As I Walk Out Of 6th Grade...

                                               Now              

     As I walk out of the 6th grade classroom... I still want to be remembered as the athletic one.  The one who still loves playing sports.  The girl who is always caring, responsible, smart, and the girl that always walks into the room with a smile on her face.  I want to be remembered as the one who gets good grades, and who never got one blue slip.   I'm still going strong with these goals, and hope to be like this for the last eight days.


                                   Goals For Seventh Grade

     My goals for seventh grade are: not having any late assignments, having good grades, getting on the teachers' good sides, being nice to everyone, and having everyone think I am a nice, kind, and responsible student like this year.

Concussions

      Many people debate the issue whether or not to have a standard concussion law. A study has shown that football players who have suffered three or more concussions have a tripled risk of depression.  In my judgement, athletes that have a concussion should have to sit out for a few games to let it heal.  Also, 31% of athletes with concussions are rushed back onto the field after injury.  Concussions can also cause serious problems later in your life.  Studies show several professional football players have committed suicide.  The autopsy results revealed brain damage.  So know after all this data, what do you think about concussions?


"You get a concussion, they have to take you out of the game.  So if you can hide it as much as possible, you pay for it the next day, but you'll still be able to stay in the game." 

                                -Washington Redskins fullback Mike Sellers

Any Small Goodness

                     

                                                 Arturo's Family Life

     After we read Any Small Goodness, I learned that Arturo's grandma lives with them.  I also learned that his whole family including his grandma always eat supper together.  His whole family also adore the game of basketball, even his cat!  They also show very much emotion towards this sport.

                                                Arturo's Neighbor Hood
      Arturo's neighbor hood also gets very involved during basketball season.  During basketball season, you always see his neighbor hood outside playing the game.  I learned that they really love and cherish the game!  They really enjoy it too!

                                               Arturo's Family Culture
     Arturo's family is Spanish.  As part of their culture, spicy food is always the best.  So mostly all their meals have some kind of spicy kick in them.  They cook with some spicy chili peppers too!

     Here are some Spanish words and their definitions....

     Muchisimo- a lot of something
   
     Poblano- a large dark green chili pepper

     Buenos Dias- good morning or good day

     Mentirosa- liar

     

Pretty Little Liars

      Now I'm going to talk to you about my favorite TV show.  My all time favorite TV show is Pretty Little Liars.  Here are all the characters and their parts in the show.

Alison DiLaurentis- The girl who is murdered
Jason DiLaurentis- Alison's half older brother, and Spencer and Melissa's half brother
Hanna Marin- One of Alison's best friends who is questioned about what happened to Ali
Aria Montgomery- Another one of Alison's best friends who is questioned about what happened to Ali
Emily Fields- One of Alison's best friends who is also questioned about what happened to Ali
Spencer Hastings- Alison's last best friend who is questioned about what happened to Ali, and she is also Jason's half sister
Melissa Hastings- Spencer's older sister and Jason's half sister
Toby Cavanaugh- Jenna's step brother, and also trying to figure out who killed Ali, later he dates Spencer
Jenna Marshall- The blind girl, also Toby's step sister
Ezra Fitz- The English teacher and also dates Aria
Mike Montgomery- Aria's younger brother who breaks into neighborhood houses
Mona Vanderwaal- Hanna's best friend, but then goes crazy, so she gets put in a mental facility
Darren Wilden- The detective investigating Alison's murder
Ian Thomas- Married to Melissa but later is killed
Wren Kingston- Was engaged to Melissa before Ian
Sean Ackard- Hanna's date for homecoming but they soon break up
Caleb Rivers- Hanna's new boyfriend who is a foster child living in Rosewood
Claudia Dawson- Caleb's real mom
James Dawson- Caleb's brother
Clay Dawson- Caleb's other brother
Janet- Caleb's foster mom
Lucas Gottesman- A boy who has a crush on Hanna
Noel Kahn- Hits Hanna with a car at a party causing Hanna to break her leg
Eric Kahn- Noel's brother
Holden Strauss- Aria's friend who has a heart problem and could die at any time
Alex Santiago- Works at the country club and soon starts to date Spencer before Toby does
Garrett Reynolds- Police officer investigating Ali's death
Ben Coogan- Emily's boyfriend for a short period but they soon break up
Maya Germain- The first girl Emily has a relationship with
Nathan Germain- Maya's cousin
Paige McCullers- The second girl Emily has a relationship with
Nick McCullers- Paige's dad, who thinks his daughter is the best at everything
Samara Cook- The last girl Emily has a relationship with
CeCe Drake- Jason's ex-girlfriend
Anne Sullivan- A therapist the girls are forced to see to help with Alison's death
Jackie Molina- Ezra's girlfriend before Aria
Meredith Sorenson- Was in a relationship with Bryon Montgomery
Kenneth DiLaurentis- Jason and Alison's dad
Jessica DiLaurentis- Jason and Alison's mom
Ella Montgomery- Aria and Mike's mom
Bryon Montgomery- Aria and Mike's dad
Scott Montgomery- Aria and Mike's uncle
Veronica Hastings- Spencer and Melissa's mom
Peter Hastings- Spencer and Melissa's dad
Pam Fields- Emily's mom
Wayne Fields-Emily's dad
Ashley Marin- Hanna's mom
Tom Marin- Hanna's dad
Regina Marin- Hanna's grandmother
Patrick Marin- Hanna's uncle
Isabel Marin- Tom's new wife and Hanna's step mom
Kate Randall- Isabel's daughter and Hanna's step sister
Red Coat- Someone who is always seen in Alison's red jacket, but is also unknown
"A"- This is an unknown person in the show.  There is a group of them who know all the girls' dirtiest secrets.  This group also send the girls text messages whenever the girls are about to get in trouble and they always sign the text message "A"

      So it sounds good doesn't it?  It is!  I suggest you start watching the movies and start reading the books!

Letter From California

                                                                                                                                  January 23, 2014

Dear Family, 

      I'm writing to you from California.  Right now I'm at my very fancy and welcoming hotel.  I have a lot of sight seeing to do and can't wait to see interesting things.  I will be bringing home souvenirs for everyone.

      One place I went to was Sea World.  Sea World is a place with a lot of marine mammals like penguins, walruses, and dolphins.  I saw a show that some people performed with those mammals.  The dolphins would do tricks with the people, and if they did them right they were rewarded with a fish to eat.

      I also went to Disney World.  At Disney World I saw many characters like Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Spongebob, Patrick, Dora, and all the princesses.  At Disney World I went on many rides and my favorite was one of the roller coasters.

      I also drove across the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was a nice view.  It took a little while to drive across the whole thing, because there were a lot of tourists there the same day I went.  The Golden Gate Bridge was painted red, because of the fog.

      Venice Beach was one of my favorite places.  It was very sandy and the water felt great!  I got my tan too.  Well, that was my vacation.  See you soon!

                                                                    Love,
                                                                     Erika

My Christmas

       My Christmas break was really fun.  I did a lot of cool and fun things too.  Well this is my Christmas break...


      On the first day, which was a Friday,  I was still finishing wrapping presents for Christmas.  Then on Saturday, we had a basketball tournament in Central City.  We won two games and lost one.  When I got home it was like 6:00, so I just relaxed and watched TV.  On Sunday my family and I just got ready for Christmas, really nothing else.  Monday was kind of a boring day too, there was nothing exciting.  


      On Monday morning, when my sister woke up she went out to the living room and sat down.  Then I woke up.  I went out to the living room.  I noticed something on top of the tree.  I looked closely and there was an Elf On The Shelf on top of our Christmas tree.  It was a girl, and we named it Ella.  Tuesday morning when we woke up Ella wasn't on top of our tree anymore.  So we went looking.  I went in the bathroom and Ella was hanging from the bathroom ceiling!  Well, that's our elf Ella! 


      Finally Tuesday came!  I couldn't wait.  I started getting ready for church around 2:30.  We went to church.  Church seemed like it took forever! Then we finally made it to the restaurant (that's where we have Christmas for my mom's side).  My mom's side was there and so were all the presents!  So my cousins and I sorted down all the presents by name.  While we were waiting to eat supper my cousins and I played a present game, and all my uncles and brothers played cards.  My present was a little paint kit.  After that, it was time for supper.  We had tenderloins, fries, fruit, and for desert we had cookies and a Hershey's pie that my aunt brought.  When the kids were done eating, we had to wait for the adults to get done eating, so we just played some games.  Finally, the adults were done eating.  So then we watched the 2013 family slide show.  My Aunt Amy and Uncle Jeff do a slide show every year.  They are really good too.  Then the slide show was over.  It was present time then!  So I brought all my presents over to where I was sitting.  We have to go in order by age.  So my cousin Keanan was first, then my sister Emilee, then my turn, then my sister Adrianne, then lastly my cousin Austin.  From my Aunt Cheryl, I got a pair of Nike slip ons and the second Pretty Little Liars book.  My Aunt Amy got me the first and second season of Pretty Little Liars.  My Aunt Michelle got me a black and white Nike sweatshirt.  My Aunt Angie got me a turquoise American Eagle sweatshirt and a little Christmas ornament that is gold and says Erika and has a number 11 on it.  That was all I got from my mom's side.  Then all the adults opened their gifts.  Finally, it was time to go home and set out cookies and milk for Santa.  Then I went to bed.

      Christmas morning I woke up at about 7:30.  Emilee was already up.  So we went to get my mom up. My mom got up.  Then we went downstairs.  I looked at all my stuff.  I got a Kindle Fire, pink and brown cowgirl boots, a pink camera, socks, iTunes card, yoga pants, and Iowa Hawkeye flannel pants.  My sister Adrianne and I got some Nike sweatshirts to share.  So after that I got on my kindle and started downloading games.

      Later that day at 10:30 we had our family Christmas.  My brother Aaron, and his girlfriend Jessica came out.  From them I got an Iowa Hawkeye lawn chair and a gift certificate to a Rough Rider's game.  Then everyone else opened their gifts.  After that Aaron and Jessica had to leave to go to Jessica's Christmas.

      Then after they left it was like 12:00.  So my mom started making lunch.   Then it was lunch time so we all sat down at the kitchen table and ate wings and fries.  After lunch, my sister and I went sledding and played in the snow for about an hour.

      Later that night at 5:00 my other brother Marcus, and his girlfriend Marissa came to our house.  We opened our gifts and I got Just Dance 4 and Just Dance 2014 from them.  Then my mom brought out the gift she got for my sisters and I.  She got us an Iowa Hawkeye tie blanket. 

     Then at 6:00 we had to go to my great-grandma's Christmas.  That is a huge family of about 75 people.  We ate supper.  Then we did a gift exchange, and I got an iTunes card from my cousin.  After that people just hung out and talked.  Then it was all over and we went home.

        Well, that was my Christmas.  I had a lot of fun spending time with family and friends too. 

      

Staying In A Hotel Versus Staying In A Camper

     What's the difference between staying in a hotel or staying in a camper?  Well here are some very precise answers.

                                                        How They Are Different
     First on my agenda is staying in a hotel.  When you stay in a hotel, you have a lot of space, but when you are in a camper, it may get very cramped.  When you stay in a hotel, you are in a building, but when you're in a camper you are in a trailer.  Usually when you stay in a hotel there is more than one room, but campers are mostly just one big room.

                                                         How They Are The Same
     They are the same because usually they both have some type of furniture in them.  You can also stay in both.  Both are mostly always warm and luxurious.  I would preferably stay in a hotel (but that's my opinion).  Well.... now which one would you rather stay in???