Friday, December 22, 2023

14 Years, 10 Months...Tons of Volleyball and Aaron time

I have had lots of volleyball this month!  I'm so happy to be playing again!  We are doing the carpool again, and mom got to drive us to JC.  We had our uniform pick up and our colors are now blue and red (although our uniforms are dark blue and light blue.) We got to have our Missouri Juniors Media Day and had some really cool pictures taken with my teammates.  Our team had a white elephant party to celebrate Christmas.  And we finally had our Battle volleyball banquet!  I didn't think it was a big deal, but it kind of was!  I got my varsity letter!

I also spent a lot of time with Aaron this month.  Mom, Aaron, his mom, and I went to the MU volleyball game and had a great time.  Aaron called out "Jennifer!" to watch both of them turn their heads.  He's been waiting forever to have the chance to do that!  One day, I went to Aaron's and then we came back to our house to hang out. He and I went to watch the Addams' Family Musical at Battle.  I went with Aaron's mom and dad to St. Louis to watch one of his basketball games and Mom took me to one of his games at Hickman.

Mom signed up to send brownies to school for the teachers and I thought it was kind of embarrassing.  Well, I accidentally forgot the brownies and felt really bad.  Mom ended up delivering them to Battle and met my counselor!  Emily stayed home sick one day and while mom was home checking on her, I texted because I was sick.  We were both exhausted right before Thanksgiving, but got better.

On my first day of Thanksgiving break, I had my well check.  I am well and no shots until I am 16!!! I also went to the mall to eat Panera with Aaron and then to his house.  Thanksgiving was great because we spent Thursday at Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom's house, Friday at Papa Ron and Linda's (and picked out my charms at Altemueller's) and then to Uncle Mark's.  It was so cold we decided to skip the parade.  On Saturday, we went to Aunt Lisa's and had fun playing "things".

Time is running out with Carol and Michael McEntyre at Church.  This month has been very emotional as we are saying goodbye. I got to watch Nate get baptized by both of his parents. We had a beautiful reception for McIntyre's.  Our Church hosted an Advent-ure pool party indoors and I got to work one of the games with Nate.  We had our last hanging of the green with them.  We took the Enneagram test at our last youth night.  Lillian hosted the youth Christmas party at her house.  We had a lot of fun, but it was the last time I will see Michael.  He has been such an integral part of my life, spiritually and otherwise. I can't imagine Church without him.

I have been very self-conscious with my acne lately, and Mom took me to a make up lesson at Ulta.  I was so nervous that people I know would see me.  When I felt more comfortable and she started, it was clear that she did not know what I wanted.  She was trying to cover my entire face with foundation and add color back.  In the end, I got some primer, concealer, and powder. That night, our whole family went to Aaron's to hang out and watch the Mizzou volleyball NCAA game vs. Nebraska.  They did NOT win.

A couple of other fun things...I think I finally convinced Mom and Dad to get another kitten, just for me.  Mom took Emily and me to meet a kitty at her coworker's house.  She is so cute and I want to name her Shout (to go with Twist).  I also chose to go to Aaron's house instead of the Frankenberg Christmas party.

Finally, I randomly passed out in the bathroom on November 27th.  Luckily, Dad did not have to go to work that day.  He heard a loud crash, as I hit my head on the door so hard that my earring bent.  Obviously, I have another concussion.  I wasn't able to get into the doctor that day and tried to go to school.  I did not make it.  I am calling this "Concussion 2.0."  I am hopeful that I will heal soon!

Magic Tree!!!


St. Nicholas Day
Taylor Swift ornament
Receiving my varsity letter from Coach Sammi



With Adrianna (our libero)
With Lila
Mom and Dad are always there to support me (whether I want them to be or not!)

And Emily is my biggest fan!

With Tristn
So exciting-what an honor as a freshman!
I taught Athena how to get in the backseat!
We were happy, even though Mom wasn't
Meeting Smudge
Missouri Juniors Christmas party

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

14 Years, 9 Months...Volleyball, Aaron, and more fun!

We had our last volleyball game of the season against Hallsville (again, because Montgomery County cancelled on us.)  This was senior night and it was so hard to say goodbye to Adrianna and Maria.  We won 3-1 and I played all around really well.  I even scored 13 points in a row serving for us (not all aces.)  The next night was the start of districts.  We played Francis Howell on their home court.  Out of 8 teams, they were ranked first and we were ranked last.  We held our own for the first two sets, but fell apart on the last set.  We lost 0-3.  Papa Ron and Linda came to the game and took Mom and me out to Freddy's after the game before heading back.  I can't wait a month for club season to start!

Because volleyball is over for the season, I have been able to go to Youth group again.  I want to soak up all the time I can with Michael before he leaves.  However, I have been really disappointed because there are some immature younger kids coming.  It's just not how I want my last few weeks to go with Michael.  

I have also gone to a lot of MU volleyball games this month.  Mom and Aaron and I went to see them play Tennessee after youth group.  They are really good this year and I am enjoying watching them rebuild.

I got my picture retakes done at school.  We celebrated Athena's 3rd birthday.  I went to a BHS soccer game with Lila.  I was brave and got my flu shot even though I tried to talk Mom out of it.

I've had to make a lot of choices lately about how to spend my time.  I chose to go to the Taylor Swift movie with Lila instead of working the concession stand with mom (to earn money for the Battle volleyball program.)  I chose not to go to Neha's 3rd birthday party so I could hang out with Aaron that night after going to the MU homecoming parade and the library I chose to go to Aaron's instead of the Church Fall Fun Fest.  I did help make the Cookie Monster trunk or treat, even though it didn't win.  I'm glad I didn't go, because it was cold, windy, and rainy.

We got to have two days off school and I hung out with Emily at home.  Nana Arden came for a McDonalds visit on the second day.  I was asked to babysit Grant next door for a couple hours that evening.  I was so nervous but I had a lot of fun.  He is a really smart kid and showed me all the stuff he could do!

I went to Aaron's neighborhood for Halloween.  We went as Monsters, Inc.  I was Mike Wazowski and Aaron was Sulley.  We got a ton of candy!  I was amazed at how kind Aaron was and commented that he walked on the street side so I wasn't near the cars.  Mom agreed that he is pretty special.

Mom and Dad went to their annual conference, and this time, Papa Ron and Linda stayed here with us.  They took us to the MU volleyball game and enjoyed potato soup when we got home.  The next day after they got us from school, we went out to Olive Garden.  I enjoyed having them here, but I really missed having Mom and Dad around.  Mom had a lot of meetings that whole week and wasn't around much.  It was nice when she was off with us on Friday.  Dad took me to the MU volleyball game that night.

Aaron's birthday was November 6th.  I wish I could have spent it with him, but I got to go with him to Kansas City that weekend.  We went to Break Through to play a lot of active game that were kind of like breakout rooms, we ate at Chicken and Pickle, and went to a toy store and Scheels (a department store.)  I had a blast!

The next day was our Church's 200th celebration.  I got to read at church and was proud of how I did (even though I was nervous.)  We did a Church picture after and then had a nice luncheon.  They gave the little kids chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese, but said I was too old for that so I had to get more grown up food.  I was highly disappointed.  Mom took me to the MU game afterward. 

And, club volleyball practice finally started!  It's going to be a great season!

It was so hard to say goodbye to the seniors



Maria

Let's get this game started!


Coach Peyton



First serve


Time to attack

Diving (definitely out, even coach says so!)
I agree
Sacrificing my body for the ball
Pancake?
I believe so!


Adrianna
Another hit
I'm calling it out again
I'm actually blocking!  
Senior night celebration
Ready to play in districts!
National Anthem
District action shots



I helped create Cookie Monster for trunk or treat
Doing the angel
I was able to make Aaron an angel!
The beginning of my baby-sitting career
Daddy daughter date at the MU volleyball game
Halloween with Aaron!
And our matching pumpkins!
Peace out-ready to get some candy!
Walking in his neighborhood
Our loot
The MU volleyball game we went to with Papa Ron and Linda

Aaron's birthday gifts
Can't get enough volleyball!
Cornhole
Ready to "break through!"

Table shuffleboard
Whee!!!
Reading at the 200th celebration at Church
Selfie with the McEntyre's (while waiting for the church group picture)
Serving against California
Serving in districts
We are so competitive (at Aaron's birthday)