Everything that's been happening

Yesterday was my first day back at school. I wasn't too far behind because I had done some of the work at home. I think I learned more while I was sick than while I was at school these last two days. We're learning how to find out what a percent of a number is. As always, I already know all of the vocabulary words. We apparently got a book report assignment on monday. We each have to read a piece of classic literature (abridged is fine), and we have to pretend we are selling the book. We get to pick whatever book we want. I chose "The Picture of Dorian Gray". I asked Mrs. Brown and she said it would be all right. There wasn't anyone who had picked it. I asked Sophie and Allie if they would help me, and they said they would.

While I was sick, I started training Grizabella. She is a fast learner. She can already come when I call her, give me a high five, and wait on a stool while Mom or I cook.

There's going to be an end-of-the-year talent show for the fifth-graders (we're going to middle school next year). I want to do a gymnastics act. Sophie is doing a performance of the Odyssey rap with Amy and I tumbling in the background. Allie is doing some dancing with Madison, the girl who takes tap dancing. Their plan is to do the same thing, but in tap or ballet dancing. I think I'll practice some gymnastics now.

Long Post!

There has been a lot going on, but today I'm only going to write about my birthday party. I had it at 2:00 on the seventh. Aunt Sue and Uncle George came. They brought me a rabbit! She is the perfect goldie-brown color. She has rather floppy ears, so I named her Goldilocks. Allie and Sophie both thought she was sweet. Mom kind of flipped out when I got the rabbit. She was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle yet another pet. But I can. I've had her for more than a week and I am managing fine. I am a little busy, but I can handle it.

Back to the party. Dad had built me a balance beam. It was just like the beams they have at school. I really like it. Allie got me a cat training kit. I'm going to use it on Grizabella. Sophie gave me The Girl's book: How To Be the Best at Everything. It has how to deal with bullies, act like a celebrity, make your own bubble bath, how to ice skate, how to bake your own bread, pet a wild horse, survive in a horror movie, and a lot more.

We fenced and fenced and fenced. If one of us got hit too hard with a sword, we would go off to the side and put an ice pack on the hurt part, then join back in. It took a long time for anyone to win. Allie won. To win, you have to get the other people on the ground and take their swords. NO THROWING THE GAME!

My birthday cake was chocolate with chocolate frosting. Mom had made flowers on the top using almonds and maraschino cherries. She also put white chocolate chips around the edge of the cake. It was delicious.

You may be wondering about why I am writing about this now, more than a week after I turned 11. Well, I've been busy. So how come I have time now? The answer-- I'm sick. I got the flu. The doctor said that I should rest and not stay outdoors for very long. So I can't walk Blackie or feed, water, clean up after, and spread new bedding for Mary, Lacy, and Marshmallow. Wonderful. And I can't do gymnastics. But I can write. It's the most interesting thing I can do.

<:-(

Presenting-- Grizabella!

We brought home Grizabella today. She is so sweet! She and Blackie do fairly well together. They just have to give each other some space. That's why I put Grizabella's box in my room, while Blackie's crate is in the den.

We had a few minor difficulties with the box. We made the perfect box for having kittens in-- big enough to be comfortable, towel lined, et cetera. It's location was the problem. We had stuck it in a corner of the room that doesn't get that much traffic. But Grizabella wanted it under the bed, where That Pest (i.e., Blackie) couldn't get at it. Oh all right.

I found out another interesting thing about Grizabella. She likes pretzels! I was getting myself a snack and I dropped a pretzel. Before you could say "cat", she had gobbled it down.

We feed her on dry food. We also use litter for multiple cats, because one of those bins goes a long way.

My birthday is coming up soon. March 8th, to be exact. I won't care if I get don't get anything. Having a cat is great. I think I'll go practice handsprings. :-)

Grizabella

We picked out the cat today! Mom and Dad had some special requests. 1: It must be a friendly cat (duh), 2: It must be a short-haired cat. All right. So today we went to the pound to pick out the cat. I found the perfect cat. She's white with faint light gray stripes. She has blue eyes. She's very nice. When I petted her, I think I heard a little bit of a purr. I think I'll name her Grizabella. We got her stuff today. We did not, however, put the litter in the litter box yet, as Blackie might think it is for her. I think it will be fun to have a cat even if it didn't have kittens, and this one is going to have kittens.

Gymnastics

One day to cat. Actually more, since we're picking out the cat on Saturday and bringing it home on Sunday. But that's not what I wanted to tell about today.

At school we're doing a 3-4 week session on gymnastics. Well if you've been reading my blog for a little while, you'll know that I'm pretty good at gymnastics. Well, at school the gym teachers want all of us fifth-graders to be able to do the following by the end of the session: do a cartwheel, stand on our head, do a bridge, and jump pretty high on the springboard (this is by far the most popular activity), and do a little jumpy thing on the balance beam. I can already do all those things. The gym teachers are nice about it. They let me and this other girl, Amy, practice harder stuff. We practice other types of tumbling, do cartwheels on the beam, and do squat-ons on a pile of mats. We also do harder stretches and practice handstands. Sophie does best on cartwheels and springboard. She has a lot of strength and is fearless (she can push off for a cartwheel hard enough for five cartwheels). Allie does her best on headstands and beam. She does ballet (she has toe shoes-- wow!), and has an extraordinary sense of balance.

Here at home, I got out my old gymnastics mat. I rolled it out in the basement. I'm trying to learn how to do a handspring. You have to kick up very hard. I think I'll go and practice some more.

Yes!

Yes yes yes yes yes!!!!!!!!! I am getting a cat! Well, I suppose it is possible I wouldn't. Because I have to take care of my current pets with no reminders or complaining for a week, and have Mom and Dad both approve of the pet I want. I also have to keep up in school, and not have Mom or Dad think I'm being overworked. I'll be able to handle all that.

Clean to get a Cat

Today I did a lot. Mom and Dad don't seem totally against the idea of getting a cat, but they still haven't said yes. Today, to show them that I can handle another pet, I took extra care to make my pets happy. I fed them all on time, and I also cleaned up after them super well. Today being Saturday, I had to clean my room. To impress my mom, I did a great job. I am messy, but I don't have too much stuff, so I have a place for everything. I just don't put my stuff away. Today, instead of tossing my covers over my bed, I made it neat and smooth. I didn't just throw the stuff on the floor in my ottoman, I actually put it away. When Mom came in, everything was immaculate. I felt proud. I think I can handle a cat.