Splashing into Summer with the Ashland Barracudas!

This summer has been awesome so far.  It's the first time I've ever been on a swim team.  I remember last summer I wondered how big the swim team was and what it was all about.  Now I know because I am on it.

Being on the swim team is fun, but it's tough work.  Before school was out, we practiced every afternoon for an hour.  Now, we practice every morning.  Can you believe that we have to swim about 20 laps a day?  We even had a swim-a-thon where I swam 32 laps in 45 minutes.  I wonder how many I would have done if I had been on time...I was late because I was getting a well check-up.  You would think I'd be tired and not want to go to practice, but I do.  It's fun...it's awesome!  It's great exercise and I love learning how to do new things.



Swim team is a great place for new things to happen.  Just the other day, my friends Ben and T.J. taught me how to do a flip turn for freestyle and backstroke.  Even though I only have to do 25 meters, I still need it for when I'm older.  I've also made new friends.  One day at practice, I met a new friend named Addy.  The coach calls her "Baddy Addy."  Addy and I are the same age and we a lot in common.  Our moms even have a lot in common.  Believe it or not, Addy has a sister who is the same age as my brother.  Recently, we went to Addy's house to make paper-mache chickens for the Ashland 4th of July parade.  She and I had the best time ever.  I'm still making friends.  At practice the other day, we had a play practice where we got to meet the older kids.  After practice, I met Rachel who is in the older group.  We had a chance to play together.  I can't wait to see her again!

I am crazy about swim team and hope that we win our next meet.  I know right now that I want to be on the Ashland Barracudas next year, too!

If you want to see me, you better check the pool!
Evelyn

The Early Birthday Surprise

While we were celebrating my dad's 40th birthday, my friend's dad (Pete) brought something very special.  You won't believe what he had.  I'll give you some hints.  It's miniature.  It has 4 rooms.  It's big for what it is.  Do you have any guesses?  If not, I'll tell you.


Mr. Pete brought me my first, very own dollhouse that my Grandma Sue made just for me for my birthday.  It is awesome!  I love the way the colors are in the rooms.  One room is as pink as a clean pig.  Another room is yellow like the sun.  There is also one that is as purple as a lilac.   The last room is green and reminds me of leaves popping out on a spring day.

So far, I have a few things in the house that I already had at home.  I used a wooden game holder for a table.  I have a miniature bird nest for a bed.  There's a puny, fluffy purple pillow from a High School Musical Set that I use for a dog bed.  I'm using an elephant bobble-head and a turtle bobble-head as two other pets.  Maybe it's not a house, maybe it's a zoo.  But it's not, it's a dollhouse.  And it's my dollhouse.

There are a few things that I can make for the house.  I'm going to make a pool out of a newspaper and it's very easy.  I can design a carpet using regular paper and add decorations.  I can also make miniscule artwork for the walls.   I bet I can use toothpicks for the frame.  I wonder what I should use to hang them.


I'd love to add some more furniture and people, but I'm not sure what to choose.  Do you have any ideas or suggestions?


Thank you, Grandma Sue, for such a special dollhouse!