Dear Morgan,
You're 14 years old and in the throws of teenager-dom. So many great things happened this year as you gained more independence in Junior High and in life.
You did some fun things at the beginning of the school year. The family went to the Stranger Things Experience at the mall and you got your ears pierced!
Many things happened in the month of October, including performing in your first HJH Trebel Choir performance. You attended the Boo Bash, your first junior high dance. You dressed as Eddie Munson from Stranger Things. It was also my first time being a chaperone at a junior high event. You went trick or treating in the neighborhood with Graciella and Stella. We also celebrated your Dad's 50th birthday (after he and I both recovered from Covid).
It was discovered this year, after visiting an ENT, that you have a genetic hearing condition called Cookie Bite hearing loss. In medical terms it's called mid-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (MFSNHL). It's basically mid-range hearing loss. We were given some things to prevent it from getting any worse, but it's something that you will always have.
During the holiday season, we had Thanksgiving at Auntie's house and you had your first voice recital where you sang “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. You performed in the Winter Concert with the HJH Choir (I chaperoned again). The family went to the Diamond Loch neighborhood to see the Christmas lights. You were awarded Gymnast of the Month and your picture was posted in the gym. We spent New Year's Eve at the Rushing's house (Matt Ramos' sister and her family).
At the beginning of the year, you auditioned for All-Region Choir, you attended a Valentine's Day school dance, Aunt Lu visited and we had family pictures taken. You and I helped your sister re-enact a Vermeer painting for her school project. The painting was “Mistress and Maid”. Maylin was the mistress and you were the maid. It was a lot of fun and we laughed quite a bit!
Spring Break was in Dallas this year. We spent the first day touring your Dad's office, eating lunch at Chet's, experiencing Rainbow Vomit (which was super cool), going to Klyde Warren Park, and then finishing the day with dinner at Chef Point where you and your sister had your first Monte Cristo! The following day we went to the Museum of Illusions, then lunch at Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, and bowling at Bowlero. It was a fun Spring Break staycation.
You had your first root canal! You went roller skating with friends, fell down, and hit your front tooth. You started experiencing sensitivity in the tooth over the week, so after visiting the dentist, he referred you to an endodontist. It was confirmed that your tooth needed a root canal. I was so impressed with the way you handled it and you even watched them do it on the monitor.
You spent a day having some Girl Scout fun at MakerCon and earned a badge. We went to downtown Fort Worth and saw the big glittering cowboy hat in Sundance Square and you all played in the water fountains.
Many things happened in the Spring! You were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, you performed your 2nd voice recital and sang “How Far I'll Go” from Moana, and you attended your first NBA game – Mavs vs. Spurs. You and I attended an early screening of “Are You There God? It's Me Margaret”. You were chosen to be a soloist (Moana song) at the Spring Choir Concert. You were the only 7th grader to get a solo. Dad and I were so proud and we cried during your performance! We also attended Girl Scout Day at Medieval Times – our Knight ended up being the bad guy!
At the 7th Grade Awards Day you received 2 awards “Outstanding Student Award in Choir” and “Straight A's All Year”. We couldn't be more proud of you! You celebrated the end of the school year with friends at the HEB Junior High Choir Night at NRH20 (I was a chaperone).
It was a fun and busy summer for you! We celebrated Eddie's birthday at a splash park, you got a haircut (about 10 inches) and added long bangs, we saw “Josh Gates Live” at the Winspear Opera House, we 'walked the field' on Scout Day at Globe Life Park before the game, you went swimming with Lily and Daniel at NRH20, you attended your 4th year at Glen Lake Camp, we celebrated Wyatt's 1st birthday at a waterpark, and you volunteered at VBS. The 4th of July was spent swimming at the Ramos' house and then we watched fireworks at Bedford Boy's Ranch. You attended your first Mission Trip with the youth group and loved it! You can't wait to go again next year.
Our summer vacation was to West Virginia and Canada this year. We had a blast and I think core memories were made. In West Virginia we visited Dad's side of the family and went to the family reunion. You also got to mark something off your bucket list – you fed Red Pandas! We all got to do it – what a great day! We drove to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls on my birthday. We checked into our hotel and got a room with a great view of the falls. We had dinner at Table Rock (another great view) and then went back to our room to watch the light show and fireworks at the falls. So amazing! The following day we did all of the touristy stuff – boat cruise to the falls (amazing), journey behind the falls (very cool), Niagara's Fury (we weren't impressed), Hershey Chocolate Store, Whirlpool Aero Car (totally cool). On our way to Toronto, we drove to Niagara on the Lake and saw the floral clock and ate dinner at Olde Angel Inn, which is supposedly haunted. In Toronto, we did more touristy things like the CN Tower (you and Dad liked the the see-through floors), Hockey Hall of Fame, Walking Ghost Tour (this was in the rain and overall we weren't that impressed), Casa Loma (super cool), Toronto Zoo (we spent the entire time trying to find the Red Pandas only to find out they weren't out), and Boat Cruise on Toronto Harbor. What a great summer vacation!
A new school year has started and you're just getting your bearings in 8th grade. We can't wait to see how the year plays out for you and all of the wonderful things that you will experience as you grow and learn this year.
Your 14th birthday party was an 80's themed class reunion Murder Mystery with you and several of your friends. I think all of you had a great time and it turned out that Stella was the victim and Lily was the murderer!
We are super proud of you, Morgan. You're a good friend, good student, good daughter, good sister (sometimes – ha!), and you've never made us worry that you're making bad choices. We love you.
Love,
Mom, Dad, and Maylin
