National Geographic GeoBee 2008

Happy New Year everyone! As the title suggests, I went to the National Geographic geography bee this year. I wanted to tell you (& you & you :-)) about my experience.

"3 cheers for me! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hoor"-"Hey! Whatsallthis?!" "Look! I have it! Now can I finish my cheer?" "Yes!" "Ay!" :-)

The first question I got was "Which state has a larger population: New York or South Dakota?" (Underlined choices are the answers that I chose and italics are the correct answer.)

One of the other questions was "Which continent is home to Lake Tanganyeka?" My answer was Asia, but the correct answer was Africa.

I studied every night with my mom for over 1 month using different geography websites. One of our favorites was: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/. I really enjoyed my first experience studying for and participating in the Geography Bee. I'm already looking forward to next year!

Matthew

"The Little Martins Learn To Love" book review

This is a great book! Sara and Donna look sadly out of the window as the moving van goes away. Vrooom. No, they are not moving, the Anthonys are moving, and Baby Lee with them. But good times were on the way, and soon they meet an elderly couple named the Boyds move in. First Sara and Donna did not like them. "Daddy, Why was Mr. Boyd so cross when you talked to him?" was Donna's first word about them. "Well, he is so deaf that he talks loud." They are told to go to the Boyd's by Mrs. Boyd's son, Thomas Roberts, a thing that they did not want to do at all. They had to go there to deliver a message. What a surprise when they got there!

Knock, knock, knock. Donna timidly knocked on the door. "Why, it must be my new neighbours! Do come in." was the voice heard from the open door. "Bl-ge-tu. W-w-we have come b-by an inst-st-strrruction f-from the R-R-Roberts. W-we want to g-give you a m-m-message from them." was the trembling answer from Sara. "Why, that is so nice of you! Here, have a fresh tart!" And love begins to bond with Sara & Donna and Grandma & Grandpa Boyd. This is just part of the story.

This is a great book for middle-aged children with the hardship of love/hate upon them. Available from Rod & Staff Publishers. Call 606-522-4348 for a free catalog.

Elsie Dinsmore(book review).

This book review is only one of 28 that I have not done yet. These are very good books, I love reading the twelve that I have over and over. In this book, Elsie lives with her stern grandfather and grandmother. Her aunts and uncles that are about her age that also live with her, are mean to her. In particular, Arthur and Enna. Lora, Louise and Adelaide are a bit nicer, I would say Adelaide was the nicest. Elsie's mother was dead, and her father, when he comes to live with her, he doesn't pay any attention to her. She had a very strict teacher, for the slightest mistake in her schoolwork, she got a very severe punishment. Like when she got one little word wrong in her spelling she could not go to the field trip. Even Arthur, who made her get that word wrong, he still got to go on the field trip! And also, Elsie almost got a whipping for something Arthur did! By this time, Elsie's father loved her but sometimes he got into passions with her for somethings he thought she did that Arthur really did! HE actually almost gave her that whipping!!!!! But Lora saved her by telling her father that she knew Arthur did it! Elsie was forever grateful. As for Arthur, he got the flogging of his life! After a while, Arther wanted to borrow some money from Elsie. He had been gambling and lost, and now owed money in a week. Elsie refused to lend the money to Arthur for the cause of deceiving her father. And what he did for her was push her down a steep hill during a hike! Fortunately, some friends saw what happened, called her father and the doctor, and were able to give a full report of what happened on the hill. Later, Arthur went to boarding school and Elsie felt sorry for him so she gave him a Bible! I'm sorry, but I can't tell you any more, I would give away the whole book!

Sincerly,

Courtney

Horseback Riding

I have been going horseback riding every other week for some months now. Do you know how to ride a horse? I can make them go as fast as they can go! That is called a gallop. The gaits that a horse can go at are:

1. Walk
2. Trot
3. Canter
4. Lope
5. Gallop

If you are in intermediate class, you probably think walk is very slow. So does my beginning 6 year old sister. In fact, I think all people can think walk is too slow. I think walk is too slow!
Do you? Since I can go at the fastest, I can easily think that! When people know what the fastest is like, you can easily love it. Not to mention that I love it! We go to a friend of my mom's for horseback lessons traded for piano lessons. I hope you have liked what I have shared!

Courtney

Puzzle #4

Turkey Tickles (or Troubles)

"We all have counted our feathers, but you need to figure out the exact numbers! We know some facts, but (or but or but) we don't know the exact numbers! Can you help us?"

"OH NO! OH NO! OH NO! OH NO! OH NO!" :-0

1. "I have 200 to 250 feathers, but I lost count while counting them. My number of feathers is odd. _12* plus _23 equals 2_ {0, 1, 2, 3, 4}** _ {1, 3, 5, 7, 9} (my number of feathers)."

2. "I have 350 to 425 feathers, but I lost count while counting them, too. The hundreds digit is not odd, and the tens digit is not even. The ones digit is not even, and it is also under 3."

3. "I have 500 to 600 feathers, but I lost count while counting them, three. (It is a big problem for turkeys!) My number does not have an even digit or a 7, and I don't have two 5s either, and the last two digits are either {13, 35, 57, 79}.

Solution to Puzzle #3 - Because they are our ant cestors.

A scorpion playing baseball.

"I can beel a bain on dy base, bease can I say id bed?"

He didn't want to anybody to steal bases.

"Clam up with all that dirty talk!"

"Yippy tiyiyo, get along little dogies, for you know that Wyoming will be your new home."

Get it? If not, post a comment and I'll be happy to explain it to you.

Solution to Puzzle #2 - c, b, b, a, c, a, c, a, b, c.

* _ is a blank.

** {} What is between these is the possible choices, desribed in earlier clues, for the blank.

My A Friend In Need program.

I have started a program called "A Friend In Need". In December I raised four hundred and twenty six dollars. I purchased 78 infant and toddler outfits with the money. We are going to the SAMM shelter this week to donate the clothing. I am also going to get a tour! I am so exited! My mom, (my sister maybe), and my brother and I will have fun! Here are some of the sentences that the outfits said.

• Princess
• Adorable
• Good fishing, straight ahead!
• Dakota Blues!

Isn't that cute?! I love it! Some of the outfits just seem to jump around! To learn more about the Samm shelter, go to http://www.samm.org.

Courtney

Our Goals for 2008 (continued)

(This is my (Matthew's) part of the full blog (Our Goals for 2008) but we decided that we would do two separate blogs.)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should always hope your year will be better than the last one, so we made a list of goals (you can call them resolutions) for 2008. If you haven't seen Courtney's goals yet, just scroll down. If you have, read my goals below.

1. Read through the Bible.

2. Be responsible even when there is no reward.

3. Be kind to my siblings.

4. Have godly friends.

5. Have studies on Proverbs.

6. Work on saying "sir" and "ma'am" all the time.

7. Find out my career (i'm ten you know).

8. Start an egg business.

9. Put together a musical program and visit a nursing home ten times.

How do you like those? My mom says they are great! I like them too. I have a lot, don't I?

We both hope you like our goals!

Matthew

Our Goals for 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you have fun on 12/31/07 and 1/1/08? I sure did. Me and my Mom made cinnamon pecans and popcorn and coconut candy and watched an old movie with our family. It is called "The Sound Of Music". It is really good. I loved it! Here are my goals for this year.

1. Read the entire Bible.

2. Be responsible even when there is no reward.

3. Be kind to my siblings.

4. Choose godly friends.

5. Have studies on Proverbs.

6. Work on saying "sir" and "ma'am" all the time.

7. Find out what God's will for me is.

8. Continue with my A Friend In Need program all year.

9. Start my own bread baking business.

10. Put together a musical program and visit a nursing home ten times.

How do you like those? My mom says they are great! I like them too. I have a lot, don't I?

Well that's all!

Courtney

Math Problem #2

a = c

b = 0

d = 4

e = 1

a + b - c * d + e = f

Find f.

(Do not use order of operations, such as

Please

Excuse

My

Dear

Aunt

Sally

( () a*a * / + - ).)

P. S. The solution for "Math Problem #1" is in the comments for it.

Two Riding

Have you ever heard of two riding? Maybe not. Recently, my brother got a new scooter. Since then, I've been trying to ride two scooters. I've finally almost mastered going downhill, uphill, and turning. Have you ever tried two riding? Maybe not. But I may be the inventor of two riding! I can't believe that! Here is how to two ride.

• First, you grab each far side handle of each scooter.


• Second, you put your right foot on the right scooter.


• Third, you balance your left scooter with your left hand, and push off with your left foot.


• Fourth, when your going fast enough, put your left foot on the left scooter.

I'm sure you will figure the rest out yourself.

Courtney