Drivers Ed & Taxes by Arianna

For the past month I have been taking driver's ed. classes in Benton City. These have been educational in the way that I now have a better idea of the public schooler and how they are taught to think. First and foremost being that, and I quote: "You can not trust a child to make the right choice so we (the teachers) make the right choice for them." That is why we have driver's ed. at all! I mean really, take the test to get a license and if you break the laws of the road you get fined or your license taken away! It is not that hard; but no! We has children can not be trusted to make good choices and so each if forced to take a class that, if people would exercise a little common sense, would not be necessary. I know this is just a required step to go through and I will soon be done but come on! Dependant children make incapable adults.
Note to self: correct your perception of the rest of the world. Just because you think it is dumb does not mean it really is.
On a good driving note: I have been driving on the freeway at a whole 70 miles a hour!! Passing cars, switching lanes, oh ya! I am really a bad driver but there is something delightful about the sheer velocity of freeway driving. I have gotten a lot better on Old Inland Empire Hwy. and our church route. I have had my permit for one month and 12 days. Much to mom's dismay I drive on most trips now but I must be getting better because she will let me drive the truck, (mommy's big red purse) something that was inconceivable before.
Taxes was an interesting experience. I was really worried about it but when dad and I actually sat down to do it I settled down a bit. I had registered my business as a service but then we realized as we were filing taxes that the state had categorized me and others like me as a retail business. Ya, that was frustrating. Dad spent over a hour telling other people. (No one else had known either). But it worked out. I have been in business one taxable year. Wow, it does not seem that long. I feel happy just thinking about it.
In class we have been working on building endurance and I just want everyone to know that Grandma Gigi and Grandpa Bob have done over 160 movements (mostly consisting of squats) and practiced our forms intensely every class without sitting down! I am really proud of everyone and Grandpa has not stood straighter in 40 years.

Maya's 1st Blog Entry

Hello. My name is Maya and I am 10 years old. I live on a farm called Desert Haven Farm and It is beautiful.
I love my big dog because he is good.I have six goats. And a lot of chickens. And four cats.
I have just got back from my Grandma & Grandpa's house. I love it there because it is fun.
This is my first Blog entry,I hope it is good.
I am reading a book called the First Four Years,it is one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books.I Love her books.I am also reading the sixth book of Harry Potter.
January 24 is my birth day and the January 22 is my Dads birth day.
I am righting a book called Sosan cane. I am also righting a star wars book and when I am done I am going to send a letter to the person who edited the star wars books.I am also righting a poem,I am going to tell you part of it."As the day go's by,I see a fly,in the sky,I see a pie fly.that is all I have so fare.
I also like to draw.
Well enough about me,I'll tell you about my family.
First there's Dad.he's wonderful and nice,funny,happy,silly and assume(awesome)!!!!!.
Second Mom. sometimes we go on dates and she is assume(awesome)!!!!!.
Third Arianna. we play games and she likes to tickle me!!! but that's a sister for you.
Fourth Liara. she reads a lot! and she likes to play the Piano.
Then last comes Me.

Christmas 2009

This year, in preparation for Christmas and as a school assignment, Liara and I researched the origins of our modern Christmas traditions. We discovered the roots, both pagan and Christian, of traditions such as decorating an evergreen tree, setting up lights and candles, the giving of gifts, feasting on Christmas day and, of course, the true nature of St. Nicholas. I greatly enjoyed this exercise because it helped me gain a better understanding and appreciation for our traditions. I also realized that many of the simple things that I often take for granted because we do them every year have deep significance and, in some cases, thousands of years of history behind them. I found it beneficial to put things into perspective at Christmas time.

Christmas Eve celebrations were held at our house. Grandma, Grandpa, Rob, Bonnie and Ryan all came over in the evening to visit and eat. We had every kind of finger food imaginable. Dips, cheeses, crackers, cookies, summer sausage, brownies, pastrami and a delicious trifle that Grandma made sat out on out kitchen table. Everyone ate till they could hold no more. Most years there is a small present for each of us kids to open on Christmas Eve. This year all our gifts were big and so, despite our pleading, mom insisted that we wait till the next day (except me, 'cause I'm special and Liara was just dying to show me my gift from mom and dad. My present was the beautiful Van Gough painting "Irises." It is now hanging in my room where I can see it always.)

The next day, as it so happened, came a little earlier than desired. Too excited to sleep, Maya woke up at about four in the morning and then woke Liara and I up a little closer to five. Liara was awake at once. I, on the other hand, kept insisting I was getting up and then falling back asleep. At about 5:30 the girls were fed up with me and proceeded to tickle me and steal blankets in an attempt to get me up. With much mumbling and whining they eventually got me out of bed. Stockings were very fun. I am almost done with all my candy and I bought a Beethoven album with the itunes gift card. After the thrill of the stockings started to wear off Liara started saying things like, "It is too early. I think I'm gonna die." Regardless of how much I agreed with these statements they did make her easy to mock.

Linda came over at about 8:30 and had breakfast with us. She gave each of us a Ross gift card and made plans for when we could go shopping together. In our family everyone draws names for who they will give gifts to. That way instead of everyone getting lots of cheap gifts they get a few really nice gifts. Liara and dad had each other and I had mom. Maya and myself were given gifts by extended family. I think I got mom a great present. It was a handcrafted pen from Pike's Place Market.

That afternoon everyone went to Jessie and Joe's house for the big dinner and to exchange the rest of the gifts. Jessie had my name and she gave me the cutest sweater and an outfit to match. The sweater is soft and gray with a big fashionable button in front. This was a big gift card year and a lot were exchanged. Other gifts people gave each other were chocolate, jewelry, food storage and clothes. Ryan gave Rob an ipod. Dinner worked really well this year. Each family made something for it so there was no single person being landed with all of it. It was delicious!! Everything was great. There was room for all to sit comfortably and people were genuinely happy to be around each other. It was fun and it felt good for us all to be together.