My Dearest Avery,
How has time moved so quickly?! I know I'm a little late as quarterly posts go - I just can't seem to keep up! You, however, are doing so well right now - in everything you do!
You're a week and half away from finishing the fourth grade! You stressed over last week's BLTs (baseline tests) which track your growth in knowledge in English, Science and Math. But you did so well! We don't know the Science grade yet but you got 93% in English and 100% in Math! You're excelling and it's great to see how your thought process works through the more detailed projects you've worked on in English and History. You are really interested in your Jewish heritage and it shows in your school work - even in Art you drew a famous synagogue.
In soccer, you've been a force to be reckoned with! You work super hard, have a ton of energy, WANT to practice and learn more, and enjoy the process of growing as a player just as much as you enjoy playing the actual games. This spring has been a roller coaster in soccer. Midyear your coach had your team join with the blue team to play up in 9v9 games earlier than normal for your age group. We wound up scoring only one goal the entire second half of the season and that was a penalty kick you made! After the season ended, we wanted you to try out for several different clubs/teams to see what else was out there but also to get you used to trying out with people you didn't know (in case we move to Colorado). When you tried out for your main rival team, FC Tucson, it was orders of magnitude difference in competitive play. All the real talent was there and you did so well! You had some pop fly passes to your teammate at the net and you did a great corner kick. You gave it your all and it showed. Of course, you got invited to the top teams for all the clubs you tried out for but you just accepted an offer with your long-term rival team, FC Tucson, pre-GA (Girl's Academy). Several of your teammates are joining the same team and there was just a team bonding get-together at a park last weekend that you really enjoyed. When we started tryouts, I asked if you wanted to be the star of the team or if you wanted to be challenged and you said you wanted to be challenged. I think if we stay in Tucson, you picked the right team to be challenged. You also started 1:1 training with a coach named Akbar. Akbar has been great at getting you to focus and improve your weaknesses.
In riding, you're also doing really well. I think riding helps with soccer and soccer helps with riding. Your instructor, Kim, has been great at challenging you with new experiences each week. You've ridden bareback, no hands, eyes closed, and gone over some poles on the ground! Your command and control of a horse has grown exponentially. Now you just started riding English!
We have only taken one trip so far this year: over Rodeo we went to Universal Studios in LA. We also hit up an LA Kings hockey game (and saw Will Ferrel there) and we went to a USWNL soccer game there. For a long weekend, we sure did fit a lot in! And we met up with your friend from soccer, Eva, for the game!
You also just turned 10! How did that happen?! Instead of having a party, you're going to space camp at Kennedy Space Center this summer (I get to take you)! We just spent the day at Funtasticks as a family and had Licks ice cream for dessert. This spring, you've been into Dua Lipa and Tones and I....and you've even sang some Taylor Swift here and there! You're into the Keeper of the Lost Cities book series and you like to craft. You like tye dye and your favorite colors are purple and teal (which is the color of your new cleats). You have started to show some moodiness to those of us in your family but overall you're still the massive lover we know you to be. You like to roller skate and swim. You are the best cuddler!
Here's your life in pictures right now...
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| Still having forced family fun! |
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| New haircut! |
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| Yes, girl! The only goal for your team in league play this half of the seasn! |
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| WTG! Your team won the tournament! |
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| At women in sports day at UofA! You got to tour behind the scenes at a UofA basketball game! |
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| 100th day of school! |
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| LA Kings game! |
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| La Brea Tar Pits! They lived up to Dad's hype! |
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| Manhattan beach! |
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| USWNL Soccer! |
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| Universal Studios! |
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| Helping the 2013 team out - you played with them for 4 league games! You had a great assist in this game! |
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| Still riding! |
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| You're so physical in how you play - look at that! |
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| You're helping the 2013 team here - look at how much bigger these girls are! |
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| You love bearback! |
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| You've been a great assistant for Evan's coach pitch team! |
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| Spring break breakfast with Dad! |
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| Comic book restaurant in Phoenix |
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| Team saying thank you to Dad for managing the team! |
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| UofA Baseball! |
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| Saying thanks to the coaches |
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| Universal Studios! |
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| In between games! |
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| Pascal photo-bombing you two! |
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| First swim session of the season in the books! |
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| Shorter hair = playing with your sports 'do! |
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| Homework with Dad - lots of it this trimester! |
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| 80s day at school |
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| Licks ice cream for your birthday! |
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| soccer shenanigans! |
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| Water park for your birthday! |
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| An amazing telescope from your uncle! |
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| Mr An's restaurant |
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| Always practicing with Dad and Evan! |
My sweet Avery, I love you so much. You are so kind and caring with a little bit of spice to top it all off! Coming up, you have local soccer camp, space camp, beach vacation with my family and soccer camp with the Wave! Enjoying every minute of it with you!
All My Love,
Mom
