Today, there was no school and I decided to make another monster pillow. I tried to use a pattern from last week on the sewing machine, but that didn't work out too well. Meaning, I had to start all over. I thought of what animals i liked...FISH! Based on the goldfish crackers, I drew a "goldfish" straight on a soft piece of fabric. Then, i cut out some strips from all the old clothes I had saved for this. Using the sewing machine I sewed the first layer leaving 2 in opening to turn the unstuffed pillow inside out. Next, I stuffed the pillow and closed up the hole by hand. It took me the whole day to hand sew the strips on. I didn't have enough for the back and I didn't want to leave he back blank. So, I took a button and sewed it on along with a mouth. And I had a fish pillow :)

And a special thanks to Mom for helping me work the sewing machine
and Kelly for letting me use her camera :)

Behind the blur of tears

All they can see and feel are a child's fears.

A gentle smile washed away

As everyone finally knew

That no one liked them because they were a Jew.

With a point of a finger

They would hold their breath

If they were given life or death.

At night cries are heard and guns are fired

Days and days go by

As the prayers are unanswered of not wanting to die.

A happy couple never to be reunited

As the only place they know each other is in their heart.

And sadness come when families are torn apart.

Decaying bodies are walked over

As children think they are just asleep

And lay next to their parents crying without a peep.

More crying comes

Arms are raised in the air

As they felt someone care.

"You are safe now",

The words ring to their ears

As they will no longer fear.

A happy family inside their home

And their sore feet and boney legs

Carry themselves to a place to beg.

"Your job is done and you did well"

"And now you're through"

Through the now closed eyes of a Jew.

For language arts we are learning about the holocaust. For a project we had to make a collage and write a poem about it. So, this was my poem :)

Here is his video that we are competing against...

#1 Practice meet
- EVERY one had to swim a 50 of each stroke...no complaints.
- We swam against ourselves and it just gave the coaches of what are abilities are and what we need to work on.
- Wouldn't affect our ranking

50 Freestyle- 1st place with 34.27 seconds (stronger stoke, time could be better)
50 Butterfly- 2nd place with 44.23 seconds (weakest stroke, combined with 13/14 boys and ended up coming in 2nd still overall!)
50 Backstroke- 1st place with 42.00 seconds (strongest stroke, time could be better)
50 Breaststroke- 3rd place with 43+ seconds (very weak on this stroke, not sure on time, I know my time could be way better)

#2 B.R vs. R.O
- 1st real meet
- On flip turn during 50 free I swallowed water slowing me down, not common, and timers weren't accurate.
- Since 50 free was so close to IM and 100 free, I couldn't swim the two events because of trouble breathing.
- Won by 100 points

Medley relay- 2nd place with 2:29.87 (I started the group off good with backstroke, once again we combined heats with the 13/14 boys)
50 Freestyle- 4th place with 37.90 seconds (time could be a lot better)
100 IM- N/A
100 Free- N/A
Free Relay- 2nd place with 2:45.90 (combined with 13/14 boys, and I finished our group off)

#3 B.R vs E.C
- I had to make up for the two events that I didn't swim last week, coach was desperate to see me swim them.
- Coach was also seemed to avoid putting me in 50 backstroke.
- Meet ended right before our Free relay because of thunderstorm. Even though the other team forfeit, we won by far.
- Asthma attack in water during 3rd lap out of 4 in 100 Free, coach regrets putting me in two long events so close to each other.

Medley relay- 2nd place with the time of 2:39:85 (started the group off well with backstroke)
50 Free- 1st place with 32.75 seconds (good time and flip turn really helped me get ahead this time, didn't swallow water [: )
100 IM- 2nd place with a time of 1:31.62 (coach was proud, I hope to do IM again)
100 Free- N/A (did get a participation ribbon though [: )
Free relay- N/A (thunderstorm)

I will keep posting up my scores and times. Hopefully, the coach will put me in 50 backstroke :)
This weeks swim meet, I heard, that it was gonna be tough.
Wish me luck!

Oh ya!
I have a good friend, Justin, whose a year older than me but he has a youtube account where him and his friends make very entertaining videos.
They make parodies to songs and then make music videos to them. (Well, most of their videos)
But, I was talking to him and his friend how Kelly and I have a youtube account.
So, after a while of conversation about who has the best videos, he challenged Kelly and I to a face off against their latest video, Joe a parody to Low.
Kelly and I are still in progress of finishing our first face off video against them.
Of coarse, we will win :)

I'm always thinking,
The memories he gave me.
The sent of him that I breathed in,
Every time I wrapped my arms around his legs.
Never wanting to let go.
His crooked smile made you love him.
That's all i saw on his face
That smile.
Enjoying each moment with the generations he started.
The memories I hold,
Always checking to know they're secure.
The treasure map he made,
All grandchildren trying to see it,
eager to know what he has hidden,
In the dunes.
When he made a crash,
Two kids in a wheelbarrow.
Laughing, with that smile he had.
His treasure was silver dollars.
Handing one out once a year to that one special grandchild.
Everyone who knew him thought of him as a hero
An amazing person
A mystery that couldn't be solved.
Sitting on his lap,
I was safe.
The sent
The Smile
The mystery he held.
He filled my heart and mind.
Not a day goes by
Where i wish he would wake up,
Create a treasure map
or hold me in his arms again.
Oh, how happy I will be,
To see you again,
Grandaddy.

- The Stolen Purse- Do you ever think what you might miss if you DON'T go to the grocery store???? 7 1/2 (out of 10)

- Zappy the Way of the Future!!!- What will happen whens Zappy, the boy from the future who loves electricity, visits your home??? 9 1/2

- Thanks for the Memories- A girl named Coodie thinks of her past which involves, her sweet 16 (not so sweet), first kiss (which she might have "missed"), her first haircut (which was yesterday!), and her first time she bough a DVD (the mom gets ANGRY!) 8

- The Real Story Behind Fred/Frank- Coddie's boyfriend may not have a great life after all ever since he got his purple shorts! Ugly purple shorts! 7

- Kelsey the 5 yr old 8th grader- Kelsey, a five year old, talks about her struggles in being in the 8th grade. It involves a bully and a stuffed bear. Do you ave a clue??? 8

- American Idol- What will happen when two people try to pull off a "special episode" of American Idol??? Well this is what happens, there's a freaky Ryan Secrest, weird Paula Abdul, and spoiled brat singers. 8 1/2

Well that is what's been going on with PiZzAZz ShoRTZ lately.

Here's our latest videos on YouTube:

also...

Backwards girl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95KqpOBvRUA

-Claire

-CC