State Fair 2005

Yesterday afternoon Dad,Mom,Mark,Jamie and I went to the State Fair of Virginia. After we parked a tram picked us up to drive us to the front gate,although we weren't that far away from it. The seats in the tram was burning hot!!! A few seconds later Mom went to the ticket booth to buy our tickets while we stood near the entrance in anticipation. Mom gave us our tickets and we went through the gate. Jamie and I got a smilely face arm band that meant we could ride the rides. Every year we go through all the exhibits first. First the Virginia building with it's Brunswick Stew,the milk in a bottle at the "Got Milk" booth and the always Farm Beauru booth with it's funny cow. The next building over had a lot of fish... BORING!!! Outside of the second building was the blue ribbon vegetables and stuff like that. Another thing we always do is go to see the cows and goats. I don't really get the point of going to the cows barn when I can see a thousand of the same kind at Pop Pop's farm. Goats on the other hand, I hardly ever see. As we walked down to the big red barn to look at some more cows (o joy) we stopped at a stunt show which was cool but would have been cooler if the sun wasn't blazing in my eyes the whole time. After thirty minutes we went to the big red barn for a few minutes. We then stopped to get a Icee. Mine was a Mountain Dew Icee,it was very good. All of us quickly went through the three other large buildings with arts,crafts and peoples selling stuff. Dad and I found some chairs we could hang up on the front porch because our old white one broke and the peoples who did our siding took it down. We didn't buy it though, Dad said we could probably find it on Google. Mark wanted to some Country singing thing but Jamie and I didn't want to. So Dad went with Mark and Mom stayed with Jamie and I so we could go on the rides. I think the first ride we went on was The Caterpiller mini roller coaster. After that we went in a fun house. I went on the Tornado. Jamie went on the fun house two more times. Then both of us went on he Tornado. Both of us then went on the Hang gliders which went higher than last year,so I screamed a little bit. Jamie went on the Ferris Wheel, I HATE it so I didn't go on it. Then Jamie and I went on the Crazy Mouse. While standing in line for it I saw my little rebel Logan. He said "Hi" and I said "Hi" back. Poor Jamie was on the side of the car on the Crazy Mouse so when it kept doing fast turns I get squishing him. Before we got on I told him to sit on the inside part but no,he didn't listen to me!!! Jamie then went on a roller coaster type thing that looked to scary for me to go on. By now both of us were tired of rides to we met up with Dad and Mark at the Country thing. I REALLY hope Mark goes back to his nice Country music but I doubt he will. We stayed to hear a few songs. Before we left Jamie got some pizza and a drink. Dad,Mom,Mark and I had barbecue from Virginia Tech. I had pork barbecue,Dad had chicken barbecue and Mark had beef barbecue. Everyone had a drink,coleslaw and beans also. Soon it started to drizzle a little so we walked hastily to the van. When we got home I was wide awake from my Mountain Dew Icee and Mountain Dew from my meal I had I stayed up until one thirtish!!!

Mrs. Christy's Ballet Class

Today I went to try out Mrs.Christy's Ballet class. There is only about nine people in the class which is a decent size. It was VERY quiet during the whole class. At the barre the music played really slow,but it helps your muscles get stronger because you are controlling what your legs do and not throwing them around. Some of the stuff we did across the floor was easy,but I do need to work on my tehnic. Mrs.Christy is as awesome as every. I really like her being my Hip-Hop/Jazz and Ballet teacher. Other than it being a little easy, I really liked Mrs.Christy's Ballet class.

1st Visit to Kingsway Nondemoninational

Today Dad,Mom,Mark,Jamie and I went to see how we liked Kingsway Baptist. Kingsway Baptist is held in a school just like Parkway but Kingsway is closer to us. We were running a little late so we got there a little bit after they started. So we sat in the very back. The singing was very contemporary. They had drums,piano, and some kind of loud flute. Almost everyone raised their hands or clapped whenever the music played, I wasn't used to that kind of singing. After we sang a lot we sat and down and there was a testimony and a announcement of a couple that got engaged. A group of people walked out of some doors and silly stringed the couple and gave them balloons in front of the whole congregation. It was quite funny. Then they had a five minute break,where we were told we needed to move up because they were going to take the chairs from the back. We ended up sitting very close to the front and freezing to death. The Sermon was very deep in logic and long in time. I guess it would have been more interesting if I was taking notes,but I didn't feel like it. To mention there was a ton of kids. I saw a bunch of teenagers but most of them were guys and there was also ton of little kids. Jamie's coach from his first year of Upward's goes there, the D's go there who come to Bethany Place for AWANA and two of Jamie's friends go there too. After an hour and thirty minutes Worship was dismissed.

This afternoon Mom,Mark and I went to a Biblestudy type thing at a house next to the Kingsway site where they are building their church. We went in and were greeted immediately and asked our names ect... We then walked into the kitchen where I saw and talked to Courtney D. Then we all went downstairs to the Biblestudy room with other Mom's and their daughters. They are doing a Biblestudy with the book called "Stop Dating The Church". The topic was modesty so we had a big group discussion on it. After that we went into three small groups and everyone had a topic they had to answer questions. Ours was The Body. Mom mentioned the song from Casting Crowns called "We Are The Body", I started singing the chorus and everyone said sing it again (It was rather embarrassing!!). We then broke into Mom and Daughter groups were we discussed some more. After we were finished everyone had snacks in the kitchen up stairs that consisted of Ruffles chips,barbecue chip,Tostito chips,ranch dip,Cheese dip,Salsa dip,carrots,mini brownies and mini candy bars. It was very good. We talked and stuff,then we went home. The Biblestudy was better than I thought, I liked it I guess.

Mrs. Christy's Hip-Hop/Jazz Class

Today I went to Mrs Christy's Hip-Hop/Jazz class to see if I liked it enough to want to take it. It was too hard for me in my Ballet,Tap and Jazz classes on Monday so I am going to take different classes (Which I have to see how I like them by taking one of the classes to see how I like it). In the class they wear the black hip-hop shoes which I like a lot and because Mrs. Christy teaches it and she is my favorite teacher. I think I am younger and shorter than a lot of the girls but I don't really care all that much. The advantages of being short is that you get to dance in the front instead of dancing all the way in the back. Before class started I looked over and there was Amy R. from Swift Creek. I was surprized to see her. I didn't walk up and say "Hi" or anything. I waited till she noticed and she said "Hi". Amy is very tall and very blonde. She is nothing like Kaylyn though, no one can match Kaylyn (I mean that as a compliment Kaylyn!!!). In all there was twenty two in the class. Thankfully they had another class that had no one in it so some people are going to change to that one. All in all the class was fun. My next I am going to try is Ballet on Monday with Mrs.Christy which should be great too. I'll write again when I get to try it out.

Valiant

Today Dad,Mom,Jamie and I went to see "Valiant" at the Commonwealth 20. We were almost the only people in the theatre we were in except for a family with little kids who squealed a little during parts of the movie. "Valiant" is a movie about a pigeon named "Valiant" and his dreams to become a carrier pigeon in World War 2. The animation was wonderful,even to where the sea almost looked real to life. The movie was very clean cut except for a few spots here and there about farting and burping. Other than that "Valiant" was "all around" good.

First Day of Dance 2005

Today at five thirty was my first Ballet,Jazz and Tap classes. This year we have a lot of JEMs and three girl named Elizabeth,Laura and Kaylyn from my last years class. Ballet was first and taught by Mrs.Jessica. All we really did in Ballet was simple stuff. After Ballet came Jazz. Jazz is my favorite again this year. The JEMs goofed off but us four stood in the corner waiting to start the combination. Last but not least was Tap. It was hard-core-work-out-Tap-mania. The weirdest thing is that the whole studio one is backwards. Instead of the mirrors being on the left side,they were on the right. It was difficult to get my bearings straight at times because of the different set-up. Mrs.Mary said that those of us who could not do draw backs need to work on them, she wants them good by the end of September. I am scared I won't get it,but hey I thought I would never get Mr.Chris's eight body postitions but I did. I guess I will just have to work on it... During Jazz and Tap Kaylyn kept saying over and over again how she looked like an idiot because she couldn't get the steps right. I told her we all look like idiots some what,it just takes practice,practice,practice to get a step right. I personally was having difficulties doing a across the floor shuffle-ball-change step we did last year in our dance. Soon it was time to go home. By now it was eight thirty.

1st Visit to Parkway Baptist

I don't know if any of you guys knows this but we are looking to attend a different church as of September 1st, so here is the account of what I thought of it and such. Today Dad,Mom,Mark,Jamie and I visited Parkway Baptist Church, it is held in a school called Grange Hall while they are making their own church building. Jamie and I went to Big Group which is kind of what we did at Bethany Place. I saw Steven M.,Chad's younger brother,Kacie who were all originally form Swift Creek where we used to got to before Bethany Place. I didn't feel shy or anything like normal because I actually knew some people who are already members there. After the leader dude announced stuff we watched a Fuel video. Then soon after we spilt into groups. Jamie was in the seventh grade class where I was in the eighth with Kacie,two other girls and two boys. The lesson was about Rahab and the spies and how bad people can turn good. The guy who taught the class is the manager of Chic-Fl-A which I thought was cool. After about thirty minutes class dismissed and everyone went to Worship. I met up with Jamie and found Mark,then we went to the gym where the Worship service was held where we found our parents. It started out with the choir singing,they were pretty good. Then the congregation sang, no one turned around to see who was singing when my Dad started singing (He sings loud and low and it sometimes startles people,but not me I am used to it!!!). The music was contemporary but it did have a hymn at the end. I like that kind of a balance where it just isn't one type of music. The sermon was ok, it wasn't long and monotonous or too hyper. The one good thing is that the service let out at twelve o'clock instead of the normal one o'clock. We went to Michael's so Mark could get some art stuff he needed for class,went to Gamestop so Jamie could look,Barnes & Noble for Mark because he wanted to see if they had a book he wanted, at the very end we all went to CiCi's Pizza for Lunch where I saw the Youth dude but didn't go over and say "Hi" or anything (I was shy).


Dad,Mom and I went to Parkway's picnic at the C's (Jamie and Mark didn't go because Jamie wanted to go to the Block Party at Bethany Place instead) I think it was all the way out in Amelia county. Anyway, we pulled into the parking lot where we then parked and got out our chairs to sit in. A guy who was driving people down the road to the house picked us up and took us down the driveway a ways. Then Mom put her cookies on the table and went over to the pool to try to watch the people being Baptized. Then we sang some songs,prayed over the food and ate. There was the usually Southern Baptist Hardee's chicken and biscuits and casseroles. I was rather stuffed still from CiCi's so I didn't eat a lot. I walked over to where Kacie and her friends were, I figured if I was going to see how I liked Youth there I would have to hang out with them!!! They were all nice and stuff. Soon came the egg tossing contest upon which I didn't compete in because I didn't want to get egg all over me. Next came the pie eating contest. Two ladies,one man and a boy competed in it. One of the two ladies won. I sat on the pavement and talked with Kasie and her friends. Then Dad,Mom and I soon had to go home.

Busch Gardens 2005

Yesterday morning Dad,Mom,Jamie and I went to Busch Gardens. When we got there it was WAYY early!!! We parked ALL the way in Italy 8. The first ride we went on was Corkscrew Hill 2-D in Ireland. My Mom went on it and screamed the whole time I think... Anyway, soon we went to New France where Dad,Jamie and I went on the Log Flume three times like we do every year. We then went to eat at Trappers Smokehouse. Mom and I had some chicken and rice, a roll and a Mountain Dew. Dad and Jamie had chicken with a roll and Pepsi. It was very good. WE walked across a bridge and went on the Big Bad Wolf with Dad and Jamie. It was a little scary for my first hanging ride but afterward I thought it was so wicked awesome. Jamie bought a hat with the wolf on it and then "Who' Afraid???". I think after that we all went on the bumper cars. I wanted to go on the Loc Ness but Dad said we would do that next year. We then walked to Italy where Dad,Mom,Jamie and I had a chicken,onion and peppers sandwiches. They were good too.Soon it was time to leave because Dad had to work and Jamie had a football practice to go to. ON the way out we met Matt and Mr.O. We were all surprised. We talked for a while and then went home.

School Year Starting 2005

Ok, I know it is a little early to start saying this but... man do I hate school. It isn't that I hate being homeschooled, I love it. It is just that I get all hyped up to get started and I do the easy stuff first but when I get to the first lesson in Math it always makes me aggravated because my brain hasn't worked numbers all Summer. Normally in Math books they have review the first ten lessons or so to get back in the swing of things but by new Algebra Math book just starts with fractions right away where I left off in May. That is very overwhelming to just start doing fraction problems right away after three months of no Math at all. O ya and the Geography which I thought would be fairly simple to do isn't. We have this World Almanac which has teeny tiney words barely able to read and if you look at them long enough they all seem to jumble together so that you can't find the right word you are searching for. It has given me a headache!!! All I want to do is get finished the two annoying subjects but Mom and Jamie are at the pool so I will have to wait until they come back so Mom can help me get through the overwhelming Math and the confusing Geography.