Strega Nona

Strega Nona is is a lady in lots of stories. She treats warts, cures headaches, and makes love potions. She lives in a town in Calabria.

Big Anthony is a boy who works for her. He keeps getting into trouble. He decided he would use Strega Nona's magic pasta pot. But he got it wrong and flooded the town with pasta. He dressed up as a girl to learn magic from Strega Nona. He borrowed Strega Nona's magic ring to make himself handsome. But then he couldn't get it off. He also flooded the town with bubble bath.

Strega Nona spends lots of time fixing Big Anthony's mistakes. But in one story, Big Anthony he only pretended to have been forgetful. Strega Nona couldn't use her magic at Christmas, and Big Anthony ruined her party. But actually he was planning his own party for Strega Nona.

My favourite Strega Nona book is Strega Nona the first book about Strega Nona. We have seven books about Strega Nona and Big Anthony.

Homemade Christmas Cards

Mum couldn't find any nice Christmas cards. So she said we should make our own Christmas cards.

She took some pictures from a Tomie de Paola book and scanned them. Then she printed them off. They were small enough to fit 9 on a page.

Then Sophie and Charlotte cut the pictures out and they cut out backing card. I put glue on the pictures, and Imogen stuck the pictures on the card and punched holes in them.

Charlotte and Mum went on Picnik and made some messages for the backs of the hanging cards. Imogen and I stuck those on too.

Then Imogen and me tied curling ribbon through the holes in the cards to make loops. Imogen curled the end and we were finished.

We made 54 Christmas cards.

Felicity's Wedding

I like weddings. My sister got married last week. It was a lot of work. We had to order the dresses, which was a great trouble. Imogen and Charlotte's dresses fitted, thought the seller asked, 'Are you sure that the ladies are that short?'

Then we were ordering Sophie and my dresses but we couldn't find the right size. Someone recommended a strappy dress, but we did not like it. We finally found the closest size we could. When the dresses arrived, they fitted, but my dress was a little loose around the top. It had a sash with a clip on bow. My dress was ivory with a pink sash. Sophie's dress was ivory with a purple sash.

We made little bundles of candle. We all had our own jobs. Charlotte cut out circles of tulle. Sophie put the candles in the tulle and tied them up with ribbon. Imogen cut the ribbon into pieces, and I was fetcher. It was hard. I had to find the right sized elastic bands.

While we were making the bundles, Mum brought out the sugared almonds and jelly beans. Imogen packaged the sugared almonds into little plastic bags and Sophie and me packaged the jelly beans.

We also made brownies. But I wasn't able to make them, because I had a cold. The other girls made four kinds of brownies. My favourite kinds was the double chocolate brownies.

Imogen made the wedding cakes. They were little cupcakes with white icing, white fondant flowers and little silver balls. they were absolutely lovely.

We tried to find some shoes for the wedding. We needed gold ballet flats. We looked right through all the shops, but couldn't find any. We had to drive up to a much bigger town, and still couldn't find any shoes. In the end we found some very sequiny shoes with bows. They were silver.

On the day of the wedding, the bridesmaids arrived early in the morning. They took ages just sitting there curling their hair. Mum had time to get Sophie and me dressed, put her make up on, and get the big girls dressed all while they were doing one head of hair.

We headed out the door while they were curling the last person's hair. None of them were dressed, though the groomsmen were. Then we reached the church. We waited and waited and waited but the bridesmaids and bride didn't come. They arrived fashionably late.

The wedding started. Sophie and me started walking up the aisle very slowly. Then we sat in the front pew for the whole mass. I could see everything. Imogen helped with the music as well as being a bridesmaid. She had to keep running up and down the aisle.

After the wedding everyone threw roses petals at the bride and groom. Then the photographers took lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of photos. Imogen carries the sugared almond and jelly beans round, handing them out.

We went down to the park for lunch before the reception. We brought a picnic. I played with my friend. Then the photographer had to take more photos.

After that, it was time for the reception. the photographer took more photos. Then we had a huge afternoon tea. There were lots of speeches. Dad's speak was the best. Then it was time for the cake. It was scrumptious.

Then we gave Felicity and Graham their presents. I gave them a spatula and a spoon that had pig faces. They were so cute.

I like weddings and I like being a flowergirl. But I don't like all the preparations.

Singing Trees

This week we have been going to a homeschooling camp. Everyone is sleeping in a tent, except us. We're sleeping at home, and driving to camp every day. All the children are acting in plays. we younger kids are performing 'The Princess and the Pea' musical. The older children are doing 'A Comedy of Errors' by William Shakespeare.

We were sent our scripts at the beginning of last week. Imogen and Charlotte highlighted their parts in their play so that they could find their speeches. Then Sophie came running to me with some paper in her hand and she said that we had parts in 'The Princess and the Pea' play. I was a singing tree, and Sophie was a page boy. We highlighted our parts too. I got my own script the night before the camp.

At camp in the afternoon, we were going to practice 'The Princess and the Pea'. We read out the parts, and everyone was too soft. Then we were divided up into groups to practice. The trees and the princesses went outside to work together.

It was very funny to see the princesses practising. They were trying to curtsy but some people got the wrong the leg, some didn't know where to put their legs at all, but no one fell over. We singing tree were very good.

Tomorrow night we're going to perform 'The Princess and the Pea'. I'm a little worried that I'll forget what to do, but I think it will be fun anyway!

Piano Lessons With Imogen

I wanted piano lessons. Charlotte used to give them to me, but then she stopped. So Mum asked Imogen to give me and Sophie piano lessons.

So Imogen started giving us piano lessons. She taught me new pieces from my book, taught me the different notes, and helped me with my exercises.

I enjoyed my lessons because they were fun. I got to play one of my favourite pieces.

On Monday I had another piano lesson. It was the last lesson of the term. Imogen brought out some notes on cards and we played games with them. She showed me a new piece she is going to teach me next term. It is called 'The Snake Charmer'. I can't wait to play it.

When lunchtime came Mum asked, "Did you enjoy your piano lesson?"

"No," I said.

"Why not?" Mum asked.

"Because it came to an end."

Everybody laughed.

I can't wait for next term so I can have more lessons. I love learning piano with Imogen because she makes lessons fun and thinks up interesting things to do.

Nanny McPhee

At breakfast one Sunday morning Mum said that we should borrow the movie 'Nanny McPhee.' But I didn't know who Nanny McPhee was, and I thought that it was too grown up for me to watch.

Callum went to the movie store and borrowed 'Nanny McPhee' and 'Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang'.

That evening we watched 'Nanny McPhee'. It was about the Brown family, who had lots and lots of naughty children. Nanny McPhee came to make them good. She looked very ugly when she came, but as the children became more good, she became prettier. At end of the moive, the children were good and Nanny McPhee was pretty.

Then we watched 'Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang'. It was also about a family, but the children were well behaved. But when their cousins came to stay, they had arguments, and fought. Then Nanny McPhee came. She made them good and became pretty again.

After we watched the movies Mummy bought the Nanny McPhee book. It's got lots of stories in it. We're reading about the Browns. It's very funny. The children had a dream to run away, so Nanny McPhee made it so they had to run away and just keep running and running and running until they learnt their lesson. While they ran, they saw all the naughty things they had done.

I like the book. It's different from the movies. I don't know whether I like the book better, or the movies. They're very different.

Going on a Beach Holiday

Mummy said we needed to go on holiday. She went on the computer and looked for a beach house. Then she found Moona Moona Cottage. It was snug and cosy with two bedrooms and three queen-sized beds. It was right by the beach. I really really liked it.

Mum tried to book the cottage, but it was already booked. So Mum had to start looking for another house. I was disappointed.

Then Mum found another cottage at a place called 'Swan Lake'. The name makes me think of Barbie and Swan Lake. She tried to book this one.

We waited all day for an answer, but by the time I went to bed, we still hadn't heard whether we'd got it. Then, next morning Mum told us that we'd got the house. I cheered.

She showed us the photos of the house. I liked it even better than Moona Moona Cottage. This cottage has three bedrooms, two of them with queen beds, and the third with a set of bunks and a queen-sized bed in a sunroom. It also has a piano, wood stove, six bikes, and a canoe.

Sophie and I are going to share a queen bed. Mummy and Daddy are going to have another one, and Imogen and Charlotte are going to have the bunk beds.

I can't wait for the holiday. I want to see the black swans on the lake, and to go and see the whales and dolphins. I'm going to bring my bike and my scooter with me so I can go riding by the lake. We can go swimming in the lake without worrying about nasty jellyfish. The lake even has white sand. And it's not too far from the real beach.

Dressing Up

I like to dress up. It's fun pretending to be different people. Today we took photos of some on my favourite costumes.

The Fairy

As a fairy I've been working in the garden. I've also been to fairy meetings, saved the fairy queen, and used lots and lots of magic. Oh, and fairy dust.

The Tiger

As a tiger I like to play with Sophie, who is another cub. We roll in the grass, and run for ages playing tip.

Snow White

I got my Snow White dress for Christmas last year. I like the feather boa. It's tickly round my neck.

Librarian

As a librarian I help Sophie check out her favourite books from my library. I even have the glasses too!

Office Worker

I work at the back of the dentist, talking on the telephone all the time, filing papers in my briefcase, and making appointments. Sometimes I wear a tie that reaches down to my ankles.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

Mum has been reading me and Sophie a series about a family called the Penderwicks. The Penderwicks have lots of adventures with a boy called Jeffrey. They get into lots of trouble in their adventures, but they always manage to get out of it.

The Penderwicks are four sisters, Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty.

Rosalind is 12. She bakes brownies. She looks after her three sisters. She is the eldest.

Skye is 11. She likes to do maths. She also likes to play soccer and do archery. She isn't very patient and doesn't like looking after her sisters.

Jane is 10. She to like write books about a girl called Sabrina Starr. She likes to play soccer and do archery. She a bit dreamy.

Batty is 4. She likes to play games with Hound the dog. She always wears her butterfly wings. She's a bit shy.

Mr Penderwick talks in Latin. The girls can't understand what he says, but they're used to it.

We've read two Penderwick books. The first book is called The Penderwicks. The second book is called The Penderwicks on Gardam Street. We're reading the third book now. It is called The Penderwicks at Point Mouette.

We love hearing about the Penderwicks. My favourite characters are Skye and Jane.

The Bush Walk

Imogen was going to work. Mum suggested that we should go for a bush walk. We made some hot chocolate and put it in a flask. We all found our cameras to take with us.

We dropped Imogen off at work, then went to the shop to buy some marshmallows. When we got there, the shop didn't have any marshmallows. So we got some almond fingers instead. We also got some bubble bars, and some chocolate.

We went to the park, where the bush walk was. We walked along the track. Every two seconds we stopped to take photos of plants. Then we reached some big rocks. Mum took some photos of us sitting on the rocks.

After that, we had some chocolate before going back to the park. On the walk back we found some stripy rocks. Then we had our afternoon tea. Then it was time to pick Imogen up and go home.

I enjoyed going on the bush walk because we got to walk through the bush and take lots of photos. I would like to go on another one soon.

Daddy's Birthday

Daddy's birthday was on Sunday. Mummy and me wrapped the presents in the morning. We all signed our names in the birthday card. Then we had presents.

Daddy got a bike helmet. He put it on his head. He got two hoodies. Callum wanted the hoodies because they looked so nice.

After Mass we went out for morning tea/lunch (a munch?) We had sausage rolls. I spilt masses of tomato sauce on my cardigan. We also had donuts and hot chocolate. Mum and Dad had nice yoghurt.

In the evening Callum gave Dad his present. It was a black bag with licorice, chocolate covered almonds, nuts, and cheese and biscuits. I wanted to eat all the nuts.

Then it was time for cake. It was a coffee and chocolate cake. Imogen put in lots of coffee because Daddy loves coffee. Mummy put pink fairy sprinkles on top of the cake. We wanted to put lots and lots of candles on the cake but Mummy said we didn't have enough. So instead we put on two number candles.

We sang happy birthday and then Daddy blew out his candles. We all ate huge slices of cake. Daddy had a really good birthday. It wasn't actually Daddy's birthday on Sunday. We had it on Sunday because Daddy had to work on his birthday.

Going To See Our Cousins

On Monday we went to visit our cousins the Leaches. We got up really early and had pancakes and porridge for breakfast. Then we got in the car and went to the Leach's house. It was a very long drive. I got bored.

When we got there, we gave my cousin Megan her twenty and a half birthday presents. Then we went to the beach.

My cousin Melanie, who is the same age as me, and I made a sandcastle. We found some shells and put them on the sandcastle to make it look pretty. Sophie and Bethany made a sandcastle too.

We weren't allowed to get wet, but we did. We didn't mean to but the sea chased us up the beach and got us wet. So we had to go for a walk to get dry.

Then we went back to the Leach's house because it was lunchtime. After lunch we went and played in the Leach's caravan. I liked playing in it. After that with Melanie's Polly Dolls.

We had to go home. We were all tired. I fell asleep in the car. Sophie did too. I really enjoyed seeing Melanie. I don't see her very often.

How Many Hail Marys?

At dinner last night we were talking about confirmation sponsors and how they should do things together. Mum said that Charlotte should ask Callum, who is her sponsor, to say more prayers for her.

I said, "I'd like ten bottles of Hail Marys please."

"How many Hail Marys fit in a bottle?" Sophie asked.

"How big is the bottle?" someone asked.

"Are Hail Marys liquids, solids, or gases," someone else asked.

"I hope they're not gases," Mum said. "Or you won't fit many in a bottle."

What do you think? How many Hail Marys fit on a bottle? And are they a liquid, a solid, of a gas?