Anna Grows

1st Day of 7th Grade The new school year has begun!  Anna started 7th grade on Monday.  She is easing back into the school routine with a week of getting organized, rules for classes, new books, etc....  Some of the changes for school this year include: Two days of PE instead of one (and one class is all girls while the other class is boys and girls) A choice between music and art class (this is tough as Anna prefers both, but she is leaning towards art class) Spanish class four days a week instead of three (Anna is not happy about this) No library class (very disappointed about that) There are several new teachers this year as well.  So far, Anna is giving them positive reviews. Some of Anna's other activities also started this week.  Jammers steel started on Monday.  Anna has aged out of the marimba group and is now in the steel pan drum ensemble.  This is something new for her that she is excited to learn.  She also started soccer...

Aidyn & Anna at Kings Island Anna made her annual summer trip to Ohio to spend a week with her grandparents.  This is probably her favorite vacation of the summer - largely because her grandparents provide all sorts of entertainment.....and no parents to contend with.  Mom and Dad were there for the first weekend in order to take Anna and cousin Aidyn to Kings Island amusement park. Anna was definitely excited to go to Kings Island.  Aidyn was less excited about the rides.  Anna did convince him to go on a roller coaster and a few other rides before ducking for shelter thanks to passing thunderstorms.  After spending the night at a local hotel (grandma and grandpa met the group there), the next day they headed for Soak City, the water park at Kings Island.  There were lots of long lines, but Anna and Aidyn waited it out for some water slide adventures.  Aidyn really enjoyed the wave pool.  Mom spent most of the day trying to figure out h...

Outside of Boulder, CO What to do for summer vacation?  This year we decided it was time to go back out West and explore.  While Joe and Theresa would be perfectly content to hike around national parks, Theresa was concerned about Anna's fun factor....which would have a direct impact on the fun factor for everyone else.  Where could we go that has something for everyone?  Thus was born the idea for going to a dude ranch.  Anna could ride horses.  Joe and Theresa could hike.  Good food so no one had to cook (everyone liked that idea).  The final destination:  Colorado and the Elk River Guest Ranch. It was the first trip to Colorado for Theresa and Anna and the first for Joe that did not involve skiing.  The adventure began with a 5:30 AM flight to Denver on July 26 (oh yet...that was early rising).  This meant we arrived in Denver at 7:15 AM and faced our first challenge:  the car rental.  We were greeted by a very ch...

Anna & Storm next to Anna's Painting One of the fun things about summer is the opportunity to try something new.  Anna was looking for something "artsy" to do and found two great opportunities:  sculpting/painting and an animation camp. Mr. Mendoza, who happens to be the father of Anna's friend Banaue, is an artist and teacher.  He recently became the art teacher at a local Catholic school.  This summer, he decided to offer some Saturday art classes.  Anna was very excited about that as she got to do two things she enjoyed:  art projects and hang out with Banaue.  During the first two classes, Anna learned how to sculpt (we are waiting for the results of her first sculpting project, which must be fired in the kiln).  The last two classes involved drawing and painting.  Anna declared the classes the best art courses she has ever taken and is already looking forward to the next time Mr. Mendoza teaches.  She learned some cool tec...

Anna & relay team members The summer swim season is winding down for the Lakevale Dolphins.  This year, the Dolphins competed in Division IV in the Northern Virginia Swim League.  For those of you not familiar with competitive swimming (which was quite frankly us until Anna started swimming), there are 17 divisions with Division I being the most competitive (think Katie Ledecky).  Bottom line:  it is competitive. Last year, the team was in Division III....and lost every meet.  This year they dropped to Division IV.....and won one meet.  Better luck next year.  Meanwhile, Anna moved up to the 11-12 age group this year.  Breast stroke remains her specialty.  At each Saturday meet, swimmers can compete in up to two strokes.   Anna was a consistent competitor in breast stroke, but since she is new to the age group this year. she often got place on what is her least favorite stroke:  butterfly.  Also new this year is ...

Dropping off for a week at Camp May Flather Anna returned on Friday from a week at Girl Scout camp.  She looks forward to it every year and this year was no exception.  She tried a different camp this year:  Camp May Flather.  The camp is located in the Shenandoah Mountains about 3 hours from Washington.  Anna had a great time and is already planning for next year.  The theme of the camp was rock climbing.  She started on a climbing tower before moving to actual rock climbing.  She also participated in other camp activities - her favorite of which was learning to throw a tomahawk.  There were lots of camp song, cookouts, crafts, hiking, and just an overall good time.  The girls all need to performer "capers," which are chores each day.  This year she slept in a large tent with three other girls, which she says she prefers over the shelters.  The cool mountain air was great for sleeping.  She also got to ride the girl...

End of 6th Grade Pool Party Today Anna is officially a rising 7th grader!  The school year ended today and the 6th graders celebrated with their annual pool party.  The weather was perfect at 85 degrees and the food was plentiful.   Anna got to celebrate the end of the school year a little early with the first concert of the season at Wolf Trap Park.  Thanks to her incredibly hip parents, Anna & family attended Fitz & the Tantrums/X Ambassadors on June 7.  Actually, this was Mom's mother's day present, but it also worked to celebrate the final week of school.  It was a fun show AND Anna got to stay out late on a school night. 2018 Teal Tornados The end of the school year brought the end of other things as well.  Anna finished her soccer season on June 2.  The Teal Tornados lost their tournament game, but still had fun.  Of course when the game is at 8 AM and the girls know that they get doughnuts/breakfast when they a...