Monday, July 15, 2019

10 Years, 5 Months...This volleyball thing is really happening!!!

I finished up my Fine Arts Explorers program.  It was a lot of fun last year, and I made a lot of new friends.  I even reconnected with a kindergarten friend (Mackenzie) from Shepard and she came over for a play date one afternoon!  Toward the end of the program, there was a girl who complained of us leaving her out and my friends all had to be separated.  I didn't think we were being mean at all, but I felt like I was in trouble, again.  I did really enjoy the performance we had at the end of the program.  Mom's favorite song was Rainbow, a cover of Kacey Musgraves' song.  She and Emily went to the Cardinals' game that night while Dad and Nana Arden went to my performance.  We had the tickets a long time before the performance was scheduled, and I hated that she missed it. I know she did too.
In addition to having Mackenzie over, I had a lot of other play dates and sleepovers.  Ella came over here one day and I went over there a couple of times.  Bella came over one day and Cami came over the next.
We did a lot of things as a family this month.  We helped Mom's friend Miss Rachel move into her new apartment, and I went over there another time to have her show me how to put on make-up.  We went to the library to get more books to read for the summer.  Mom took Emily and me to Washington for Father's Day, while Dad stayed home to celebrate with his family.  We went to mass with Papa Ron and Chase, and then out to Bob Evans.  Afterward, we went to Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom's.  It was a fun and busy family day, and we missed Dad a lot!
The next weekend, our family went to the Frankenberg Fest. Emily and I had fun in the pool even though everyone else said it was too cold.  It was fun to meet a lot of Mom's family.  They are very friendly and funny.
We went to the spray park as a family and had a blast!  I really enjoyed trying to throw buckets of water on everyone.  Our family also went to Six Flags with Auntie Heather's family.  It was such a HOT day.  Luckily the lines weren't too long (except to get in to the park) and we got to go on a ride that got us wet and cooled off.  My favorite ride was Shazam, which is like the Scrambler.  I laughed so hard when I was on it!
Our family went to Aunt Lisa's for a BBQ on July 4th. Even though Mom offered to take us to see a bigger fireworks show, we really just wanted to hang out at home and watch them from our driveway like every other year.  And of course, we enjoyed our traditional s'mores!
Mom had a Friends' party the next night and I had so much fun helping her get ready.  I cut out the party pics props and set up the decorations and table.  I have also been going on several bike rides with her.  I really love the free feeling of riding on the trail.  We go under I-70 and Hwy 63!  She also took Emily and me to visit Mr. Kenny.  It has been way too long since we have seen him!  Mom and I also went over to Mrs. Mantle's house to help watch her baby Elliott.  I fell in love with her dog who licked me like crazy!
I had a great check up at the dentist and he agrees that I am almost ready for my second set of braces!  We also went school supply shopping so I am almost all set for 5th grade!
One thing that I do at night is always have to have the last thing I say to Mom and Dad is "I love you!"  I want those to be the last words they hear from me if anything happens overnight.  I feel panicky if I don't get to say that before they leave my room.
I have continued my piano lessons throughout the summer.  Mrs. Renwick said that I am able to transpose music when I play without having to write it out.  I didn't know what that meant, but she said that it is the most difficult skill to learn in piano.  I can change the key that I am playing in, and she said people pay "big money" for someone who can do that!
The big news this month is about volleyball.  It is tryout month!  I had several open gyms for Club COMO and Missouri Juniors.  Club COMO's tryouts were first.  There were only 4 girls trying out for the 11U team, so we all had to try out with the other 13 girls for one of the 8 spots on the 12U team.  Guess what-I got one of them!!!  The coach Jason had seen me at skills clinic and his wife said that he really wanted me to have a spot on his team.  I was so sad though that most of my friends did not get an offer.  The next day was the Missouri Juniors tryouts.  This is the team that I really want to be on.  The program is run by Molly Taylor, who is Ali's cousin.  Libby is the 11U coach that we tried out with, and there were 12 girls trying out.  Mom said that Lila and I did great, but at the end of the tryout, I was in tears because I didn't think I had the best tryout.  However, before we left Jefferson City, we received a phone call from Coach Libby!  I am still in shock and keep saying, "I can't believe I'm actually on a team!"  I can't wait!!!  Mom and Dad made me call Coach Jason to turn down the offer and I was so scared.  He really appreciated that I called him personally and said that showed a lot of character.  Honestly, I couldn't have gone wrong with either team!  My volleyball dreams are coming true!
Enjoying some bubbles!
Fine Arts fun

Me and Mackenzie
Performance night



With Keri and Samantha
Enjoying the pool at the Frankenberg Fest
Pushing off
Playing a yard tennis game

Happy girl, chilled out girl
Emily and I created a Pokemon Play
Lila and me doing what we love

Spray park fun



Dumping water on Emily
And her dumping water on me!

Ready for a hot day at Six Flags
Shazam with Ashley and Ian
Exhausted after the day (I was faking though!)
Playing a Pokemon game with Emily's cards
Turning in our summer reading program at the library
Helping Mom with her FRIENDS party
Pretty typical when I get together with Corinne!
Enjoying the 4th of July fireworks



Helping Emily "fly"

Horsing around
Visiting Mr. Kenny
Holding baby Elliott
The dramatic look by Rachel
The everyday look by me
Giving Mom a unibrow
My acceptance letter from Club COMO!!!
Visiting with Papa Ron
Putting on a Pokemon Play
Jumping in the pool at Frankenberg Fest
Pushing off the edge
Playing cornhole
Dumping water on Emily
And her dumping water on me!
Shazam, my new favorite ride at Six Flags
Pokemon War with Emily
Playing with Emily-I promise she was OK at the end!
Missouri Juniors tryout with Lila