What Christmas Means to Me

What Christmas means to me is...
a fresh cut pine tree strung with lights,
to brighten up the cold winter nights.
Presents with bows,
stacked in little rows.
Ginger men and women
strung up with ribbon.
My dog dressed as a reindeer, my cat an elf,
our Dickens Village adorns the shelf.
Chasing my friends around with mistletoe on a pole,
hoping I've been good and don't get any coal.
Family together snuggling in harsh weather.
Santa Clause putting presents under the tree
But most of all what Christmas means to me,
is Jesus Christ born for us so we may see.~Alyssa Bengtson

Little red riding hood

                                             

February 5, 2015

 Little Red Riding Hood

                                                                                by Alyssa Bengtson 

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Little Red Riding Hood. She lived with her mother in a cottage at the edge of the woods. One day her mother said, "Little Red dear, your grandmother is sick.  Please take these fruit cakes to her.  It would make her feel much better." So Little Red put on her cloak and headed to the door with her basket, but her mother stopped her, "Little Red" said her mother, " stay on the path! and don't talk to any wolves." Little Red said, "yes mother." Then she went out the door. She was walking along the the path when... a wolf jumped out at her. " AH!" said Little Red, " You Startled Me!" Then the wolf said, "I'm sorry!" Then Little Red said, " well you should be more carful." Then the Wolf said," whats in your basket?" Then Little Red said, " There fruit cakes for my sick Grandmother." Then the wolf said, " Why don't you pick her some flowers?" Then Little Red said," ok! Why didn't I think of that?" So Little Red went off the path and picked some flowers. While she was bent down looking for the best flowers the wolf snuck off to Little Reds Grandmother. When he got there he knocked at the door. Little Red's Grandmother said, " Little Red is that you?" In his best little girl voice he said yes it is grand mother." Then Little Reds Grandmother said, " Come in dear. " So the Wolf came in and ate Little Reds Grandmother. The wolf put on Little Red's Grandmother's glasses, dress, and cap and got into her bed. When Little Red came in she said,
" Oh Dear Grandmother What Big Eyes You Have!" Then the wolf said, " Better to see you with my dear. Then Little Red said, " Oh Grandmother What Big Nose You Have!" Then the Wolf said, " Better to smell you with my dear." Then Little Red said," Oh Dear Grandmother What A Big Mouth You Have!" Then the Wolf said," BETTER TO EAT YOU WITH MY DEAR!" and the wolf ate her up. Then a hunter came along to check on Little Reds Grandmother. He found the wolf sleeping on the floor. He cut open the Wolfs belly and out jumped Little Red and her Grandmother. The hunter said," do you have any pots or pans?" Then Little Reds Grandmother got some pots and pans. The hunter put the pots and pans in the wolfs belly. So from then on when ever the wolf tried to eat any one again they would here the Wolf before he had a chance to eat them.
                                                                 THE END

Little Peter Brer Rabbit Jr. Bunny Rescued

August 31, 2015

Last Sunday my dad and mom saved a little baby bunny from the pool.  The poor thing must have fallen in the night before and was huddled on the skimmer shelf all wet.  He was so cute.  He was all brown with a white cotton tail.  We named him Peter Brer Rabbit Jr. Bunny.  We gave him a piece of lettuce but he was so scared that he wouldn't eat it.   After he warmed up and rested my dad set the container on it's side down in the shrubs so that Peter could hop out of it.  I said goodbye and before we left for church he had hopped away.  And the next day I saw Peter's daddy Brer Rabbit when I was out swinging under the oak tree. I hope peter and his brothers and sisters grow up to be healthy and strong. It was nice to rescue a bunny. 

Why the Number 13 is Considered Unlucky

July 31,  2015

Why

People think

that the

Number 13

is Considered

Unlucky

Just a few days ago I went to Mississippi with my Mom and Hannah to help Shelby get moved out of her house.  We stayed at a hotel where we stayed in room 15.  When we went to our room I noticed there wasn't a 13th floor.  So when we got home I looked it up on the internet.  And this is what I found.  So here are 13 reasons some people are afraid of the number 13 as told by Stacy Conradt http://mentalfloss.com/article/23266/13-reasons-people-think-number-13-unlucky

1. There were 13 people at the Last Supper. It’s said that Judas Iscariot — the one who betrayed Jesus — was the 13th man to take his place at the table. 

2. Similarly, there’s a Norse legend that has 12 gods sitting down to a banquet when the 13th (uninvited) god, Loki, shows up. Loki killed one of the other gods, which led to events that eventually resulted in Ragnarok — the death of a bunch of gods, a slew of natural disasters, and the eradication of everything on earth save for two human survivors. There’s a lot more to the story than that, but you get the general idea.

3. Let’s go back to Christianity for a moment. Many Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on Friday. Researchers, however, believe that it wasn’t a case of Friday the 13th lore - it was possibly something like Friday, April 3, 33 A.D. But that doesn’t mean the 13th is off the hook. Many Christians also believe that the Cain and Abel debacle took place on that date. 

4. Traditionally, there used to be 13 steps leading up the gallows. There’s also a legend that a hangman’s noose traditionally contained 13 turns, but it’s actually more like eight.

5. Apollo 13 is the only unsuccessful moon mission (intended to get men on the moon, anyway) thus far. An oxygen tank exploded and the survival of the astronauts on board was pretty touch-and-go for several days, but they did all come home safely in the end (but you already knew that).

6. There was a mass arrest and execution of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307.

7. According to Mr. Krabs on Spongebob Squarepants, there are 13 dirty words. Squidward must be a George Carlin fan, because he responded that he thought there were only seven. “Not if you’re a sailor,” Mr. Krabs replied.

8. Although a coven is now just considered to be any group of witches (or vampires, if you’re into a certain young adult series about sparkly supernaturals), it was once believed that a coven was made up of exactly 13 members. 

9. There’s an old superstition that says if you have 13 letters in your name, you’re bound to have the devil’s luck. Silly, yes, but slightly more convincing when you consider that Charles Manson, Jack the Ripper, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all contain 13 letters (I know, I know, what about their middle names?).

10. Kids officially become teenagers at the age of 13, and we all know that’s a scary phase.

11. In numerology, the number 12 is considered to be the representation of perfection and completion. It stands to reason, then, that trying to improve upon perfection by adding a digit is a very bad idea indeed — your greed will be rewarded with bad luck.

12. In the late 1800s, there was a group called The Thirteen Club. Their purpose was to debunk the legend that seating 13 people at a table would result in the death of one of them in the year to follow. They met on the 13th of the month and had dinner 13 people to a table, and to make matters worse, they purposely spilled salt on the table without throwing it over their shoulders. The horror! They also fined members who showed up late — 13 cents, of course. Members of the club included five U.S. presidents: Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and Chester A. Arthur. I’m not sure if it’s worth noting that two of these presidents were shot — one fatally, of course — but I’ll mention it anyway. And, if you’re keeping track, Chester A. Arthur only became president because he was vice when Garfield was assassinated. 

13. Friday, October 13, 1972, was a bad day in the history of aviation. That’s the day that Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 infamously crashed in the Andes, killing 29 people. On the exact same day, 174 people were killed when a Soviet Aeroflot crashed in a lake about a kilometer from the runway. 

To counter all of this undue hatred of the poor number 13, I’ll give you one reason to love it: a baker’s dozen. Mmm, extra doughnut.

Well I for one don't believe that the number 13 is unlucky.  And anybody with Triscadebckaphobia is out of there mind.  And you now even though hotels don't have a 13 floor they actually do have one

'cause in a hotel if you stay in room 14 or on floor 14 than your really staying in room 13 or on floor 13.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Valentines Party

February 12, 2015

This Saturday is Valentine's Day. To celebrate I'm throwing a Valentine's Tea Party. We're going to have a wacky cake, brownies, and heart shaped sugar cookies. I have hearts hanging all around the kitchen. The last couple of days I've been making Valentine's cards for everyone. I hope you'll have fun at my party!                                                                                                                   

Love,                                                                                                     Psalm 37:4

Alyssa                                                                                                  Delight yourself in the Lord and 

XOXOXOXO                                                                                       he shall give you the desires of 

                                                                                                            your heart.

Groundhogs

January 30, 2015

Hibernating Vital Statists of the Groundhog                      

Heart Beat - 4 beats per minute,

Body Temperature - 38 degrees almost as cold as ice,

Breathing Speed - 1 breath every 6 minutes.

The Real Reason Groundhogs Come Out of There Burrows at the End of Winter

The groundhog dose not come out of his burrow to check the weather, it's just a tall tale that if a groundhog comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow he'll get scared and run back in his burrow and that means that there will be six more weeks of winter.  Or if he does not see his shadow then spring will be here soon. Actually male ground hogs wake up at the end of winter to look for female groundhogs.

   

A groundhogs burrow is very fancy. It has an entrance leading to a very steep path. Then there's a hole and the floor of the hole is the hibernating room. Fun Fact - groundhogs wall themselves in their hibernating room when they are hibernating because they are asleep and defenseless. After the hibernating room you keep going on the path until there is a tunnel leading up. Then you come to a room where they sleep when they are not hibernating. Fun fact, groundhogs build escape exits in case of a predator invasion.

Going to my Sisters Art School

Yesterday I went to my sister Shelby's art school with my Mom. It was a 3 hour drive. 

On the way there we had a pitstop at the Nightingale's Pantry. When we got there we met Shelby at her art school. 

When we went into her room I saw a potter's wheel. Shelby made a Chinese teacup with the design of a bald cypress tree in it. 

I got to see a wood shop, and a big container full of clay. We had a smoothie  at the Grateful Garden. Then we had lunch at some place that had a pig theme that I can't remember the name of. 

Then after that we hung around the art school for a few hours. 

Then we went to Shelby's house. I saw Ziva, Sage, and Mojo. Then Shelby and Ziva came back home with us!

The Three Little Pigs

                                                          The Three Little Pigs

                                                                           by Alyssa Bengtson

Once upon a time there were three little pigs. There names were Jiggles, Wiggles, and Snorts. They lived with there mother in a cottage in the woods. One day the mother pig said" it is time for you to go off on your own, heres some money for each of you and... watch out for the big bad wolf." She handed $10.99 each. " Thank you mother!" said Jiggles." Thank you mother!" said Wiggles. " Thank you mother!" said Snorts.  "We will all try to be wise little pigs and watch out for the big bad wolf." Then they all went off on there way. Pretty soon Jiggles said

" I'm home sick." Then Wiggles said" yah I miss mommy!" " It will be okay." said Snorts" mom will visit us."  " When?" said Jiggles. " I don't no!" said Snorts. Then Wiggles said" THEN HOW DO YOU KNOW SHE'LL COME AT ALL?!" " HE DOESN'T KNOW HE TOLD YOU THAT ALL READY!" said Jiggles. Then Snorts said" I didn't say I don't know I have a pretty good feeling that mom will visit us soon I just don't know when." Then they came to a market. Wiggles said" let's go use our money on stuff to build a house to live in!" Then Jiggles and Snorts said" OK!" Then Jiggles went and saw a man selling straw. " I'll by this straw" said Jiggles. "It only costs $1.10. I'll still have money left to buy a TOY!" So Jiggles bought the straw. Then Wiggles went and saw a man selling sticks. " I'll buy these sticks" he said "It only costs $3.15 that way I'll still have money to buy CANDY." So Wiggles bought the sticks. Then Snorts went and saw a man selling bricks. " I'll buy these bricks" said Snorts. "It will cost all $10.99 that mother gave me but Those bricks will make a strong house." So Snorts bought the bricks. When Jiggles finished his house he went inside he was pleased with himself. Then he saw the Big Bad Wolf walking down the path to his house. Then he quickly locked the door. When the Big Bad Wolf got to the front door he said " little pig little pig let me in." Then Jiggles said " NOT BY THE HAIR OF MY CHINNY CHIN CHIN!" Then The wolf said " THEN I'LL HUFF AND I'LL PUFF AND I'LL BLOW YOUR HOUSE DOWN! Then the wolf started huffing and puffing and blew Jiggles house down. Then Jiggles ran to his sisters house. They played games together and giggled and talked, until Wiggles saw the Big Bad Wolf coming down her walkway. She locked the door. When the Big Bad Wolf got to the door, he said, " little pigs little pigs let me in." then they said, " NOT BY THE HAIR OF OUR CHINNY CHIN CHIN!" Then the wolf said, " THEN I'LL HUFF AND I'LL PUFF AND I'LL BLOW YOUR HOUSE DOWN! then the wolf huffed  and he puffed and he blew the house down! Then they ran to there brothers house. Snorts was cooking supper. They watched TV and played games, they had a fun time until... the Big Bad Wolf came knocking at the door. Then the wolf said, " little pigs little pigs let me in. Then the pigs said," NOT BY THE HAIR OF OUR CHINNY CHIN CHIN!" Then the wolf said, " THEN I'LL HUFF AND I'LL PUFF AND I'LL BLOW YOUR HOUSE DOWN!" So the wolf started Huffing and PUFFING... but he could not blow the house down. But he huffed and puffed twice as hard, until... he lay splat on the ground panting for breath. But then he looked up and saw the chimney. He got up and started climbing the house to get to the chimney. Wiggles saw the wolf coming. " Snorts the Big Bad Wolf is climbing the house to get to the chimney!" said Wiggles. Then Snorts said, " I have a idea!" Snorts quickly went over to the chimney and took the lid off the boiling hot soup, right when the wolf came down the chimney. He landed right splat in the hot soup. And that was the end of the wolf. The three little pigs jigged for joy, because they new that they would never see our hear from the Big Bad Wolf again. The pigs  lived happily ever after in snorts house.
THE END!

American Girl Doll's New House

January 23, 2015

Last night I made a house for my American Girl dolls. Now they have two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, a laundry room, a club house, and a stable for Sadie their horse. My doll Caroline's bed is in the dormer window area of my room. The kitchen is in the left corner of my room. The bunk bed  is to the right of Caroline's room. Kirsten sleeps on the top bunk, Olivia sleeps on the bottom bunk, and Samantha sleeps in a trundle bed. The living room is to the left of Caroline's room. The living room has a couch and a matching chair, the design is brown leopard print with pink roses. The laundry room is in the right corner. Each of my American Girl dolls has a kitten and a hamster. Kirsten's kitten's name is Tiger, Caroline's kitten's name is Browny, Olivia's kittens name is Duchess, and Samantha's kitten's name is Flower. The hamster's names are... Oreo, Muddy cupcake, Lemon square,  and Chocolate cookie dough. Kirsten has a puppy named Sunny and a dog named Jack. And thats my American Girl doll's house. Good day!

                                                       this is the kitchen 

                                                   

                                                      this is Caroline's bedroom 

                                               

                                                     this is the stable

Seven AM Siren

January 21, 2015

Today I was sleeping peacefully in my bed, until...at seven AM I herd a loud siren going off! I covered my ears and then hid under the covers. I started thinking..."has there been a robbery?" "Is there a fire?" My heart was pounding with fear! I went downstairs. My Mom was there. She told me what happened... The other night one of my Mom's friends said, since Dad was at work, Mom should turn on the alarm. So if anyone opened the door the siren would start. Well, the next day Mom woke up and went to take Tchai out without turning off the alarm, and off went the siren!

Here are Tchai and I snoozing after the very, very early wake up call.

Alyssa's Day

January 20, 2015

Today I woke up and went downstairs and had a breakfast of granola cereal and some water kefir then I did my early bird math and music theory. After that I just hung around the house a bit. Then I got on a cute outfit and went outside and played soccer with Tchai. When I came back in it was time to go to the dentist. So I got in the car. Thankfully all Dr. Smith did was adjust the wire on my appliance. When he was finished I went to my Meme's house. Then we went to Hollywood Feed and got Tchai some new toys. Then I went to aunt Deet's house. I saw Frodo. He got on my lap so I stroked his fur then he started going puuuur.   When we went back home it was time for dinner.  Mom and I had a taco for dinner.  Then we gave Tchai his dinner. After Tchai had his dinner we let him out to go potty. Then Tchai settled down  behind the couch.  Now I'm sitting on the couch writing in my Blog.  Mom is playing on her phone. And Tchai is sleeping and snoring behind the couch. Good Night!

birthday party

 January 19, 2015

Today was my friend's birthday party. On the way to the party something exciting happened. When we left our driveway we saw a real live female deer running scared in our neighborhood! But it was really sad because she didn't have a home.  When we got to the party they had snacks. They had a bowl of jellybeans, a tray of chocolate balls, and a tray of rice crispy treats. We brought three costumes each to the party. The theme was a photo shoot. My three costumes were a cowgirl, a genie, and a butterfly fairy. First we dressed in our costume and we got to spin and jump and twirl as the photographer took our pictures.  My mom's favorite picture was of everyone all piled together on a white fur bean bag chair. We all held hands and spun and laughed until we were dizzy. My favorite part was watching Faire open all her wonderful gifts. Lily gave her a really cool Barbie that you could change the color of Barbie's hair! I gave Faire a Rebel's Bow.  Her parents gave her gymnastics equipment for her American Girl doll. I'm hoping to someday get that myself!

When we got home I got on some play clothes and got a soccer ball and took my puppy Tchai out in the back yard and played soccer with him. When I came in I noticed I had three splinters, two on my wrist and one on my thumb. So to get my mind off of it I watched some of my favorite TV shows like Fat Albert, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Magic School Bus. Then we had dinner. I wasn't very hungry so all I had was some yogurt, pineapple, and a piece of bread. Then I made a math test on the computer for my Dad who got 100%. Now I'm just sitting on the couch writing in my blog. Good Night!

Mermaid Party