November 12, 2013 The Clara Barton Museum

Yesterday, we went on a tour of Clara Barton’s house .My friend came too. My mom let me bring my camera and I took a lot of pictures. Clara Barton was the person who started the Red Cross in the United States. Her interest in helping soldiers began during the Civil War. Clara Barton was the first women ever allowed to go on a battlefield. She collected medical supplies and delivered them to the battlefields. After visiting Switzerland and helping the Red Cross there, Clara Barton (who was in her 40s) began to think about starting a Red Cross in the United States. Clara Barton started the Red Cross in 1882, in the town near ours, Dansville, New York.  When she was younger, Clara Barton’s first job was teaching in a one room school house in New Jersey. It was one of the first public schools in New Jersey. While we were there, we met the artist who painted all the pictures displayed in the house.  We saw an old time bedroom and bathtub. We saw a picture of all the Red Cross medals volunteers could receive for helping people. The second to last thing we saw were some Red Cross uniforms. One of the uniforms was donated by a girl who served in Canada for the Red Cross. The last we saw was a metal sculpture cross that donated by some students locally. I learned many things about the Red Cross and Clara Barton yesterday.

November 4, 2013

This week we were busy with the puppies. Annie (our mamma dog) pooped in the house a lot because she is eating all day and all night, and after the first few nights my mom stopped getting up with her every hour to let her outside. Annie is a good mother and nurses her puppies all day and all night long. The littlest puppy has gained a few ounces every day. We've decided that we will keep her. My mom's best friend had been asking to keep Maggie, our six year old Golden Retriever, and Mom finally said yes. Then we can keep a puppy without it being too crazy here, with too many dogs. It will be difficult to housebreak the new puppy. We need to name her soon.
 My brother John came home from  college this weekend. He hasn't been home in a month, so it was great to see him. Whenever he is home, Mom cooks his favorite foods. We had macaroni and cheese and KFC too. We'll see John again over Thanksgiving break.
On Saturday, we went to Taekwondo all day. We went to a mixed aged class, and to sparring class. I sparred many times. There is a tournament coming up, but we are probably not going to go because it's expensive. I'm a red belt now. I will be black belt in another year or so.
I go to Taekwondo four times a week. I've been taking lessons for three years now. Taekwondo is my homeschool gym class!
I am getting good at reading. Last night, I read my brothers their bedtime stories. Only a year ago, my dad had to read to me. Lately, I've been having a great time listening to the audiobooks of the series 39 Clues. The audio books are easier than reading regular books. I tried to read the 39 Clues series, but it was too difficult. When the narrator reads the book to me, I can understand it better.
I read other series of books by myself, such as, Geronimo Stone and Magic Treehouse. Tuesdays I get to read all day long, unless we have a field trip. That reminds me, I better go to the library today to get books for tomorrow!