Friday, June 15, 2018

9 years, 4 months...lots of good-byes

This month has had a lot of good-byes.  It was the end of 3rd grade, but also the end of our school.  Next year we will go to the new bigger school.  I went with Mom to 5th grade graduation and said good-bye to some of my friends. We had field day and firetruck wetdown.  This is a tradition at our small school where firefighters come and hose us down after our hot field day.  It really is a blast and I hope we can do it next year.  The last day of school was awards day.  I won several awards-math (addition and subtraction), reading above level, and the citizenship award for the class.  My classmates also voted on a personality award and I got the Problem-Solver award.  I helped Mommy pack up the rest of her office and said goodbye for the last time to the old Cedar Ridge Elementary.
Madelyn came over and played the day after school was out so it was kind of nice to not be sad about the end of school.
We also made a quick surprise trip to Washington to visit Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom.  Great-Grandma Rose came over as well and it was good to see her.  We also had a BBQ at Aunt Lisa's for Memorial Day.
Our family went to Aunt Lisa's for pizza because Aunt Michele was in town, then skipped Jonathan's graduation party because I went to open gym for volleyball try-outs.  It was the first of two. Ali Kreklow's cousin Molly is starting a volleyball league and I am going to try out for the 12U team.  I know that I am young, but I am really excited to try.  I have time to learn skills if I don't make it this year.  (Ali is coaching the older team, so she was at the second open gym!)
It was the end of the soccer season.  I have decided that I don't want to play again next year.  For the last game, I played goalie.  I was so nervous and scared, but I did great!  I made several great stops and got over my fear, a little.  Coach Janet nominated me again for the soccer All Stars so I was able to go to that for 2 nights after the season ended.  Coach Steve keeps asking me to try out for the competitive team, but I'm pretty sure I am done with soccer.
I enjoyed my week off school before summer school started.  I had a play date with Gabe, visited Miss Rachel (and she put make-up on me!), hung out with Mom and Dad and played a lot of rummy, rearranged my room, signed up for summer reading (and read a ton!), and went to Emily's graduation.  Nana Arden, Nana Carol, and Papa Ron came.  We visited with them a lot at our house afterward which was so nice.  It had been so long!
I went to Emily's dance recital also.  I was never interested in dance, but I have been very supportive of her.  It was really cool seeing all of the other dancers too, including Cami who was in 4 different performances!  I was not too jealous of having all my Missouri grandparents in town just for Emily.  Papa Ron and Nana Carol spent the night at our house, and then we all went out to Cracker Barrel in the morning for breakfast.  Then, we went swimming at Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom's hotel. Right after that, we went to Nana Arden and Papa Rodney's for pizza because Daddy's cousin Amanda was in town.
I did EEE summer school for the first 7 days and had a blast! In addition to the awesome classes, we went to the pool a couple of times and had a field trip to Jefferson City.  I got to see the Capitol and art museum.  It was so cool, and I even found my favorite piece of artwork.  I was so sad to leave after the second day in the second week.  I was in Mr. Stover's class and we were learning games with strategy.  We learned Hearts and bocce ball, and I hate to think of all the other games I missed!  The next day I started the Fine Arts Explorer program.  Seven students from each school were selected and I was one of the lucky ones.  We have 4 classes a day, 2 music and 2 art.  I really like Mr. Walker, who has an incredible voice.
I've done several fun things after summer school before (or after) picking up Emily.  I had an orthodontist appointment to check on my retainer, we went to the park, then to the library and yoga class, then Emily's first gymnastics class.  And that was just the first week!  The second week, we went to the pool, to the library, to Barnes and Noble to pick out a free book since I already finished my summer reading there, and to a chiropractor's appointment.  When picking up Emily for preschool, I got to meet Kayla Caffey, another Mizzou volleyball player who works at her school.  She was so nice and gave me and Mom two hugs!  I have to say, I am exhausted and looking forward to some rest.  I'm really looking forward to the beach next month!
Playing goalie in our last soccer game 
The s'mores trio-Chocolate (Anthony), graham cracker (Maddie), and Marshmallow (me)
 The girls-Piper, Maddie, me, Lila
 Lila and me
 Water cup relay at field day
 Ella and me waiting for the water on the firetruck
 Charlie came for a visit!
 Getting ready to enter the building for the last time
 My awesome teacher this year-Mrs. Mantle
Last day of school picture with Cami
One of the awards (math or reading)
 My citizenship and Problem-Solving awards
Posing on the sign before leaving
 This was a great school for me!
 Selfie time!
 Selfie time with Mom in her office

 Last day of 3rd grade, Teacher-Mrs. Mantle, I want to be a school counselor or teacher, 5/22/18

A letter I wrote Mrs. Mantle before leaving
 Soccer All-Stars (I was the only one standing up during the break, in the lime green)
 We were a colorful group
 In action
 All the All-Stars
 Making mashed potatoes with Grandma Kathy
Family pictures
Rachel putting make-up on me since she got Emily ready for her dance rehearsal
 All dolled up and sweet
The true picture-"Get your hands off me, Emily!"
It runs in the family
 Working on a crossword puzzle with Papa Ron
 Molly got to come up on my bed
 Reunited with Ali for an afternoon!
 Hanging out at the park-We made a new friend!
Family photo outside Cracker Barrel
 Kisses for Grandma Kathy
 Kisses for Grandpa Tom
Celebrating Emily's graduation
Our family after graduation
 Showing my true meanness!
 Rocking out at the library for summer reading
 Rearranging my room...again!
 I am a human cushion!
 Ready to play in the rain that never really came!
Me as goalie!
Firetruck wetdown at field day!

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

9 Years, 3 Months...Activity Central!

I got to do MAP testing for the first time this month.  I know it sounds weird, but I loved doing it!  It really wasn't too bad.
I had a busy extracurricular month.  I continued with soccer even though I really don't want to do it any more.  I would rather play volleyball.  Our team is getting a lot better at passing and working together.  I even scored a goal in one game!  I did well as goalie at practice, but I am dreading the time when I have to play goalie in an actual game. Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom came to one game and we went out to Cracker Barrel after and hung out.
I also finished up my second season of Girls on the Run.  I really enjoy running.  I like to run long distances, but I am also really fast.  I can usually outrun all the kids on my soccer team.  Mom and I ran together for the GOTR 5k, well, at least until Mom couldn't keep up anymore!  I finished in about 27:35, and somewhere around 5th place.  I'm pretty sure I want to continue with GOTR.
Speaking of running, I ran in another track meet.  I was in the 9-10 year age group, so the competition was tougher than in past years.  I didn't place in any events, but I ran the mile in 7:54, the 100 meters in 18.67, and the 400 meters in 1:38.
I kept up with choir and we got to do a choir concert at our Farewell to Cedar Ridge.  We sang the old school song and the new one that Mrs. Renwick wrote.  We also performed "So Long, Farewell" from The Sound of Music.  It turned out really well.  It is going to be hard to say good-bye to our school.
The day of the concert, I went from the GOTR 5k, to my soccer game, to the choir concert.  I had to change in the car between events!
The weather has been warmer, so we have done more outside.  Our family went to the park one Friday afternoon and planted flowers and vegetables the next Friday.  We also have gone to Nana Arden and Papa Rodney's a couple of times, and celebrated Jonathan's birthday and Daddy's birthday.
Daddy left for a week to check out the Marine Corps in San Diego, CA.  We missed him a lot but did OK.  I had to be brave and go to soccer practice a couple of times by myself.  It's a piece of cake once I did it the first time.  When Daddy was gone, Mommy came to Donuts with Dudes for me at school.  We had a movie night when he was gone and started the new version of Benji.  It was frightening, so we fast forwarded to make sure it had a happy ending.
I was able to spend the night at Madelyn's dad's house one weekend.  I also went to Ella's birthday party at Lazer Lanes.  We had a lot of fun in the bumper cars and playing lazer tag.
Ready to run the 400 meters
 Dad was so proud of me after the mile run!
 Beautiful smile-before and after!
 They had to take crazy pictures!
Our class got to have chicks again!  (I sure do miss Miss K!)
Doing a Girls on the Run lesson with Coach Maddie
The kittens our neighbors rescued.  I don't think Mom and Dad will notice if I slip one into our house...
Yes, it is in our house, but authorized and Cindy brought them back to her house after a brief visit
Visit from Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom
Donuts with my "Dude"
Sometimes all you need is a snuggle with your dog (who isn't allowed on the couch!)
She is allowed on the bed, and I snuck into bed too after a bad dream
Celebrating Daddy's birthday
Warming up for the GOTR 5k
The play date crew were all running for different teams!
My pals together
Madelyn and me hamming it up
Now, just me hamming it up
Madelyn and me with our running buddies (our moms)
I finally got brave enough to try the slide (it was much higher than it looks!)
Team Cedar Ridge
Mom and me pre-race
And post-race
Our little fan!
Family photo captured by Lila's dad while we were cheering on the other runners
Mother's Day family walk
Running the 100 meters
Start of the 1600 meter run (mile)
Choir singing the old Cedar Ridge song
Choir singing the new Cedar Ridge song
Boxing before the Girls on the Run race
Strong finish for my 5k!