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!

7 Years, 7 Months...Great start to 2nd grade!

Second grade is the best!  My favorite thing is having my very own desk that I can put things in!  I also have been moved up to 3rd grade math and I really enjoy learning harder stuff.  I have Mrs. Gross for homeroom (who I really wanted!), Mrs. Mantle for literacy, and Miss Waidmann for math.  It seems like it is going to be a really good year.  I have all my classes with Gabe and Ella except homeroom.  We had a Back to School night/ice cream social at school and Daddy brought McDonald's for dinner.  That was a good night!
I had my first sick day.  Emily had a fever one day, and I got it the next day at school.  It was a low grade fever and I was sent home.  Mommy and I enjoyed the day together because I didn't have a fever once I got home.  I was a little achy, and went to school late the next day after the 24 hours were up.  I asked if I had to go to school that day-a big change from having perfect attendance the year before!
We have been doing a lot of puppy training, and Molly passed the Intermediate class.  Everyone says I have been doing a really good job training her.  She is really good at stay and down.  If only we could get her to stop chewing on everything and jumping up.  We will be continuing training, but will do a personal lesson first to work on those things.  We have tried taking her different places like the park and she really likes to "travel."
I've had a lot more time spent with Girl Scouts and soccer.  We now practice on Monday nights and have most games on Saturdays.  The first one was rained out.  I'm just glad I am on Brynn and Bella's team again.  Go team Jamaica!
We went to Corinne's and Carrie's 8th birthday parties.  It is hard for me to understand that they are older than me and still in 2nd grade.  I feel so young and it upsets me!  Carrie's party was a pool party and I had a lot of fun.  I was also invited to my friend Anson's putt-putt golf birthday party.  It was my first time doing putt-putt golf, so I was really glad that Madelyn was there to play with me!  I also had a fun sleep over with Ella.  I'm so lucky to have such good friends!
We got to meet Miss Rachel's adopted baby boy Lennon!  I am so happy for her and he is so cute.  Miss Rachel is very happy too!
We made a quick trip to Washington to get my hair cut and see Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom.  On the way, I asked Mommy if she had ever been married before.  Then, I heard Miss Tina talking about bipolar disorder.  Mommy explained what that means and how scary it can be.  About a week later, Mommy explained that she had been married before to someone who had bipolar.  It was very weird to hear and I had a lot of questions like, "Do I have another set of grandparents?", "Do I have other brothers and sisters?", etc.  I kept saying that I felt like I needed to talk to someone.
We always say what we are thankful for at bedtime.  I always start mine with, "I'm thankful for food, family, friends.  I'm thankful that God doesn't let anything bad happen to me.  I'm thankful for God and Jesus..."  I also always ask Mom or Dad to tell me a funny story about when they were little before they leave the room.  They keep telling me they are running out of stories!
1st Day of 2nd Grade!

Emily getting in on the picture action

Outside school

With Mrs. Gross!

So excited to be at the Mizzou volleyball clinic!

I got to actually play with Ali Kreklow before it started!

Working on spiking with Carly Kan

Serving with Sydney Deeken

And Emily Thater helping us learn another skill

And then Ali again for setting!

I just love her!

And my other role model Charlie!

With Mom at the scrimmage

I saw a girl crying by herself after the scrimmage and tried to cheer her up

Another picture with my favorite!

Emily's first day of preschool!

Just hanging out, eating ice cream, watching cartoons, while Mom's car was getting fixed

Nighttime snuggles with Molly

Meeting baby Lennon

First time putt-putting!

Gabe and me, conspiring

Hanging out with Ella (and Emily) during a sleepover, watching TV of course!

And this is what we chose to do before bed-READ to each other!

Another dog owner trying to "train" me and Keaton after puppy training.  He was so silly!

Just walking my dog in the park

The coolest swing ever!

More computer time at the library

Playing with Emily

Ellie tug-of-war!

Getting kisses from Emily

Setting with Ali Kreklow

Learning to set from the best.

Teaching Molly to stay

"Golf"