Sunday, January 19, 2020

11 Years Old...Volleyball, volleyball, and more volleyball!

This month was full of volleyball!  Our first tournament was in Springfield.  We were going to go down as a family, but Emily ended up with the flu and Dad stayed behind with her.  We had a snow day that day due to impending ice, so Mom ended up driving Lila and me down.  We got there early, so we hung out at the mall there to pass the time and had a blast!  Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom came down to watch.  Most of our team stayed at the hotel and we had a blast bonding.  This started our feud with the “Furnaces”.  They are really called Performance, but Anna on our team misunderstood and thought they said “furnaces”.  They got mad and called us some names.  We want to beat them so badly! At the tournament, we took first in pool play!  I served my heart out!  We had to travel to another facility to start our first tournament game and barely had time to warm up.  We did not play well and lost the first set.  We were down the second set and came back and won the third set.  We played better in the second game but lost and got 3rd overall. 
Centerline was our second tournament in Blue Springs.  We did not play nearly as well and only won the first tournament game.  Our whole family went to this one.  We stayed overnight in the hotel and I got to hang out with a few teammates.
Our third tournament was in Lebanon.  Mom and Dad and Papa Ron came to this one.  We definitely did not play our best here.  We won the first game easily and then split the other three in pool play.  We should have done better though.  We played much better in the first game in the tournament and won!  Then, we got to play the “Furnaces”.  We wanted it so bad!  Even though we lost in two sets, everyone said we played better in that game than we did they entire day.  We ended up taking third again!
I’ve been doing Student council and Publications club and Mini-Mac and choir and Honors Choir.  Our school did Heavenly Hats and raised over $400 for St. Jude’s!  We also had a reading themed spirit week.  I minimally participated and refuse to wear my pajamas to school!  I tried out for a speaking role for our school choir and ended up trying out for a singing role with a couple of my friends.  I ended up getting the singing role!
We had our EEE learning fair for rock ‘n roll class.  I have really enjoyed hearing different music and talking to my parents, grandparents, and teachers about their favorite music.  I really like Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’.  Mom came to the Learning Fair, where I made my own “album”.
I was able to have a play date with Ella, and then had a fever the next day (most likely the flu that Emily shared with me.) I stayed home with Mom the first day, was alone the second day (with Nana Arden checking in on me), and with Dad the third day.  We were off school on Monday and had a snow day Friday, so I didn’t go to school all week!  I also got another fever (with Mom) later in the month and missed a day of school.  Luckily, we had two more snow days!  The whole month has been full of snow days and sick days!  We even missed our Valentine’s Day parties because of snow!
Mom was gone one night, and Dad took us out for McDonald’s.  I always like that!  Another night, Dad was gone, and Mom ended up losing her patience and locked herself in the bathroom for a while.  I took that seriously and helped Emily with her shower and get ready for bed.  Mom felt really bad after that and things have been much calmer since then.

Mom took us out shopping for picture clothes the night before we got our pictures taken.  She didn’t believe that I had grown so much that nothing fit me anymore!  We finally found something that would work.  We have been playing a lot of balloon volleyball in the living room too.  Because of all the snow days, I was able to help get the house ready for our family party (Pokemon themed) and my friend party (I can’t wait for the murder mystery!)
11 Years Old
 Chilling at the mall in Springfield before our first tournament
Team meeting at the hotel
And the unofficial meeting
Ready to rumble!
 Sportsmanship-shagging the other team's balls
 Let's score us some points!
Showing some team love
Action shots at our first tournament in Springfield









Down time between games

Thank you to Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom for coming to my first tournament
 I earned this ice cream!  :)
 In the hotel, waiting for tournament #2
 Pre-game meal at Applebee's
Tournament #2 Blue Springs (Centerline)

 Get ready to rumble!


 I got to switch to libero!!!



 Victory!
Heading to Kohl's to find picture clothes
The final choices
 EEE Learning Fair (Rock 'n Roll class)
Team bonding before tournament #3 in Lebanon
 Papa Ron came to watch
 Exhaustion took over-it was a LONG day!
 Coloring with Emily
 Valentine's from Dad (Emily was disappointed her dog didn't talk like mine did)
 Birthday presents!



 Love from Emily
Special birthday cookies by Jenna
 With Grandma Kathy
 With Grandma Kathy, Mom, and Great-Grandma Rose
 Cousin silliness

 I'm going rock climbing with Catherine!
 More books!
 Beautiful
 Volleyball gear
 Harry Potter Clue
 Designs by Kristy

 A new volleyball to replace my worn out one!
 Beach charm
 Hugs from Corinne and Emily
 Hug for Nana Arden
 And Uncle Otto
 And Grandpa Tom
 With Papa Ron
 With Papa Rodney and Nana Arden
 With Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom
 With Great-Grandma Rose
 Our birthday cake!
ACE!
Perfect pass
Serving the set point
Serving the match point
Opening my volleyball ring
Happy birthday to us!