Our Baby Boyer

Thursday, February 17, 2022

13 Years Old...Finally a teenager!

I started off the month with an ice skating trip with youth group. I had such a great time with this group. I started off on the wall the whole time, then mom and Michael helped me learn how to skate. I realized toward the end how much fun it was not being on the wall.

A few days later, mom tested positive for Covid in the morning. We tested the rest of us, and I was the only other one with a positive test. I only missed one day of school because the district closed for a couple days with all the positive cases in the schools. I had a sore throat and kind of achy, but got over it quickly. Mom and I spent a lot of time together in her room watching Friends.

I have really enjoyed being able to be in the play. I am the daughter in a play about nighttime stories. I have practice about once a week. I also had an appointment with a new doctor. We were able to get to know her and address a lot of my issues. I think I am going to like her.

I had two volleyball tournaments this month. Dad took me to the one on January 29th. Unfortunately, we did not do well but we were playing 14s teams. Our scores were (25-19, 25-20), (25-17, 25-19), and (25-18, 25-20.) Mom took me to the tournament on February 5th. We got to spend the night with Jill, ate Fazoli's, and played with Ale! We played a lot better in this tournament. In pool play, we played well the first two games and not so much in the third game. (25-17 W, 25-18 W), (25-13 W, 25-17 W), (25-22 L, 25, 14 L) This got us 2nd place in the gold bracket. We didn't do so great in bracket play (25-7 L, 25-15 L),

We had another 5 day weekend because of snow and I got to enjoy these snow days unlike when I had Covid. Our family went clothes shopping and I was really excited to go. That is unusual for me because I like to hang out at home in my room most of the time. I got some clothes that I feel comfortable in.

Nana Arden and Papa Rodney came over for a garage birthday visit. They did come in to see my new room. They gave me some spending money and rings for my birthday. I will get to see the rest of the grandparents next weekend. That day was also volleyball practice and the Super Bowl. I watched a lot of the commercials and thought they were ok. The half time show was ok, but I really don't understand football.

Valentine's day wasn't great because I got into a fight with Lila, but we made up before my birthday. I really enjoyed my birthday. I felt special in a lot of my classes at school. We had Fazoli's (again), the smallest cake ever (but it was marble this year!), and I got my gifts (a lot of stuff for my room, the Teton trip, MU volleyball camp.) I wasn't ambivalent about turning 13. I didn't want to and was crying a few days before, and then I was happy to turn into a teenager!

13 Years old

Starting off

Michael helped me out a lot, with everything!

Still not sure of myself

Getting more confident

And...we are done!

Loving on Ale!

Her is a good girl

Ale loving on me!

Serving

Celebrating with the team

Ready to switch with Landrie

Mommy?

My tiny birthday cake

But there were presents!

From Emily, yo!

I do love her deep down

OMG!

A pillow for my new room

Seriously, tiny cake!

3 generations of love

Really?

Blue icing, blue teeth

Leading the dancing between games

I love this team!

We even got another team to join us

Skating on my own!

Knocking down Emily

Playing in the snow

Sledding

Throwing snow on Athena

Saturday, January 15, 2022

12 Years, 11 Months...Christmas time!

I finished up all of my semester exams and projects early. I finished a social studies project, wrote an essay in English, did great on a math test, and gave a science presentation. It felt so good to be finished! I truly love Mr. Settles, my science teacher and Mr. Freitag, my math teacher. They are so passionate about their subject, explain things well, and care about my learning.

We did a lot of Christmas preparations. We wrapped presents as a family for the first time and decorated gingerbread houses while watching a Christmas movie. We also had a Christmas dinner at church and I ate at the table next to my family with all my youth group friends.

We had a short birthday party for Nana Arden at Papa Rodney's office. The day after we got out of school, Mom and I painted my downstairs bedroom. At first, it looked like the gray color was the same white as the ceiling and I wanted to repaint it, but it looked perfect after it dried. Mom was relieved when I said that!

The youth group had a Christmas party at Michael's house. We played a unique game of Rob Your Neighbor. I was the last one to go and wasn't quite sure what to do in the meantime. I also didn't want to steal from anyone, and I tried to win back a gift for someone else and couldn't. I'm not sure why, but I almost had a panic attack before leaving his house. It just was all so overwhelming to me.

Mom took Emily and me to Washington a day early for Christmas to see Grandma Rose. We had such a good visit. She laughed a lot and told funny stories. She gave me a bible, which she signed for me. After that, we went to Papa Ron's house and celebrated Christmas with him and Linda. He gave me another volleyball charm for my bracelet and some money. Mark and Chase came for a visit too. We even spent the night at Papa Ron's before going to Grandma Kathy's the next morning.

It was so much fun as always at Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom's. I love seeing all my family, especially since we couldn't get together last year. Dad came to celebrate with us. I got a lot of stuff for my new room, which I am excited about. It was really hard to leave.

We woke up Christmas morning in our house, which I requested. It was so nice to take our time enjoying the day. Dad told me to check out my room downstairs, and I couldn't believe it but my new furniture was there! I was so excited and it looks so great. I couldn't wait to start decorating! We were supposed to go to Aunt Lisa's house in the afternoon but found out that Camille had tested positive for Covid, so our plans were cancelled very quickly. It was a warm day so we sat out on the back porch at Nana Arden and Papa Rodney's while they opened their gifts. We opened ours from them at home. It was kind of a disappointing ending to the day. But, I am enjoying time in my new room!

I got to go ice skating with Lila and her aunt and had a lot of fun. I didn't get hurt, and I get to go again with youth group next month! Our family did thank you notes together and Mom took me to visit Mrs. Mantle. It was so good to see her!

We had big plans at home on New Year's Eve with Lila to decorate cookies and hang out all night. Unfortunately, she ended up getting sick and went home. Luckily, she did not have Covid. We all ended up going to bed before midnight. I love to sleep!

We have gotten in as many volleyball practices as we could before our next tournament, which was not many. Lila and her mom went with Mom and me to our second tournament in Lee's Summit. We were one of 4 teams. The top three teams (including us) tied for first in pool play and it came down to points. We were ranked 2nd and played the 3rd place team and lost. It was really disappointing but that team went to win the tournament. I think all three of us were very evenly matched. It was a very long day! We have since had regular practices, and some added ones. We scrimmaged Club CoMo and Bob's team and won all of the sets!

I was not looking forward to going back to school, especially since they took the mask mandate away, but I want back anyway. Within a week, one of my friends tested positive for Covid and I was a close contact because I eat lunch with her. I made it through eating in my room and masking all the time without getting sick! I was able to get my Covid booster yesterday. I didn't feel great, but I'm getting better. Go immunity!

I was able to try out for the school play "Bedtime Stories" because one of our volleyball tournaments was cancelled. I got the part of the daughter and I can't wait to rehearse! I'm looking forward to more volleyball too!

Go Covid immunity!