The Piano

     All five of the Davis kids play the piano.  It is a very loud and grand instrument that I personally love to play.  When I play, I feel so proud that I am able to play songs that were written by musical geniuses such as Bach and Beethoven.  The piano helps the children in my family to bond.  We all play duets and listen to each other improve each day.  We all started in either first or second grade.  Katie started in second, I started in first, Nick started in second, Natalie started in first, and Brigitte started in second.  Although Nick and Brigitte have yet to find a lot of passion for the piano, Natalie, Katie, and I have found a passion for the instrument.  It's sound is so lovely, and you can make it do pretty much anything.  From pianissimo to fortissimo, from playing andante to allegro, it is beautiful.  My piano is a grand piano crafted by Schimmel.  It is black and shiny.  When I walk into the room that it's in, I can't help but stare at the majestic piano.  The only time I don't want to look at it is when I know that I have to dust it that day.  Since it's so big, and I like it to be nice and shiny, I take about thirty-five minutes to clean my piano.

Part of a keyboard of a Schimmel piano

     I try to practice every day so that I will improve.  I like to practice for around forty-five minutes to an hour, but depending on my schedule, it is either a lot less or a lot more.  Generally on the weekends, it is more because I don't have to deal with school and tests and homework.  On the weekdays, though, I usually get around twenty to thirty minutes of practicing in before I have to do my homework and study.  The teachers that my family has had are also what helps us to stay on track.
     The teacher we all started with is Elaine Archer.  She is amazing.  Not only did she get our technique to be practically flawless, but she challenged us to memorize countless pieces for recitals, festivals, and competitions.  We did a program called Guild, which is where we memorize seven to ten pieces to perform in front of a judge.  If you get C's, it's good.  A's are not a good thing to get in piano.  We also did a program called Certificate of Merit (CM).  It was a theory test, technique test, three piece performance, and sight-reading program.  CM was my favorite program because I love to do theory and sight-reading.  Unfortunately, when we moved from California to Utah, we had to switch teachers.  It's not so bad though.  Now we are taught by Sally Sanders.  She is also a great teacher.  Since we have all been taught the technique from Elaine Archer, Sally Sanders is now just expanding our repertoire and our musicality.  Here, we do a program called AIM which is kind of like a combination of CM and Guild, but you also have to do a presentation on a composer from one of the four periods.  The four periods are Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary.  I did my report on Johannes Sebastian Bach, who is a Baroque composer.  He is one of my favorite composers of all time.  I also enjoy the music of Chopin and Burgmüller.  They are fantastic composers as well from the Romantic period.
     All in all, my family is very musical, and we love listening and playing a bunch of instruments.  I hope that our whole family continues, and we can play with each other as we progress with our lives.  Music is one of the things that binds my family together.  It is something we all love.  It is part of lives, and it will be forever.

The End of the School Year

   I have survived the first year of high school.  The ninth grade is over in eight days.  Ninth grade has been an adventure, and my family has been in Utah for almost an entire year now.  It seemed like just yesterday when I walked into this English Honors class.  I was so scared because I didn't know anyone, and I didn't know if my summer essay was as good as everyone else thought theirs was.  My English teacher, Mr. Parker, has been amazing.  English has been one of the best classes for me this year.  We have done very fun things from seeing Mr. Parker rap, to reciting parts of the play Romeo and Juliet. One of the things that I loved though, was being able to write on a blog.  I was able to share stories and just have fun.  It was one of the only times that I can remember that a homework assignment due EVERY Friday at 11:59 p.m. was fun.  

     The blog made me step out of my usual "no first person" essays that I feel much more comfortable writing.  It allowed me to focus on myself instead of a topic assigned.  Before the blog, I had a harder time writing just about me and my interests.  I always had a topic to follow, and it worked for me.  This blog brought me out of my bubble of structure, and it got me to loosen up and just have fun when I wrote.  

     I love that I have been able to write down stories about my siblings and family, because now, I have a way of remembering all of those things.  This blog is a little bit like a journal that I can record my life experiences in.  It keeps track of all of the things that I found noticeable and fun.  Later in life, I'll be able to remember these things and share them with all of my family at reunions.  Blogging has been a great reminder to me of how great my life is.  I have so many great experiences that cover up all of the bad ones. Writing about some of the good ones has allowed me to stay focused on the positive things in life instead of the negative.  

     Before this blog, I was really reserved and I didn't like sharing about my life.  I kept all the stories to myself.  This blog brought me out of my shell.  Although I am still pretty reserved and quiet, I can share more of my stories with my friends.  The blog has made me remember what I can share, and it makes me talk more to everyone.   

Me at the beginning of this year

Me now.  I am more confident and a little bit less of a geek. 

     All in all, this blog has been so fun.  School hasn't been so bad, especially with English to look forward to every other day.  It has been so fun, and I will be continuing my blog so that I can keep sharing the memories of my life. 

The Future

     Recently, in English class, we have been talking a lot about marriage.  It really gets me to think about my future and what's in store for me.  There are tons of questions that I ask myself.  "When will I get married?" "Will I ever get married?" "Will I find the right guy?" All of these questions are a little bit scary.  The future is really scary because it's a surprise.  Your future is unpredictable.  What I love about having little sisters, though, is that they aren't scared... yet.  They are so positive about life.  

Marriage: What We Have Been Talking About

     My little sister, Brigitte, is the most positive. Her outlook on life is that there are good things happening now, and there will be good things happening in the future.  She told me once that her life is 99.9% good and 0.1% bad.  She then went on to say how she just gets through the bad and goes back to the good.  Her words are so wise even though she's only nine years old.  I always ask Brigitte if she's scared for her future.  Every single time I ask her, she responds, "Nope.  It's gonna be good."  

     My other little sister, Natalie, isn't worried for the future either.  She always tells us that the future is every second ahead of us, so if you just take it a second at a time, you'll be fine.  Natalie, as you can probably tell from that last comment, is a smart aleck.  She also believes that life is such a party, and she will be able to conquer anything bad that happens.  

     My brother is starting to become more scared of the future.  He's going to junior high in the coming school year, and he is scared of how the classes will be and what high school will be like. He's scared that he won't do as well.  Nick is such a proud guy, so he usually doesn't show his more sensitive side.  I love when he shows that he's afraid too.  It makes me feel like I'm not the only one who is scared of what's to come.  I like knowing what's going to happen.  The future is scary to me, and I like knowing it's scary to others. 

     My older sister, Katie, is  not scared for the future either.  She is always in a good mood, and she knows that whatever is in store for her is going to be good.  Katie is amazing.  She's always helping me fix my problems and conquer my fears. Next year, she'll be going to college.  She won't be there to help me.  I'll be the oldest one in the house, and I'll have to be the strong one for my little siblings.  I know that I won't be as strong because I have so many fears.  Katie has fears, but she doesn't show them as much as I do.   That's what I love about her.  

     To me, the future is scary.  To the majority of my family, it's not.  My siblings' views on life help me to get rid of some of that fear.  They comfort me.  I love my siblings so much.  They help me to get through everything.  If you are scared of something, check out what it's called using this website. 

Sleep Walking, Talking, Singing, and More

     My family is very talented when we sleep.  Not only do we sleep walk, but we talk, sing, and hum.  Sometimes, the events that occur are funny, and sometimes they are scary.  What the events aren't is normal.  We'll start with my older sister Katie.
     Katie doesn't do anything when she sleeps.  She just doesn't know how to get up.  My dad was in the shower one time, and the fire alarm went off from the steam.  I woke up immediately and freaked out because I thought there was a fire in our house.  Katie, however, slept right through the fire alarm.  I shook her awake, and when she woke up, Katie had no idea what was happening.  It was funny, but after I thought about it, I thought about what would happen if she was alone in the future and there actually was a fire.  Then, Katie might end up dying because she didn't wake up to the alarm.
     Me.  I don't sleep walk, but I do sleep sing.  My sisters have videotaped me singing in my sleep the day before a big performance.  The performance was at the Tabernacle in Temple Square in Salt Lake City, and I was singing the two songs that Katie and I were going to sing. The singing was a mumbling singing, but you could tell what song it was and hear all of the words.  Other than singing, I don't do anything weird in my sleep.
     Nick sleep walks.  On several occasions, we have caught him walking through the house while sleeping.  There are two stories that stick out though.  The first story was when he was five years old. He was sleeping on the top of a bunk bed, and he walked off the top of it, landing with a thud on the wood floor.  He didn't actually wake up, which worried all of my family.  We thought that he got knocked out when he hit his head, but there was no bump or problem with his head the next morning.  The other story was when Nick was eight years old.  My parents were talking with their friends in the living room, when my brother walked into the room and asked for a drink of water.  He got the water, and walked away.  A few seconds later, my parents heard the door slam.  They thought it was just the wind.  A couple of minutes later, they noticed that they hadn't left the door open.  My parents and their friends ran outside, and there was Nick.  He was lying down in the middle of our cul-de-sac with his water cup on the curb.  My parents woke him up, he freaked out, and then Nick went to his actual room to sleep.
     Natalie and Brigitte hum, talk, and kick.  Natalie is the biggest sleep talker.  On several occasions, I have heard her voice while she was asleep saying things like, "I love you, too" or "Stop! Don't do that!"  I always find it comical.  You can also whisper a question in her ear, and she'll answer it out loud when she's asleep.  Brigitte kicks you whenever you are near her in a bed.  We had to share a hotel bedroom once, and she kicked me off the bed completely.
     Here is a link to another blog with stories about sleeping.  I only read a couple, but there are ten.

Natalie about to go to bed

Brigitte's Book Reports

     Every month, my littlest sister, Brigitte, has a book report that is due.  They have to be colorful, artistic, and academic all at the same time. Brigitte's got the academic and colorful thing down, but as for the artistic part, it doesn't go so well for her. That's why she recruits me.  At the end of every month Brigitte comes to me.  Our conversation goes like this:

Brigitte: Maddie, I love you so much.

Maddie: Brigitte, what do you want?

Brigitte: Can you draw a picture for me for my book report?

Maddie: I guess.  Are you sure it's just ONE picture?

Brigitte: Okay, it's actually four, but don't worry they are small.

Maddie: Okay.  Let's go.

     After I agree to help Brigitte draw some pictures for her book report, we go downstairs to complete the job.  As soon as we get down there, Brigitte and I have another conversation.  It goes like this:

Brigitte: I'm sorry, Maddie, but I lied to you.

Maddie: About what? (even though I already know what's coming)

Brigitte: This month, we have to make a board game and each piece has to have a picture that goes with            the book. I have about twenty spaces.  (Then Brigitte laughs and says "Sorry").

Maddie: Okay, I'll help you, but you have to tell me what to draw, where to draw it, and all about what piece I'm drawing because I need to know that you actually read the book.

Brigitte: Fine.  Hurry up! It's due on Friday.  (It's usually Monday that she comes to me).

Brigitte and me smiling for the camera.  I am on the left, Brigitte is on the right.

     I then draw all of the pictures that Brigitte needs me to, and in return, Brigitte usually voluntarily helps me with the dinner dishes.  Sometimes I get annoyed that she asks me to help her, but it's my job as an older sister to help her siblings that are in need.  I love my job and will never give it up.

Here's a link to my favorite place to look for inspiration for my drawings. 

Family History

Family is really important in my family. We try to find out as much family history as possible. 

Park City Family Tree Center

My mother was born in France. Her parents moved to the United States with her when she was six years old. My mom is fluent in French, and she speaks it often with her parents. She doesn’t have an accent when she speaks English, but when she switches to French, you can tell that she originated from there.  

My mom has a lot of history in her family. My favorite story that my mom told us is about her aunt. Her aunt was one of the people who helped people travel to safety during World War II. My mom’s aunt was a very brave and smart person. This is her story.  

My mom’s aunt and uncle both worked to help people flee from the dangers of World War II. They traveled in small groups, and didn’t associate with each other at all during the trek. Every so often there was a check point where military men would strip the travelers of their clothes and search for maps and papers leading to safe houses. They would look in the lining and pockets of everything. My mom’s aunt, Yvonne, saw many of her friends killed because they found the papers. Yvonne and some her other friends became smart. Instead of putting papers in the lining of their coats, they printed a map with a secret code on silk scarves. That way, when the guards asked them to take off their clothing, they would take off the scarf and the guards would not even take a second glance. Only the women wore the scarves, and one day, Yvonne’s husband was caught. He was shot dead right before her eyes. She couldn’t cry out or react at all because if she had, the soldiers would have killed her too. All she could do was say a silent prayer, and continue on her journey. Yvonne never got caught, and my mom has her scarf framed in our house.  

Another story my mom told us is of another woman in her family. This woman was also her aunt. This aunt was Jewish, but the rest of her family was Catholic. One night, a neighbor turned her in. The soldiers came by my mom’s aunt’s house, and her husband protected her. He told the soldiers that he was the Jewish man, not his wife. He was taken to a concentration camp where he spent the rest of the war. Luckily, he survived the concentration camp and went home safely at the end of the war.  

My grandma, Catherine, was alive during this time as well. She was only a little girl, but she remembers the war very well. My grandma said that whenever there were bombings, her mom would take her to the basement and tell her that there were fireworks going off in a nearby area. My grandma also told me that soldiers would come into her house seeking shelter at night. They would sleep in the attic. Other soldiers from the other side would come in later and poke the ceiling with their bayonets. She said that some of the soldiers came down and some she never saw again.  

There are many other stories that are also amazing. Somewhere in my family line, there is a line of royals. My mom’s cousin owns a castle in France where people can visit. If family visits, they can stay in the servants’ quarter of the castle which is really cool. My older sister, my mom, and I are going to France and staying there in the summer of 2014. I am very proud of my ancestors, and I hope to do something great too, so that the future generations of my family will hear my story and be proud.  

         My church has a website in which you can do some of your family history.  It is really cool to see all of the relatives that you had, where they lived, and what they did.  

Ready, Aim, Fire

     On Friday, April 4, 2013, my dad took my sister, Katie, and me to a shooting range with Katie’s friend, Lexi, and her dad. Our moms also came along. It was mandatory that we all shot at least one gun. I’m okay with that. I’ve shot guns before, and it doesn’t bother me. What does bother me though, is the noise. Guns are really loud, and I don’t like it. My ears mean a lot to me because I am a singer, and without my ears, it would be really hard to sing. So, whenever I shoot I wear a pair of sound proof headphones. When I’m done shooting, I get in the car, shut all of the doors, and keep the headphones on. The headphones aren’t sound proof though because I can still hear the boom of the guns.  

A 9 millimeter pistol like the one that we shot

Another problem that I face with shooting guns is how small I am. Guns with little  kick have a lot of kick for me. When I first went to shoot some guns with my dad, brother, uncles, and boy cousins, my dad told me the gun I was about to shoot had very little kick. Well, my dad was lying.  I shot the gun, and the next thing I knew, I was staring at the sky, and my arm was bleeding. The kick from the gun had knocked me to the ground, and I had dropped the gun on my arm, which is what made it bleed. Luckily, it was just a scratch. After that first shot, I was considered “dangerous” and had to go sit in the car all alone.  I watched everyone else shoot.  

The next time I shot, I couldn’t aim the gun very well, and I kept missing the target. That same summer, my extended family went on a camping trip together. Again, all of the boys and I went shooting. That time I could actually hit the target, but that was after a couple shots. The first shot, I shot a branch off of a tree. The second was very far from hitting the target. Finally, the third shot made it onto the target, and after that, I could hit the target somewhere all of the time. That’s when all of the boy cousins decided that I was cool and could be a part of their “gang.” I was honored because none of the other girls could be a part of their gang. We had a secret handshake and everything. It was cool. I was their double agent because I could get in and hear gossip with the girls and then tell the boys. That was a couple years ago, and now I’m more of a girly girl. Back then, I was a tomboy.  

The most recent time that I went shooting was with my neighbor, Brayton, and my dad. It was really fun. We shot at cans and targets, and that day, I felt good because I was finally better than a boy. Brayton was having a hard time hitting the target, and since he’s like a brother to me, I made fun of him. I brought up what had happened the last time he went shooting with my dad. They made a detour on their way to a campout for church. Brayton shot my dad’s 30 yat 6 with his eye still on the scope, and the kick pounded the scope onto his face, and he had to get six stitches. They then went to a campout with all of the boys from my church.  

The shooting with my sister, Lexi, and our parents was really fun. The sound wasn't too bad either. I wore a pair of ear plugs and sound proof headphones. Lexi's dad taught us about gun safety and how to protect ourselves by using them.  We went to dinner afterwards and got to talk and mess around. It was also really fun to watch Lexi and Katie shoot their first gun. Their faces were priceless. They closed their eyes and scrunched up their faces. They didn’t even look at the target, so they completely missed. It was a great day. I felt experienced and proud of myself.