Trudi Trueit
"The Muppets: The Movie Junior Novel" - Katharine Turner
"8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel [Divided By} 1 Dog = Chaos" - Vivian Vande Velde
"Ellray Jakes Walks the Plank - Sally Warner
"Frankie Pickle and the Mathematical Menace" - Eric Wight


my fingers hurt

Basketball Game & Girl Scouts

Meredith had a basketball game today. I had to work so I didn't get to go. She said they lost. John had to go to a funeral so he didn't get to go either. Grandma is still in Texas and Hayden can't drive yet. Hayden did get to stay home and babysit the kids. I had Meredith's coach pick her up for the game. Then he dropped her off at Russ's Market because her Girl Scout Troop was ringing bells for Christmas there. The girls' Girl Scout leader picked Stephanie up, then brought both girls home. So I got a lot done today even though I was stuck at work.

Horse Lessons Update

OK. So I put on here how Meredith did during the fair. It was a very stressful time for her.

The week after the fair, we didn't do the lessons. But we did go the week after that. Girl had a major fit! She didn't want to go. Didn't want to ride. Just plain didn't want to even be there. She was crying and pouting all during Hayden's lesson. Finally, I sat her on my lap and just held her awhile. I don't even remember what I said so let's just pretend it was truly profound, shall we? Finally, it was her turn for her lesson. She got on that horse and had the best lesson so far. Dunny was paying attention, Meredith was paying attention. Even when the horse did something she didn't want him to, she didn't get upset, just pulled him back and kept going. Apparently, this was the first lesson where she didn't cry or get upset because "the horse wasn't doing what he was supposed to." It was also the first time I stayed thru the whole lesson. Usually, I'd drop them off and John would pick them up on his way home after work. Yeah, so I'm staying for the lessons now.

Since then, Meredith has just been getting more and more confident and at ease on the horse. She is turning into a little "cowgirl." One week when she was riding, someone threw something into the arena (from outside, they didn't see her) right in front of Dunny and he spooked, of course, but even that didn't faze the Girl; she just held on and got him back under control.

We've also been out there a couple of times to just ride. The kids like the chance to do what they want instead of getting told to do certain things! They both like to trot, or jog as they tell me its called in Western riding.

I should say that one reason they are doing so well is because the horse is getting all kinds of attention now. The manager at the stable, Katie, is riding/working him about 3 times a week so he is learning a lot! And she is also the one teaching the kids, so when they ride, they do it like she does.

Anyway, I'm interested in seeing how this plays out in the long run. Meaning, will her growing confidence in her ability to control a giant animal translate into confidence in the real world? (I hope it works for high school - I'm already worried about high school!)

On the Range

First time shooting. We went to the range. Unfortunately, it was almost dark so it was hard to aim at the target. It was still fun though!

Quotes

Old Quotes...

"Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice." Bethany Hamilton

"Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live." - Mark Twain

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - E.E. Cummings

"Girls are like apples...the best ones are at the top of the trees. The boys don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they just get the rotten apples on the ground that aren't as good, but easy. So the apples at the top think there is something wrong with them, when, in reality, they are amazing. They just have to wait for the right boy to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree..." - Pete Wentz