Tuesday, January 15, 2019

9 Years, 11 Months...Merry Christmas Nana Carol!

This was a very emotional holiday season.  Student Council sponsored Spirit Week at school.  Mom embarrassed me by dressing as an elf and ugly sweaters, and even performed in the staff holiday dance on stage.  Don't get me wrong, I think I laughed and cheered the loudest while they were doing it!  I enjoyed wearing a Santa hat, pj's, and a Christmas shirt.  At our class Christmas party, we got to make slime!
We went over to Aunt Lisa's to celebrate Nana Arden's birthday, and then I went again the next day to play with Corinne.
This Christmas was bittersweet for our family.  Two days before Christmas, Nana Carol died.  I'm still having a hard time understanding and it hits me at the strangest times.  I feel like she and I were just finally starting to get to know each other.  I got to wear the charm bracelet we picked out at her visitation and funeral, which was really special.  The evening that she died, we went to a Frankenberg gathering and enjoyed spending time with Papa Ron and his family.  We plan to spend a lot more time with him.
We enjoyed the time we did have at Christmas.  We went to visit Grandma Rose and Uncle Clarence (who is staying with her right now.)  He knows a lot about animals and the weather!  It was also nice to hang out with Grandma Rose.  We visited with Papa Ron, Uncle Mark, Aunt Julie, and Chase for a while before going over to Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom's for Christmas.  I had a blast playing with Hadley!  She and I got a lot of the same gifts (a bracelet maker, make-up, and a matching shirt.)  I really think we could be twins!
When we got home, we had to say good-bye to Elmo and get ready for Santa to come.  The next morning was fun.  Santa brought me a dollhouse that I have to put together.  Mom told me that she would help me and maybe we could get Papa Ron to come down and help too sometime.  We spent the rest of the day at Nana Arden and Papa Rodney's.  Corinne came home to try and spend the night with us, but asked to go home around 11:30.
Over the break, we celebrated Nana Carol's life at her visitation and funeral.  It was really hard feeling sad and seeing people cry.  That always makes me want to cry.
We tried to do some "normal" things over break too.  I had a dentist appointment and had Lila spend the night.  We celebrated New Year's Eve at Carrie's this year with the play date friends.  It was a lot of fun decorating gingerbread houses, eating junk food, and attempting to build forts and watch a movie.
It was hard to go back to school, but it was also nice to see my friends and get back to a routine.  The first weekend after the new year, I went to a swimming birthday party at the ARC for Samantha.  I wasn't able to attend the rest of the party because we already had plans at Aunt Lisa's.  Aunt Michele was in town, so we got more pizza and playing!
We are doing a spring musical in choir and I am so excited!  It is called "Summer Camp" and I have already auditioned.  I can't wait to find out what part I got!
The past weekend has been all about snow.  We got out early Friday because a huge storm had started and I rode the bus home with Lila.  We had a blast in the snow for hours and stayed up way too late.  Because of the 17+ inches of snow that we got, Mom couldn't come get me until Sunday afternoon!  It was an all weekend sleepover!
I can't wait to see what this next month brings.  In one month, I will be double-digits!!!
Recreating Emily's McDonald's pictures (she was with Daddy and I was with Mommy!)


Loving on Twist
I love to read to Emily

And walking with her
School Christmas parties-my slime party, Emily's pj party
My first Christmas gift-GUM!!!!
Celebrating Christmas with Grandma Rose
We got to see Uncle Clarence too
A little unicorn ring toss with Hadley

My stash at Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom's
A Fit Bit!
Saying good-bye to Elmo
Merry Christmas
I was very proud and excited of my gifts to mom-a coloring sheet, an emoji pillow, hair "bobbles", and a homemade card!  I couldn't wait to give them to her!
I got tons of books that I wanted!
My new favorite movie (The Miracle Season)
A replacement GAP sweatshirt
My new volleyball from Emily
And a dollhouse to put together from Santa
Celebrating Christmas at Nana Arden and Papa Rodney's
Special time with Papa Ron at the Frankenberg celebration the evening Nana Carol died


Before Nana Carol's visitation
The day of the funeral
New Year's Eve
Making a fort in the 17" of snow!!!


Dancing with Emily in our fancy dresses

After opening all the boxes, it's a Fit Bit!
My dollhouse!
Volleyball from Emily

Sunday, December 16, 2018

9 Years, 10 Months...A month of performing!

Nana Arden, Grandma Kathy, and Grandpa Tom came to our new school for Grandparents Day.  It was so good to see them, but I would have rather gone to McDonald's with them!
I had a play date with Cami, and another one with Ella.  Ella and I also planned for a week to have a sleepover at our house and had so much fun playing!  We had the whole thing scripted.  We stayed up way too late and were up way too early.  I went to Church with her family the next morning.
We had delicious Thanksgiving feasts at all three grandparents' houses.  It was so great to see everyone and hang out and play.  I went with Mom and Nana Carol to pick out my Christmas gift (which I was made to forget about!) and really enjoyed our time together.  Unfortunately, the annual parade was canceled due to the rain.  We also put up the Christmas tree and decorations and Elmo came after Thanksgiving!
I was not able to scoop up the pizza off the pan and I said, "I'm going to have terrible life skills when I get older!"  I have also been demanding to know if Santa is real or not.  I told Mom one night, "Please just tell me if he isn't real.  I don't want to be a parent and not know to buy my kids gifts!"
I have been busy with my usual events like Girls on the Run, choir, piano lessons, and student council.  We finished the GOTR season with our usual 5k.  I decided to run with my friends instead of Mom and I think it went better.  She got to see me at the finish line and I got to be with my friends.  It was a muddy mess!
I have had so many performances this month.  Our choir was asked to perform a concert at the Festival of Trees (right after the 5k.)  We also had our school concert, so I performed with my class and had a group solo in one song and then we had a choir concert afterward.  I also signed up to do Camp Show Choir and it was a blast!  I loved hanging out with the Show Choir students at Rock Bridge High School and learning how to perform.  I definitely want to go back next year!
There are so many fun Christmas events coming up!  Our student council sponsored Heavenly Hats to raise money for St. Jude's and we are doing spirit week next week.  Emily and I got to visit Santa at Bass Pro.  I told him I wanted a puppy and he said he would see what he could find!  I have been so excited to help with Christmas preparations and enjoyed helping wrap gifts.  I can't wait for the big day(s) to get here!
Grandparents Day

Ready to perform (with Lila)
With my new favorite MU players
Winning Lunch with the Principal award
Girls on the Run group picture

Ready to run with Mom

Finishing up
Miss Ferguson was there!
Snow day fun!

Twist briefly got in on the action
Poof!

Ready for the snow ball fight
Yes, I got Emily in the back of the head!  Bulls-eye!
Attempting to bury Mom
Trip to Burger King
Ready to perform
Festival of Lights performance

The Fairy Tale Network performance
I was the middle "Busy Bee"
"Look ma, I'm a tree.  Aren't you soooo proud?"
Setting up the brick house
Stomping off with the time out chair
Bravo!
With Sara Kate and Iris
Emily came and surprised me!
Working together to create a "cupcake shop"
School Christmas concert
Surprise dinner at HyVee
Camp Show Choir performance
With my new friend
St. Nicholas Day!
My stocking loot
Visiting Santa at Bass Pro


And visiting the Magic Tree


Painting my nails on a Saturday night
Chasing Molly in the snow
Rolling down the hill
Sledding with Emily
Pure joy