Migraines

Yesterday we spent the morning at the neurologist for this little gal. Mouse has been complaining of bad headaches since the start of school. When she started to complain that she was feeling weak from them, we decided to bring her in.

The primary care doctor wasn't really sure what was wrong so she referred us out to a specialist.

The doctor at the neurology clinic was great for Mouse. She was laid back and joked with her, made her right at easy.

They ran through a bunch of tests and then decided that Mouse most likely has migraines. I really didn't know you could get migraines this young. But they said it is pretty common in teens.

Mouse is pretty lucky they said hers are not quite bad enough for daily medication and that she should try some other options first.

Then we will go back in two months and they will see how she is doing.

It is nice to get answers for her.

It's never fun seeing your child in pain and not being able to help.

I am very glad they gave us some options to help her.

~ Cassi

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End of a Season

Mouse just finished up her first year of tennis. Both Steve and I have been so proud of how she has taken to the sport and the team. Last night was their end of the season banquet, it was truly amazing to hear about each of the girls. 

The coach went through each of the varsity girls and talked about their personalities and playing style. I really hope Mouse took to heart the things that was said about these girls. They were great role models for her to look up too. 

There is so much of Mouse I see in these older girls. Amazing traits I can't wait to watch her grow more. I am pretty sure I will be crying right there with the coach five years from now when it's Mouse's turn to be honored. 

Cassi

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Love of the Game

The past few years Mouse has been a volleyball girl, but in Jr High volleyball changes. We were told she would need to join traveling Volleyball in order to make the team. Traveling volleyball meets are on the weekend, the same time as her community theatre group. That means Mouse had to make a decision on volleyball or theatre. Theatre won! But that left her with needing to pick out a sport. Yes, I am a mean Mom who says she has to stay well rounded so she needs to participate in a sport each year. She chose tennis.

 

Seriously this might have been the best decision she ever made. She is loving it! Our town has a small team of girls that play, so the Jr High girls are on the team with the High Schoolers. The seventh graders like Mouse are on the C squad but they still practice and learn from the JV and Varsity girls. Their leadership and teamwork was great and Mouse loved the team environment. I loved how the older girls really helped out and included the younger ones.  

The other great thing is how well Mouse is playing. For her first time holding a racket since pre-school tennis lessons, she is winning matches already. She took quickly to the rules and strategy of the game. As this season is coming to an end, I am excited to see what next year will bring for her.  

~ Cassi

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Junior High!

 I can't believe the day is here! She officially started Junior High today. I was good, I only took a few pictures and I didn't cry. She was both excited and nervous. We were both excited and nervous.

I remember jr. high, it sucked. Junior High is both amazing and evil. My prayers are already starting that her years may be drama free. That she may lean to God in times of trials and in times of fun. 

I think she is starting off on solid ground. Even in her style she role modeled herself off of strong Christian women. She wanted to be sure that her clothes would be approved by Jalisa one the counselors at the church camp she goes to. 

 I think she looked pretty darn cute. Watch out Junior High here she comes. 

~Cassi

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Elementary Graduate

I can't believe she is no longer in elementary school.  I know it cliche but it seems like just yesterday we were walking her into school for the first time. Each year had its highs and lows but this year I have to say was more highs than lows. 

Mouse has overcome so much that this year was such an accomplishment. In third grade when we found out her vision was quite right it became an up hill battle to get her caught up. Through those battles school became a fight and something to endure not enjoy. 

This year, through an amazing teacher, everything finally clicked with Mouse. Her grades picked up and she was excited for assignments. It was such a transformation! In fact her grades picked up so much that she qualified to test into HONORS ENGLISH! We are so proud. In fact I tear up every time I say that. I don't even care if she gets in, it just so amazing to know she could test. 

Now we move on to new adventures of Junior High and teenage years. I can't wait to see what she does next.

~ Cassi

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Violin Concert

 

 Mouse just finished her first year of violin. They ended the year with a concert combining all the schools in our district. I was amazing hearing all these kids play together so well. They only had two practices with all of them together too.

Her favorite of the set of songs was Caribbean Delight. She says it was from Pirates of the Caribbean. I loved watching her play. She does such a good job. 

 But all things must come to an end and she has decided she doesn't want to continue with it. Mostly I think she doesn't want to continue with her Dad and I hounding her to practice. 

Oh well it was good while it lasted.

~ Cassi

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Local Theatre

This weekend we took Mouse to one of our favorite local theatre groups. Lyric Arts theatre is a one set company and does some amazing plays. We may be biased since my friend Allie is in a lot of their shows. This time she wasn't in the show. 

The show we went to was Bunnicula. Bunnicula is a story of a paranoid cat who tries to convince the family dog that the new pet bunny is a vampire. It's one of Mouse's favorite book series. She loves the meet and greet after each performance. Harold and Chester really stole the show. They were perfect for those parts.  

I am so glad we are all able to enjoy the theatre together. I know it's not Steve's favorite thing, so it even better knowing that he goes just for us.

~ Cassi

Birthday Girl!

I can't believe my little girl is 12! This past week was the first time in all her years that I wasn't home on her birthday. I had to take a trip for work that couldn't be helped but Mouse gave me a list of things she would like from my travels. I think the SeaHawks shirt and a hotel party for her and some friends made up for missing the day. I was glad to have a party for her to look forward to while I was gone.

The girls were so great and I think they had a pretty good time. They swam, ate, swam some more. They also took numerous trips up and down the elevator. (Yes, I made sure they knew not to bother anyone) And then the settled down to board games and making their own music videos. The videos were pretty funny.

The next morning they ate some more and then swam some more. We had one tired girl Sunday night.

Happy Birthday Mouse!

~ Cassi

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End of an Era

We have come to one of many ends this year with Mouse. She has been involved with the the Children's Performing Arts here in our town since was 5 years old. She has played a flamingo in Noah's Ark, a Bill in School House Rocks, a Town's Person in Miracle on Main Street, Sandy in Annie, a Thief in Oliver and a Baker / Prince in Aladdin.

This year was Smee in Peter Pan.  It has been such a please and honor to watch her grow and mature. She really worked hard on auditions and through out the rehearsals.

She and Captain Hook had many scene were they had to ad-lib. Example at one time Captain Hook's microphone base fell off. He quickly states that "Darn, these cellular contraption"; Mouse quickly jumps in with "I told you not to mess with the future Captain". Everyone was so happy with her impromptu line. 

She has liked this so much, she is looking for new ways to expand her acting experience. We are now looking into acting camps and other community theatres. She excited to see where the future will take her. 

~ Cassi

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Building Props and Designing Sets

 

Mouse has been involved with a local children's theatre for years now. She absolutely loves it! This year they are doing Peter Pan. She got the lead part of Smee. Mouse is enjoying the lines and humor to this part. 

Steve and I volunteered to lead the sets and props for this production. Thankfully we have had some great and talented helpers. My Dad painted the above mermaid set. It is eight feet high and 10 feet across. 

 

Then one of the other parents build a 7 foot high working crows nest. While Steve with help built the back of the pirate ship at 6 feet high and 4 feet across. Captain Hook and his crew love it. I will post later on how Steve built the ship's wheel. That is one prop all the kids love! No one can pass it with out giving it a spin. 

We have so many props and sets this dingy Mouse and Captain Hook use to capture Princess Tiger Lily turned out so good. We also built a 12 foot high tree for the Lost Boys hideout.  I will try and post pictures of it this week. 

The kids have worked so hard and are doing so great. Now we are into the final stretch with the performances this weekend. 

~ Cassi

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Volleyball Season

Today marks the end of another volleyball season. I so enjoy watching Mouse participate and grow in a sport she likes. This year she was a bit nervous about it. The teams are chosen through a random draw and she was on a team of girls where she didn’t know most of them. That always causes her a bit of anxiety at first. But the coach this year did an amazing job with the girls. He took girls from two different school and turned them into a team.

 

She now has friends that she will keep through junior high and high school as the school merge at those grades. The coach also worked hard on them to improve their skills but kept the fun in the game. During a few other games we watched the coaches get mad or distant to their team as the girls played poorly. But even on days where the girls would rather chat then play (because their 11!) our coach kept on them but was never harsh. It was so nice to see in the face of all the negative talk sports get now.

At their last practice the coach had a game of parents against the girls. They loved it. With my arm issues I wasn’t able to play but I took pictures on the sidelines for the girls to remember this by. I am not sure how much form or technique the Dad’s (that was all that played) showed the girls.

They all laughed a lot at the antics of their soccer/volleyball playing Dads. The girls still lost so they decided to mix it up and do another round of games with Dads mixed into the teams. Which only brought on more giggles from the girls. It was a fantastic way to end practices. Now tonight we have one more game, though with the promise of Dairy Queen at the end we’ll see how focused these young ones are.

~ Cassi

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Photo Shoot with Mouse

** Pre-warning lots of photos with this post** 

This weekend Mouse and I headed out to an old train depot for some pictures. We started to the day off right with a new hair cut, then we headed out.

 

 The train depot has old train cars on site to walk around and some sections of old tracks.  One of favorite things of being a photographer is finding great locations. Not only do I get to make lasting memories but I also get to see some amazing places in Minnesota.

 

 

Then the buildings are just beautiful all brick and beams. There were all these beams around the buildings that Mouse loved to play on

 

My favorite part are the windows. Mouse wasn't too sure about the poses on the window but I think they turned out pretty cool.

 

I loved our day together. We ended it with hitting the training museum. Then off to a historical home tour and finally lunch. Spending these kind of days with Mouse are so great, I love hearing her ideas and plans.

 

~ Cassi

 

 

 

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Ren Festival ~ My Little Archer

Mouse has lots of passions in life, one of them is the Renaissance Festival here in Minnesota. She has gone almost every year since she was four.

She loves the make believe that surrounds this place. Which means she has to go in costume. This year she went as an Archer/Huntress.

While there she picked up the final piece to her costume a gold headpiece. I have to say I really think she picked the perfect finishing touch to her costume.

This year we decided not to do any of the games or rides and just take in a show and walk around.

The show we sat for was the Robin Hood show, it was totally not worth it. She loved it. It was a comedy of errors style show done by not good actors. But there was falling and water splashing so it worked for her.

She also had met one of the actors at our State Fair a few days before so we looked her up. She was with a group of actors that taught people how to do the courtly dances. Mouse joined her group for a dance.

I being not a good dancer stayed back to take pictures. It was fun to watch and laugh at the miss-steps, they were laughing too. I am not that cruel to laugh at a mistake of others, especially when one of them is my kid.

We also checked out the new mermaid lagoon.

Mouse wrote with a feather pen.

And I got a henna tattoo.

It was fun Mother / Daughter date that I am glad she still wants to do with me.

~ Cassi

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