Yesterday, my mom, Luke, David, Jacob, and I had the privilege of visiting the newest Kemme Nash, Sarah Grace.
She is a tiny baby, much smaller than any of my siblings were. She mostly slept while we were there, but she was adorable nonetheless.
Congratulations, Kemme Nashes!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Crown Point Week
Graciously, my Aunt Sue offered to take all five of us kids for a week, to give my parents a week off. All of us loved this idea, so we arrived at Crown Point on Sunday.
The first few days were mostly spent swimming and playing Star Wars Battlefront 2. On Tuesday, we went to see the movie Despicable Me, which was a pretty funny movie. After the movie, we went to Dairy Queen, where I got a delicious Midnight Truffle (basically, the only two ingredients are chocolate and chocolate).
On Wednesday, Aunt Sue, Gianna, and I went to the mall in Crown Point. Gianna bought a few sweaters and jeans, and she kindly bought me a fluffy, round pillow shaped like a dog. After browsing through the mall, we had a delicious lunch at Panera Bread.
Later that night, my Uncle Brian assembled a popcorn machine that they had ordered! We popped our own popcorn and watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The week was over much too soon, but we all had a fantastic time. Thanks Aunt Sue and Uncle Brian!
The first few days were mostly spent swimming and playing Star Wars Battlefront 2. On Tuesday, we went to see the movie Despicable Me, which was a pretty funny movie. After the movie, we went to Dairy Queen, where I got a delicious Midnight Truffle (basically, the only two ingredients are chocolate and chocolate).
On Wednesday, Aunt Sue, Gianna, and I went to the mall in Crown Point. Gianna bought a few sweaters and jeans, and she kindly bought me a fluffy, round pillow shaped like a dog. After browsing through the mall, we had a delicious lunch at Panera Bread.
Later that night, my Uncle Brian assembled a popcorn machine that they had ordered! We popped our own popcorn and watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The week was over much too soon, but we all had a fantastic time. Thanks Aunt Sue and Uncle Brian!
Jill's Dance
Thanks to the marvels of modern technology, my cousin Mark was able to plan a dance from a grimy tent halfway across the world. He hadn't been able to take his girlfriend, Jill, to the prom, so he arranged this dance as a surprise for her.
The whole family was invited, along with Mark's friends. We arrived in Valpo at around 6:00, and were greeted by our cousins from Racine. We played basketball in the church parking lot until 7:00, when we headed to the Immanuel gym, where the surprise dance took place.
The gym looked amazing, with streamers hanging from the basketball hoops, a disco ball, balloons, and American flags bedecking all the tables. Soon, the Green Bay cousins arrived, including our new cousin Stephen, who I had never even seen before!
We were all told that Mark was supposedly taking Jill to dinner, but would take her to the dance instead. At 7:30 Mark and Jill walked in (Jill was blindfolded), Mark untied her blindfold, Jill proclaimed in an astonished voice, "What?" and Mark yelled "Surprise!"
Everyone (except the adults) had a great time dancing, eating, and socializing. After three hours of fun, we finally had to clean up and head out.
The cousins suggested that we make this a yearly tradition, and I heartily agree. I had a blast.
The whole family was invited, along with Mark's friends. We arrived in Valpo at around 6:00, and were greeted by our cousins from Racine. We played basketball in the church parking lot until 7:00, when we headed to the Immanuel gym, where the surprise dance took place.
The gym looked amazing, with streamers hanging from the basketball hoops, a disco ball, balloons, and American flags bedecking all the tables. Soon, the Green Bay cousins arrived, including our new cousin Stephen, who I had never even seen before!
We were all told that Mark was supposedly taking Jill to dinner, but would take her to the dance instead. At 7:30 Mark and Jill walked in (Jill was blindfolded), Mark untied her blindfold, Jill proclaimed in an astonished voice, "What?" and Mark yelled "Surprise!"
Everyone (except the adults) had a great time dancing, eating, and socializing. After three hours of fun, we finally had to clean up and head out.
The cousins suggested that we make this a yearly tradition, and I heartily agree. I had a blast.
Cousin Mark Is Home!
My cousin Mark, who is serving in the US Marine Corps, is finally home, safe and sound, after a grueling year of service in Afghanistan.
He was never involved in serious gunfire, but mostly patrolled the streets of Afghanistan, building bridges, digging wells, and altogether keeping the peace in the war-torn country.
Sitting around my grandparents' living room, the family listened attentively as he told stories of his deployment. Most of them convinced me to never join the Marines (such as going without a shower for six months), but a few suggested that being a Marine is the best job in the world. Apparently, Mark and his platoon frequently watched movies, listened to iPods, and surfed the Internet, not to mention they bought a dog to keep them company!
However, Mark's deployment wasn't all fun and games (but pretty close, I'm sure). He related to us how, as he was driving a Humvee across a narrow, rickety bridge, his front right tire slid off the metal bridge, causing the large vehicle to flip upside down. Nobody was injured, but they had to wait six hours until someone could come help them out, and then they had to take a long, winding path to base, merely to keep the Taliban guessing.
Another negative aspect of Marine life is foot patrols in the middle of Afghanistan desert. Mark tells us that the terrain is perfect for a twisted ankle, plus the weather is either boiling hot or freezing cold. The patrols lasted for hours, and were largely uneventful and dull (sometimes, Mark said, their dog would come with them on patrols).
Living in the dirty, unsafe conditions of Afghanistan, halfway across the world, to spend countless hours risking your life, for a whole year, takes true bravery, courage, selflessness, and patriotism. I'm relieved that he's home.
He was never involved in serious gunfire, but mostly patrolled the streets of Afghanistan, building bridges, digging wells, and altogether keeping the peace in the war-torn country.
Sitting around my grandparents' living room, the family listened attentively as he told stories of his deployment. Most of them convinced me to never join the Marines (such as going without a shower for six months), but a few suggested that being a Marine is the best job in the world. Apparently, Mark and his platoon frequently watched movies, listened to iPods, and surfed the Internet, not to mention they bought a dog to keep them company!
However, Mark's deployment wasn't all fun and games (but pretty close, I'm sure). He related to us how, as he was driving a Humvee across a narrow, rickety bridge, his front right tire slid off the metal bridge, causing the large vehicle to flip upside down. Nobody was injured, but they had to wait six hours until someone could come help them out, and then they had to take a long, winding path to base, merely to keep the Taliban guessing.
Another negative aspect of Marine life is foot patrols in the middle of Afghanistan desert. Mark tells us that the terrain is perfect for a twisted ankle, plus the weather is either boiling hot or freezing cold. The patrols lasted for hours, and were largely uneventful and dull (sometimes, Mark said, their dog would come with them on patrols).
Living in the dirty, unsafe conditions of Afghanistan, halfway across the world, to spend countless hours risking your life, for a whole year, takes true bravery, courage, selflessness, and patriotism. I'm relieved that he's home.
Concordia Basketball Camp
During the week of July 5th, I participated in the Concordia High School Girl's Basketball Camp. Many of my basketball friends attended too, and we all had an awesome, fun time.
Every day, all the campers shot 25 free throws. After the fourth day, the counselors tallied up the baskets each camper made. The highest percentage of free throws made was 69%, and I made 64 out of 100, a personal best.
Also, my five-on-five team won the competition, even though I hardly ever touched the ball. I was playing with the 8th and 9th graders, so nearly everyone was bigger, faster, stronger, and better than I was. Sorry to say, I did not play my absolute best, because when I'm nervous, I tend to be tentative and unsure.
I enjoyed three-on-three a lot more, since I was playing with girls my own age. My team was really good, and we had many amazing plays, but unfortunately we didn't win the competition.
It was another productive basketball week, and I was able to hone my skills even more in preparation for school basketball!
Every day, all the campers shot 25 free throws. After the fourth day, the counselors tallied up the baskets each camper made. The highest percentage of free throws made was 69%, and I made 64 out of 100, a personal best.
Also, my five-on-five team won the competition, even though I hardly ever touched the ball. I was playing with the 8th and 9th graders, so nearly everyone was bigger, faster, stronger, and better than I was. Sorry to say, I did not play my absolute best, because when I'm nervous, I tend to be tentative and unsure.
I enjoyed three-on-three a lot more, since I was playing with girls my own age. My team was really good, and we had many amazing plays, but unfortunately we didn't win the competition.
It was another productive basketball week, and I was able to hone my skills even more in preparation for school basketball!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Hives
The past few weeks have been sweltering here in Fort Wayne, so we took advantage of this and went swimming at our friends' in-ground pool.
The water was perfect, they had a diving board and slide, and it was a blast. We were getting ready to leave, so I decided to go down the slide one last time. As I was pouring more water on the slide, I must have enraged a few hornets that nested underneath, because I felt a stabbing pain on my chest. Sure enough, I looked down and saw two angry hornets.
I felt fine all the way home, and since I'd never had a reaction to stings before, I wasn't worried. However, as we were eating dinner, my brother exclaimed, "What's wrong with your face?" I felt my forehead, where huge hives were swelling up. My mom also noticed several hives on my arms and legs. Seriously alarmed now, my mom called the doctor. He said to simply give my an antihistamine pill and the hives will be gone by tomorrow. However, the hives were maddeningly itchy, and they covered my entire body. I was extremely uncomfortable, not to mention my eyes were nearly swollen shut.
I laid down at 7:00, and when I awoke, all the hives had, thankfully, disappeared. I've certainly learned a lesson from this: hornets are no good.
The water was perfect, they had a diving board and slide, and it was a blast. We were getting ready to leave, so I decided to go down the slide one last time. As I was pouring more water on the slide, I must have enraged a few hornets that nested underneath, because I felt a stabbing pain on my chest. Sure enough, I looked down and saw two angry hornets.
I felt fine all the way home, and since I'd never had a reaction to stings before, I wasn't worried. However, as we were eating dinner, my brother exclaimed, "What's wrong with your face?" I felt my forehead, where huge hives were swelling up. My mom also noticed several hives on my arms and legs. Seriously alarmed now, my mom called the doctor. He said to simply give my an antihistamine pill and the hives will be gone by tomorrow. However, the hives were maddeningly itchy, and they covered my entire body. I was extremely uncomfortable, not to mention my eyes were nearly swollen shut.
I laid down at 7:00, and when I awoke, all the hives had, thankfully, disappeared. I've certainly learned a lesson from this: hornets are no good.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Parks and Rec League Basketball
For the past three weeks, I played for Concordia High School's Parks and Rec League basketball team, and I am happy to say that dominated. We only lost three games, and even then the score was close (Except, of course, in the Homestead game. We lost by ten points, but bear in mind that Homestead has never lost a game in about four years. They play together year-round, and we've never come even close to beating them.)
I think I've noticeably improved my game, which is great, because next season I'll be playing for the varsity team at Holy Cross. Well, I can't wait for next basketball season!
I think I've noticeably improved my game, which is great, because next season I'll be playing for the varsity team at Holy Cross. Well, I can't wait for next basketball season!
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