The Crazy Weather!!!!!

The Crazy Weather!!!
By: Ethan V.
6-30-18

     Today I will tell you about the rain and the extreme heat and the crazy weather here in Evanston.  When we first came, the first couple of days were very hot and humid. Then on the first day of tennis camp it started raining with very gray skies. It was gray and chilly the whole week and then the sun showed up a little on Sunday. The next few days were still cloudy and then all over the news broadcasts  they said it would be very hot on Thursday and Friday and they were right. On Thursday it was 88 degrees and then on Friday there was an extreme heat wave and it was 98 degrees, with a heat index of 105-110 degrees. The heat wave also affected Saturday which was 96 degrees, with a heat index of 105-110 degrees. This heat has been affecting a lot of people, especially  babies and the elderly without air-conditioning. Luckily we have AC here in Momo and Jiji's house. Also, I became aware of the importance of drinking a lot of water to avoid dehydration which can cause heat stroke and other problems. So drink a lot of water!! But the heat wave doesn't only affect humans. Plants and animals begin to whither and  die without enough water. For Izzy and me this weather is unusual because in San Diego, we rarely have this kind of heat or humidity. I was hoping that we would get a break from this in D.C. where we are going on Tuesday. But the news says that it's
 just as bad there. I must remember to drink a lot of water!

The 2018 FIFA World Cup!!!!!!!!

The 2018 FIFA World Cup!!!!
By: Ethan V.
6-29-18

     This year a tournament that only happens once every 4 years is happening. It is the 2018 FIFA world cup!!!!! This year it is in Russia. I think that was a good choice because it is so big. So here is more information about it. The world cup is a tournament of soccer and countries around the world that all compete in. But not all countries get to go, though. This year the U.S. didn't qualify, sadly. But some other countries I like that are in it. These are the countries I am rooting for: Japan, Argentina, Portugal and Mexico who all made it to the second round which is awesome. But you probably don't know what that means so I will tell you. In the first round it starts with 32 teams divided in 8 groups of 4.  Each group is called by one of the first 8 letters of the alphabet. So this is the point system: if you win one game you get 3 points if you have a tie you get 1 point and if you have a loss you get 0 points. I am going to act like I am Japan to demonstrate. We are in the last group, group H, with Columbia, Poland and Senegal.You have to play every single team in your group. First they played Columbia which they won 1-0. Then they played Senegal and tie 2-2. Then it is time to play Poland and they lost 1-0. That leads to a total of 4 points. Columbia got 6 points by winning 2 of their 3 games and you tie with Senegal at 4 points and Poland is eliminated with 3 points. Also I forgot this, the top two teams in each group with the most points go on to the second round.   Since they tied with Senegal in points you go on to goal differential where you add all the goals you made and subtract all the goals you let up. They got 0 and Senegal got 0 also so for the first time in World Cup history FIFA had to use FIFA's fair play rules which comes down to yellow cards which Senegal had more of so Japan went on to the second round with Columbia. Japan plays Belgium and I hope Japan wins. Check in for more information about it in a later blog post!!!

Home Depot!--Izzy

Going to Home Depot!

Izzy

6.28.18

     Today Momo and I drove to Home Depot to get some plants and light bulb replacements. We got some annuals to fill in some planter pots: sunflowers, superbells, impatiens, and sweet potato vine.We are going to add these plants to the sunny front planters and to pots in the shady area in the backyard. Momo was just looking for some plants that would add more color to the planters and garden. After we got the light bulbs, we drove home. Because we had other things to do, we didn't have time to plant today, but we will definitely plant tomorrow and I will take pics.

This is me pushing the cart through the nursery at Home Depot.

6.29.18


     Today I planted the impatiens in the backyard. The impatiens like the shade, and Momo has places for both shade and sun in her garden. Momo has a very big garden!!! There were 12 impatiens, a deep pink,  to plant, and I learned about how to plant them. Momo told me that it's better to plant them in odd numbers and in staggered lines so they look more natural. We planted the plants in the same general area but in 3 different spots. We split them up into three groups, 1 group of 6 and 2 groups of 3.

This is a picture of the impatients.

This is the main part of Momo and Jiji's backyard/Momo's garden.

This is a picture of the Japanese garden.

This is the left side of the garden-what you see when you walk out.

The Coyotes Across The Street!!

The Coyotes Across The Street!!

By: Ethan V.

6-28-18

     Today I'm going to  tell you about the coyotes across the street!! Across the street there is a big green house. It also holds a house and the people who own it are the Higgins. Also it has and outdoor part to AND IT IS HUMONGOUS!!!! The coyotes made their den under some shrubs that are right near the entrance of the place . Also they bark so loud every time a siren goes off and we think there might be new babies. They are also very scrawny and we don't know if they eat a lot. We think they eat birds and other things looming there.  Also today we found a deer foot in the alley and that kind of grossed Izzy and me out( See picture at bottom). Another thing very sad is that there is two missing cats that people think the coyotes got. The first one is Barney, a very friendly golden cat who loved everyone and he went missing about 3 weeks ago. I really liked him because some times he would let me pet him and I am sad. The second case is a tabby from a few houses down and he was a house cat but sometimes he would go and sit on  the porch. He went missing a few days ago and the owners went out to look for him but all they came back with was his collar. The owners think they must have gotten him right off the porch.  Also earlier this visit Izzy saw a coyote! She  saw it right out of the window in our room upstairs. I hope I can see one to this visit.We don't know what time they moved in also.I hope that the coyotes stop getting cats and get out by when I come back. Also I hope the two cats that are missing are alive and trying to get out of the place.

This is from a deer the coyotes caught.

This coyote looks like the one across the street. 

Hartigan's!--Izzy

Going to Hartigan's!!!

Izzy

6.28.18

     Today we went to Hartigan's after dinner. Momo, Ethan, and I walked. This was our first time going this summer. Hartigan's is on Central Street where the other fun stores are. To go to my other blog post about Central Street, go here: Central Street--Izzy!   Hartigan's is an ice cream shop that also has candy, fro yo, and other sweets. We love going to get a nice, cold dessert--and it's really close by. Hartigan's is a very popular spot for many people. Whenever we go there(in the summertime) it is always very crowded! Today I got Red Raspberry in a waffle cone. Ethan got Superman, something that they always have. Momo got vanilla fro yo, and we got Jiji his favorite--butter pecan. We walked home and enjoyed the awesome ice cream!

This is me and Ethan enjoying our ice cream.

Koubou's Cat Tree!!

Koubou's Cat Tree!!

By: Ethan V.

6-27-18

     Today something awesome happened!! Koubou's cat tree came!!! Izzy and I had been waiting for it a long time. First we assembled it. There is a platform with two posts that are scratchers. The two posts hold up the bed part. Also on one of the scratching posts there is a little pom pom he can hit.Then we got  Koubou to see if he wanted to use it. First he was skeptical only putting one paw on  it. He jumped off right away when we put him on the bed part. One time I hit the pom pom and he played with but only for a short while.  He eventually got on it and from above he played with he pom pom!! He got off and started scratching. It seems he likes the scratching posts because he has played with that more than the pom pom!! I hope eventually this will become one of his favorite things to with and nap on.

Exercising With Jiji!--Izzy

Exercising With Jiji!!!!!!

Izzy
6.26.18


     Today we did all of Jiji's exercises. Everyday we try to do tossing, leg exercises, and arm exercises. Ethan and I each do tossing, which involves throwing and catching, some with a juggling ball and some with a bean bag. We each do 50-75 tosses to JiJi. They help him improve coordination in his hands. He especially needs to improve the grip and strength in his right hand. We also do the arm exercises where we have a dowel or stick. We stretch up, right, left, in circular motions, and more. These exercises help him stretch and regain core strength. The leg exercises do the same thing. Some of the leg exercises are swinging your legs up and down, to the back and to the side, standing up on your toes and heels, and lifting and holding your leg up on to a bench. Doing all of the exercises with Jiji helps us too. We count in Japanese which can make up for a lost Japanese lesson and is good practice. I enjoy doing these exercises because they help us and Jiji, and it is fun when we all do it. Today Momo also did them with us!

This is us doing the arm exercises with Jiji in the breakfast room.