I've officially finished 8th grade, and headed to High School in just a few short weeks!
After our epic trip to Athens & Turkey, I returned to finish the last 6 weeks of school. There were so many end-of-year activities! Academics never slowed either; I had multiple final projects, including our final debate. I nailed the debate again this time, and was the captain of my team arguing whether ICE enforcement is constitutional or not. There was an end-of-year field trip white water rafting down the American River, which was super fun! A few of us were thrown overboard, and it was exhilarating for sure!
Eigth grade final debate
It's a little long, but the video above is my whole initial argument
Geared up for the rafting trip
Before
And after...
Finally got the basketball photos...
We also had our 8th Grade trip to Washington, D.C. It was an absolutely packed week (and I wish the pace had been slightly slower!), but I had a great time and learned a ton. My favorite parts were the tour of the monuments and the US Capital building. Minus the heat and the red-eye flight, it was an otherwise really neat experience. I really love History - it's my favorite subject - so it was awesome to get immersed for a whole week in the history of our country.
Before the red eye flight...
With Haines at the Washington Monument
pretty good Abe Lincoln impersonator!
Keevah also had her first overnight for school to Coloma. She did some gold panning and learned all about the Gold Rush. She got a few hours of sleep, but not much!
panning for gold
not sleeping...
I also had our junior high Triathalon, and I did really well, coming in 4th place overall! And we did our 8th grade service project - building a garden for the local Veteran's Home. Finally, I also did the Spring Play, Knock Knock, and according to my friends & family (very non-biased sources!), I was the best of the whole cast!
First leg: swimming
Post triathalon swim with buddies
The crazy hat competition
Working at the Vet's home
Knock Knock play
Haines, Rylan, Connie, Sam & Declan in the big Napa Chair
Graduation itself was very meaningful. With only 23 of us in my class, it was a very personalized service. Gee & Grandpa & Miss Cami, Mr Lukas and Edie all joined my immediate family to support me. Grandpa & Gee treated us to an epic sushi dinner at Morimoto after the ceremony, and I even got to order some A5 Wagyu!
We were all presented with sweatshirts and blankets from our high school
Right after the 8th grade Walk out
The Eighth grade walk out
Declan, Haines, Killian & Connie
Diploma at last
Morimoto courtesy of Grandpa & Gee
After graduation, I basically slept for a whole week!
Keevah also had a great end of the year and is moving on to 5th grade!
We've both been enjoying the summer. We chose to do very few camps this summer and have been spending lots of time at home with Miss Cami before she moves to Germany (we're so sad about that!!!). We've been reading a lot and swimming a lot, and having some friends over as well for playdates and overnights. Keevah has been doing a lot of sewing - she got a machine for Christmas and is really doing great learning how to use it! She also had a TaeKwonDo tournament and did so well, especially at Sparring - her opponent actually gave up (which is a bit sad, but also really cool!).
Fairen supporting Keevah at her tournament
With Master Krutcher: Main Sreet won the top school award!
Keevah (in blue) kicking butt
new sewing hobby launched.
Tooth fairy pillow for cousin Antalya
Dada & I have been watching every World Cup game for the past month (and watching the final as Mama writes this). I've really enjoyed this time with Dada. He even surprised me with tickets to the US/Bosnia game, which was an epic win!
Friends over for the Mexico game
At the US-Bosnia game in SF
Mama and Keevah watched many games too!
We also spent 5 days in Tahoe reuniting with Uncle Ben, Auntie Aubree, Rinnah, Providence and Antalya - who are back from Jordan for the Summer. We spent some time at Kiva Beach, watched some soccer, a bit of hiking, and even did some fishing.
Cold Tahoe water with cousins
planting the new "Keevah tree" with Grandpa, Rinnah & Antalya
lots and lots of flips...
Trout fishing with cousins!
Girls hike with Keevah, Rinnah, Providence and Antalya
We all put our "Grandpa faces" on!
Declan & Antalya
Grandpa and the girls
Just chillin' at Kiva Beach
The next weekend, we spent July 4th in Elk Grove with Gee & Grandpa. Grandpa surprised us by purchasing a massive amount of fireworks. We swam a lot, enjoyed burgers, and then lit a lot of stuff on fire!
The whole gang
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Cousins!
I turned FIFTEEN on July 7th. I'm 6'2" and 145 pounds, wearing a 12.5 shoe...and still growing! A far cry from the 2.5 pounds I was a birth! Mama and Dada took me to Cyrus, a Michelin starred restaurant, to celebrate. I ate and loved every single bite! A huge highlight was a tour of the kitchen, and meeting the chef Douglas Keane.
Getting a tour of the kitchen with Chef Keane
The famous Chocolate Wall
We then traveled down to Solvang for our annual trip to the Alisal Dude Ranch with Dada's side of the family. We stayed the night of my birthday at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo - a super quirky and fun place. At the nice steakhouse, I got my birthday gifts: an out-of-print collectors edition of the Aeneid that I absolutely love! I also got a collectors edition of Dantes Divine Comedy, and a ridiculous remote shower timer from Keevah!
Special edition of the Eneid
Awesome birthday blanket designed by Keevah
We enjoyed the Alisal as always - it's great getting to see Granddad Boppy & all of my aunts, uncles and cousins on Dada's side who are scattered throughout the country. We kept up with the World Cup, but otherwise spent time swimming, doing archery & air rifles, riding horses, playing soccer, pickleball, foosball and rummikub. I even danced a bit at the end-of-weekend Hoe-down!
Hoe-down
Granddad & Boppy with all the grandkids
Rummikub
Rummikub with Cousins & Boppy
Giant pancake on the breakfast ride
Cousin pyramid
Lexi, Emmy, Keevah & Logan
Dada, Declan & Keevah
some of us dive better than others...
Declan with Davis & Owen
Family in order of height
Keevah in the California foothills
Back in Napa, both Keevah & I performed in the Music Man, a summer theater camp.
Keevah opened the show with "Rock Island"
Declan nailed the role of Marcellus
Keevah arresting Harold Hill (Connie)
Immediately after the show, we caught a flight to Gig Harbor, outside of Seattle, to visit our friends Brad & Carol Christ (and their kids) - friends from college.
Hiking along Puget Sound
Crazy fun in the hot tub boats in Union Lake, Seattle
Can you see the Space Needle?
Back home, we're enjoying the last few weeks of Summer. Reading, swimming, running, and some work for Mom & Dad. Maybe the best part was watching the Odyssey Movie together: an awesome retelling of the book we all read a few months ago while in Turkey!
Opening night of the Odyssey
Spirit joined Mama in her floating lounger!
another crazy Keevah concoction...
5th and 9th grade start next week! I even had my Freshman orientation today. Stay tuned...
