In honor of Jane Austen week...

Hello, blog pals! As you may have heard, it's Jane Austen week! So I got together with my friends Nicki and Ashley, we borrowed Josefina's regency dresses and did a photo shoot! We're the heroines from some of Austen's most famous works -- Pride and Prejudice and Emma! We'd have gotten a couple of our other friends and done more heroines from her other books, but Josefina only has the three dresses we're wearing, lol. Anyways...

Ashley is Elizabeth Bennet from P&P. Lizzy has dark hair and "fine" dark eyes, is quick witted, sarcastic, smart and funny. She's the quintessential Austen heroine.

I'm Jane Bennet, Elizabeth's older sister. Jane is sweet, compassionate, blonde, and beautiful.

Nicki is Emma Woodhouse from Emma. Miss Woodhouse is a little daft at times, but her heart is always in the right place.

The Bennet sisters

Feeling lovely and ladylike.

Oh, and in other news, in case you don't already know, Lucy, the newest girl here, has opened her blog! It's called Love, Lucy. Go show her some love. =) (She's sad because no one besides me commented on her last blog post...)

Stop motion video: Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

Hey everyone! Bre made a new stop motion video with some of the dolls having a little Christmas themed fun. I'm not in it (so it's not as good as it might have been...) but it's still pretty cool. This is only her second stop motion vid, so she's still working on those skills. Anyways, give it a watch, click like and all that other stuff. Thanks!

Random Pic: Me and my friends

Today's random pic is of me and all my friends. We don't get to be together that often because some of us go to different schools and have crazy schedules, but I like when we can be together.

Cousin Allie

Hey everyone! I know it's been a while. Life has been weird.

For starters, my cousin Allie from Germany moved into our house. She's a Gotz Precious Day Jessica doll. Don't get me wrong... I love her, but it's been weird sharing my room. She 10 (I'm almost 12), she loves pink (I tolerate it), and she's really girly (I'm not). But it is cool... I mean, before her, I was the only blond in the family. And I always have someone to play with because my older sisters are mean and don't like to spend time with me. We usually have fun, and my friends all mostly like her, but Quinn gets tired of her pretty quickly... which is funny, since they're a lot alike...

And Nicki's in Colorado right now. She first moved here to help her sick grandma, but her gran's gotten much better and no longer needs help. She misses her family and her friends Becca and Kris a lot... so she's thinking of moving back. None of us here want her to go... would we be bad friends if we said so?

Instant Karma

Hi friends... I'm back with yet another page in the book of War with Claire. Today in class, during a quiz on the weekend reading assignment, I dropped my pen on the floor and I leaned over to pick it up. When I leaned over, Claire, who sits next to me, shot her hand up and swore that I was cheating and trying to see her paper. (If I was to cheat, however, it wouldn't be on Claire's paper... she gets bad grades.) I tried to deny it, but the teacher made me move to the front of the class. The dunce seat. A minute or two later, Miss Lamb started collecting papers from whoever was finished, and Claire was one of the first done. After she handed in her paper, she pulled out her notebook and scribbled something on a piece of paper, tore it out, crumpled it, and threw it at Nicki. Miss Lamb saw this and figured Claire and Nicki were cheating, but when she read the paper she saw that it only said "hillbilly loser," which is what Claire often calls Nicki. Claire got sent out of class, and I got to sit back in my regular seat. I love it when Claire gets called out for being her evil self. That's what I call karma.

Happy birthday, Addy!

Hello, everyone! It's Wendy, your ever faithful blogger. =) Today is Addy's birthday. She was Bre's first doll, and she's super nice, so we're all very happy for her. She got a new dress, although I don't have pics at the moment, sorry. Maybe soon.

And you'll all be glad to know that we've had something of a break from all the drama -- Jason and Nicki are talking again. They're not going out or anything, but they are friends, and Nicki feels a lot better about that.

As for Claire, she stood up in English class today and announced that she was nominating me as "Queen of the Dorks." She got in trouble. =) And honestly, I've been called worse. Mostly by her and my older sisters, but still. That was the first thing she's even said since she threatened that none of us is safe.

But really, all of my friends are in some way affected by Claire. Ashley, Nicki, and I share classes with her. She's in girl scouts with me and Nicki. She's in Ashley and Taylor's dance classes, and she goes to the same church as Quinn and Nicki. Apparently she tripped Taylor in ballet the other day. Taylor figured it was an accident, but we all know better. Taking things out on Taylor is so unfair. She's not a part of this. Which one of us is next, I wonder?

Nicki and Claire and Me

I have to blog fast, since I'm super grounded.

Okay, I trust you all heard about that evil Claire telling Jason the truth about Nicki. Well, I got really mad about that. And yes, I got into a fight with her. And I'd do it again too. Why? I know I was wrong, but so was Claire. She has been so mean to me and even more so to Nicki. I saw my friend crying, and instincts took over. Claire was at fault, therefore she had to be taken down. But this Jason thing was only the latest mean thing she's done. She's treated Nicki like crap ever since they met.

Nicki, Claire, and I are all in the same girl scout troop. Claire's mom is troop leader. Claire has picked on her about being from Colorado, liking horse, wearing boots, and for having freckles ever since the first day she met her. And in troop meetings, her mom doesn't even make her stop teasing Nicki. Claire calls Nicki a hick at least once a day. She makes fun of me for being Jewish, and she makes fun of Ashley for having friends that are hicks and Jews.

Claire hadn't talked to me at all since the fight. Until today. After our troop meeting, she pulled me aside and said, "You're going down. You're all going down. None of you losers is safe." I just ignored her. She is so mistaken if she thinks any of us is scared. Perhaps this is war. If so, she can bring it.

As for Jason, he still isn't speaking to Nicki. She's kinda miserable about it... I hope he comes around, but there's nothing I can really do.

Guest Blogger Nicki Speaks

Hello, everyone! This is Nicki M. Fleming... the person who I'm sure you've all heard way more than you ever cared to know about me or anyone else. I'm not big on this whole... online communication thing... I mean, I like IMing and e-mails, but I feel like I wouldn't be able to get my words together enough to write a blog all the time like Wendy does. See, I'm rambling already!

So what I wanted to tell you all about was why Wendy hasn't posted lately. It's sorta a long story...

Okay, so remember she said how Jason IMed her and asked to meet me at the library the next day? Okay, well, I was SO excited because Jason is just so amazing. Seriously. Anyways, I went to meet him and he asked me if I wanted to be his GIRLFRIEND!!!!! And I said yes. I tried to be cool about it, but I really wasn't. So anyways, the next day was the dance, and we all got dressed up for it... even Wendy, although Ashley and I had to beg her to wear a dress. So we were all at the dance, and I was with Jason. There was a slow song on, and he had his arms around me. He's so shy so he was blushing, and it was really cute. I thought he was gonna kiss me, but one of the teachers came by and blew her whistle at us since that's so not allowed at school. Everything was perfect until this nasty, horrible girl that Wendy and I DO NOT get along with named Claire Lozano came up to me and Jason and asked him if he was babysitting me. Claire has a sister in 8th grade and she knows Jason. But when she said that, he was really confused and then she told him that I'm only in 6th grade. He said he couldn't believe I was such a liar, and I ran out crying. I know it was wrong to lie... I don't know why I did it. And it messed everything up.

After Claire ratted on me and I ran out, Wendy got into a fist fight with Claire. Fighting is wrong, but I couldn't help but feel a little bit vindicated when I saw Claire with a bloody nose. But when I saw Wendy being escorted out by the principal I felt super low. She got suspended for two days, detention for two weeks, and grounded for two weeks... all because of me.

All this happened a week ago, and Jason still won't talk to me. Wendy isn't mad anymore, and I'm doing everything I can to make it up to her. What else can I do? Help....

Love, Nicki (no long Nicole) Miranda Fleming

P.S. Here's a pic of me, Wendy, and Ashley dressed up for the dance.

IM with Jason

I can't even begin to describe this, so just read it, lol.

Jason: Hey
Me: Uhm, Hi. Do I know you?
Jason: Lol, yeah. Well, sorta. It's Jason. Nicole's friend. *
Me: OOOH... Jason. Hi. How are you? And, uh... where did you get my screen name?
Jason: I'm great. And yeah, sorry, I got your email from the school message board... it's in your profile. I just sorta wanted to ask you a question about your cousin.
Me: What cousin?? **
Jason:...Nicole...
Me: Oh right. Her. What did you want to know?
Jason: Well, I really like her... does she like me at all?
Me: Uh duh.
Jason: Seriously?
Me: Seriously.
Jason: Can you ask her to meet me at the library before school tomorrow morning?
Me: Why can't you ask her yourself? ***
Jason: It's hard to talk to her... I can't think when I look at her...
Me: She says the same thing about you. ****
Jason: =)
... There was a long pause here...
Jason: So will you ask her?
Me: I guess. But I gotta go now. *****
Jason: Thanks. Bye =)

So yeah. I'll let you guys know when I find out what happened at the library.


Key:
* = Since when does she go by Nicole?
** = I had forgotten Nicki told him that Ashley and I were her little cousins... >.<
*** = Seriously. I'm not their little love messenger.
**** = Nicki told me later that I shouldn't have said that.
***** = I didn't really have to go... I was just tired of talking to him.

Dance Class

In my school, whenever the weather is bad out, we always have P.E. in our cafeteria (which has to serve as cafeteria/auditorium/gym) -- and the only thing we can do is dance. The eighth grade P.E. teacher Mrs. Moon leads us in these lame choreographed dances with very simple moves. Ashley hates it because it makes her want to do some real dancing, which this is not. Anyways, it was cold this morning, so we were dancing and Nicki discovered that Jason has P.E. with Mrs. Moon the same period we have P.E. with the 6th grade teacher Mrs. Campbell! So they did all their pairs dances together, and I've never seen her blush and giggle more. She really likes him...

Then we met up this afternoon after school to walk to my house and we ran into Jason just as we were leaving campus. He offered to walk with us, although it was pretty obvious he just meant Nicki. They even held hands, and when we got home, they hugged goodbye.

I can't blame her for liking him... he's cute, with his shaggy blondish hair and freckles and green eyes. He looks SO California, and apparently he used to leave near the coast. He's a nice guy... that's why I'm most disappointed in all the lying Nicki is doing...

Nicki + Jason = ????

So, you guys remember how I told you about Nicki getting asked to the dance by an eighth grader named Jason Tonner? Well, I'm in the school library typing this right now, because I'm in shock! Jason works in the library for extra credit... that's where Nicki met him. He's been flirting with her since we came back from winter break... because he thinks she's an eighth grader too! Nicki, Ashley, and I were in the library this morning and Jason came up to us and asked if we had Mrs. Arbuckle for English. Arbuckle only teaches grade 8! Ashley and I laughed and said we had Mrs. Lamb (who only teaches grade 6), but Nicki lied to him... she said she had Arbuckle too! And then she told Jason that Ashley and I were here younger cousins and she helps with our homework.

She told Jason she'll go to the dance with him even though her grandmother said she wasn't allowed to go with a boy. And then she made me and Ashley promise we wouldn't tell her grandma.

Nicki has never lied before. What's my friend becoming? She's acting like a... *gulp*... teenager!

Beautiful Nicki

So, I don't know if you guys have noticed, but my friend Nicki is like a beautiful young woman. I'll be honest... I hadn't noticed. I mean, I knew she was pretty and all, but yesterday at school, they announced that we'll be having a dance next Friday. It's not an evening time date kind of dance... it's during school, and if you have a black or gold card (meaning a GPA of over 2.7) you get to miss 7th period for this dance. Even though it's not a date type thing, some of the older kids are going in couples... and after school, an 8th grader named Jason Tonner asked Nicki to go with him! Well, her grandmother said there was no way she'd allow that... but now Nicki thinks she's very mature. She asked Bre for her own photo shoot, and we all had to admit that she's looking more grown up since she turned 11.

Here is the album. See for yourself. =)

Guess what!

Remember how I said Nicki is in Colorado with her family? Well, she IMed me earlier and said she's coming home on next Wednesday. She'll fly into Los Angeles and catch the bus from there to here (which is about two hours away, depending on traffic). I know Quinn told you all how much fun she's having at home, but she said she's missed us all a lot too, and she'll be happy to be back with her grandma. But what's really cool is that her mom is coming with her! Her mom will stay for about a week and a half with Nicki and her grandma and then she'll go home. I think that'll be good for Nicki... kinda like not quitting cold turkey.

And guess what else! Bre has been doing a little eBaying. And she won her first Bitty Baby! Hopefully she'll be here soon. Bre says that all of us dolls can think of this little one as a baby sister. I wonder if I'll get to babysit...

Until next time,
Wendy (Angela Moira Darling) Stein XOXO

An email from Nicki.

Hi everyone! It's me, Quinn. I got an email from Nicki earlier, and I wanted to share it with you. She's still in Colorado, if you're wondering.

"Dear Quinn,
How are you guys doing? I hope you're having as good a time as I am. I had no idea that I missed Colorado so much! When I got off the plane, my mom and dad ran up to and squeezed me so tight I could barely breath! That night my mom made all my favorite foods for dinner, and my friends Becca and Kris came over. Oh my gosh, I missed them so much! They stayed over that night, and we all stayed up all night just talking. And you wouldn't believe how much my little brother and sisters have grown! I hardly recognized the twins. Yesterday I babysat them with Becca, and we actually had fun! I've been hanging out with Becca and Kris everyday... the other day, we went hiking. I've missed being able to do that SO much! I'm having such a good time, I wish I didn't have to come back. And now that I know Nana is getting on so well without me, maybe I'll stay longer. Say hi to Wendy and Taylor for me! Talk to you soon! - Nicki"

Okay. I'm going to try not to be emotional... but it's hard. She doesn't want to come back! What if she doesn't? Gosh, I would miss her so much. What can I do?

Love, Quinn <3

Haley has left the building.

Well, Haley's off to her next host now. I miss her already! I'm sorry I didn't post as much or share a lot of pics while she was here, since we really mostly hung out around here, but I have a huge album for you to look at now! Please comment the pics and what not. =)

Album is here.

Anyways, you may notice Taylor appears in some of those pics. Quinn introduced her and Haley, and they got along pretty well. Everyone seems to like Taylor a lot. In fact, Quinn is going to her house to watch movies and play dolls tomorrow, aka my two favorite things next to comic book reading. Taylor even invited me. She's always so nice to me... it makes me feel really guilty. I don't know if I'll go to her house yet... I'll have to see.

And Nicki will be leaving to spend a couple of weeks at home in Colorado in a couple of days. I'm gonna miss her a lot! I never would have thought we'd become friends. When I first met her, I didn't pay her any attention... then when I found out she was friends with Quinn, I was so jealous. But now, it's gonna seem weird that she's not right here.

That's about it... I'll update you soon on things around here with Taylor.

Until next time,
Wendy (Angela Moira Darling) Stein XOXO

More fun with Haley

Hello again! I wanted to update everyone on what Haley and I have been up to the last day or so.

We've been watching a lot of DVDs with Bre, and listening to random music with her. While we were listening to audio commentary of my favorite episode of the Simpsons ever ("Lisa the Vegetarian" from season 7), we heard that on the special features Paul McCartney gives his famous lentil soup recipe. We made that for dinner last night! So tasty. A few days ago, Haley went with Bre on a few errands and said the trip was "boring but still nice." A few nights ago she and Quinn went to visit Bre's friend and her dolls. I'm sorry I don't have any pics today, but hopefully I will soon.

Meanwhile, on an unrelated note, things are still the same with Taylor. Her family has moved in next door, and Quinn and Nicki have already been over to her house. Taylor said Haley and I were invited too, but she has a cat and Haley's allergic, so I stayed with her, not that I wanted to go anyways.

Until next time,
Wendy (Angela Moira Darling) Stein XOXO

PS - I just noticed that I now have 6 followers. Thanks! Anyone else who wants to follow this blog is encouraged to do so. =)

Quinn's Birthday!

So monday June 1st was Quinn's birthday! We had a lot of fun. The album is here. You can see in the album what I got her. And feel free to comment on the pics here and/or on the album! =) I'm pretty sure I mentioned before that Quinn was getting a doll... well, she got her first AG... Julie! Her mom told me and Nicki a while back, but she really didn't know. =D

A couple of previews from the album:




We played a lot of different games and watched movies and stuff. Quinn wanted to play popstars (which is basically just singing along with the music and pretending you're on stage) forever, and she wouldn't let us get into our pajamas until like 4 AM, when her mom finally demanded we change and head to bed. But she was pretty happy because, after the picnic, her little brother Ben went to stay over with one of his friends.

I guess that's about all for now... I need to be heading off to bed. In the pics you can see that I'm wearing Rebecca's School Outfit... I'll have to tell you about how I got that later.

Until next time,
Wendy (Angela Moira Darling) Stein XOXO

Shopping for Quinn's birthday

Today was the last day of school! It was great. All the fifth graders in school (from all three classes) were given a big party in the playground. There was so much ice cream and pizza! I almost burst! We finished up our tests and stuff yesterday, and turned in our big history papers. We were allowed to chose any American historical figure and write a big paper about them and what they accomplished. But the catch was that girls had to choose women and boys had to pick men. (I told you my teacher was weird.) I wrote about Abigail Adams.

Meanwhile, tomorrow Nicki and I are going shopping for Quinn's birthday presents tomorrow. I think Nicki already knows what she wants to get her, but I have no idea! What should I get her?

Until next time,
Wendy (Angela Moira Darling) Stein XOXO

Sixth Grade Schedule

Today I was notified at school that I will be receiving the Mary G. Lee Principal's Award this Thursday at the fifth grade award ceremony. Mary G. Lee was the very first principal at my school (Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary), and the award is given each year to a fifth grade girl who shows creativity, effort, and leadership. I'm really proud... I never saw this coming!

We were also given our schedules for fall.

1st/2nd Period - English and Language Arts
3rd Period - Math
4th Period - P.E.
5th Period - Science
6th Period - Social Studies (History)
7th Period - Reading

I got another surprise on my schedule... I was placed in GATE/Honors. GATE stands for Gifted and Talented Education, and you know what Honors means. Since when am I smart? LOL It turns out that Claire (yes, the mean one) is in 1st/2nd, 4th, and 7th with me. UGH!! I called Nicki (who got her schedule in the mail) and she's in 1st/2nd, 3rd, and 6th with me. We get along pretty well now, so I'll be glad to have her in my classes. But Claire? YUCK! No thank you.

It will indeed be an interesting three years at Antongiovanni Middle School.

Until next time,
Wendy (Angela Moira Darling) Stein XOXO

My birthday plans!

Hello all! It's me, Quinn! I'm glad to be posting on here again after everything is chill again with me and Wendy. I missed you guys!

So, I've decided what I want to do for my birthday! We'll be having a picnic outside, and then having a sleepover. We're gonna try to stay up all night! It'll be me (obviously), Wendy (of course), Nicki, my brother Ben (since he lives here), and I don't know who else. There are a couple of other girls at church I talk to, but they aren't really friends. There is one girl in my apartment building I like, but her mom would never allow her to come to a sleepover. When Wendy and I first started babysitting, her mom asked us to watch her, and she's 12!

Anyways, I'm making a playlist of different songs to play at my party. We've all picked a few so far. I'm gonna try to think of some more songs so we can have a really diverse playlist. I can't wait for my party!

My picks: "Love Story" and "Picture to Burn" by Taylor Swift, "How It Feels" by Eleventyseven, "Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry

Wendy's picks: "Fences" and "Decode" by Paramore, "All Around Me" by Flyleaf

Nicki's picks: "Paranoid" by the Jonas Brothers, "I Know" by Drake Bell, "Crush" by David Archuleta

Ben's picks: "I,2,3,4" by the Plain White Ts, "Here Comes Goodbye" by Rascal Flatts

Love, Quinn <3

(BTW, if you saw another post on this blog that was here briefly (about Bob Dylan), just ignore it! Bre posted it on here by accident and then deleted it... and Wendy isn't ever supposed to know it even happened. Shh!)