Our Baby Boyer 2: 8 Years, 5 Months...Summer fun and the beach!

Mom and Dad decided that I was spending too much time on screens, so they started the "marble system" again. I have to earn marbles by doing my chores the first time I am asked without complaining to earn up to 2 hours of screen time for the next day. I don't think it is fair because Ellie doesn't have to do it and I can't wait for it to be over.

I finished up EEE summer school with an art and math class. My teacher (Emily Miller) knows my Dad from her husband working with him before. I cried really hard the last day of summer school because I was going to miss Mrs. Richardson, who is retiring. I got to go to the spray park after Pokemon raiding that night. I really enjoy those impromptu activities.

Dad was supposed to go to Tucson to visit Papa Rick and Nana Peggy but his flight was canceled so we got some more time with him. He went with us to the Frankenberg Fest in Washington and even got in the pool and played with me and Mommy. Ellie got to go too since her youth trip was delayed by a day, but she didn't get in the pool. I've been working hard in swim lessons and have improved this summer.

I got to go to the Jefferson City High School volleyball camp, hosted by Ali (Kreklow) Eskens and Sydney (Deakins) Gratz. I had so much fun and learned a lot. I know Ellie was really jealous because she couldn't go, but we got to bring home a shirt for her, given by Ali. While we were driving down there, I inquired about the crop waterers because I didn't know what they were. After Mom explained it, I told her that I would just water them by myself. She told me it would take a long time, so I told her that "I would have a lot of people help me."

I had a dentist cleaning and was dreading it because I had a dangling tooth for months that I didn't want them to pull. Dad went with me and he said I did really well. The tooth was so loose that it kind of fell out and it was no big deal. I got to spend a lot of time with Mom and Dad while Ellie was gone on her trips. We played Uno one night and I won 8 games in a row! I was sad when I lost the 9th. I helped Mom gift Pokemon Go gifts and she had me give Grandma Kathy a good gift and sticker and said it didn't matter what I sent the other friends. I told her, "If it matters for Grandma Kathy, it matters for everyone else too." I've spent a lot of time virtually playing Minecraft with Sally, and was able to join my cousin's Minecraft server on Sunday nights. I joined it one time by myself and accidentally blew up Camille's house. I was devastated and thought they would kick me out forever. Dad told Camille and she said that accidents happen, and we would rebuild it even better together. Although that was nice of her, I was going to tell her what she did wrong in the house in the first place. Mom and Dad stopped me from doing that. Mom's friend Jill and her therapy dog Ale (a golden retriever) came over one night and I had fun playing with her.

The other big thing this month was our trip to Gulf Shores! We drove to Tuplelo, MS the first day and spent the night. Mom and I went in the swimming pool in the hotel. The next day, we drove to our condo. I slept on the couch and Ellie got the bedroom since I get up early. It rained the first morning, but then we were able to go seashell hunting since the waves were so rough. We found so many cool shells to take home. I went in the ocean the next day with Daddy holding me and really enjoyed the waves. I got a lot better the next day when the waves were calmer and after hours in the ocean, I spent hours in the pool! I'm getting a lot better at swimming for sure. I was pretty wiped out the next day and spent it resting on the couch. I was pretty dehydrated and caught a cold. Other fun things that we did on our trip-went to the souvenir shop, went to Matt's ice cream three times (I love Mississippi Mud ice cream), went to a break out room (I was not sure what was going on a lot of the time, but they did what they could to include me), went to the Diner to eat. It was a really good trip and a long drive home. I am getting pickier on what I eat and I think it is driving Mom and Dad crazy!

Lounging with Athena