My Hanukkah Presents:

Today Mommy got me a new leotard for Hanukkah. My other presents were:

* A Build A Bear Gift Certificate
* Borders Gift Certificate
* My very own brush
* Socks
* A check to put in my bank for college
* Mancala
* Etch - A- Sketch
* Some menorahs to paint and use
* Books
* Harry Potter Blanket
* Card from Johneen - She always remembers me!
* A Subscription ot Ranger Rick
* Spongebob Candy Canes
* Bath oil beads/salts and sprinkles

I have one more present on the table. I don't know what it is!

Sabina's Last Post of the Day

Today right after my previous post, I went to see “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”. It was all right. The beginning was OK, the middle, not so great, the ending, definitely not great. The very ending, Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan were all grown up and they found their way back home. Then when they came back out of the wardrobe, they were small again. I came back home crying because Edmund was almost killed and because Aslan was killed, but he didn’t really die because of the stone table. It was a good movie, but I don’t think kids (babies through nine) can see it because it has a lot of war. (I wanted to see it because Mahima saw it and I wanted to ask her some questions about it. I read the book before but didn’t finish it and I’ve been seeing commercials on T.V. about it, on Disney Channel. It told me where they filmed it, who Peter, Lucy, Susan and Edmund really are and how they made the characters. If you saw it you would know what I’m talking about. The people on the White Witch’s and Edmunds sides have these things (like clubs) that look heavy but are really light.

At home, I’m painting a Hanukkiah and Bubbe says it is beautiful.

Oh, I was in the Modesto Bee today. I went to the Hanukkah Party at the synagogue last night and got my picture taken with the group and one with my hand in it spinning the dreidl. Cool!

Bubbe and Me

On Tuesday, my Bubbe and I went to Berkeley to see two plays at the Berkeley. The first play was Comedy on the Bridge. It was all right but I didn’t like it because it was during a war between two countries and there were bombs and they made a lot of noise and holes. One of the characters was Popelka who was trying to go over the bridge because she wanted to se Sykos, her boy friend. She had to show her visa to a sentry who was guarding the bridge so she could get on, but when she got to the other side, the sentry from the other country wouldn’t let her off. She was stuck on the bridge. Other people got on the bridge and they were stuck too. There was only one funny thing in the play. Two big fat fish came down the aisles and one was in the river (From back stage to front stage).

The next play was Brundibar and it was funny. First, a brother and sister, Pepicek and Aninku, needed money because their mother was sick and she needed milk. They went into town where Brundibar lived. Brundibar was an organ grinder. He was a lot bigger than everbody else because he was on stilts, but you couldn’t see them – only at the end. The adults thought he was cool but the kids didn’t. He was mean to kids. Pepicek and Aninku weren’t able to get milk because they didn’t have money and nobody would help them. During the night, while the other kids were sleeping in their houses, Pepicek and Aninku had to sleep in the street. A funny cat, a funny sparrow and a funny dog said they’d help them. The sparrow was held by a strap and cables and she could fly. The next day all the kids in town got together to sing a lullaby to ask for money for milk for Pepicek’s and Aninku’s mom. The kids got the bully out of town because they all worked together.

Brundibar was written by Hans Krasa, a Jew who was later sent to Theresienstadt, a Nazi concentration camp. Children in the concentration camp performed this opera many times. What the Nazis didn’t know was that the bully the kids kicked out of town was supposed to be Hitler.

After the theater, we drove into San Francisco after my Bubbe got lost in Oakland. The hotel was cool because I could buy postcards there for 49 cents each! After we checked into the hotel, got settled into our room for a while, we went to a Chinese restaurant. I ordered chicken wings, prawns, vegetable chow mein, sweet and sour sauce. My grandma got walnut prawns and fried rice and our drinks were diet cokes. After that, we went to the ice cream shop and I got bubble gum ice cream that had real bubble gum inside. Small ones! While I was eating, we went walking to Fishermen’s Wharf and Pier 39. We saw a big humungous Christmas tree with big humungous ornaments and presents at Pier 39.

After that, we went to the Aquarium of the Bay. We got tickets and we went up and escalator to the entrance. We saw lots and lots of fish behind glass. Then we took an elevator way down below the Pier. We walked through two glass tunnels and we saw different kinds of animals that live under the bay. We saw leopard sharks, bat rays, star fish and other fish. Then we went up the elevator and I got to get so wet. I had a souvenir. We got to go through a petting zoo, but in water. I petted something slimy, like bat rays and sand rays and a leopard shark. The leopard shark felt a little bumpy but it was fine. I petted a lot of star fish. They felt bumpier than the leopard shark.

We then went back to the hotel and I watched Alice in Wonderland on my mini-DVD player. The next day we took a Cable Car to Sears Restaurant for breakfast. We sat on the bench in the front and it was raining and windy – the rain was in my face. Sears was great, I loved it. I drank hot chocolate and ordered sour dough French toast with strawberry syrup with real strawberries and maple syrup. Sears is by Union Square. While we were walking to Nordstrom’s we saw a Menorah and a Christmas tree at Union Square. In Nordstrom’s, my grandma and I went up all the escalators. It was cool because there were a lot of escalators and I kept on beating my grandma up the escalators. After that, we took the cable car back to Fishermen’s Wharf, walked around and I sat in a mud puddle when I was trying to get close to the ocean. The last thing we did in San Francisco was chalk painting.

Today Was a Good Day!

Today was a good day. First I went to the park. Nobody was there! I played on the swings, the slide and the bars.

I rode my scooter to the park and back home. After the park we went to pick up my Grandmother.

We went to see a tree that we planted to remind us of my Grandfather Baker.

We took pictures in front of it. Then I talked to my Papa in Panama on the phone!

After that we went to my Tio's house and we got oranges.

I played with Vegas but I had to be careful not to step in any of his "business!"

Then we went to my house and we ate Enchilada Soup and platanos. I helped my Tio Ruben with the tajadas.

When we were done we played Skip-Bo with my Grandmother.

We ended the day lighting candles, opening presents and watching movies. I know you are only supposed to open 1 present each day but I couldn't help myself!

Hanukkah is almost here!

Tomorrow night is the first night of Hanukkah. It will be cool. My Tio Aaron is coming with Amy and Tio Ruben will be here too. We will open presents, light candles and play the dreidel game. On the second night of Hanukkah we will do the same thing but my cousin Casey and his wife Gretl are coming. I am going to help my mommy make potato latkes. I like to grate the potatoes. We will have homemade applesauce too. (I like it on my latkes - it is good!) I can't wait!

My Play Day

Today I went shopping with my Bubbe in the morning. In the afternoon my friend Mahima came over to play. We didn't make the cookies with the cookie cutters today because we wanted to have more time to play together. My mommy got us the cookie dough that was already made and we just put it on a tray and in the oven. We made sugar and chocolate chip. Then we ate them all afternoon.

Mahima and I watched a little bit of Shrek 3D. It was really not 3D too much so we turned it off. Then we played school. Then we got on the internet and played on www.Disneychannel.com , www.pbskids.org and www.turbonick.com and www.lakewoodlions.com. Then I gave her a Christmas present and she went home.

After she left, my mom left to go to Friday night service. I stayed home with my Bubbe. She made me shrimp tempura and then I practiced the violin with her. I am on a new song: Theme From Witches Dance by N. Paganini. That is my mom's favorite song in the Suzuki Vol. 2 book.

Good night!

Cooking Day and Play Day

Today my friend Mahima is coming over. We are going to bake cookies and play games together. My mommy will take pictures of us baking cookies. We are going to use all of the cookie cutters today. We might watch a movie too. We might watch Harry Potter or Ella Enchanted or the Princess Diaries 1 or 2. Maybe we can watch Arthur's Perfect Christmas. That one has people that celebrate every holiday like Christmas, Santa Lucia Day, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. Francine celebrates Hanukkah like me. She is my favorite character.

A New Me

I got my ears pierced!

I got my ears pierced!

Yesterday I got my ears pierced. A long time ago Mommy asked me if I wanted to get them done and I said no, no, no. Now since my grandma and my tio are away on vacation I got them pierced. The earrings are pink daisies with white centers. It sometimes looks blue in the center when you look at it. I was nervous to get it done because my friend Katie said it hurt a little bit. It did hurt but I didn't cry!

Sunday in Sonora

Today I went to Sonora to see a Christmas Craft Festival. The first thing I did was get a soft pretzel with parmesan cheese. It was good and cheesy- oh yeah! We looked at all the exhibits. My mom and I looked for Hanukkah stuff. The closest thing we got to Hanukkah was a stained glass hanging of a Star of David. I got my face painted like a combination of a Snow Queen, Fairy Princess and Flower Fairy. After that we walked around Sonora and then finally found a restaurant that was open and ate there. It was called El Jardín. As soon as we came home my mom made me take a shower and wash off my face.

Yesterday I planted an avocado tree with my Uncle Alan. Grandmother started it with me from an avocado seed. We planted it in a jar with water and then it grew. Now it is in my backyard.

Monday Night

Tonight I went to a Thanksgiving service at my Grandmother Baker's church. People were there from different religions. After the service there was an oneg. An oneg is where you can eat and talk to friends.

After the oneg we went to my Tio Ruben's house. We saw Scott. Scott is my Tio's friend. We saw Jesse too. He is my Tio's other friend. Scott and I played a game called Foosball. I tried to win but Scott won. If I had more time I might have won but I had to go home and go to bed! Maybe I can play Scott again. The next time, we will go to McDOnald's and play air hockey. Air hockey is easy - I will win!

Tarea

Estoy haciendo tarea que no hice en la escuela porque estoy enferma. No fui a la escuela hoy o ayer. Voy a la oficina del doctor hoy en la noche para ver si estoy mejorando. Espero que estoy mejorando. Quiero regresar a la escuela mañana.

Pasé el día con mi bis abuela. Jugabamos Skip-Bo, Scrabble y vimos la pelicula Cinderella.

Adios.

Sabina

Happy Halloween People!

Happy Halloween! Here is a picture of me on my first Halloween. I was 2 months old.

I might not go Trick or Treating because I am sick. I have a fever. I might get to go to a few houses if my fever goes away. Cross your fingers for me!

Here are some Halloween jokes. Don't cheat!

1) What does a pumpkin sew?
2) What do pumpkins eat at ballgames?
3) What vegetable does a pumpkin turn into when an elephant steps on it?
4) What did one Jack o Lantern say to another?

Answers:
1) A Pumpkin Patch!
2) Pulp Corn.
3) Squash
4) "Cut it out!"

Fever

I went to the doctor today. I have a fever of 102.8. I have to take some medicine. It tastes nasty! He also said that I can't go to school tomorrow and I may go trick or treating but only to a few houses.

I am watching Harry Potter 2- The Chamber of Secrets.

Bye.

Plum Princess

I am going to a Bat Mitzvah party tonight for Sadie and Naomi. It is a Halloween party so you have to dress up. I am a Plum Princess. I am also going to be a Plum Princess for Halloween. I like my dress. It feels fancy.

Red Ribbon Week

We are celebrating Red Ribbon Week at my school this week. The police came to our school with a dog to show us that drugs are bad. The dog sniffed backpacks. One of them was filled with drugs. If the dog showed interest in one it meant that it had drugs in it. The dog found the backpack that had drugs. Drugs can explode your brain.

This week we get to do something different every day to remember how bad drugs are and how much fun it is when you don't take drugs.

Monday: Shine off drugs day: We wore sunglasses
Tuesday: Dreams Can Come True Day: We wore pajamas
Wednesday: (That is today) Give Drugs the SLip Day: We wore slippers
Thursday: Turn your back on drugs day: Backward T-Shirts day
Friday: Lion Pride Day - We get to wear our school colors purple and gold

School Picture

I got my school pictures today. My Tía Ñeca made the shirt for me. She lives in Panamá. My mom told her how she wanted the shirt and my Tía made it. She didn't even need a pattern.

Carving Pumpkins

Today we carved pumpkins.

They are my crazy new pumpkin friends. The silliest one is called "Purr"-PLexed. It means confused. It is a kitty - get it "purr" plexed!

The next crazy friend is Loco Pumpkin. Loco Pumpkin has a missing tooth - like me

The last pumpkin is called Jack.

Pumpkin Patch and Sunday School

I went to the Pumpkin Patch yesterday with my Bubbe and my Mommy. We had lots of fun. We went in a corn maze. We almost got lost! I got to take a pony ride too. After that we went home and rested and then we went to Arnav's birthday party. We went to GymStars for the party. I go there for gymnastics class onMonday nights. We did lots of stuff.

Today we had a Sukkah party int he Sukkah for Sukkot at the synagogue. First we had Sunday School and then we went in the Sukkah and shook the lulav and the etrog. After that we got to make sukkahs that we could eat. We made them out of graham crackers, peanut butter, pretzels and candy. It was fun. I got lots of peanut butter on my clothes too. This afternoon my mommy and I are going to carve some pumpkins.

International Festival

Today was the International Festival. I got to see my friend Odalys Perform with her dad's group Vission Latina. She is good. People wanted to buy CD's with her playing the piano.

I also got to see the Panamanian Dancers perform. They are good dancers. They said I can come and learn how to dance with them sometime. They came to my Tio Ruben's house to eat after they danced at the park.

My Journal

Today I found my old, old journal. It is from 2002 and 2003. I didn't write in it a lot. I have about 10 journal entires. My mom wrote them for me on the computer and I traced over them with a marker. I asked my mom if she would put them on my blog so I can have them forever and ever. Maybe more people will read my blog if more if I have more journal entries too. Here is a pitcture of me when I was little and wrote in my old, old journal:

-Sabina

*Note from mommy: Look up the old blogs in the archives section on the right of the blog. I will try to type them all up today.

Fui Al Parque Hoy

Fui al parque hoy con mi amiga Odalys y su hermano Osmany. Comimos y jugabamos ahí. Traje mi scooter y Odalys trajo su helicoptero nuevo. Osmany trajo sus Lego's y una pelota de tennis. Si me porto bien este fin de semana Odalys y yo vamos a ir juntos a mi clase de gimnastica el lunes.

I lost a Tooth

The tooth fairy came last night. I was kind of worried because I didn't sleep in my bed all night long. I slept in my bed and then I went to my mommy's bed. The Tooth fairy came anyway to my bed. I got a letter, a certificate and $5! My mommy said that she is not the Tooth Fairy but I don't believe her.

Today is a Lucky Night

Hi people who are reading my blog. Today is a lucky night. I lost my tooth. I lost my very first tooth! I was watching tv and I felt something wiggly. Then it came out. I am getting a note ready for the tooth fairy. I want to take a picture and post it.

Sabina

Sunday School

Today is the first day of Sunday School. What I like about Sunday School is that my teacher is nice and that my mom teaches there. I can go into her room before school each week and help her set up. I like to play with my friends there too. Maybe I will take a picture there today and put it on my blog. Bye, I have to get ready to go. Sabina

My haircut

This is a picture of me with my new haircut. I got my hair cut 2 inches shorter than it was.

Second Grade

I like second grade because it is the grade my mama teaches. Second grade is a little hard but sometimes we take repasos de primer grado which are remembering first grade work, like tests. In second grade we come in and sit at our desks. Then we have to sit on the carpet so the teacher can read a book to us. We just finished reading Crisántemo which is Chrysanthemum in English. We are going to read Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse on Monday. After reading time we go to lunch. Then we have recess. When we come in we do matemáticas. Then we do educación física with different teachers each day. After that we go to English class. We do calendario at the end of the day. Then I go to the after school program to do my homework.

I got a hair cut

I am sorry I couldn't post before. We get busy sometimes. I am busy with school and afterschool program and homework and gymnastics.
Yesterday I went to speech for the first time. The speech teacher told me to practice the ts sound like bats. There are other words that have ts too like rats, mats, bats, cats. I can make up words too like plats, prats, mlats, strats and more like that.
Yesterday morning my mom had a meeting so my tio Ruben got to take me to school. My uncle Ruben got me a surprise. He got Mc Donalds for breakfast. I got hot cakes. We ate with his roommate Jesse. Jesse told me about his son Little Jesse. Then I went to school.
After school I went to the after school program and then I started to do my homework but then my mom picked me up for a hair cut. My hair is short now. I will get a picture and show you sometime.

Happy Birthday Sabina!

Hello Bina's Blog readers. This is Sabina's mom. It is Sabina's 7th birthday today - Yeah!!! So far, her birthday fun has included breakfast in bed and some presents. She will write more later to tell you about the birthday fun.

Primer Día de Clases

Hoy fue mi primer día de clases. Estoy en segundo grado. Mi maestra es Señora Gonzalez. Ella es muy buena. Me gusta la escuela.
Adios,
Sabina

My Party

This Weekend

This weekend I will read and go to Barnes and Noble. Tomorrow I am going to the Farmer's Market. (the best place is the dessert tent) Tomorrow I will have a birthday party. I have invited a lot of people. My real birthday is August 23.
- Sabina

Big Days

My birthday is in a few days. I am going to have a party at my tio's house on Saturday. I start school on Monday and my real birthday is on Tuesday. I will be seven. I also have my very first loose tooth.

The wedding

I was in my cousin Casey's wedding. It was fun. Here are some pictures.

Tio Ruben, Mommy, Jesse, Casey and me.

The Wedding Party. (That means all of the people that were in the wedding)

Casey, Aunt Margie and Uncle Alan

Me and Jesse playing before the wedding.