A Super Thanksgiving

Hello future readers!

I had a really groovy Thanksgiving! I don't just like the food, but what the whole day means; being thankful for what we have. It's true I don't have any brothers or sisters, or a dad, but I'm so thankful for my mom! She's pretty far out, as far as moms go. She likes to surprise me with my favorite dinner, a special dessert, and even a toy now and then. She's always there to give me a hug if I'm having a crummy day. She tells me bedtime stories and makes holidays really fun, like Thanksgiving. Most of my friends had their own plans with their families this year, so I only had 3 friends, (and their parents) over; Kim, Cheryl, and my new friend, Shante'. Shante's family is new to Springfield and they don't have any family here, so my mom said that we could be their family for Thanksgiving. (See what I mean about how groovy she is?) After watching the parade on television, my mom and I got busy. I made a salad and grated cheese for my mom's special macaroni and cheese! Yum, yum! Then I got dressed and set the kids' table for dinner.

My mom and I put all the food out. It smelled so good, I could hardly stand it! We had to put Boomer outside, 'cos he really gets excited and tries to swipe food. My mom said she would fix him a special supper dish later.

Then my friends showed up all together. I was glad they could come. It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without at least some of my friends to share it with.

My Uncle Richard got out his guitar and we sang "We Give Thanks To Thee O Lord". Then when we we all around the table, we took turns saying what we were thankful for.

I was thankful that my friends could share this day with me, and for my mom's macaroni and cheese!

Kim was thankful for one year here in Springfield and that she would have many more to come.

Cheryl was thankful for her family, her nice house, and being in Miss LaSalle's class again this year.

Shante' was thankful that she and her family had moved here to Springfield where there was hardly any crime, and the streets were clean and safe and that she made so many new friends.

Of course after that, we got to eat! We had turkey with gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls, green beans, my salad and macaroni and cheese! And man, was it good!

Y'know why there isn't any macaroni on my plate? 'Cos I ate it! (2 helpings!)

This year Kim and Cheryl's mothers brought dessert. My mom made a pumpkin pie, (that was at the grown-up's table). Cheryl mom made lemon meringue pie and Kim's mom made cherry pie! They were delicious!

After dinner, the grown-ups went to play cards, and us kids went into the living room to watch television. "The Littlest Angel" was on! I really love that movie. My mom has the record album of the soundtrack. I sang along to "I'm Master Of All I Survey", and "I Have Saved", my favorite songs from the movie.

It was a really dynamite day. But of course, Thanksgiving isn't the only day we should be thankful. My mom says everyday is Thanksgiving as long as you're alive.

Until next time, future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman

Baton Club Practice

Hello future readers!

Every Thursday after school I have Baton Club practice along with my friends Susan and Raychel. I guess this year Jennifer and Robyn decided to do other things, 'cos they didn't want to be in the Baton Club this year. I had an automatic spot, since I've was in the club last year (and part of the year before), but Susan and Raychel are new. While Raychel caught on quickly, it took Susan a while to be able to twirl the baton without dropping it when she walked, but she's super at it now. We practice in the school auditorium from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

Mrs. Taylor says we should wear jeans and sneakers to practice, so we'll be able to move comfortably. I remember when Sunny tried out when Baton Club first started, she stumbled a lot because she wore platforms.  Platforms really look groovy, but they're not the best shoes to practice in.  We were doing routines to "Shining Star" by Earth, Wind & Fire, and "Jive Talkin'" by The Bee Gees. I love those songs! I have a 45 of "Shining Star" and Raychel has The Bee Gees album, so sometimes we get together and practice at each other's houses.

It's a lot of work dancing and twirling, moving together and remembering all the steps. There are 3 basic styles of twirling we use; the basic twirl, the figure 8, and the double handed twirl. We don't throw them up in the air or anything, 'cos that's for marching bands. Besides, I don't think any of us could catch them anyway! *giggle*

I really love being in Baton Club! It's so much fun, and my mom says it's good exercise, and it helps my coordination (wow, that's one of my vocabulary words this week!). Do people still twirl in the future? Are there still Baton Clubs in schools? Or maybe twirling in Marching Bands? I hope so. I would want everybody to have as much fun as I have every Thursday after school.

Until next time future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman

Dinner's at Lisa's House

Hello future readers!

This past Wednesday, Lisa invited me to her house for dinner. So after school, I walked over to her house. Lisa's family lives with her grandmother. They came here from Florida a few years ago to take of her when she was sick. Even though her grandmother is all better now, Lisa's family still lives with her because she's pretty old and can't take care of her house all by herself. Lisa's parents use the guest room and Lisa has the den for her bedroom.

It's such a cozy room. There's a fold out bed that looks like a chair, and a record player that looks a lot like mine! But the best part is that because her room is in the den, she has a television and a telephone in her room! She's so lucky! Another thing that I really like is that there's a picture on the wall of the 2 of us at the beach last summer. What a groovy friend!

Lisa got out her Booby Trap game. It's really fun. There's a bar held on with a rubber band on the game board. You have to pull the pieces out one at a time. But you have to be careful not to pull the wrong piece out, or they all go flying! I lost, but I still had fun.

Then Mrs. Lawrence called us for dinner. And what a dinner! Steak, baked potatoes, and carrots in brown sugar and butter sauce. Yummy! It was a great meal!

Then we had pumpkin pie for dessert. Lisa's mom made it from the pumpkin Lisa got from the pumpkin patch for Hallloween. Outta site!

After dinner, we went back to Lisa's room to watch television. A rerun of "I Dream Of Jeannie" was on. I love that show. Jeannie is so pretty. But I can't stand Dr. Bellows. He's so nosy!

We were just about to play some records, when my mom called.  She said it was time for me to come home, because it was a school night, and I still had homework to do.  Darn it!

It was fun at Lisa's house. I'm glad she invited me over. I love going to my friend's houses. It's really cool tasting other moms' cooking, playing with my friends' toys, watching other TV programs. It's just as much fun to have friends come to my house.  Maybe in the future, you have friends on other planets, and have to use a TV monitor to see them. That might be fun, but I'd miss walking over to my friends' house, seeing if they can come out and play, and maybe staying for dinner. I hope anyone reading this still has good friends in the future. Life would be a drag without them.

Until next time, future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman