12 Years, 3 Months...Family and Friend Visits and Immunity!

I have really gotten into our play rehearsals.  (I do miss going to Cedar Ridge after school and seeing Ainsley though.)  I memorized my lines pretty quickly, met some new friends, and had a really good time.  I even got to put the clown make-up on one of my friends (Asher) from Cedar Ridge.  We got to see the play over a Zoom link and I thought I did really well.  I was pretty nervous to watch myself on the screen, but I was proud of how well I did.  

We went to Washington twice this month!  We went to visit Papa Ron and then Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom two weekends after Easter.  We were able to celebrate Papa Ron's birthday and were able to give him a hug!  We enjoyed our visit INSIDE Grandma and Grandpa's house too!  We went to visit them again for Mother's Day.  We also got G&D's for dinner one night and went over to Nana Arden and Papa Rodney's to eat it.  We celebrated Dad's birthday here with his family (outside) as well.  I was hoping to play volleyball but it was a little too cold.  We did family pictures with his family too, before Jonathan leaves for Stanford.  It was so nice to be able to go whenever we wanted and not after we quarantined.  Marion took the pictures and told me that she would love my help with a wedding she is shooting this summer!

I took the MAP test this month too.  I didn't have to do that last year, so it was a little strange.  I did my best and I think I did well.  I'm really tired of taking tests.  I did get all A's on my report card for 3rd quarter.  I have perfect grades so far in middle school!  I still feel dumb though that I didn't score high enough to get into Algebra next year.  I'm "only" in Advanced 7th grade math, and I can take it next year.  I just compare myself to my friends who did get in.  

I was able to have Lila over a couple of times.  I also went to Ella's birthday party.  I was able to ride horses again and it was a lot of fun.  It is so nice to see my friends. We got my ring from Nana Carol sized and had a water fight outside later that afternoon.  I guess the big news is that I was old enough (and brave enough) to get the Covid vaccine!  One shot down, one to go!  Being able to have sleepovers again was my motivation.  I can't wait-bring it on!

Can you find me?

Just hanging out in the tree

Giving Emily a piggy back ride on our walk with Papa Ron

Family pictures

Looks about right...

Yo yo yo!

With Grandpa Tom

With Grandma Kathy

Grandma and her girls

Letting Athena sit on my blanket

I will let her do anything!  I love her!

Me and Madelyn at Ella's birthday party

Getting squished!

I tolerate her sometimes

But other times...

Can't get enough time with Grandma Kathy!

And Emily and all her animals!

Family photo

Preparing for Covid shot #1!

So nervous!

I did it!  Bring on the sleepovers!

Getting my first job (photography) with Marion!

Playing with Athena and a big stick

Getting the rotten end of this fight!

12 Years, 2 Months...End of volleyball, Beginning of normal school

I got my hair cut and went to the dentist for the first time in a long time this month. Easter was also very different this year, but for a different reason.  We had a volleyball tournament over Easter weekend, so we celebrated early.  I went shopping with mom because Papa Rick and Nana Peggy gave us money for Easter.  I discovered that I really love everything at Michael's and Hobby Lobby!

We had our last volleyball tournament, which was National Qualifiers in Kansas City.  I went in believing that we could win it all!  There were so many teams in Bartle Hall.  We did not play great on the first day and lost all of our matches.  That put us in either the Bronze or Copper bracket.  We played much better the second day, so we were placed in the Bronze bracket.  We played Performance again for a vindication match, but lost.  We just were not playing our best.  I was really sad to say good-bye to my teammates.  I will especially miss Landrie because she is a year younger and won't play on our team next year.

The other excitement is that we went back to school 5 days a week.  I was pretty nervous about everything changing-different kids in my classes, the bus would be more crowded, the halls more packed.  It has been ok, but I really do miss my virtual learning time at home.  We also did MAP testing which was very tiring.  One fun thing is that I joined the school play.  It is a comedy about working at a help desk.  I got two parts, one where I call the help desk to break up with my boyfriend, and the other as a worker who doesn't want to be there.  I overheard the director tell someone else that I was a natural during auditions.  I really enjoy being on the stage!

Nighttime with Athena in my loft bed

Easter egg decorating with the family

Precision

Our handiwork

Eating without utensils

Ready for Easter

Hunting

The loot

Gifts from Papa Rick and Nana Peggy

Emily made this poster for us at home

Ready for Regionals

Attack!

Our team, ready to go!

Back row: Lanie, Lila, Landrie, Anna, me.  Front row: Ada, Taylor, Jayden

Between games

More action

Serving

Our best playing day of the weekend

A moment with Mom

Hanging out with Lila

Day 2

Serving

Ready to play

A small portion of the facility

Pumped to play Performance

Me and Landrie

Me, Landrie, and Taylor

Jayden, me, Landrie, and Taylor

Me and Taylor

Eating without utensils (and other obstacles!)

Charades to find our Easter baskets from Papa Rick and Nana Peggy

Hunting for our Easter eggs (pre-teen style and attitude)

My Easter gifts

Serving at Regionals

Good rally, until the end when Taylor and I crashed into each other