Sonja'sBlog!!

Why does it have to be so grey outside?

2011-03-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures I took from inside the other day. It's been so nice out lately, but we just got another few inches of snow!! Can you believe it!!??

~*Sonja*~

Warm Winter Kittens :)

2010-12-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos I took of Seamus and Sally and edited on pixlr. Hope you like them!

~S.

My school picture (edited by me...)

2010-11-17T19:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a pic of me that I just edited on pixlr...I'm kind of obsessed with doing that right now :D

More updates about the oireachtas coming soon!!!

~Sonja

(Ps--click to see full size...)

Mississippi River trip with Granny & Grandpa

2010-10-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we went on a trip down the Mississippi with our grandparents. Mom and Dad got to have the house to themselves for about 4 days! We met them in Wabasha, MN, and after discovering a nail in one of our tires, Granny took all of the girls into the National Eagle Center while Mom, Dad and Grandpa went to the shop. Here are some pictures from outside the building...

One of the Eagles inside
Miranda doesn't like fish

After we finished the Eagle Center, we left Mom and Dad and went down to Prarie du Chien. Here is the statue of Marquette at the Visitor's Center...

Sunday morning we went to Villa Louis, an old mansion that is very authentic and cool especially if you like that kind of stuff like we do....:P The statues were across the road.

Victorian Lady
Blackhawk
Dr. William Beaumont
The Villa Louis

A side building where there was an office and a billiard room

The grounds
I sneakily took a picture of the little girl's room. I wish I had a room like this >:/

After our tour, we drove to Galena, IL, planning on going into downtown, but since it was packed we decided to go the next day. We did drive to look at....
Since Galena was so busy, we went to the Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque, where we were staying. Here is all of us with Mark Twain:
Next morning we got to downtown Galena early so there would actually be some parking spaces...Here's a nice shot of the street and the hill...

Galena's oldest house
Gpop took us to an old fashioned Candy shop!! Miranda with her "Licorice plop"
Since we enjoyed Villa Louis so much, Granny said we should go to the Belvedere Mansion.
In front of the house...this one wasn't quite as authentic as Villa Louis (there are still some people living there) but it was ok.
A Big tree....
In front of Grant
This picture is from the last day of our trip, looking down on the river on Pike's Peak...not THE Pike's Peak, it was just named after Zebulen Pike.

Thanks for the trip Granny & Grandpa!! It was a lot of fun!!

~Sonja~

Sally on bird duty

2010-09-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

Making sure that no little birds come to our bird feeder....but what's it for then? :)

Sucess from last 2 feises!!!

2010-08-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

1st Place PC Two Rivers Feile (yes, I got a plate instead of a trophy. :P)
1st Place PC Badger State Feis

July 17 was the Badger State Feis in Milwaukee. I won out of a group of 22 dancers!!!! I was really happy especially because Nationals didn't go very well for me. :S This last weekend we traveled to Des Moines, IA for the new Two Rivers Feile, and I won out of a group of 5! Now I am qualified for the top level of competition, and I will begin competing in it at the beginning of the year. I'm really nervous but also excited! :) Selena also had a good feis, placing 2nd overall. Miranda FINALLY, after almost a year, qualified for her solo dress!!! Izzy placed in both of her softshoe dances. Can't wait for the MN feis at the end of September!

All for now-

~Sonja~

Twins Collage

2010-07-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

here is a collage I made on picasa of my favorite Twins players! :)

~Sonja~

Nationals Review

2010-07-13T10:05:00.001-07:00

A picture of the Dolphin Hotel

We're back from our exciting trip! Selena and I had never been on a plane before, so we were excited as we got onto the airplane with our dance friends the Clines, who were with us on all of our flights. We thought that it wouldn't be so cramped though :S

After getting to the airport in Atlanta, we hauled our stuff around finding our gate....then we had to wait for a reeeaally long time for some people who were late. By the time we got to Orlando, it was about 10:00 their time. After getting the Cline's rental cars we drove for about an hour to the hotel, the Disney Swan!! We got up to our room and were surprised to see that there was 1 bed and a pull out couch. Not what we wanted. We dealt with it for the night because it was about 12:30 and we were all exhausted. Next morning we got moved to a nice big room, where we stayed for the rest of our vacation (if you can call it that).

Later we went to check out the venue and watch some of our other dancers, practice, and go to awards.

Sunday was my day to dance. I did a good hardshoe round and was about halfway through my softshoe dance when I landed a leap wrong and rolled my ankle. :( I got do to it again but it obviously wasn't as good because I was in pain. If I hadn't have fallen, I probably could have recalled but I didn't....well, I have an excuse at least. :P Really, I was actually glad because I couldn't have done anything well the way my ankle was. So I was ok with it...and we had a fun rest of the day on the Boardwalk and at awards.

Monday we slept in and went to Downtown Disney to shop a little bit, we went to the pool which was SOO cool, Selena stubbed her toe on some kind of rock making it turn black and blue, and so we had to deal with that. She had a practice later that night and we retired for the night. Tuesday: We got up early and got Sese warmed up. I was so nervous I had to walk around with a friend because I couldn't stand the tension next to the stage. Her hardshoe round was great, although she sort of ran out of energy in the last step. Softshoe was the best she's done this year, and we were waiting and waiting and waiting for the recalls to be announced, so Selena went to the bathroom and I went off to find my teacher. I came back and she was warming up with Fauna again. "???" Turns out that she made it (the recall) while she was still in the restroom and I running around! :) We were very happy and I sort of felt like she made up me not recalling by her doing so. She danced a good set and we rested as we waited for awards...well, I went up to the room and they stayed. =P Sese placed 36th!! We were just happy that she recalled her first time going. See a picture from Shamrock Photo HERE.

Wednesday: After a long wait and a long drive, we made it to the airport and flew back to Atlanta. It seemed a lot more boring coming home...well, maybe that was because I didn't bother to get anything out of my "stuff-to-do" bag. We waited in Atlanta for a while but it was shorter than the first flight...finally we got back home!!! It was so nice to be in MN again. :) Mom made an album of the trip you can view here. Enjoy! I might post some more here later....pics and news from last weekend's feis coming VERY SOON, I PROMISE!!!

:)
~Sonja~

Bye, everyone!

2010-07-02T05:08:00.000-07:00

We're flying to Florida for the Nationals today. Wish us luck! I can't wait to blog about the trip when we get home next Wednesday!

The website for the event is nanationals.net, but you have to pay to get into the good stuff. However if you just want to read a little about it you can go there. :) Sadly, we won't be able to take a computer, but I'll put lots of pictures here as soon as we get back.

BYE!!

Sonja

Twin Cities Feile 2010

2010-06-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

Me in Set (1st place): corda mor top 3!! (And me in my BRAND NEW dress)
Selena: 3rd place in everything except Softshoe, she tied for 1st!
Maria, Me & Quinn, trying on sunglasses....XD
Cecilia, Sonja, Quinn, Maria
Twins Treble Reel: Miranda tie for 5th, Izzy 2nd

We had a good day last Saturday. Selena placed 3rd in Hardshoe, 1st (tie) in Softshoe, 3rd in Set dance, and 3rd overall. :) I got 2nd in Softshoe, tie for 3rd in Hardshoe, 1st in Set, and 2nd Overall. Miranda got three seconds and a fourth, and Izzy got one third, two seconds, and one first, not counting their treble reel placements. It was Izzy's first time to wear Selena's old solo dress, as you can tell from the picture! More pics of my dress coming soon!

~Sonja~

Dragonfly photo...

2010-06-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I've been really busy lately-- we had a feis last weekend, I got a new dress, and we're leaving for Nationals in Orlando in 3 days! o_O wow! I'll post some pics of my BEAUTIFUL new costume soon but I thought you would enjoy seeing this cool pic of a dragonfly I saw earlier this morning. More coming soon!

~Sonja~

Cats on the deck

2010-06-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

Enjoy!

~Sonja~

Ceili video...

2010-05-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody! Here's a video of the little four-hand I made up a few days ago! :) We have a long ways to go on perfecting (cough, cough) but I had just made it up that morning and we had only done it about four times through. Please excuse our messy background-we were playing Barbies, Dollhouse, and Polly's all mixed together. Enjoy!

~Sonja~

(And my school doesn't do ceili/teams. Just to let you people who don't really know me know. :P)

(PS- please excuse the talking, etc!!!)

Lilacs

2010-05-06T13:29:00.001-07:00

I took some pictures of our lilacs today! Hope you enjoy!

~*Sonja*~

It's my 13th Birthday today!

2010-04-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

Me and my loving parents...^
Me at one of my favorite places in the world...^
Me and my loving sisters...^

Today was my 13th Birthday! :-o I can't believe I'm a teenager already...heehee. :) This morning mom gave me some new shoes, two books and some new Calligraphy pens, and later we went to the AG store! (which is always a good thing. :D) I just put an album up of the pictures I took HERE. Thank you everyone who wished my happy birthday on their blogs, the doll Message board, in sending cards or calling me! :) I really appreciated it...I think it's been one of my best birthdays so far!

Love,

~*Sonja*~

Milwaukee Spring Feis review

2010-04-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted in forever, and I'm planning on doing some catch-up stuff in a while-

This last weekend we drove to Milwaukee for the first feis of the season. We got there super early to grab a camping spot, and the twins started dancing right away. I did my set pretty early...then both Selena and I had a lot of waiting around. Everyone did well for the first feis since last fall- Isabel got 3rd in Slip Jig but the rest of her dances were with very big groups- she's in Prizewinner now for everything except Jig and Slip Jig. Miranda got 2nd in Treble Jig (our hard work paid off...Selena & I 'coach' the twins mostly every day), 3rd in Hornpipe, 4th in Slip Jig, & 5th in Reel. Sese did very well in her PC competition, she got 4th overall and 2nd in Hardshoe- nothing in Set, but there was only 3 placements for that...

I won my set, but there weren't very many people for that. I know, you say "still that's pretty good!!" I suppose I'm just being dumb...for my PC competition I got 8th out of 24, which I wasn't extremely happy about...because at Oireachtas, I basically beat everyone I competed against yesterday. And that didn't happen again. MORE PRACTICE!! I know it was still good I placed...and it was only the first feis of the season, and I haven't had that much time to get a lot of style into the *really hard* steps I got in January. Anyway it was a pretty good day! We got home at about 11:00 last night. ZzzzzZZzzZZZ. The picture is from when we stopped in Wisconsin Dells yesterday and were just strolling around, not aware of our surroundings. :O ;)

I'll be putting up a 'What I've been doing the last month' post pretty soon! :) (Oh and my dad has more pictures from the feis on his blog.)

~*Sonja*~

Pic from Thursday's tour day

2010-03-13T08:08:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture from our first show on Thursday...We had 3 shows on Tuesday and 4 shows Thursday...tomorrow we have 3 I think??? Anyway this was the best picture mom took...I love this since it's all Fauna Gille Designs dresses!! :) Hopefully I will be able to put up a link to some better pictures. :)

Olympic Sledding

2010-02-27T14:54:00.001-08:00

So, today we went sledding on a very bumpy, packed down, STEEP hill. It was very hard on my rear end...and not extremely fun for me...!! But here's some pictures anyways... click here to see an album of the good pictures Dad took. Oh speaking of the Olympics! GO USA HOCKEY GUYS TOMORROW!!!! hahaha!

~Sonja

Miranda Sings

2010-02-17T14:06:00.000-08:00

Miranda sings a song that she made up as she went. With the parrot Granny gave us. It repeats what you say twice...and is really quite annoying at times. This is just what we do....a lot.

enjoy! :)

~Sonja

(PS-when she throws it, it hits Isabel. Not me. :D)

One of the BEST series in the world....

2010-02-13T17:05:00.001-08:00

The Mysterious Benedict Society!! I just got addicted to this series, it is such a page turner and soo interesting. It is about four smart kids that get to be secret agents. They only JUST get out of some very dangerous situations! I don't want to spoil it for you any more! Just try reading it, you will be hooked. (I read it twice in two days, it was so great.)
The braces are better! :D
All for now~
Sonja

(sorry about the image! Just click on it to see the full size.)

(And happy Valentine's Day!)

braces.

2010-01-26T10:08:00.001-08:00

Before: (I look very kooky...)

After:

ouchy. (actually they don't hurt that much :D)

How do I look????? :)

Posted 2 days later: Actually, they DO hurt!! I can't touch my teeth without 'ouch' ing!!! I can't even bite into a banana, or have cereal!! OWWWWW!!!!

A random, random splurge of blogging

2010-01-23T07:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a very wonderful picture of Daddy and our loving Cat, Seamus. He just LOVES being dressed up. :D

Today will be very busy....we have a piano recital, then about 4 hours at dance for St. Patrick's day classes. No, we don't dance for four hours. First is the twin's class, then an hour of waiting, then Sese and I do 2 classes. A lot of waiting around. BUT I've been keeping myself busy during the waits with crocheting and knitting! I'm preparing early for the Craft Fair at our library in the summer. Last year I made American Girl doll shawls and headbands, and I think I sold everything except one shawl which wasn't made of a very pretty color, and some other headbands which also weren't very cute. This year I'm also making doll ponchos and I don't know what.

bye. I'm done now. My breakfast is waiting!

SONJA

Ps~ I really want to get some pictures of my namesakes (Sonja Henie, Sonja the duck from Peter and the Wolf) on here!! Hopefully that will happen soon....*looks mischevious*

I AM STILL ALIVE

2010-01-20T14:23:00.000-08:00

DON'T WORRY, FANS, I SURVIVED MY AMAZING EXPERIENCE AT THE MIDWEST IRISH DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND AM STILL ALIVE AND WELL!! Though you may have thought I wasn't since I hadn't posted here for EVER....

Well I am getting braces in 1 week. I got my spacers yesterday--you can hardly see them, and I can hardly tell that they are there! We went to the American Girl place last Saturday--see my doll blog (semdollhouse.blogspot.com) to read about that and other doll stuff. I also have crocheted several more animals and other things like the polar bear I did a while ago. I'm planning on taking some pictures of them soon....

I am also very glad that I now have 10 FOLLOWERS!! Thank you so much!! I just love attention on my blogs. heeheeeheee.

Oh. Talking of dance, we had a teacher from Ireland come to our dance school a while ago to teach us new steps! She comes every January after reigonals...so now we have a bunch of new steps to work on. And also St. Patrick's day is coming up....

I have to go now, my sister is kicking me off the computer....comment, please!! You know I LOVE comments! :D

Bye and I promise that I will blog at least once a month from now on...(!)

~Sonja~

A very very very quick post

2009-11-29T19:19:00.000-08:00

HI!!!!!
Sese-friday-- see dad's blog here. 28th place!
ME!!! TODAY!!! 15TH PLACE!!! QUALIFIED FOR WORLDS!! I don't think I'm going to go this year. DEFINATELY Nationals, though!!! :) :D :D :D I'll probably do a big album about it or whatever as soon as I get home :) Bye!!
Sonja
(I mean, I don't know how it happened. Last year I got 37th!!! I was just hoping to recall today! WOW!!! I do not know what I did!!!) (The picture is of me, my friend from another school in our area, and another girl from our school. We were all so surprised we qualified!! They were crying but I was too happy! We were just hugging and screaming!!) (I'm the one with black, pink, & blue, and they are the yellow & white and the purple & white.)

Well maybe this wasn't so short after all!!

We're Leaving Tomorrow....

2009-11-24T07:53:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we leave bright & early for our first day of traveling to Columbus, Ohio for Oireachtas. The picture is from last year, waiting for results-this year Selena's on Friday, and I'm on Sunday--so it will be a little easier than last year when we were both on Sunday. :) I'm really excited, and we're both really well prepared, so we'll just get there and do our best! I might post on the way, but I might not so just be patient... :)
If I don't there will be another huge post about it like last year. Dad has an album here on his Picasa so you can look at that if you want! Got to go!
~Sonja~

A Seamus Album :)

2009-11-16T11:37:00.000-08:00

Click here to see a large album of (cute) Seamus pictures...some of my pics and also some of dad's...for our favorite boy kitty... :)

Just today he was spending his time torturing the dog behind us that has an invisible fence. It was running back and forth but he was just laying and watching it and looking like he was saying "You are so dumb."

That's all for now,

~Sonja

New Wig!!!

2009-11-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

I got my new wig the other day (for Irish Dance, for readers who are freaking out right now and saying "What in the world does she have on her head?" or "How many hours did that hair take?" It's not real hair, it's obviously a wig...) and it's really nice and long!! It's lighter than my old one and it feels really good. I can't wait to wear it at Oireachtas! :D

Here are the rest of the pics.

~Sonja~

Four weeks until Oireachtas/Reigonals

2009-10-29T08:45:00.001-07:00

EEEEK!! It's scary to think about it! But at the same time, I can't wait. We're having a lot of fun preparing for this, we have had dance camp, a sleepover, and we will be having a bowling party! This year Oireachtas (Ah-rock-tuss) is in Columbus, Ohio, but next year it will be in Chicago--we will definitely be going to the American Girl Place!! I'd better start saving up. ;)

We have also been very sick recently. A few weeks ago, two I think, the four of us girls were sick with coughing and fevers. Then Dad got sick with a bad upper-respiratory cold. Mom is getting over it right now, I think she had it the worst. :( We've been miserable!! But it's almost done...we should have gotten that flu shot back in October.......
Well that's all for now.
~Sonja~

Iowa & MN feises!...and other stuff

2009-10-11T17:49:00.001-07:00

Both of the feises went really well... Dad posted about both a lot more than I did, so you can read about his HERE from IA and HERE from MN feis. Both were really fun and we danced very well. I placed:
1st in Set Dance
4th in Hardshoe round
6th overall
Sese got 2nd in Set Dance,
Izzy got
3rd Reel
3rd Jig
3rd Slip Jig
Miranda got
4th Reel

So it was a good Iowa feis. Selena's new dress looked really nice :D. And mine too, of course.
MN feis we didn't have to get up early at all, so that was nice. It was a very, very good day, even better than IA. I danced amazing, if I do say so myself, and so I got:
1st in Softshoe
1st in Hardshoe
1st overall
1st in Set dance
2nd in Treble Reel

Selena got:
4th in Softshoe
1st in Hardshoe
3rd overall
3rd Set Dance

Isabel:
1st Reel
2nd Jig
2nd Slip Jig
1st Treble Jig
3rd Hornpipe

Miranda:
3rd Reel
1st Jig
2nd Treble Jig
4th Hornpipe

Then there was the after-feis party, which was really fun!!! MN feis is one of my favorites because it's so close and I usually do well...:D
Now it's officially Oireachtas (reigonals) season! I can't wait! I'm working hard!!!

So that's dance news. I'm also working hard on school, violin, piano, and Secret Christmas Present Projects. ;) I can't wait for that either.

Seamus recently turned 1. He's now a very outdoor cat and climbs trees, chases things, gets burrs in his fur, gets barked at by a neighboring dog, and gets beat up by bigger cats than himself. Yes. Very bad. We had to take him to the vet 'cause one of his legs was really bad, it swelled up and he was walking around on only 3 legs...which actually looked kind of funny but it was painful for him, and he took his anger out on a pillow that was left on the floor and is now to never be used again. (This means that he mistook it for his litterbox, perhaps not unintentionally.) But he went and got his shot and is now quite healed. He also continues to disturb our older girl cat, Sally, and so I'm usually yelling at him all the day long. He has not calmed down, like we thought he would. In fact, I doubt if we can have a Christmas tree this year. (We couldn't last year because of him, if you remember.) Well. Enough about the cat...but here's some links to posts I made about him last year:
We've found one
New Kitten Fun
A Short Refrence to his naughtyness in the post Merlin and the Gleam

That's all for now. Keep checking. Don't give up on me!!

~Sonja
PS: It's October 12 and I'm beginning to sing "Let it snow!" Why don't we say "Merry Halloween?" It's going to be a snowy winter here in MN. Uffda!!!

Sese's new dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

Opening it
The back
examining the cape
Sese doing her set
Fauna and Sese

Last night Fauna brought over Sese's dress (with Mrs. Ausman who helps with the jeweling.) It's soooooooooooooo amazing!! She'll be wearing it tomorrow in Iowa! Thanks Fauna Gille Designs, the dresses keep getting better and better.....

PS. What should Sese and I pose like for this year's Oireachtas picture? (Here's a pic of last years.) We don't want to do the same thing! Any suggestions?

Recent Projects

2009-09-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

Here's some pics of things I've been making lately:

I knitted the matching scarf & hat for my American Girl dolls...
And I crocheted this adorable little polar bear. ;) His name is Snowball, isn't he cute??

I really have been bad about blogging....I'll get into it more...I promise....

We're leaving for the Iowa State Feis tomorrow, so that will be something. Please comment, what do you think of the things I've made!?

I've got to get up early tomorrow, so bye!

~Sonja

More pics...

2009-07-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

#1
#2
#3: Zebras and Gemsbok
#4 Sleepy Prarie dog

#5 Butterfly on a bench...
#6 Underwater....

Please vote again!! These are more recent ones from the Minnesota zoo (here's the picasa web albums link http://picasaweb.google.com/munson.dancers/MinnesotaZoo# ) and from the sculpture garden where we went yesterday with family. #1 is me 'holding' the rabbit on the bell statue, #2 and #5 are from the butterfly garden, and the rest are just other animals. Oh, you can vote for the one of me picking the cherry on the side of this, too! Just say #7.
What do you think could win the photo contest at the library??? Are these better than the ones before? (Ps, Elsie & Iris won that.) Well, please comment! Got to go! ~Sonja, young photographer at large

Photo contest vote

2009-06-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

#1: Elsie & Iris
#2: Iris
#3: Sleeping Seamus
#4: Outside
#5: Playing

I want to enter in a photo for my library's digital photo contest, and I need help deciding which picture to do!!! Please tell me which you think is the best picture of all of these, #1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

Madison feis Results:

2009-06-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

We had a great Madison Feis this last Saturday!
1st Hornpipe
2nd Slip Jig
2nd Reel
2nd Jig

Selena:
1st Hornpipe
1st Treble Jig
1st Slip Jig

Izzy:
2nd Hornpipe
3rd Jig
5th Reel

Miranda:
2nd Hornpipe
2nd Reel
3rd Jig

Izzy and Meema were dancing in the same group for Hornpipe, and they tied in 2nd! Selena got 3 trophies. I got 1 trophy and well...2 medals, because Mom didn't see me on the results thing they posted on my Slip Jig. But when I looked at the results online, I found out that I actually had placed!! Yay! Now I'm qualified for Oireachtas, so we don't have to worry about that. Now I just have to focus on getting into the next level, Preliminary Championship (by winning Reel and Slip Jig.)

This was only Izzy and Meema's second feis in a new level, it was really nice for them to get so many places!! Well, today, Novice, tomorrow, Open Championship!

Sese is 3/4 of the way to the PC--she just needs 1st place in Reel, and she has to get Miss Fauna's approval! Who will get there first, her or me?????? ;) :)

Lemondrop goes to the library

2009-05-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures of when we took Lemondrop to the library. I don't know why this thing isn't letting me put captions up so I'll do them here; first mom and Lemondrop in the car, Izzy and Lemondrop in the reading-thingy, Lemondrop doing some puzzles, and Lemondrop helping Izzy pick out some books. :)

Adventures with Lemondrop!!

2009-05-18T07:20:00.001-07:00

When the Duluth Munson's went home from their trip here on Friday, Saturday and Sunday a few weekends ago (to be posted about later), we found they had left one of their crew. Seamus was the first one to find him (see the pic.) So we've been taking care of Lemondrop the penguin. He's been going all over town with us! Next post is Lemondrop at the library which I will do soon. :)
~Sonja

Friendly Gables

2009-04-30T13:34:00.000-07:00

We went to the South St. Paul library the other day, and I got about 11 books! Here are details one of my very favorites:

Friendly Gables
This book is by one of my favorite authors, Hilda van Stockum. I hadn't read this before but I had read one of the previous books in the series, the Mitchells. They're a great series about a big family!
(From side flap) "Fifteen-year-old Joan was the only one of the Mitchell children to be allowed free access to Mother's room after twin brothers were (above: Hilda Van Stockum and her children) born that winter in Montreal. She made friends with the stiffly starched nurse, straight-laced Miss Thorpe. Altogether there were now four boys and four girls in the family and Miss Thorpe thought that was altogether too many! "It wasn't surprising that Timmy, Angela, Patsy, and Peter, feeling somewhat resentful of Joan, excluded her from the wonderful hideaway they had made for themselves to escape the vigilant eye of Miss Thorpe. (Three-year-old Catherine was already completely dominated and besides was too young to b trusted not to tell. mother discovered their secret and promised to keep it-even from Daddy-so their privacy was assured.)
"It was a real haven, but gradually the friendly children began asking a chosen guest or two to share it-until even Miss Thorpe, well thawed, was invited!
"This is the same irrepressible American family, transplanted to Canada, and a little more older and more numerous, that charmed the readers of 'The Mitchells' and 'Canadian Summer'. Here again they go their light-hearted way, gathering in friends both old and new, helping one another in trouble and joy, and more fun than ever now that there are ten of them."

More reports coming soon!

Easter

2009-04-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

This Easter we stayed home. We always have Easter Breakfast at Church before the service. Here's some pic's with friends, and Seamus waiting to be cooked. ;) Hope everyone's having a great spring!!

Some St. Patrick's day photos...

2009-03-31T06:02:00.000-07:00

The four of us at Southwest Crossing Office
Emma and Sese
Izzy and Miranda
Cecilia and Sonja
Me in the Treble Reel

Here's just a few photos from our VERY BUSY St. Patrick's day! We performed at various schools, assisted livings and offices, along with the IDS center, the Landmark center, with Katie McMahon (but that show wasn't in wigs and costumes). Thanks to all of you who were able to come to see us!!

Late Lavin-Cassidy Feis report

2009-03-03T18:25:00.001-08:00

   In full costume
   Two of the first Fauna Gille Designs dresses!
   All done!!!!!
   POPEYES!!
   Awards & ice cream.....

We had a very sucessful feis! It was Selena's first feis in Open/Prizewinner, and Isabel and Miranda's first feis in Novice, newer and harder levels for them! We all did very well though.

Obvious by my trophies in the last picture, I've qualified in both hardshoe dances for the next level, Preliminary Championship (or PC)! Time to work on some softshoe....

Sonja:

1st place Treble Jig

1st place Hornpipe

Selena

1st place Hornpipe (novice)

2nd place Light Jig

3rd place Reel

4th place Treble Jig

5th place Slip Jig

Isabel

4th place Light Jig

7th place Slip Jig

Miranda

3rd place Reel

4th place Light Jig

4th place Slip Jig

The New Dress is Complete!!

2009-02-13T11:02:00.001-08:00

It's done!! We got it at dance last night. What does everyone think of it? (I LOVE it!!!)
Thank you, Fauna Gille Designs!!!!

A new look!!

2009-01-27T06:19:00.000-08:00

Yes, I got glasses a few days ago. They've taken some getting used to but I can see much better! I'm quite near-sighted.
How do I look??

Oireachtas 2008 Photo

2009-01-23T20:16:00.000-08:00

Sonja's creative photography

2009-01-18T11:22:00.000-08:00

A typical 'jumping on the bed' morning in our house.......!

New Solo Dress Plans!!

2009-01-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

Our teacher is starting a solo dress business. She designs them and has someone make them for her. I'm in line for a Fauna Gille Designs solo dress! She has made two for some other girls in the school and now she's thinking up ideas for mine. The sketch is just one of them. It won't be as plain when it's finished, Fauna is a specialist at jeweling! There may be more than 1000 jewels when it's done. I hope to have it in time for St. Patrick's Day, so most of you will be able to see it in person!! Please comment and tell me what you think about this...!

Merlin and the Gleam

2009-01-06T08:17:00.000-08:00

Alfred Lord Tennyson is my favorite poet! I love his style! Here's another one of his great poems...I'm sure Sandy would have loved this one, too! (See my Excelsior post.) Seamus will appreciate poetry sometime soon...I hope. Maybe he'll become a listener instead of a Sally-attacker......

Merlin and the Gleam

O Young Mariner,
You from the have
Under the sea-cliff,
You that are watching
The gray Magician
With eyes of wonder,
I am Merlin,
And I am dying,
I am Merlin
Who follow The Gleam.

Mighty the Wizard who found me at sunrise
Sleeping, and woke me
And learn'd me the Magic!
Great the Master,
And sweet the Magic,
When over the valley,
In early summers,
Over the mountain,
On human faces,
And all around me,
Moving to melody,
Floated The Gleam.

Once at the croak of a Raven who crost it,
A barbarous people,
Blind to the magic,
And deaf to the melody,
Snarl'd at and cursed me.
A demon vext me,
The light retreated,
The landskip darken'd,
The melody deaden'd,
The Master whisper'd
"Follow The Gleam."

Then to the melody,
Over a wilderness
Gliding, and glancing at
Elf of the woodland,
Gnome of the cavern,
Griffin and Giant,
And dancing of Fairies
In desolate hollows,
And wraiths of the mountain,
And rolling of dragons
By warble of water,
Or cataract music
Of falling torrents,
Flitted The Gleam.

Down from the mountain
And over the level,
And streaming and shining on
Silent river,
Silvery willow,
Pasture and plowland,
Horses and oxen,
Innocent maidens,
Garrulous children,
Homestead and Harvest,
Reaper and gleaner,
And rough-ruddy faves
Of lowly labour,
Slided The Gleam--

Then, with a melody
Stronger and statelier,
Led me at length
To the city and palace
Of Arthur the king;
Touch'd at the golden
Cross of the churches,
Flash'd on the Tournament,
Flicker'd and bicker'd
From helmet to helmet,
And last on the forehead
Of Arthur the blameless
Rested The Gleam.

Clouds and darkness
Closed upon Camelot;
Arthur had vanish'd
I knew not whither,
The king who loved me,
And cannot die;
For out of the darkness
Silent and slowly
The Gleam that had waned to a wintry glimmer
On icy fallow
And faded forest,
Drew to the valley
Named of the shadow,
And slowly brightening
Out of the glimmer,
And slowly moving again to a melody
Yearningly tender,
Fell on the shadow,
No longer a shadow,
But clothed with The Gleam.

And broader and brighter
The Gleam flying onward,
Wed to the melody,
Sang thro' the world;
And slower and fainter,
Old and weary,
But eager to follow,
I saw whenever
In passing it glanced upon
Hamlet or city,
That under the Crosses
The dead man's garden,
The mortal hillock,
Would break into blossom;
And so to the land's
Last limit I came--
And can no longer,
But die rejoicing,
For thro' the Magic
Of Him the Mighty,
Who taught me in childhood,
There on the border
Of boundless Ocean,
And all but in Heaven
Hovers The Gleam.

Not of the sunlight,
Not of the moonlight,
Not of the starlight!
O young Mariner,
Down to the haven,
Call your companions,
Launch your vessel,
And crowd your canvas,
And, ere it vanishes
Over the margin,
After it, follow it,
Follow The Gleam.

Christmas 2008

2009-01-01T08:35:00.000-08:00

This year we had Christmas Eve at Grandma's, so our home Christmas was the 23rd. After we opened presents that night we watched 'Christmas at Luther' trying to see our cousin.

At Grandma's we ate at the church and then came home for cookies and presents!
Izzy and Miranda were very surprised to open their own American Girl dolls! Isabels is Kirsten and Mirandas is Mia, the girl of the year 2008 (limited edition doll-only available for one year). Selena got Kirsten's trunk and I will get Kit's trunk, but it's on back-order. And another American Girl present, we'll be taken out to lunch at the American Girl cafe at the Mall! That will be blogged about soon......

Katie McMahon Celtic Christmas Shows

2008-12-11T06:24:00.000-08:00

Group shot with Katie after the O'Shaugnessy show
Quinn, Maeve, Sonja
Belinda Jensen and Corda Mor
Goofing around 'backstage at the Saturday morning Tv spot.
Me and Katie

Our school does Christmas shows with Katie McMahon, original voice of Riverdance. This year I got invited to be in the group. We did a show in Duluth and one at the O'Shaugnessy in St. Paul, also a TV spot on Kare11.
You notice the costumes...we didn't have to wear wigs (that's the best part!) and solo dresses. Katie prefers us to have more 'normal' outfits--a Christmas one for these shows and similar green/black costume for St. Pat's day shows.
These shows have been some of my favorite EVER! We had tons of fun.

(Katie's website: http://www.katiemcmahon.com/ Listen to some of the cd samples--they're really good!)

Munson Flyers experience Oireachtas

2008-12-10T08:02:00.000-08:00

Coming into our destination, Columbus, Ohio!
Going into Oireachtas Sunday Morning (by Escalator)
The "Treble Trio" Under 11s- after recall
After Award Ceremonies with Extremely Excellent Teachers
Sonja, Selena and Crystals

Our Oireachtas trip went extremely well! We stayed in LaCrosse Wednesday night and had thanksgiving Dinner with Granny and Grandpa. Thursday we traveled with them to Bloomington, Illinois and stayed overnight. We departed from granny & Grandpa and kept going to Columbus, Ohio, our destination, on Friday. There we crashed at our hotel…when we found it. We did a loop-de-loop around downtown before finding where we were. Saturday we got quite lost looking for a shopping mall. When we finally found it we went to Wal-Mart and Target. Then we went to the Hyatt (where the event was) and went shopping for a new wig for Sese. It’s very pretty! We watched a few of the group competitions and had a practice later that night, then got to bed early.

Sunday morning-the big day! We got our make up (Usually we don’t wear so much as we did this time, but the dancing was on big stages with big lights.) and wigs on, got the dresses, shoes and other things, and went to the Hyatt for our early morning warm up. After that and a few more makeup modifications (extremely pink blush), we all went to our first stage to get ready for our first round, the hardshoe round. I watched for a while (because I didn’t dance right away), warmed up with one of the teachers and then got backstage. I wasn’t really that nervous, but I did get really sweaty palms. Then I was on stage with the two other dancers (the same for Softshoe round but Set Dances go 1 at a time).
After the long three steps my mouth was as dry as sandpaper…but I thought I did really well and all of my teachers said I was really strong. Unfortunately, we missed Sese’s hardshoe round! A few people saw, thankfully. Then we went to our next stages for the softshoe round. Dad was doing something with Mom at Sese’s stage and I was dancing really soon so I had to run and get them. Mom was just mixed up, she thought Sese was # 15 and I was #22. (the wrong way around) So she ran back with me. I got dressed and ran backstage. I did just as good as a softshoe round, I guess. The floor was a little bit slippy, though, because it’s painted grey. (Why?) Everyone was able to see me, I guess. I think Sese went a little bit after me. I didn’t see it though.
After the two rounds, they announce the recall (the top best half of the group). If you get recalled you get to do your third round, the Set Dance. (You can do whatever set dance your teacher says. Mine is The Blue Eyed Rascal at Speed 109. There are others like Ace & Deuce, Three Sea Captains….) My recall was extremely late. I couldn’t stand the suspense, neither could Mama so we went out into the hall by our stuff. I was drinking some pop when some girls went running to the door. Finally it was starting.
You have to be very quiet during the recall so that people can hear the numbers they announce, if it is their dancers number or not. Mama and I ran into the room and just barely heard “-fteen.” Remember my number? I had made the recall!!!!!! So did the other two Under 11’s in our school, Maria and Quinn. We were in the hall and our other teacher called Fauna, who was with us. We had been so excited we had missed the Under 9 age group recall (Sese’s group). Cassie told Fauna that both the Under 9’s recalled! (Selena and Molly) Sese made such a surprised face. Then she stuck a few fingers in the side of her mouth. (BEWILDERED)
I got ready to do my set dance with Fauna. Then I did it! I’ve always done my set really strong but this was the strongest. After my wonderful Set we went to get our pictures professionally taken (there was a photo thing with the flash umbrellas and everything). They haven’t arrived yet…..I will surely post pictures of the pictures when they get here. Sese went and did her Set (all the teachers watched and said she did everything they practiced. Then we waited for a while and RESTED. And waited for Awards Ceremonies later that afternoon.
We went to the stage where they were (the biggest one that had bleachers on 3 sides of it) but they were still doing the Under 12 Set dances. We waited and waited and waited and waited with our friends……….But finally they started. But first they announced some of the VIP’s….and then they did the Traditional Set Competitions (where you just do one dance and just get a medal)…….but then they finally started with the Boys Under 8. Then the Girls Under 8. We had two dancers who got recalled in this group! (10th and 24th place.) Then the Boys Under 9. (Molly and Selena got their solo dresses on.) Then the Girls Under 9. Now how they do this is: they call up the top ten dancers, who don’t know their placements, just that they’re in the top ten, and then they start with last place and go up. Both Under 9’s held out for a long time! And “In 33rd place from the Corda Mor school, Selena Munson!” (then you go on stage take your crystal box and stand where you’re supposed to.) Everyone in the Corda Mor corner was cheering. Then “In 31st place from the Corda Mor school, Molly Hennessy!”

Then they came off stage and pictures happened….. I was already dressed because next was the Under 11 Boys. (Under 10’s were on another day.) I ran backstage. I was holding my breath when they started announcing. I wasn’t in the top ten (it was my first Oireachtas, for Heaven’s Sake), and I wasn’t in the Forties…..”In 37th place from the Corda Mor School competitor number 15, Sonja Munson!” That’s pretty good for your first Oireachtas!!
After taking pictures with our Crystal boxes, we went back to the Corda Mor Practice room, took off dresses and wigs, had a few more pictures…and went back to the hotel. And ordered a pizza. And watched Food Network.
EXTREMELY EXCITING BUT TERRIBLY TIRING TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Kitten Fun!!!

2008-11-10T06:12:00.000-08:00

One of Seamus's favorite toys
Seamus attacks my leg
Looking around
Seamus meets his Master

Forget what I said yesterday about getting the kitten after Oireachtas. We got him last night! We had such a fun time watching him explore his new surroundings. His routine is: eat. go to the bathroom. play. clean self. sleep. He slept all night. No meowing. When Sally first saw him, she hissed about four times, and growled loudly, so I took her away. Now she's more scared of him than angry. If she sees him, she'll run away! Now why would a three year old cat be scared of such a tiny little baby?
We're taking him to the vet this afternoon. He's very playful and sweet! I think he's going to go back to his old home and stay during our trip to Columbus- Sally will be ok here on her own. It was suggested that she went with Seamus, but no, she would definately run away. She does not like new people. And she's just shy of her new brother. I remind her how nice Sandy was to her when she came! All Sandy did was sit and look at her wide eyed for a while. But I think she'll make friends soon. She's just freaked out by the smell. "That's not Sandy!"
I liked all those other kittens too...(especially Vincenzo and Gordy, though I never met little G.) but I love Seamus the most! He has the most personality of all of them! He's such a cute little guy.

We've found one!!!!

2008-11-09T05:41:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, Isabel & Miranda performed at a benefit concert some friends were having. (Sese and I were at dance so we couldn't go.) One of the other families that were performing just had some kittens, they're keeping one but were giving a kitten for a donation they would give to the Nursing Home this whole thing was for. We found our kitten in this litter! He was cuddly and friendly and licked Izzy on the face. She is holding him in the picture above and the blond girl is holding him in the first picture. The other kitten's his sister. He will be named 'Seamus.' Sally and Seamus. We'll be getting him in a few weeks when we come back from the Oireachtas. (We don't want to leave a kitten practically alone for a very long time when it's still new to its surroundings. We did that with Sandy once and she got mad and made a mess all over.)
We may still get another cat...but we're not sure. Thanks for all the comments so far on the last post! It seems Baker's a favorite. What do you think of this one?? ;)

Kitten-Hunting

2008-11-05T10:39:00.000-08:00

Baker

Pumpkin
Gordy
Kitten family! Black: Lily. Orange middle: Sam. Buff: Romeo.
Vincenzo

You all have probably all heard the sad news about Sandy. :( But we've had a lot of fun kitten hunting this past week!
This Saturday, Mom, Sese and I went to the Animal Shelter in New Market- also a feed store. There were cats waiting to be adopted EVERYWHERE. And they all wanted attention! The one we came to see was Vincenzo. He's a baby boy kitten. He was friendly, cuddly, and playful! He actually came running to us when we came up to him. We would have taken him home right then but there was another family who was interested in him as well-and they were first in line!! He can't come for 3 weeks anyway since he has to be neutered but wish us luck on that one! He's our favorite favorite.

Later that day all of us went to see the family above. We especially wanted Sam...all of them were so adorable! But they were so busy! When they were awake, they were running around and playing...and we need a cuddle cat. Also, Sammy had a little cold and we don't want a sick cat either.

We just found Gordy and Pumpkin on the Pet finder website today. I hope we can visit them soon! We'd get both of them if we liked their personality.
Baker's adorable too, isn't he? Please leave a comment! Tell us which is your favorite kitten!!

Sucess at the Minnesota Feis!!!

2008-10-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

We're a Feising Family
Fauna and Me
Awards!
School picture
CD cover!!

WOW! It's been a really long time since I've blogged! Since last post, we've had Auntie Liz from CA, an adventure right before MN feis, and a lot of room changing-around. I'll start with
Thursday, the 25th of Sep.: I wake up in the morning feeling sick. I was in bed with some kind of flu and tummyache for the whole day.
Friday, the 26th: My stomach didn't feel much better. I was really worried I wouldn't be able to dance. Also Grandma and Grandpa (and Rooky the Big Brown Dog) came to stay overnight and see a little bit of the dancing next day. (Rooky did not come. He stayed in the car.)
Saturday, the 27th: DAY OF THE FEIS!!! I felt a little better but still pretty rotten! I didn't put on my wig, I just got dressed. Mama said that I didn't have to go if I really didn't want to, but I did want to so I did. We got there and seeing friends and being around people perked me up a lot. After a while I lost my dizziness and most of my 'ache, so mom put my wig on. Reel and Slip Jig (softshoe) felt too jiggly-joggly, but I did Light Jig for a warm up, and rested...then Daddy told me I got 1st in Jig so I went and collected my trophy (they had trophies for Prizewinner at this feis), and kept resting until Treble Jig. So I did that...and rested...and when I was dressed and ready for Hornpipe (the one I needed to qualify in!), Daddy told me I got 1st in Treble Jig! So that encouraged me a little to do well in my next dance. I got some last minute advice from my teacher...and then I was up! I was one of the first two to dance (I went with an O'Shea girl, Meghan), and I did everything Fauna (teacher) told me to! I turned out and was so 'mad at the floor'/loud, after I was done my legs just felt like rubber, and my mouth was all dry!! It was kind of strange because when you were on the stage, the sounds were kind of shriller than a ways away, so I was a little surprised when my other teacher (Cassie) said that it was amazingly loud (louder than I had ever been--'loud' is one of my weaknesses in Hardshoe. =))! Well, I got out of my dress, and went to collect my Treble Jig trophy. I hadn't checked Hornpipe yet because it was the very end of the day and practically everyone was at the results. But as I was nearing the line to get medals/trophies, Sese (who I guess is very small and can fit into tight places-you had to be to fit in that crowd) came running. "YOU QUALIFIED! YOU QUALIFIED!!" I was jumping up and down!! Those were some of the best most exciting words I had ever heard! I ran to Fauna and Cassie, they were so happy!! So we are officially going. Sese has been officially invited, and I have officially qualified. So we are officially going to dance at the Oireachtas (A-rock-tus) this Thanksgiving weekend! I can't wait!
Here's all the results:
Me:
Light Jig 1st
Treble Jig 1st
Hornpipe 2nd (Meghan beat me! She's really good at Hornpipe.)
(sat out of Reel and Slip Jig)
Sese:
Reel 1st
Light Jig 2nd
Slip Jig 2nd
Treble Jig 2nd
Hornpipe 2nd
Izzy:
Reel 1st
Light Jig 1st
Slip Jig 1st
Hornpipe 2nd
Miranda:
Reel 2nd
Light Jig 3rd
Slip Jig 3rd
Hornpipe 1st

Mama took our pictures at the park by our house about a week ago. The one of all of us is the 'cd cover'!
Whoever has been to our house, we've been seriously moving around! Sese and me (who had shared a room) wanted to have our own bedrooms, so I went downstairs to the 'office', Sese has Izzy & Meema's room, and they have our old room. I'll take some pictures and post them...
All for now! ~Sonja

Iowa State Feis and other things...

2008-09-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

Felicity and me
County Courthouse
Windmills
Placements

Sandy Kitty

We've been really busy lately! I'll start with the Iowa State Feis report:
We drove down Friday morning and stopped twice. It was a 6 hour drive. It took soooooooooo long! It was awful! Well, when we FINALLY got there, we went swimming. It was the tiniest pool imaginable! And the hot tub was teeny-tiny! We ate at the hotel restaurant. I had so much food, I was feeling sick when we left, but when we went out for a quick walk, my stomach really started acting up. I felt really icky so we had to go back to our room, where we watched a home designer show. After a while, we went to register; unfourtunately, they didn't let you in to see the place. Oh well. There were a lot of weird things at that hotel, when we went to bed there was a smell of smoke coming up through our bathroom air vent. (G-pop: It isn't a pleasant smell when trying to sleep, no matter what else it may be at other times!) Well: the next morning, we got up, ate breakfast at the restaurant, got wigs on (thankfully Mom only had to do two--Izzy and Miranda didn't dance at this one.), and walked across the street to the Ice arena.
After warming up, I got dressed, went to my stage, and found my friend Madi, who is in my age and level. First was Reel. I thought I didn't do it very well! I almost bumped into a girl and Madi fell down! And we were all crowded. The judge made us dance 3 at a time, but thankfully only for this!

I did the best Slip Jig I ever did in my life!! We got to go two at a time for this (thankfully!). I was very pleased with my dancing.

Treble Jig: Very good! I had my favorite judge ever.

Hornpipe: Just as well, but my favorite judge switched places with someone else right before my dance!!!!!

I made a lot of new friends waiting in line! We talked about dresses and schools a lot.

We went over to Sese's stage just in time to see her Slip Jig. After she danced, Mom went to look at Results with me:
Reel: 4th
Slip Jig: Nothing. And I did it so good! I guess there were more good Slip Jiggers than Reelers etc
Treble Jig: 1st!!!!!!!!!!! And they had little trophies (see picture)!!
Hornpipe: 4th. Rats! one more higher placement and I would be qualified for Oireachtas (regionals). For those of you who don't know, in my level you have to qualify for the Oireachtas by getting a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in every dance. I'm working really hard for my last feis (in a few weeks) so that I can qualify!

Sese did very well- she had a little mistake in her Treble Jig but got right back on. She got:
1st: Jig
2nd: Reel
2nd: Treble Jig (She would have got 1st if it wouldn't have been for her break!)
3rd: Slip Jig
4th: Hornpipe

Dad, Izzy and Miranda had packed everything besides feis stuff before we left, so we went to the car, took off our wigs, and got driving. We stopped twice along the way- for McD's and Gas.
You might know from Dad's blog that he got food poisoning. He had to stay home the next two days because he felt so yuck.
I had a little bit of what Daddy did, but definately not that bad!

Well, it was a very long trip. It seemed MUCH longer coming home...I wonder why it seems to not take that long when you're going somewhere but then when you come back it takes way longer? Maybe because on the way back it's not as exciting, you're familiar with where you are.

The last picture of Sandy Mama took a few days ago. Isn't she an adorable baby!!?
Coming soon....Auntie Liz's trip to MN

Broadwater Days 5-8

2008-09-10T12:43:00.001-07:00

Me & Lucette- Paul Bunyan's Sweetheart
Anyone know why her skirt's so weirdly shaped?
Swimming through the weeds to get from the AquaJump to the shore!! Blech!
On the boat with Granny
Slumber Party night!!!!!!!

Day 5, Wednesday, August 27:
-We look for the medallion in the morning- the clue is 'I live in a circle.' We look with G-Pop in ALL of the little rock circles, Garden circles, EVERY CIRCLE! Grandpa even dug through the plants!! And we didn't find anything!!
-We went to Seclusion (one of the cabins a little ways away then the rest--we get to stay there next year!!)
-Uncle Howard comes back from town with bows and arrows for our Indian playing!!
-The Stetzlers (very old family friends) come and immediately go fishing.
-They come back and we have news that Mr.Munson/Daddy/Uncle Reed has caught a 23 inch Northern but got the hook stuck in his his finger!!! Mama had to take him to the clinic in town where he had it removed.
-We sat around, ate laffy taffy, and read some very old Mickey Mouse comic books.
-After this, a (seemingly) peaceful afternoon turned into a horror movie as we (Mathias, Sese, Izzy, Miranda, Sophie and me) were chased ALL OVER CREATION by the bully and his brother! They were beating up Mathias (at least they THOUGHT they were-what can five and four year olds do to a kid who's two heads taller than them?) at the main lodge, but Sese went and got Mama and she told them to leave us alone. Thankfully, that was the end of them!!!!
-Nothing else really happened...
Day 6, Thursday, August 28:
-We go to the lodge first thing (Georgie, Sese, Izzy, Miranda and me), but this other girl and her sister came at the same time. The guy put out the clue, it was: "I can see Northern Lights."
That's the name of one of the cabins. I had to think a moment to remember that, but the other girl LIVED at Northern Lights, so she was running there before I was. It was like a race!! I was three feet behind her! But she got there first. It was in a hosta plant in a circle (clue #3- I live in a circle) under a pole (clue #2- Am like a tree) that had a birdhouse on it (clue #1-Hanger is somewhat like I am). And Gpop had looked through all the circles!! Dug through all the plants! (He and Mathias are convinced that the guy who owns the place must hide it the third night, but I don't think we should expect it-even though it's probable.)
-Dance practice and go to town!! We ate at the Sweets Cafe in Hackensack, played at the huge playground in the city park, got laundry done, and got souvies.
Day 7, Friday, August 29:
-Pretty regular day...
-SLUMBER PARTY NIGHT!!! We ate Root beer barrels, Lemon Drops, Licorice, Pink mints and lots of popcorn AS WE HAD Sody-pop and watched the movies. The shorts were two Little Rascals (Divot Diggers and Spanky) and the feature presentation was Abbot & Costello's Jack and the Beanstalk!! It's so funny!! Well after it was done and we were tucked in, we only told two stories and then were to tired to go on!
Day 8, Saturday, August 30:
-Daddy made pancakes for breakfast
-We had the Munson Family Circus!! Stay tuned for more, at the moment I'm not at liberty to tell all of the acts.
-We get packed-this process always takes a long time!!
-Everyone comes into town for lunch again at the Sweets Cafe!
-We have the big farewell (but also see-you-in-two-weeks...I'll explain later.) at the big city park!

We got home at about 7pm. The cats were so glad to see us! The see-you-in-two-weeks business was because my Aunt Liz came up from California for a business conference! She arrived last night, and on Sunday we're having another family gathering at Aunt Em's house. Posts about that will come soon! Next post: Iowa Feis!!!!

Broadwater Days 1-4

2008-09-07T15:46:00.001-07:00

"Picture Rock"
Making 'Softy-grungy' (invented by Sophie)
Sonja & Sophie

The One fish I caught (12 inches!)
Okay, here goes on the Broadwater Reports:
Day 1, Saturday, August 23:
-We arrive, greet family, get used to our surroundings, and dance. We stayed in the cabin 'The Chalet.'
-We eat supper and play Indians on the large wooded hill next to the cabin with 6 year old Sophie and identical twin brothers Hankie and Georgie, almost 4 years old.
-S'Mores!!
Day 2, Sunday, August 24:
-Breakfast.
-We leave for church an hour and a half early, so we go back to the cabin.
-We leave for church at the right time!!
-We have a good time at church!
-Dancing, lunch, starting our art lessons in painting 'treasure boxes' that Granny got for us-she taught the lessons too
-BEACH TIME!!!!!! Kayaking, playing in sand, swimming...
-Supper of steaks made by experienced cook, Uncle Howard Jr. ... YUM!!
Day 3, Monday, August 25:
-The search for the gold medallion begins (a fun thing for kids to do-you get a new clue every day and whoever finds it gets $15 worth of merchandise from the main lodge store.
-Clue #1 was: 'Hanger is something like I am.' Sophie suggested a clothesline, but we (Sophie, 10 year old Mathias and me) looked around all of them and didn't find anything.
-Cousin Henning (age 12) rather foolishly goes kayaking all the way across the bay of where our lodge was WITHOUT A LIFE JACKET!!!! Yikes!
-Uneventful afternoon- lots of walks and playing at the playground...well, it was uneventful until a bratty, bullying boy starting being rude and mean to us girls (Sophie, Isabel, Sese, and I) and little Georgie. We went home after that.
-Supper and then a nice boat ride.
-Fishing-catching nothing.
Day 4, Tuesday, August 26:
-Clue of the Day: 'Am somewhat like a tree.' G-Pop'/Grandpa Howard thinks of a basketball hoop, as it's like a tree and has a net hanging from it. I also thought it might be the playground, as it has a sign on it that says 'the Treehouse' and has swings hanging from it. No luck finding it though.
-Just when I had finished dancing, everyone (who had been on a walk) came screaming up to the cabin, they had found a little gold coin thing on a post by a wood pile. Uncle Howard thought all the clues went, but when we went to get our candy, the owner said, "nope, that's not the right one." Rats! So disappointing!!
-We didn't go kayaking that day, it was much to windy and some other people had got stranded really far away!!!

That was all for the first four days. Next post coming soon!

What I've been up to...

2008-08-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

Emma and I with all her six babies, stroller, 'high seat', bouncy seat, and bike stroller.
Emma close-up
Baby sister, Lydia
THE SCARF

Lately I've been going over to our Pastor's house, his wife just had a baby. (Her name is Lydia Grace.) Their toddler, Emma, is the same age I was when Selena was born! I went over twice this past week to help keep 'Em' entertained. We mainly play with babies and all their food. She has: 1. New baby- 2. 'No' baby- 3. Other baby- 4. Emma's baby- 5. another Emma's baby- 6. Funny eyes baby (it has those blinking eyes.) We have a lot of fun! Her baby sister adorable, isn't she? She was born August 11.

Also, do you remember that knitting I had started a long time ago? It had been sitting in my closet until recently when I picked it up again and finished it in almost a week, I think. Yes, it is rather long... but that's going to be handy for when it's really cold, I'll be able to wrap it all around my face!! (Almost, at least.)

Tomorrow we are leaving for Broadwater Lodge- we're going Up North with my dad's side of the family for a week. Last year we went for my Grandparent's 50th, and it was so much fun we wanted to do it again this year! There's limited internet access up there, so I won't be able to blog. :( Unlike my father who is in getting-ready-to-relax gear, I wanted to blog every day with pictures, but I can't. So just know why I haven't blogged for a week.
I'll be sure to blog at least two posts about our trip after. We'll be having a great time up there, no doubt about that! See you in about a week!

Irish Fair 2008!!

2008-08-11T09:41:00.001-07:00

talking before the show... Izzy and Miranda before their tv spot
the corda mor dancers take over the football field
After the Friday night show with Aunt Jan
Q: why does teacher have the football? A: the boys were being distracted with it so she took it away.

We had a great time at Irish fair! We did one full show Friday night and our school did two numbers in the showcase later that night. We were only in one of the numbers. It was me & Sese's first time wearing out solo dresses for a show! It was so fun! We did three shows on Saturday, but Izzy & Miranda did four counting their TV Spot. Lots of family came. (Thank you all for coming!) It was terribly hot in Solo dresses but there was a lot of shade in the tent where the dance stage was thankfully! We had a great time hanging out with friends in between shows. It was a great weekend!! Check the corda mor website gallery soon for more pictures!!

Nordic Fest

2008-07-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

Main Street of Decorah
At the chick hatchery
Sese and a chick
Norwegian folding chair ( I didn't make that up! there was a sign!)
After the performance

We had a great time at Nordic Fest! My cousin Elliot was one of the Nordic dancers, this was his last year doing it so we came to see his last performance! He's been doing it for 10 years.
It was terribly hot until some clouds came, that was really nice. We bought some stuff at the Decorah shops, and had fun looking at the chicks in the Decorah chick hatchery! There was a lot of good music and a LOT of GOOD lefse!! Uffda!
(P.S.: inappropriately, Selena wore an 'Irish' shirt! Good Grief!!)

Badger State feis

2008-07-21T14:43:00.001-07:00

In the car
At the Marriot Hotel Uno's!!
At the feis
Waking up on Sunday morning
We just got back from the Badger State feis in Milwaukee. We drove down on Friday, swam, went to Uno's for supper and registered. Next morning we woke up early and went to the feis. It was in an ice arena! It wasn't the greatest venue but okay.

We had a great time, I didn't place but there were huge groups for Prizewinner U11. Split ones were up to 23 dancers! My friends in my group hardly placed at all. But all the sisters who are in not as hard of a level placed pretty well, Selena got 1st in Slip Jig, 1st in Jig, and 4th in Hornpipe, Isabel got 3rd in Reel, 1st in Jig, 1st in Slip Jig, and 3rd in Hornpipe, and Miranda got 1st in Reel, 4th in Slip jig, and 1st in Hornpipe. This was Isabel and Miranda's first time performing their hornpipe (hardshoe) and we were very happy they placed so well in it.

After the feis we ate at KT (Kwik Trip) and went back to LaCrosse. On Sunday we went to church with my Grandparents, and after lunch all of us girls went to the pool. Late afternoon we went home. Phew! It was a good trip. And we're leaving home again on Friday (maybe Friday. or else sat.) Stay tuned for the Nordic Fest trip report!!!

Sese's haircut

2008-07-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

Before After

Now Sese looks way more like she did when she was little. It's way cuter, and not as frizzy and messy now. Comments??

Nationals

2008-07-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

Quinn's in blue and yellow
Maria
Can you find Jenna with the dark hair and red & white dress? (well there's a lot of those.)

Our school sent ten dancers to Nationals, and eight of them recalled. Our Ladies 20+ Cassie placed 28th, Ladies U18 Kailey placed 40th, Girls U16 Jenna placed 34, U14 boys Kellan placed 8th, our two U11's Quinn & Maria got 22nd and 33rd, and U8 Tess got 34th. Good job everybody!!

We really enjoyed following the competition on the nationals web site and especially the photographs -- if you haven't seen it take a look at:

North American Irish Dance Championships

Anyway...
We had a good fourth of July. We stayed home and ate corn on the cob. And slushees. It was fun to just lay around the house!!

Twin Cities Felie

2008-06-29T12:58:00.001-07:00

This feis was very competitive! there was no split groups and often you were against your own classmates. Selena got a lot of places (it's obvious.)! She got 1st in Slip Jig, 2nd in Light Jig, 2nd in Reel, 2nd in Hornpipe, and 4th in Treble Jig. I got 3rd in Slip Jig, so now I'm qualified for Oireachtas in 2 of my dances!! now I have to qualify in only two more.... Miranda got 2nd in Slip jig, Isabel got 2nd in Reel, 2nd in Light Jig, and 3rd in Slip Jig.
The musicians at my stage were very unexperienced. They must have just been session players, it was clear that they had never played at a feis before. they were not playing with a metronome and so some of the dances were very fast for girls who didn't have that speed. girls from our dance school were doing their hardshoe steps so fast it was almost impossible for them to do in with good form!
Selena did wear her new dress. it must have luck in it or something!;)
Over all it was a very fun feis (even though it included a lot of waiting around). It was fun hanging around with friends, and another fun thing was getting some clip on earrings to match my dress!

Sweet Street Setups

2008-06-18T13:04:00.000-07:00

the last few days Selena and I have been making set-ups with the Sweet-Streets. The houses are the Hospital, the Hotel, and the Town House.
I was really sad when they stopped making this kind of Sweet-Streets. Now they make them really ugly and the people wear disgusting clothes. (The reason why some of the people are not really wearing clothes is because they're kind of wearing costumes, the girls in purple in the last picture have leotards on. And on the balcony thing, they're wearing swimming suits.

Right now my hair is kind of frizzed because it has been all put up under a small staw hat. I was trying on my clown costume. I have everything but the nose! I'll get a picture of me in it as soon as we get the final accessory....

"I am so hurrayed"

2008-06-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

That was quick! Selena has her solo dress! Thankfully there was a dress in the school that was at a reasonable price. It looks great on her! "The more I look at it, the more I love it," Mom said. She repeated it.
It was made by Dancing in Celtic/Ann Ash, if anyone cares about that.

Selena said "I am so hurrayed" today when she heard the big fat raincloud had passed over us. (She does not like thunderstorms. AT. ALL.)

I'll get the pictures from Madison Feis on here tomorrow! (I hope)

Sucess at Madison Feis!!

2008-06-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

I'll start with placements of the corda mor Munson Flyers:
Miranda:
1st: Jig
2nd: Reel
3rd: Slip Jig
Isabel:
3rd: Light Jig
4th: Reel
5th: slip jig
Selena:
1st: Reel
1st: Treble Jig
2nd: Light Jig
4th: Hornpipe
Myself:
1st: Light Jig
2nd: Reel
4th: Treble Jig
5th: Hornpipe

Selena is getting a solo dress since she earned her 2 1sts in Novice! This was a very good feis for our school, lots of places. The stages were large, and far enough apart, the only bad part was that someone pulled the fire alarm as I was about to do my jig. everyone started looking around very surprised, when someone started shouting on the microphone to "STAY IN THE DANCING AREA! DO NOT GO IN THE LOBBY!" everyone ran away to find their parents. A lot of little dancers got scared and were crying, some people left. I went back to Mom and pretty soon the person on the microphone said that the fire alarm was false, but there was a tornado warning. The dancing went on, I did my jig, and in a few minutes they announced that the tornado warning had passed. all it had done was rain for a minute.
Go to Dad or Mama's blog to see pictures, if they don't get any up I will later...

Full costume!!

2008-05-30T10:49:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we put on my wig with my new 'crowns'/headbands for my new solo dress. The top pic is of me in the black one that the mom of the last dancer who had it made, the second pic is the one that came with the dress. I like the pink one better, so does my mom & instructor-the pink color shows up better than the black. Which is your favorite??

PS-I'm standing in front of our new windows our neighbor put in the other day.

Trip to Grandma's

2008-05-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

with Carina
with Elliot
"Black Beauty"
Dress-up
visiting the Bad Guy House

Hi all, we got back on Tues. from the graduation party trip down to Newburg (where my mom's parents live on the farm). Two of my cousins on my Mom's side were graduating from High School, Carina Schiltz and Elliot Evenson. (see pics) There was a really nice horse in the pasture by the house; he was black/white speckled. Hank & George--this was a real 'spot-donk'!! He was used to being with his friend, so he was very lonely and appreciated company. I called him "Black Beauty" since he looked like it (pretty much) and he had a white star on his forehead.
Also on the trip, we (of course) dressed up in Grandma's old clothes and things she made for my Mom & her sisters. Monday we went to the Bad Guy house with Grandma & Grandpa; it's just a little old shack but it got the name 'the bad guy house' because...
when Elliot and Carina were little they visited it. Elliot said that there was a bad guy in it to scare her, but then he said, "No, there's no bad guy." So she went up to it but just as she was about to go in he said, "There's the bad guy!"
(I know this since Grandma taped it with the video camera.)

Well, the Madison feis is in nine days. :) Yay!! I can't wait!! It'll be my 1st time performing in my solo dress. I'll force myself to post more often...

Waiting for summer...

2008-05-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

I can't really think of anything important to blog about--sorry I haven't blogged for so long. This past week wasn't too exciting. We're just finishing up school.

I can't wait for summer! Swimming lessons, tank tops, watermelon, Broadwater Lodge, three feises, Irish fair, 80 degrees, air conditioning, walks after supper, camping, and bug bites. I love swimming lessons. And tank tops and watermelon and BROADWATER LODGE!! (We went there last year for my Granny & Grandpa's 50th anniversary.) and camping and feises and Irish fair!!!

All for now--I'm going to go and enjoy the weather!!

P.S. the pic is of me in 2000-when I was 3- camping at Beaver Creek with family.

Miesville Ravine Mother's day wild-flower walk

2008-05-11T16:23:00.000-07:00

Me climbing the BIG hill
Mad about Matches
By the Woodland Rue

More pictures: Link to Mothers Day 2008 Wildflower Walk web album

Today we went on our annual Mother's day wild flower walk in Miesville. We've gone to this place three years in a row now, we saw lots of different kinds of plants, the big hills, and the river and streams that run through the park. I made an entry in my Nature Journal when we got home-about some of the plants we saw.
Here's what I wrote:

Purple Violet
Friendly Flower found in the back yard as well as in the wild.

Woodland Rue
A pretty little white flower that grows in large banks all over (the park)

Trout Lilly
We thought this 'upside down' flower looked like a fairy hat or a fairy shower

Pipe Weed
The wild, green tinker-toy that grows in the wild. If you pull them apart carefully you can stick the pieces back together.

High Phlox
Prolific Plant found in North Woodlands.

Buttercup
Found in low, swampy areas, the buttercup glows brilliantly in the warm spring sun.

Dutchman's britches
Found in quiet, shady nooks, a fairy woman has left the Dutchman's britches out to dry in the fresh spring air.

Fleabane
This green plant has a strange, sticky, velcro-like feel.

Side note: Dad helped me with the High Phlox, Buttercup, and Dutchman's britches describing parts.

Some Knitting

2008-05-10T15:26:00.001-07:00

Here's a picture of some knitting I've been doing recently. I love knitting and crocheting! It's so fun! I've made lots of things for my dolls, family, and self. I plan to make it a 'pocket scarf', you fold over some of the end and sew it to make a pocket to put your hands in. You may think I'm strange, knitting scarves in the spring, but this might take a very long time since I am not very consistent (most of the time) at my projects, and it is going to be very long and these things take time anyway.
I will put a picture of me in it when I finish it!!

Happy Birthday Sese!!!

2008-05-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Sese!!!
For more pics check out our album at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/munson.dancers/Sisters_Nine_and_Eleven

Checkout more pics at our album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/munson.dancers/Sisters_Nine_and_Eleven

Grasshopper Pie

2008-05-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

Last night I REALLY turned 11...it was the first time we were able to make & eat my dessert- Grasshopper Pie! No, it doesn't have grasshoppers in it, it's just called that because of the green tint you give it with food coloring. I had this last year, and I think I'm going to have it next year too...it's SO delicious!!

Excelsior!

2008-05-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

I read this poem for school today, and I really liked it!! (I read it to Sandy, the cat, with lots of gestures, as she rested on the clean folded laundry.)

Excelsior
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth who bore, 'mid snow and ice,
A banner with a strange device,
Excelsior!

His brow was sad; his eye beneath,
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,
And like a silver clarion rung
The accents of that unknown tongue,
Excelsior!

In happy homes he saw the light
Of household fires gleam warm and bright;
Above, the spectral glaciers shone,
And from his lips escaped a groan,
Excelsior!

"Try not the pass!" the old man said;
"Dark lowers the tempest overhead,
The roaring torrent is deep and wide!"
And loud that clarion voice replied,
Excelsior!

"Oh stay," the maiden said, "and rest
Thy weary head upon this breast!"
A tear stood in his bright blue eye,
But still he answered, with a sigh,
Excelsior!

"Beware the pine-tree's withered branch!
Beware the awful avalanche!"
This was the peasant's last Good-night,
A voice replied far up the height,
Excelsior!

At break of day, as heavenward
The pious monks of Saint Bernard
Uttered the oft-repeated prayer,
A voice cried startled through the air,
Excelsior!

A traveler, by the faithful bound,
Half-buried in the snow was found,
Still gasping in his hand of ice
That banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!

There in the twilight cold and gray,
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,
And from the sky, serene and far,
A voice fell like a falling star,
Excelsior!

Sorry I haven't posted for so long, on Saturday I was feverish, and only today I've been feeling nearly totally better. Dad stayed home from work today since he got it I guess. He's doing better now though.

we're sick...

2008-05-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

I had my 11th birthday on Tuesday...Guess where? In bed!!!! :( Yes I was sick. I guess everyone has a birthday in bed at least once in their lives. This is my first time. Anyway, I got it from Izzy, who got it from Sese, who got it from not eating healthily in Duluth. Yesterday I was feeling much better, but then Mom woke up to Miranda running to the bathroom, and they both came down with it, Mama especially. She's all achy. (Let's hope that Dad doesn't get it.) Dad stayed home to watch us, but today he had to go to work. They're still not totally recovered, so our AUNTIE JAN SAVES THE DAY!! by saying she'll take us to piano lessons today and to dance class (if Dad can't get home early enough). Thank you, A. J.!!

But I still got presents on my birthday. I got a shirt and shorts, and a new journal ( I love to journal, I try to write every day), and a book called "Lysbeth (A Tale of the Dutch)." It's really exciting. It was written a long time ago but they republished it in 2004 or something. The author is H. Rider Haggard. I really really really like it!!

Got air?

2008-04-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

Revision 2:

new flash graphic!

a graphic for the site in progress:

see:

got air flash graphic

My favorite books

2008-04-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorite books, some of these I read for school others I read just for fun.
'Little Women' & 'Little Men' by Louisa M. Alcott
'The enchanted Castle' & 'Five children and It' by E. Nesbit
'The pink Motel' by Carol Ryrie Brink
'Kidnapped' by Robert Louis Stevenson
'Kim' by Rudyard Kipling
'The Chronicles of Narnia' by C. S. Lewis
'Sisters in time' series
'The Cottage at Bantry Bay,' 'Francie on the run,' 'Pegeen' & 'The Mitchell's' by Hilda Van Stockum
'Emily of New Moon' by Lucy Maud Montgomery
'Duncan's War,' 'King's Arrow,' 'Rebel's Keep,' & 'Guns of Thunder' by Doug Bond'
'The Saturdays,' 'Four Story Mistake,' 'Then There were Five,' & 'Thimble Summer' by Elizabeth Enright
'The Alley' by Eleanor Estes
'Peter Pan' by J. M. Barrie
'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens
'Dr. Oma' by Ethel Herr
'Raiders from the Sea' by Lois Walfrid Johnson
'Blue Willow' by Doris Gates
'Little Maid of Virgina' by Mary Curtis
'The Borrowers' by Mary Norton
'A Wrinkle in Time' by Madeline L'engle
'The Princess and the Goblin' by George MacDonald

Has anyone heard of any of these??

2008-04-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

These are our cats, Sandy, top, and Sally, bottom. They both love being outside when it's warm enough, and even when it's raining. When it is, Sandy goes out under our little table, and licks the fresh rainwater off of the little bench. Sally just likes to scare the birds, like she's doing in her picture (0r else she's just pretending to be a naughty squirrel), and to play 'Jungle Cat Sally!!'

First post!

2008-04-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

I just got my very own blog set up. Finally! I've been begging Dad to do this for a few weeks now!

On this blog I will report about school (our Homeschool is called Holy Word Christian Girls Academy, with my sisters and I as the students), the kitties, Sandy & Sally, and Dance...

The name of my blog is from our school's team name -- the 'Flyers' since Irish dance is the only sport that we do, and you fly in the air when you leap.

I'm excited for school to be over with...today was game day; we played Yahtzee instead of doing math.

The cats are good, I'll get some pictures on here tomorrow.

My 1st solo dress came yesterday, it was made in Ireland by Siopa Rince. (Pronounced Shopa Rinca.)

I'll talk more later! Tomorrow actually.