7 Years, 8 Months...Dance parties and fun adventures!

This month started off with a fun family trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City.  Papa Rodney and Nana Arden took the whole family and we had a lot of fun.  Besides the water park (which I loved the lazy river) and the MagiQuest (which is a large scavenger hunt type adventure throughout the hotel using a wand to activate things), there were so many other fun things to do! We had a dance party, enjoyed ice cream, did yoga, and just had fun with the family.

I have been playing a lot of soccer, having practice once and week and now having games.  Our team is improving, but we don't score a lot of goals.  The first two games, we played all boys teams.  Our coach is pretty strict (which I did not like at first because it wasn't as much fun), but now I really like and respect her for working us so hard.  I really like when I have done something right and Coach Janet is proud of me.

I've had several Girl Scouts meetings.  We did tie dying and put our names on a banner with a sewing machine and even learned to tie knots.  We have a lot of other fun things coming up.

Mommy took Emily and me to meet up with the Moenkhoffs to go apple picking.  I really enjoyed all the apples and the fun activities they had on the farm.  There were mazes, bounce houses, and animals.  When we got back, I helped Mommy make an apple pie, apple crisp, apple butter, and applesauce.  The applesauce is definitely my favorite!

I didn't have school one day because of teacher meetings and I spent the day with Nana Arden.  She took me to the library so I could get my truckload of books (which I read in a week) and played Polly Pockets, and of course, McDonald's!  We had McTeacher Night for my school too.  I just can't get enough of that place!

We did a family trip to the zoo one Saturday.  It was a lot of fun seeing all the animals again, but I really just wanted to go into the gift shops.  When we got home, we went to Dr. Chandler's farm for the school staff party.  Charlie and some older girls were there and they invited me to play volleyball with them.  I also got to go on a long gator ride around the property.  I hated when we had to leave.

Mommy and I went to a Mizzou volleyball game one afternoon.  I was kind of sad because Ali didn't play until the last 4 points.  When she went in, I perked up!  We met Papa Rodney and Nana Arden at Orange Leaf later that night for his birthday.  I love my Orange Leaf!  In fact, I can't get enough to eat lately.  I think I am going through a growth spurt.

I went with Mommy to Pastries with Parents at Emily's school.  We have had a couple of play dates, but it is getting hard to plan them because everyone is so busy in the evenings.  Our class went on a field trip to the Audubon Society and we got to see a lot of birds, and even dissect owl pellets.  My favorite part was that I got to use a clean porta-potty!

Great Wolf Lodge!!!

 Swimming in the lazy river

Pictures with my new animal friends

And my sister and cousins

 Dance party at Great Wolf Lodge

And up early in the morning for yoga!

 So happy to be in the water again

 Slaying a dragon with Catherine

 So happy in the rain

 Just hanging out with Mommy

 Inspecting the animals at the apple orchard

 Apple picking selfie

 I even braved the ladder to get the best apple!

 The mod squad at the end of soccer practice

 Yep, this looks about right!

 Soccer shots

Dance party at home

 I really do love playing with my sister

Helping grandma cross the street after she and Grandpa Tom came up for a soccer game and out to eat

 Taking Emily for a walk

 A strong family resemblance

 Maybe this one is better (with our Mizzou gear on!)

 I rode the cheetah on the carousel at the zoo

Just a couple of monkeys

 Sister love

 I really do love the zoo!

At Pastries with Parents at Walnut Street Day School

 Dancing in the rain

Playing in the rain with Emily

Dancing with my cousins

Sister dance party!