Let's Start Teaching - by Emma

Okay kids listen up! Today we are going to learn about the Whangdoodle! Hi! I'm Emmalyn, I'm 10 years old and in the fifth grade and I want to become a teacher!

If you want to become a teacher you must stay in school and have to get a degree. If you are not sue you have the real desire to become a teacher you can become a substitute first and see if you would like to still become a teacher.

When I was in 1st grade I became interested in teaching. When I was in 4th grade my mom and dad bought me an art easel with the flippable white board that I like to play pretend teacher with. I get good practice that way!

Here is some advise I would like to give you : Stay in school, get good grades, and learn a lot of subjects. If you want to be a teacher, it isn't going to come to you automatically. You have to keep trying and don't give up!

Did you write all of this down? If you did, now you are on the road to becoming a teacher. You just need to find a school to work at :)

My grandpa's house by Ana

My family always goes to my grandpa's house every week. My favorite place there is the pond where we hike. The hike is hard, but it is worth it because you get to see the clear water.

When the sky is crystal clear, I see shapes and animals in the clouds. I can hear the frogs croaking and I know they want to play. The pathway we take is all dirt. So, I hate when the musty sand kicks up into my nose. Now that the thorny bushes have not been trimmed, it is hard to walk through, although we still do. As I walk I love to hear the birds tweet in the wind. Sometimes I get a thorn stuck into my jacket and I scream OUCH! It feels like a bee sting.

When I pick up the sand it slithers through my fingers like a snake and it is very ticklish. When we walk on the trail, we are careful of the hungry mean rattle snakes and the wild coyotes. When we finish our day at the pond we head back up towards the house and sit on the back porch to look at all the lights in Chatsworth.

I will never forget my grandpa's house because I always have a blast there. That is why it is my special place.

My grandpa's house is my special place by Emma

My grandpa has a beautiful house in Rocky Peak. We have to go hiking together every couple of weeks. My grandpa's house is my special place because it's so quiet and peaceful. At night, there is a beautiful view.

When we are up there I can smell the minty sage, the bristle from the bushes and the swampy pond. I can touch the rough rocks when I throw them into the pond and my hiking stick that I try to grasp quickly before I fall on the steep rocks. I can hear the lizards scampering by and the trains blowing their horns as they pass through the tunnel at the bottom of the mountain. I can taste the water and minty smell from the sage.

When we reach the top of the mountain I can see the lovely view. The sky is often bright blue with a little hint of green. At the top of the mountain I see an old safe from long ago and it keeps people's money safe while moving from one place to another. I also spot a plaque that is white tile with words on it telling us that the ancient people crossed there. I think that is so cool! I will NEVER forget hiking with my Grandpa in his backyard. It is very special to me.

Meeting the Reno Aces

Ana was invited to attend the Reno Aces baseball practices and meet the players. She was really excited about meeting Josh Whitesell #32 (which has always been our families favorite number). He was the player that hit the ball to her at the opening game. We had so much fun meeting many of the players. They were all very concerned about her. The owners, Jerry and Stuart Katzoff, were so kind to invite Ana back to the stadium. The staff treated her like a queen. They invited Emma too; they wanted to take a before and after picture using Emma as the before. Cute idea! Our favorite players are Josh Wilson, Josh Whitesell, Brandon Watson, and Luke Carlin. We were so honored to meet the Manager, Brett Butler. I remember when he used to play for the Dodgers! All of the players signed balls for Ana and Emma. Josh Whitesell signed "the" ball that he hit to her. This time we sat right behind home plate, behind a net! What a blast! We are so excited to announce that two of our favorite players, Josh Whitesell and Josh Wilson, were both called up to the play in the major leagues for the Diamondbacks. We are very proud!

It's time to play Aceball!

We were so excited! As we watched the new baseball stadium be built, we counted the days to Opening Day for the new Reno Aces AAA baseball team! The stadium was beautiful, the crowd was atwitter; a new engergy was in the air! As we sat down with our group of friends we could not believe how amazing all of the seats were. There is not a bad seat in the house. We sat at the third base, eleven rows up. The kids Ana, Emma, Kilian, Carley, Erica, Cole, and Brock had fun getting autographs from some of the team members. The adults Wade, Dave, Tracy, and Paul were enjoying the peanuts. The Reno Aces owners were kind enough to let the City of Reno employees buy opening day tickets before they went to the public. So, a lot of my coworkers were sitting in the stands with us. It was the first inning, the other team had just finished so the Aces were up. I decided to go to the snack bar to get some snacks. As I was walking down the aisle with my hands full, my coworker and dear friend Bubba said "Laura, come here! Your daughter was just hit in the eye and Wade ran to the First Aid area with her." Wow! My sweet Ana was hit with a line ball into her right eye by #32 Josh Whitesell. The paramedics were wonderful when I walked into the room they smiled at me calmly stating "she is okay, calm down, she is okay". Ana had an ice pack on her eye; she pulled the ice off and said "It doesn't look bad does it mommy?" I practiced my best acting ever "no honey, it looks fine". I thought I was going to pass out, I thought she lost her eye. It was so swollen and it was bleeding. When I saw Wade's face turn so white, I was terrified. We rushed her in an ambulance to the Emergency Room. The ER staff was so kind I kept asking them to give her some pain medication and Ana was so calm "I am okay mommy". The doctor's told us that they might have to do reconstructive surgery, so not to give her any food or liquid. I always knew my spunky Ana was confident and brave. But, I am still amazed by her demeanor. She was so calm and funny! After they took a CT Scan we found out that she did not break any bones. What a relief! She wanted to go back to the game, but we thought it would be better to go home. She will always remember her first professional baseball game! She can't wait to go back! Kilian saved the ball for her and she wants to meet the player that ht the ball to her!