This is a really cool map!

We were learning about the electoral college. We even made a lapbook about it! And we used this really cool website that has a really cool map! We saw what would happen if Barack Obama won all the states or if he won some states and not the others and we did the same thing with John McCain.
Click on this link if you want to check it out! Have fun!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K.Rowling

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, Harry, Ron, and Hermione go to Hogwarts for their 3rd year. In this book, the third in Rowling's absolutely amazing series, we learn more secrets about Harry's adventures.

People believe there was a break out in the wizarding prison Azkaban! The person who broke out is known by the name Sirius Black! Azkaban is guarded by horrible creatures called dementors, and they're guarding Hogwarts! Also, 3rd years have permission slips that have to be signed by parents or guardians to go to a fun place called Hogsmeade. Harry didn't get his signed, because his guardians refused. Harry was determined to find a way to not miss out on the fun. And then a great adventure began!

I really like this book, and the whole series. I read these books all the time, and I think everyone will love the next ones, too.

Barbecue from 3:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M.!

We had a big barbecue with our friends, the Goodens. We had hot dogs, salad with homemade dressing, chicken legs and thighs, and chourico (pronounced SHOULD-EES). We played 2 games of croquet and played Ticket to Ride. My friend Sarah, who is 9, helped me put on a magic show and played with my dolls and stuffed animals. Maxim and his friends, Jacob and Matthew, watched 2 Star Wars movies while Sarah and I played on Webkinz and Barbie on the computer. Then Sarah and I played upstairs with a Bo Peep doll and a Barbie doll. Then Sarah and I took a bunch of goofy pictures.

Training My Webkinz

I was reading an American Girl book called Nicki. It's about a girl named Nicki. Her mother is expecting twins, she helps with the horses and pigs on her farm, and she has homework from 4th grade, but she has a big problem. She can't say the word "no," so she says "yes" to almost everything. So when her mom asks her if she wants to help train a service dog, Nicki asks, "Won't I get attached and then I have to let it go?" But she says "yes" anyway. Then she agrees to help out with the school gala with the 2 most rich and popular girls in the school. When the service dog arrives he is a mixed breed, and he is called Sprocket. At first it's a lot of work but then he turns out to be lovable and cute. When she goes to plan the gala at Heather's house (one of the girls), she brings Sprocket along to see if he will act calm and quiet. Nicki tries to get along with the other girls. One of the girls, Kris, turns out to be kind of nice!

So when I finished the book I wrote down commands and anything else I could think of, and trained my stuffed animal dog, Cutie Pie (also a Webkinz). I put on some ribbon for a leash and pretended to train him. Then I read the next book and wrote down more commands. I had a lot of fun.

How the Giraffe Got Its Neck

Once upon a time, there was a giraffe. Then it had a baby giraffe. The Baby explored anywhere she could, but later it got put in the zoo. When she was there she saw a flower. The flower was a purplish-pink color and had tons of petals that were smooth, furry, and soft. It was short and the stem was like soggy celery! The poor hungry baby wanted to eat the flower, but she couldn't reach it! So she stretched and STRETCHED, and STRETCHED! Until . . . she had a HUGE neck! She went from 2 feet tall to 18 feet tall! She told all of the giraffes to stretch! Now it's the tallest mammal in the world! And that's how the giraffe got its neck.