Reyburn Track Meet

April 4, 2013

Today Danielle competed at the Central Valley Jr. Classic Track Meet, held at Reyburn Junior High.  All five Clovis middle schools were represented, as well as Firebaugh and Madera, with each team sending their three strongest girls in each of the throwing events.  Danielle has been working very hard at trying to improve her distance in discus by working out with Jim (who was a thrower himself during high school).  He's given her some great coaching, and it showed today in her event.  Up until now, her personal best distance was a 68, but her throw today hit 78.6--a very impressive improvement!  That distance earned her second place out of all the girls, and she got to come home with a medal.  In fact, her distance was the best score of all of the Clovis schools, since the first place winner was a student from Madera.  I am so happy for her and proud of her accomplishment!

Track Meet

February 28, 2013

My girl is doing very well in track this year, especially in discus.  She consistently lands in the top three or four out of about sixteen girls at each meet.

Principal's Honor Roll

February 20, 2013

Danielle got recognized for earning Principal's Honor Roll at school today, and I was so bummed that I wasn't able to get away from my class to see her.  Luckily, though, Doug didn't have to work, so he showed up to support her as a surprise.  I love that one of us was able to be there to show her how proud we are!

Blast From the Past

February 18, 2013

One of my former classmates just posted my 8th grade class photo on Facebook.  I'm not sure why, but I happen to be right in the front row.  It's been kind of fun to look at the old classmates and seeing which ones I still recognize.

Fanatics Take the Field

February 12, 2013

Danielle's indoor soccer team is a very strong one this season.  We love the girls and the coach, but unfortunately, she's going to age out of this team when fall season rolls around.  Luckily, she's getting great training and wonderful encouragement here, laying the groundwork for being competitive when she moves up into the next age bracket.

UCLA Trip

February 5, 2013

Danielle earned admission into the CJSF organization again this year, and the group took a college site-seeing trip down to UCLA on Monday.  Several of her friends went too, and she said they had a great time.  One day, the kid is playing with CareBears and My Little Ponies, and the next day she's proudly sporting a UCLA sweatshirt and thinking about heading off to college.  Where did the time go?

Sharpshooter

January 24. 2013

Long before Katness Everdeen made her mark on the literary world or stood up on screen to volunteer as tribute, Danielle has been asking us to sign her up for archery lessons.  I'm not really sure where the interest initially came from, but Danielle is nothing if not persistent.  Once she gets ahold of an idea, she wants to see it through.  However, when she first asked five or six years ago, I was quite reluctant.  I wasn't convinced that with the impulsivity number two and kid number three sometimes exhibited that I might suddenly find myself with one of them in the emergency room watching a doctor extricate an arrow from one of my kids' bodies. Not that I thought anyone would intentionally shoot an arrow through their sibling; they just weren't always well-known for attention to detail and watching their surroundings when they were younger. 


So now we're several years past her initial request, and it hasn't dimmed for her at all.  In the meantime, both of the kids have matured and grown up, so I'm not quite so fearful of accidental 'spearings'.  We decided this Christmas would be the perfect time to get Danielle the gift of lessons.  We got her a gift certificate to Impact Archery, which is run by a professional archer.  He apparently has trained and taught several actors to shoot for various movies.  He's a little gruff--a 'man's man', I suppose, but he clearly knows his sport.

Doug took Danielle for her first lesson today, and she absolutely loved it.  Within minutes she had settled into a rhythm and stance, and Doug even overheard another patron say she looked like a real natural.  He got a few pictures of her as she was shooting, and for a first time out, her aim was pretty impressive.  She's very excited to continue on with her lessons.  If she really takes to it, we'll soon get her her own bow and arrows and set up an archery lane in the back yard.

Danielle's Self-Portrait

January 16, 2013

I'm so impressed with Danielle's artistic ability.  For her 8th grade Advanced Art class, she had to take a small picture of herself and recreate it in pencil.  It's hard to tell from the picture, but her artwork is a 16 x 20 sized portrait. 

I Wish I Could Claim She Gets It From Me

December 2, 2012

Danielle's advanced art teacher handed out pictures of celebrities in class.  The assignment was to cut the photo in half, draw a grid, and then use that to help guide them in drawing the missing half of the face.  I think the grid assignment is a pretty standard one for novice artists; it helps the student break down the finer details as they are trying to match what they are trying to reproduce.  Danielle's celebrity was Kristen Stewart, and when she showed me her finished product, I have to say I was really impressed.  My own artistic abilities don't venture too far beyond the stick figure.  Danielle, on the other hand, definitely has a artist's eye.  I'm really hoping she continues to pursue her talent in this field.

Midnight Bowling Birthday Party

November 11, 2012

Danielle went to a birthday party for her girlfriend Mikinah.  We've actually just figured out recently that Mikinah's mom and I went to high school together--another example of what a small world it is!  The four girls got to go bowling in a 10 p.m. til 1 a.m. special glow-in-the-dark session.  They had a blast, of course, and Lisa, Mikinah's mom, said the girls were lots of fun and an absolute crack up the whole night.

Workin' Hard For the Save

October 6, 2012

Coming off of an injury to the knee, Danielle got put back in the goalie box for the whole game this week., which is where she loves to be.  She also got to be team captain, along with Tia, who was coming back after an even more serious knee injury.  Coach said these girls came back strong, and therefore deserved the honor of captain this week.  It's the first time Danielle has ever gotten to be team captain for a game.

Danielle got lots of opportnity to practice her craft in the goalie box, since they were playing a really tough, unscored-upon team.  Her focus and aggression on the field is really improving.

Just a Little Doodle

September 21, 2012

As always, I'm really quite impressed with my daughter's artistic abilities.  How cool is this?

My Beautiful 8th Grader

September 13, 2012

Oh, how I love this beautiful girl!

Sugar And Spice? Not on the Soccer Field, Baby

September 6, 2012

Danielle's soccer team has been working hard in preparation for the first game of the season.  After practice Wednesday night, Coach Dan posted this picture with the caption, "I think the girls are ready to play hard if they're willing to do THIS to their COACH!"  Danielle's mark was a well-placed and very hard kick to Coach which caught his thumb hard enough to bend it back and cause some swelling.  Coach is a trooper--nobody can accuse him of being a 'side-line coach'!

Principal's Honor Roll

Sept. 6, 2012

My baby girl receiving her award for last semester's Principal's Honor Roll.  They held the awards ceremony at the beginning of this year, and they were kind enough to hold it during my prep so I could attend.

Explosion!

September 1, 2012

 Today kicked off pre-season for Danielle's 8th season of outdoor soccer.  For the next few months, Saturdays will find Doug and me out on the sidelines ready to cheer on Team Explosion.  For the first month or so we'll be roasting in the sun, hoping for an early morning game.  Later, as sit sit huddled together in the early morning fog and frost--and sometimes rain--, we'll be wishing for games late in the day.  No matter what the weather, though, we'll be out there, proud of Danielle and all the girls, and socializing with the parents who are with us in the soccer fanatic fan club that re-forms each fall.

First Class Art Project of the Year

August 28, 2012

Danielle's first task in Advanced Art was to draw a cover sheet for her portfolio comprised of five items she liked or which held a special significance for her.  She chose a soccer ball to represent her interest in sports, a box of colored pencils for her artistic side, a cross to represent Christianity, an iPod to show her enjoyment of music, and a mustache, because it's a weird fashion statement right now that all the girls are into.  (Okay--that last bit was a little bit of my editorializing.  What is up with the mustaches?  Kids have 'em on their binders, on t-shirts, dangling from sunglasses....I don't get it.)

Anyway, I thought she did a great job.  I'd love to know where she got her artistic talent from.  It's highly unlikely that it came from either her dad or me!

Danielle's Who Am I Poem

August 23, 2012

Who Am I Poem?

I am a person who enjoys astonishing art and alluring athletics.
I live in a quaint neighborhood where everyone is friendly.
I hear gregarious greetings getting passed to one another.
I am heard as a shy squirt when following, but a booming loud dictator when in charge.
I see pleased people playing publicly on their porch.
I am a superlative soccer star and a intimidating goalie.

I am a part of a overachieving, but lenient family.
I eat fresh fruit that crunches when you bite into it.
I give help to sorrowful small fries who need a friend.
I am born a young girl who strives for perfection.
I am a sympathetic thirteen year old.

I worry when I have to speak in front of a grand group.
I hope to graduate college, earn a teaching credential and do graphic design on the side.
I say don’t knock it till you try it.
I am afraid of hearing a heart monitor in a hospital go to a one note beep.
I am Danielle Lutjens, a multitasking minor.

8th Grade

August 20, 2012

Baby Girl starts 8th grade today--excited as always for the first day of school!

Block A.S.I.

June 2, 2012

I was so proud of Danielle for earning this award!  Students are required to maintain high academics, involvement in athletics, and participation in clubs or community activities.  It's not an easy award to win, but Danielle set her mind to it and did what she needed to do.  She's determined to earn it again next year as well.