Mack Academy Weblog

Every year, we love to create clever themed Christmas cards to send to our friends and family.  Each year has been a bit of a challenge to create, but this year's card posed some unique problems.  Namely, the theme was of the four Mack girls posing in a gingerbread house in a winter wonderland.  The problem?  We now live in Santa Clarita where it doesn't snow...ever.

Since giant gingerbread houses are in short supply at this time of year, we built our own out of wood and thick cardboard.  We designed special candies for the front of the house out of tissue paper and colored cling wrap and spray painted the house to look more authentic.  On a bright, windy day, the four of us carried the house into the backyard and posed in front of our palm tree (not very Christmassy, right?)

Continue Reading "The Making of a Masterpiece" »

I love Chinese Food - especially orange chicken.  Unfortunately, the nearest Chinese restaurant is over forty miles from my house.

When I heard that there was a new Chinese food restaurant in Frazier Par,, I begged my dad to take me there.  (Literally!)  As we entered the building, the sweet aroma of Chinese food wafted through the air.

 As we sat down, I immediately said, "Dad, I don't even need a menu, I would LOVE some Orange Chicken."  Orange Chicken is my favorite food.  The best part is, it's at every Chinese restaurant I've ever been to!

As soon as that sweet, delicious Orange Chicken was placed in front of me, I devoured it!  I loved visiting The Crazy Duck.  I found it to be the cleanest restaurant in the mountains.  I highly recommend this restaurant as a wonderful place to relax and get a great dinner.

On August 2, my 6th grade curriculum arrived. I am so excited!  I LOVE learning!  I took inventory, making sure everything we ordered had arrived, and then I sorted my books by subject.  I cannot wait until next Monday, so I can start school.  My favorite subjects are health and history.  I'm very proud to announce that last semester, my sister, Emily, made the honor roll.  My goal for this school year is to get straight A's!

A while ago, my parents watched a movie called, "The Fourth Wise man". It was based on a story by Henry Van Dyke called The Other Wise Man. They were so impressed with the story, that they wanted my sisters and me to watch it as well. Here is the summary:

A magi named Artaban leaves his home and sells everything he has to go look for the Messiah. All the other magi taunted him for his decision. A reluctant servant accompanied Artaban only for a reward of his (the servant's) freedom. Artaban brings three gifts for Jesus; a ruby, a sapphire, and a pearl. Along the way, he stops and helps needy people and gives the gifts away to provide for them. He got sidetracked, and for 33 years, Artaban lived with a colony of outcasts and lepers using his medical skills and farming abilities to help them. Artaban learned that Jesus was in Jerusalem and set out to meet him. Many troubles prevented him from seeing Jesus before the crucifixion. Before Artaban’s death, Jesus rewarded his faithful servant, Artaban, with his heart’s desire.

        My dad gave my sisters and me a challenge of how many verses from the Bible we could find to support this movie. He said if we found enough verses, we could earn the new Nancy Drew computer game for the four of us to play together. My dad also said that if we write a blog post about it, we could earn another game. These are the verses and the reasons why that we found:

John 3:16- For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on Him will never perish but have eternal life. –Answers why Jesus came.

Isaiah 9:6- For unto us a child is born. Unto us a Son is given and the government will be upon His shoulders and His name will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. –The prophecy that Jesus was Born.

Matthew 11:5- The Blind receive sight, the Lame walk, those who have leprosy are healed, the deaf her, the dead are raised and the good news is preached to the poor. –Blind man received his sight

Continue Reading "Are You Wise?" »

My cousin, Julie, recently got a chicken, and is looking forward to showing it in the fair.

She wanted to show us what her chicken will do in the fair. Julie inspected it, so that the judges would know if it is a healthy bird


One of her requirements was to dress up her chicken. Julie decided to dress her chicken up as Minnie Mouse. She has an old Minnie doll dress for her chicken, felt arms with little white gloves. She also hollowed out a Minnie Mouse antenna ball for the ears. The funniest thing was that as soon as the dress was put on the chicken, it pulled its head out - looking like a chicken with its head cut off.  When the chicken tried to walk in the dress it would wobble, and turn somersaults across the table.  Oh well, at least it has time to get used to the dress!

I am very impressed with my cousin’s creativity!

On May 10, 2010, Kelly completed her 5th grade Awana year.  She not only earned her third book award, but she went above and beyond the call of duty and did all of the extra credit projects - including reciting 4 questions, 32 answers, and 32 verses in one sitting - by memory!!

Job well done, Kelly!  We are proud of you!

Kelly is helping eProductivity by tracking the paperwork for the Beta program.


Meet Kelly Mack, manager of Beta Program record keeping

As Beta users install the latest release of eProductivity, we record the date so that we know who’s really using the software. This important task is the responsibility of our manager of Beta Program record keeping, Kelly Mack (age 10). In this picture you can see Kelly faithfully doing her job.