Wow! The past month and a half has FLOWN by!!! I remember when things used to settle down after the Holidays. Not so much anymore. Now its the beginning of gymnastic meets, dance competitions, and the second half of soccer, leading into baseball and football! I LOVE it all, but it always leaves some things wanting, and those things are usually this blog and my social life! I'll have time for that when my kids are older, right? (The social life part) I really enjoy watching them doing things they love to do, and seeing all their hard efforts be rewarded!
In January Boston had his very first gymnastic meet.
He was super nervous about it, because he wasn't sure what to expect. Once he got there and warmed up he started to relax. He loves his coach and the boys he works out with. So the meet was also a social event for him.
He didn't do his best on all the events, but really pulled through on the high bar and the vault. He is very fast, and strong so that really helped him. As the medal ceremony began I started praying that he would at least medal in one event so he wouldn't get discouraged. One event after another they were not calling his name. I started feeling a little worried, and when they got to first place for the vault they called Bostons name. He was grinning ear to ear, the subtle little, "I'm trying not to show that I'm too happy about this" grin! I was so elated for that confidence booster.
He then got 5th for the high bar!
(This was out of about 28 boys) A
fter the meet, I took him to his choice of venue for lunch, and he picked McDonald's. He wore his medals around his neck, but changed out of his gym clothes. He hates people seeing him in them! LOL This particular McDonald's had an air hockey table and the boys had fun with that for about an hour!
Our next big event was Aubrie's first dance competition of the year. She took two small group dances to this competition. The pictures below were for her Hard Knock Life dance.
An easy dance for this age group, because these faces came naturally! Ha ha!
It was super cute, and they had these costumes custom made for the dance. Aubrie said she felt like a pioneer. LOL ( Too bad she wasn't taller, then she might be able to use it for Trek! LOL) The judges really seemed to like both of their dances. As soon as they were done, we (Kim and I) rushed the girls back to other side of town (after grabbing lunch at Cafe Rio) for their soccer game.
The soccer game wasn't the best game, but the outcome of their competition was. They took first place with Hard Knock Life and received Gold for their other one. The girls were excited, but also a little disappointed that the first time they took first they weren't there to accept the award!
The next HUGE event was their performance at Disneyland. Ben and I decided it was best for the whole family not to go because Sophia hadn't hit the 40 inch mark yet, and because Boston had a gymnastics meet. Ben stayed home with the rest of the family, while Kim and I took our girls to Disneyland. We had such a great time!!!! Of course, we stopped at the outlets on the way and had some "success"!
We got into Anaheim in time to check in and grab some dinner at Naples, in Downtown Disney. The wait time was a bit long, so we were able to shop a bit before we ate. Once we were seated, the fireworks started, and we had a great view from out table!
After dinner, we were BEAT!!! We went back to the hotel and got some good sleep for our full day of Disney. I have to say that I HATE not being there on an annual pass! It's much more stressful, feeling like you have to fit in every ride to get your money's worth! Despite that, the unseasonably HOT weather, and the unseasonable CROWD, we actually had a blast!!! We downloaded wait time apps on our iPhones, and also had fun tagging one another on Facebook. The girls had a blast being there together (the younger and the older ones;)! We got most of the important rides in, except Space Mountain & California Screamin, which kept having issues. Tower of Terror and Space Mountain are my favorites, so I was hoping for some time after Aubrie's performance the next day to get on. After watching the new Wonderful World of Color, which was amazing, we DRAGGED ourselves to our hotel rooms!
(nice sun in my eyes!)
The next morning we were up bright and early getting the girls all made up and ready for their performance. They had to be there a half hour before the park opened. We also had to check out of our hotel before we went to the park, in case we weren't done in time. Once the girls were in the park, we had to wait about a hour and a half before they performed. They took the girls back through one of their "secret passage ways" without us, so we had some time to ride a few rides until they started. We promised them we wouldn't ride Space Mountain without them, so we decided we would take Kims youngest daughter on Peter Pan really quick and then get fast passes for Space Mountain. Peter Pan already had a 45 minute wait by the time we got there!!! Then when we got to Space Mountain there were NO fast passes!!:(
The girls performed at 10:30 and it lasted about 45 minutes. The girls were so nervous, but did great. Disney is very strict with the costumes and music that they allow. So the music was a little more mild than the jamming music we are used to them dancing to. Their performances were cute, and they loved being there. So it was a great experience for them!
After their performance, we waited over an hour before they brought the girls back. We headed to Space Mountain where it had a 50 minute wait. Looking at the line, I knew there was no way it was that long. We went for it and were glad we did, only waiting for 25 minutes. I always love being on that ride. I really think its a combination of the fact that its a fun ride, and it reminds me of my times at Disney with my Father. Every time I go on that ride I flash back to those times. After Space Mountain, we got some ice cream, bought some things in the gift shop and headed back home.
The ride home was enjoyable. Kim and I had a great time talking and the girls slept, watched movies, played DS's etc! It was a great trip, but I was glad to be home with the kids. When we got home Ben had left only hours before, for California, to help out my brother. I had to wait until almost midnight the next day (which happened to be Valentines) to see him!
The next weekend was another round of soccer games in perhaps the coldest weather EVER! It actually started nice, but turned for the worst during our second game (which was Bostons). I was planning on a great time. I packed lunches for everyone knowing we would be there till 3 for Aubrie's game, too. Sophia and I didn't even put on jackets, over our long sleeved shirts, because it was so nice. Half way through Bostons game the clouds turned dark so fast, and the temperature dropped at least 15 degrees. It was also extremely windy. Aubrie grabbed Ben's coat, for Sophia and I, and poor Ben was coaching and freezing at the same time. We were still cold with his jacket. My body was shaking, I was so cold. With ten minutes left it started raining. I handed Sophia over to Ethan while I started packing up our stuff to get out of there. I then looked over to see Ethan taking off his coat and wrapping it around his sister. That seriously was my high for the year, I think! He was being so protective of her, and also very helpful to me. He moved faster than ever, helping me break down chairs and carry things to the car. (In the meantime, Aubrie was over at her field getting dumped on, as she was waiting for her game to start). When Boston's game was over, Ben took all the kids back home while I waited for Aubrie's ref. to call her game. They waited for 30 minutes before they called it. She was so bummed that she was the only one who didn't get to play, and she wanted to play more than any of them! It definitely planted a memory she nor we will forget! A reason I find joy in those type of situations!:)
This weekend is actually a break for us all. Boston only has baseball practice, there are no soccer games, and only one birthday party! I'm relishing the break, but of course that means time to catch up on yard work!:) Ahhhh, I love life. Not a dull moment!
