Saturday, June 18, 2022

13 Years, 4 months...End of school, trips, volleyball-summer!

I have been able to go to several Youth groups this month since track is over.  I'm so excited about getting ready for the Youth group trip this summer to the Smokey Mountains for Unidiversity.  

There have been so many fun end of the year activities.  I went to a band concert for Lila (but I was also going to watch Jace and Taryn play.)  Taryn actually asked me out the last week of school and then dumped me 4 days later in a text on the bus to the Tetons.  It hurt, but I also knew that I only liked him because everyone else was going out with people.  The Youth group even called me "Red Flag" because of him!  I'm off to flirting with other boys now!  We had an awards assembly at school and I received a ton of academic awards, and made the A honor roll again!

I worked really hard on a counted cross stitch for a EEE "building project".  I chose a watering can with flowers to give to Papa Ron and Linda for their wedding this month.  I was so excited to go to another wedding.  I really like Linda.  We got to visit her house after the wedding too.

Right after school was out, I went on the Teton's trip.  I had such a good time there.  It was so beautiful and we really learned a lot at the Science Camp.  Coulter Bay was my favorite.  We were able to go to Yellowstone one day.  Shortly after this, the whole area experienced flooding and was shut down.  We got lucky!  I thought Old Faithful was overrated.  Even though we weren't in the same group, Coach Hardin and I found each other all the time.  We have so much fun together!  I was exhausted after we got back!

I had to take a break for a while from volleyball so my hip could heal, but then I was ready!  I went to a positional before my Tetons trip and I did ok.  Despite all the walking on the trip, my hip felt ok.  I have done a lot of clinics and camps and open gyms since I have been back.  I did not enjoy the Columbia College camp very much.  The head coach coaches for 417 and she definitely favored those players and I just didn't get a good feel for them.  I think I am going to try out for Missouri Juniors and CMVBC.  When I found out Mikayla Ell (head coach for Stephens) was going to be the 14s coach, I felt a lot better about Missouri Juniors.  I also discovered that Riley Sents and Ali Kreklow are going to coach other age groups as well.  Maybe they will do positionals for my age group this year!   

I had a blast at the MU volleyball camp!  We had to do a skills test and I was placed with 16 and 17 year-olds!  I was totally able to keep up and was able to ace some of them.  I overheard Josh Taylor tell my coach (assistant MU coach) Russ that I was only 13.  He was shocked!  The second day I doubted myself and wondered if I belonged in this group, and Russ told me absolutely!  I also got to see Emily Thater, who played on the team with Ali.  She now plays overseas, as does Josh's sister Nickie.  I was so star-struck!  On the last day, each group handed out two awards and I received the Hustle Award.  I was so proud.  I am ready for try-outs!

Aunt Julie did my hair again at Papa Ron's wedding


Watch my mile times decrease!



And here are my 800 times

Last day of 7th grade, I want to be an actress, 5/26/22
Last day of 2nd and 7th grade

#Iamtotallygoingtomissyou


Ready to roll!

Me at Coulter Bay-so beautiful!
We were the only group that got to kayak-so lucky!
The whole group

Playing volleyball in the Tetons!
Elizabeth and me at Coulter Bay
On a hike
Group work-I'm holding the poster


I think I was missed!

So glad Coach Hardin was on my trip; so glad we didn't get kicked out of the Tetons!
Our group from the MU volleyball camp-I won the Hustle Award!
Volleyball signing after the MU camp-Coach Josh Taylor
He knows me by first name, no big deal!
Lauren #5, the DS
My current favorite MU player (Leandra, #7) who also knows me by name
Anna Dixon, OH (it was sunny!)
One of the former greats who now plays over seas, Emily Thater!
With Coach Molly Taylor (again, knows me by name!)
Josh Taylor sister, Nickie who also plays overseas
Dad teaching me how to drive in a parking lot
Are you sure I am ready for this?!?!
Team building games with Lila at the Columbia College volleyball camp

I perfected my jump serve!
I'm on a roll!

Monday, May 16, 2022

13 Years, 3 Months...OLIVIA!!!

We celebrated Easter at the beginning of this month.  We had Nana Arden and Papa Rodney and Aunt Lisa and her family over to our house to celebrate.  We went to Church on Easter for the first time ever and it was so nice to celebrate with our new Church family.  We then headed to Washington to be with Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom and the rest of the family.  We were able to Zoom later in the week with Papa Rick and Nana Peggy.  It is hard to see him in a hospital bed, not feeling well.  I miss getting together with everyone.

We have had some interesting activities at school too.  I went on a science field trip, my first field trip since 4th grade!  I took the MAP test and thought it really wasn't too bad.  I'm interested to get my scores back.

Track hasn't gone how I had planned.  We had a meet at Centralia and when I did the triple jump, I hit a "pot hole" and hurt my hip.  I ran the mile after that, and broke 7 minutes at 6:54!  I was so excited.  My hip was ok for a while until I ran in the next meet in Jefferson City.  I ran the mile and got my PR again (6:46!)  Unfortunately, my hip hurt so bad that I ended up crying in the stands.  My stubborn streak forced me to run the half mile.  I did, but came off the track crying. I ended up having to be carried off the field and mom picked me up.  I was so upset that I let everyone down.  I had been asked to run in the 8th grade meet the next day but wasn't able to.  I went to the sports medicine clinic and was told that I had an iliac crest apophysitis. It was probably the best diagnosis (no permanent damage, can be healed with rest.)  The x-rays revealed that my growth plates are closed.  I guess 5'5 1/2 is as tall as I will get.  I tried to run in the meet the next week and dropped out of the mile after two laps.  It was probably harder for me to quit than it would have been to finish in pain.  I again thought I let everyone down.  It was a really disappointing ending to the season.  My coaches were all supportive of my healing and are looking forward to me coming back next year!

The highlight of the month had to be going to the Olivia Rodrigo concert with Mom and Lila!  It was so cold and rainy that day and we got there at 5:00.  The doors opened at 7:00 but they were going to let the first 1000 people in at 6:00.  We should have been in the first 1000, but they split the line and opened two doors and we got within 30 people of going in and had to wait another hour.  It was SOOOO worth the wait.  I enjoyed the opening act (Gracie Abrams) and was so pumped to hear Olivia.  I had already looked up the playlist so I knew what was coming.  It was seriously the best!  I was so excited to scope the ground after they shot off confetti because some were butterflies with handwritten notes from Olivia.  I think I am still coming down from the high of the concert!

I attended all of Emily's soccer games.  It is kind of painful because they are not very good and don't understand how to play. I do enjoy laughing at them sometimes though.  Papa Ron and Linda came to see a game one morning, but it was cancelled due to rain.  We enjoyed hanging out at our house instead.  We played games and ate Shakespeare's.  I have also been able to go to youth group and it has been great to be back with my friends there. We celebrated Dad's birthday at our house with D. Rowes, and went to Nana Arden and Papa Rodney's house the next day.  Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom came up for one of Emily's soccer games and went to their house with us.  It was so nice to have everyone all together.  

I have done some volleyball activities too.  Our team was invited to an elite volleyball clinic at Columbia College.  I enjoyed hanging out with the college athletes.  After, we had several of our team over to our house to hang out.  I really enjoyed it and wish the whole team could have made it.  I was invited to go with Lila and her mom to watch Lila's swim meet in Kansas City.  It was so nice to hang out with them.  Lila will be going to a different school next year and I am going to miss her so much!

School will be out soon and I have so many exciting things coming up!  

Getting a massage from Emily

Yeah, this feels great...
Happy Mother's Day!
Happy "Bruh" Day.
Athena getting the royal treatment
Kiss me doggie!
But kissing boys is GROSS!!
Easter egg hunting inside at Grandma Kathy's
Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkids
The grandkids (look at those two cool chicks in the back)
Grandkids with Dan and Paige
Lila and me, so excited for Olivia!!!
We braved the freezing rain for over 2 hours
Thank you Mom for bringing us
Bring out OLIVIA!!!
Sour Tour
So excited!

Sure Bruh, I'll take a pic with you!
I can't believe I'm here!
Playing volleyball with Lydia, Taylor, and Ada in my backyard
We let Emily play too!
First lap of the mile
Jacob, a great friend and teammate
So, here is the x-ray of my iliac crest apophisitis (and my closed growth plates)
Hanging with most of the girl cousins at Dad's birthday party
With Grandma Kathy and Nana Arden

Olivia!!!

It's brutal out here!