Birthday

It's Halloween

How Many . . . .

. . . . . silly bands could a girl possibly want?

Animals

She never really played with dolls. She wants to become a vet. Or an animal trainer. Or a nanny. We'll see.

Some bits and pieces

Before Hana the Artist embarks on a two month long summer holiday, here is some of her work that I picked up around the house.

A letter about her brother.

The lyrics of a love song?

A circus elephant

The life cycle of a caterpillar

A box coming from art class

Two dancing worms (?)

A quiz Hana gave herself about Holland

A sign about Holland (It's all about love and peace)

And the beginning of a story that was never finished. Or maybe it is the entire story

"So what is it like to be a cat?"
"I'm glad you asked."

Dog Show

Hana's rendition of the Dog Show

Hana participated in a dog show with our oldest dog. She talked about the event for a whole week, and that was before we even had gone there. What kind of prize would she get? What kind of dogs would we see there? How would we walk with the dog? What would she have to do? Was our dog clean enough? She washed him twice daily for a week.

The jury and Hana (2nd from left, in yellow T-shirt)

When they day of the event came, and she found out that two of her mom’s friends would join, also with their dogs, she said in a painful manner: “I am going to have my dreams crushed. This way there are going to be too many people in the show, and we will not win.”

That worried me a bit, because I knew that with our dog, whether there were many people or not many people participating, we didn’t stand a chance. The dog is old, ugly, stinks, is blind and deaf, and to top it off, not well groomed. Luckily there was one category – best senior – where at least we could inscribe him.

Superstar in the making

But hey, at one point in life you have to learn how to deal with disappointment, and that might as well be at the age of 7 at the local dog show.

What do you know? He won first prize? It seems that at the ripe dog age of 16, there aren’t many that can beat you. And being blind and deaf, he also got a prize in the most-disabled category.

"I can't believe it! We won first prize!" No, neither can I.

Ghana Performance

Hana's class has been studying Ghana, Africa, and as a closure to the unit, they performed a music piece from Ghana. Hana is on the bongos.

World Soccer Cup & Dutch Flag

Inspired by the plethora of flags on the streets (because of the soccer world cup), and slightly miffed by the fact that there are no Dutch flags anywhere (yes, I agree on there! Where’s the Dutch support in Lebanon?)

Father’s Day

It’s seems that Father’s Day is on the way. Hana has written a book for her dad.

My big big
dad got me a big yellow
duck
and a black one too
He travels a lot and got
me a movie

Every night my
big dad
gives me a piggy
back ride. Yay!

My dad is a diver.
He
has 80 fish. The mom
makes too many fish.
Silly fish!

My dad likes music
and fish.
He has 100 DVD’s
So do I. He owns
the building too. Every
body says thank you.
 (he doesn't own the building by the way. He's the president of the owners committee. Which Hana has translated into the fact that her dad must be the president of Lebanon. It hasn't struck her as odd yet that many of her friends also have dad's that are presidents)

A Poem


A dad
I love you for
the world I
love you. Now
come
to your daughter. I love you!

And who wouldn’t want a ‘hug coupon’?

Hana is learning how to write letters in school. I’d almost call it persuasive writing. Hana wants another dog. Besides Spike, her best friend. A friend for Boeffie, the other dog. That would make 3 dogs. Not happening! No way. She needs to work on her persuasion skills.
I mean, look at that mutt!

A letter to Spike, her dog.

Pillows & Insects

Dear Mom, I can't write because I need you to get a special pillow. I pillow for my hand. Can you get a pillow for me?

Love, Hana.

A pillow for your hand, Hana? What's next? Seven matrasses?

Some more writing that came from school. Not much art these days, Although she still does the illustrations with her writing. I like the little butterflies. They flutter so daintily.

Hana Montana

Hana is diversifying. Music it is,  these days. Hana's hero(ine) is Hannah Montana. It helps they sport the same name. But she's very serious about her guitar business. Her dad taught her two chords on the guitar, and now she hauls the thing wherever she goes. At school, she has started a band.

Book & Feet

From being a ferocious painter, she’s become a ferocious writer. She’s churning out letters, plans and books on a daily basis. This one is from this morning .

My name is Hana. I have a dog. I have a toy dog too. My favorite thing is a dog.

Dad likes cats. He kisses the cat all the time.

Mom cares about her bamboo. It’s like her child.

The birds sings too much.

And if you have no friends around, you turn your feet into funny faces to play with.