zero, my hero

I would just like to say that I am sad, but excited that I am finished. I can't believe that I have actually done it. In the middle of the challenge, I had moments when I thought "I am not going to finish, I might as well not read any more. " I shouldn't have doubted myself. I love to read! I was having a lot of fun doing the challenge. So why did I doubt? I doubted because I was anxious and sometimes in a bad mood too. Did you see the title of my post today? I titled it "zero, my hero" because I have zero more books to read to complete my challenge. (This is also the title of a funny little song that my parents grew up with.) It feels like today is like an ice cream day that has turned into a sundae. It's just a better day than every other regular day.

The pictures that I am posting today were a lot of fun to take. My favorite one is me laying with all of the books on top of me. Those books made me itch. They poked me and I had to stay still. It was still fun and I like the way that the picture came out. The picture with the stack of books? It only contains 50 of the books that I read. The other 50 were from the library, friends, school, or some of them I have loaned out. Can you believe how big the stack would be if all of the books were there? I think it would probably be taller than I am. This morning, to celebrate, I convinced my dad to make his special cinnamon rolls. They were "Yummy, yummy, yummy, I've got love in my tummy". (That is a song reference for those of you who love 60's music!) Thanks dad for making them. We are also headed to the library again, because I am out of books. Then off for ice cream to end today's celebration. What a great day, don't you think?

So I have some surprises for you. The first one, was of course, that I finished 100 books in November. November! I was worried about finishing by New Years. I decided to go skiing, which I already told you about. I can't wait! The second surprise for all of you Texans, is that we are moving to Austin next month. My dad will no longer be working in Denver (it was not the right school for any of us!), so we are going to be spending some time in Austin while he looks for a new job. I'm excited that we will be closer to our Houston friends. Austin is a wonderful place. We have been there to visit before, and I like that they have these cute little vans that sell food in them. The cupcakes I had there were huge and delicious. So, since we will be so close, please come and visit us often!

Now, I do have a question for you. Should I continue my blog? I was actually going to continue until the year was over, but what about next year? I might need some new ideas. Should I change what kind of blog I am doing? I just don't know. Will you give me your ideas?

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Thank you for reading my blog and for supporting me. It made me proud to have people actually reading about my challenge and caring about me. Thank you again!

Love,
Gracie

Five

That's right, five more books. I can't believe it. I decided to celebrate by going to the mountains and learning to ski. My mom's friend Cathy has a house in the mountains that we can stay at. It's all set. I am going to learn to ski! I am so excited! I haven't decided yet, but I think I am going to ask my sister to go too. If you know her, you know that things can get more exciting and fun when she is around.h

My last five books have to be ones that I am really going to like. I don't know what to read. I think that these should be the 5 best books that I am going to read. I need your help. I need your very favorite books to help me end my challenge well. All of you have given me lots of great suggestions. I can't believe that I have already been through a whole year of reading. I have loved all of the books that you have suggested.

Thank you to Lesley (Ms. Police Officer I should say) for suggesting Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing. I loved that book and continued to read a few more Judy Bloom books although my mom has said, "No More Judy Bloom Books!" Lorin, my cousin, gave me a few books by Julie Andrews that I really liked. Thank you to Grandma Gogo for giving me the book "Out of the Dust". It was a great book, even though it was sort of a grown up book. Grandma Wathen sent me "The Night of the Twisters" which was interesting to learn about what tornado's can do to peoples homes and houses. It was nice to have it in a "true story version". Thank you to my third grade teacher, Mrs. Hawkins, for picking such good books for my class to read. Miss Laura sent me "Alanna" and it gave me some fantastic ideas about being a girl knight (even though nobody else knew it). Now, since I can't remember everybody right at this time, and really, there are so many books to remember and who suggested them, I want to just say "Thank you so much!"

It's time for me to go to bed, which actually means that I am wanting to go get in bed and read. first my dad will read "Cheaper by the Dozen"- hilarious, and then I get to read my own book. I haven't decided what exactly that is going to be yet.

Vale (sung in a very sing-song-y voice), au revoir, and goodnight!
Gracie

I'm so excited!

We have been having some trouble with my blog. I know, I shouldn't make excuses for not writing in my blog, but when we finally got around to writing, my mom forgot the email address that was needed to sign on. Today however, we finally figured it out.

Today, after adding all of the books that I've read, I now only have 9 more books in 54 days. Earlier this week I told my mom that I wasn't going to reach my goal. I was feeling grumpy about it because I had been at my grandma's houses and hadn't been reading a lot. The tv was a big temptation! I changed my mind though, and I started reading. I've finished 3 books this week! Can you believe it? Well, I can't, so moving on!

At the beginning of the year, I felt pretty confident. Then, there were times when I didn't really think that I could make it. You know, even if I didn't reach my goal, I have filled up with a lot of knowledge and I have really enjoyed it. I am not just reading these books because I have to, you know?

My half-way goal was to go and have tea with one of my friends. We had a super-duper time. We were a little bit loud at the tea place. While everyone was sipping their tea quietly, Teah and I gave each other high fives and were laughing, talking loudly and slurping out of our tea that we put too much sugar in. It was a blast. For my 100 book goal, I had planned on having a book party. I wanted to invite all my friends to dress up as a character from their favorite book. Now that we have moved, I don't have good enough friends to do that with yet. So, I have been thinking about ideas for celebrating. I was thinking about going to Disneyland with my cousins or going and learning to ski with my dad. I'm not sure if either of these ideas are really possible, so I need your help. Would you give my ideas for celebrating. Remember I am a 9 year old girl, I'm not allowed to get my ears pierced yet (so don't make that one of your ideas although I really would like that!), my parents aren't really rich, and please make it sensible and fun.

Another thing! I am reading for school Voyage of the Dawn Teader. The movie is coming out December 10! I can't wait! People, you should read the book quick before the movie comes out. If you want to go with me to see the movie, you'll have to come to Denver. Remember to bring a coat because it's getting a little nippy! If you already live here, I would love to have you join me. Remember it's December 10th. I don't want to see it in 3d because it ruins it, so I hope that's ok with you too.

We have people coming to our house soon, so I better tell my mom to get off the computer because I am just the dictator you know! (**I think she was aiming for "I'm only dictating for this blog") I'll try to write more as I finish my last 9 books. It's getting close to the blog titled, "I did it!" You will know what I mean when you see it, right? 100! I can't wait to see the list of all my books!

Wa ha ha!
Gracie