We picked Matthan up at the bus station for Christmas Break. He said `squeeze, Mathalia, can you squeeze your hug?’ I hope that I am getting better with squeezing my hugs. I had lots of practice with my sister while we were in China: she wanted lots and lots of hugs! Anyway, next week I get to hang out with my brother again: we are driving to Los Angeles for Spring Break!
In December he came to my violin recital. I wore my Santa Claus hat. I played `Joy to the World’ and `O Come Little Children.’ Matthan was teasing me by playing with my hat. I am glad he did that AFTER I was all done playing.
- Christmas Recital.
- My Santa hat . . .
- Oops!
We swam against each other at the Holiday Alumni Meet. We are both Alumni: Matthan swam for the Hellgate Knights and I swam for the Big Sky Eagles in High School. He did not really play a trick on me at the meet but he `high-fived’ me on his way back: he was almost finished and I was in the middle of the race!
- Cap and goggles on.
- On your mark!
- Good swims!
One day Jourdyn came over to hang out and they invited me to go to The Hobbit movie with them.
`No, I want Yoga Class.’
My mom wanted me to change my mind: `look at the schedule, Mathalia. You can skip Yoga Class today and go tomorrow.’
`No! I want Yoga Class.’
`Mathalia, don’t you want to go to The Hobbit with Matthan and Jourdyn. He is only here for a short time and now is your chance to do something with him and a friend.’
`No, I want Yoga Class.’
Mom kept trying but Jourdyn heard me and said, ` I think she really wants to go to Yoga Class.’
So I went to Yoga Class and they went to The Hobbit. My mom thought I was crazy.
We cooked breakfast pizza together with eggs from my chickens (this was before my egg-free diet). He likes lots of vegetables so we there was lots of chopping: yellow, orange, and red peppers, broccoli, mushrooms and potatoes. Yum!
- Chopping peppers.
- Cracking eggs
- Mixing all together.
We played Muggins with Grandpa and my mom. Matthan `mugginsed’ me a lot because I was watching him and not paying attention to my cards. This is the same way I played Muggins in China: watching friends not the game!
When I showed him my chickens, they all walked out of their coop. He helped me shoo them back inside. He was not so nice about riding in the car with me: he was always very quick and I am usually very slow. He beat me to the front seat of the car! I ended up sitting in the BACK seat the whole time he was home!
- Chickens with Uncle Jeff too!
- Matthan in the . . .
- front seat!
My mom asked me: do you want to get up at 3.30 a.m. to drive Matthan to Spokane?
‘Yes.’
`Okay. Then you have to get up and be quick. We won’t wait for you!’
And I did. And they didn’t wait.
- Squeez the hug!
- High-fives at airport. Goodbye!
- Back in the front seat!