Skills Camp Birmingham

Skills Camp .... Birmingham . . .

Ace Cheerleading is like a movement. . . a way of life . . . being a part of something greater. .   I don't know how to really explain it.

For a weekend we traveled to Birmingham to meet up with all the other Ace gyms for a weekend of nonstop cheer.  I have never seen anything like it before. . . ever!  Picture hundreds of cheerleaders all dressed alike grouped together in age and level with summer camp/cheerleading activities all weekend.  They learned what it is to be an Ace cheerleader, worked on tumbling skills, learned parts of their cheer routines, worked hard and had fun!

Cailin had so much fun.  It was a great team building weekend and it was also a great weekend to see that we are part of something big....something awesome.  I don't think Cailin stopped smiling the entire weekend.  Although she was off working hard, and we were off seeing the sights of Birmingham, she was one worn out smiling little cheerleader.

Cailin said the best part of the weekend was getting fit for her new uniform.  She went off by herself and came back with a new uniform and new spring in her step.

Bring on the new cheer season!  We are ready!  A - C - E ! ! !

A New Year, and New Changes . . .

I have always wanted my kids to be able to make their own decisions.  I never wanted to be "that" parent that lives through their children and decides what they will and will not do in life.  My parents never pressured me to do anything, and sometimes I wished they encouraged me to take a leap of faith and try things outside my comfort zone.  I look back and wished when I was in high school I tried different things. . . so I guess because of that I don't want my kids to grow up with the gee I wish I coulda woulda. . .

After the end of the cheer season Cailin was feeling a bit disappointed.  I think mostly because she felt like she was just a body at the gym and was not improving her skills any.  She wasn't the newest kid at the gym or didn't have the coolest skills, so she was just another average kid.  Cailin,  even though she is young, never acted like her age.  At the beginning of the cheer season she was disappointed that there was not a team for her level and rather than jumping ship to another gym she felt like she needed to be there and stick it out even though she really wasn't happy.  She learned some great skills and had the opportunity to be a flyer, but she didn't feel like she fit in any longer.  So, she asked me if it was ok to go check out the other gyms in town.  I encouraged her to be open minded and so we visited the other two gyms in town.  After meeting the coaches and kids, she really had a good idea of what all three gyms in town would offer her.  She tried out for her old gym and was happy she made the Junior Level 2 team but was also very disappointed at the team and decided that she would very much like to change gyms.  This was a huge decision and I was really proud that she made up her mind herself.  Her biggest worry through all this was that her coaches at her old gym would be upset with her.  I told her that if she felt that she would be happier at another gym and that she felt it was the best decision for her cheer life, that they would support her.

The new gym is called Ace and them are a member of a larger gym organization that has gyms in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.  She was placed on a Youth Level 2 team made up of girls all her age.  The best part is that some of them even go to school with her.  For Cailin that was huge.  No longer was she the oldest or youngest on the team.  The coaches really did everything they could to make her fell welcome and a part of the family.  Most of the girls on the team have cheered together for a few years, so she was one of a few new girls on the team, but the best part was that she didn't feel like "the new girl".

So, we start the new cheer season at a new gym, new colors, new people, new cheer moms, new drama, new start . . .  and the best part.... see the huge smile... that's the best part!

More to come. . .

Soccer, Birthday & Cheer ....Oh My!

As the JV High School soccer season comes to a close, we find ourselves in the thick of the All-Star Cheerleading season.  It seems that we don't have a break from one to another.  We just learn to arrange our time differently for the shift in activities.

Last weekend we have the pleausure of having the whole family hit the road for one of the last soccer games and threw in a cheer competition for good measures.

Friday we found ourselves heading to Mariannia for Ashley's JV Soccer game.  Nice 1hr drive  north of us.   It was a great game.  Lots of rough play - to the point of multiple yellow cards on the other team.  But all in all we did pull out a win.  Its such a joy to watch Ashley play.  I can't believe how much she has grown up from her days of Seminole Youth Soccer at 3 holding hands with her BFF, Ashley chasing butterflies and looking for flowers on the field.  Goodness, if I blink she will be graduating.  I am going to enjoy these 4 years and soak up as much mom/daughter time she will let me.  And that means I will be at every soccer game - even if it means driving all over Bay County to get there!  I wouldn't miss it for the world!!!  

We rented a car to throw all three kids, luggage and me and Tim in to drive comfortably from Mariannia to Biloxi, MS.  Ashley's game got over at around 7pm and by the time we loaded up the car and got onto the road it was after 8pm.  So off we went for part 2 of our adventure.  Biloxi here we come!  I was extremely thankful for sleeping kids.  It was a rather long ride...but we pulled into our hotel parking lot just after 11pm.

Cailin had to be up and dressed at the civic center by 730am.  Ugh.. not much sleep.  Cailin was actually the first one up and ready to go.   I am not sure if it was the excitement of having dad at her competition or the fact she had a huge surprise for us that she has been working on at the gym.  Either way we were excited for the day and the chance to watch her perform with the Mini Level 1 team and the Junior Level 1 team.

                                           Cailin & Peyton

The girls did a great job performing.  They had some tough competition.  Cailin pulled off a few unexpected stunts with the girls on her Junior 1 team, even with a shoe that decided it needed to come off in the middle of the performance.  She was so excited to perform for both mom and dad and add her new stunts on top of that....life was pretty good in her book.  Needless to say we were pretty darn proud of all that she has done and how far she has come and how far she still wants to go.  For her to be able to fly with her big kids is the best thing ever!  Brings a huge smile to my face, and some bit of OMG these little girls have MY girl in the air...they better catch her.   But they always do...

                                                          Cailin & Peyton  (Mini Level 1)

Hit, Hit, Hit

Cailin & Savannah

       

That smile says it all! 

 Wow girl...you sure surprised us.  I really could use a lesson from her.  Not giving up on her dreams and not letting other people tell her no.  She wasn't on the team she wanted this year and she thought it was going to be terrible.  But out of it, she has a new BFF, landed a role on the older level 1 team as a flyer and now is achieving her dreams.  All because she didn't give up on herself.  She has a long way to go to get to where she wants to be next year, but I see big things in her future!  So stinkin proud of her!!!!!

After we were done cheering we toured around Biloxi a bit.  Not the prettiest city in the world.  Casinos, beach and that is about it!  We did walk through the Margaritativille Casino just for kicks.

Pretty ugly.  It was definitely not what I expected.  I had seen drawings of it years ago when they were first talking about building it.  This is nothing like the pictures I saw.  Very odd....and in crack town....

After some shopping and dinner for my birthday, we drove home Sunday and made a stop at the USS Alabama in Mobile.  It was fun to walk on the battleship.  This part was more for Tommy and Tim - the forever history buffs.

When we got home Sunday, we knew we would have to turn around and do it all over again.  Monday was Ashley's last soccer game for JV Soccer.  Wouldn't miss it for the world.

We drove 241 miles from Marianna to Biloxi and back....we got to see our daughter play high school soccer, we got to see our other daughter cheer her heart out and we got to learn some history along the way.  Can't think of a better way to spend my weekend...doing what we love, with the people we love the most!

More soccer adventures to come!
 

Christmas past ...

Growing up my family was very traditional. I think my parents being of a different generation thrived on a schedule, if X wasn't done when X needed to be done then it wasn't Christmas. Each year we would wait until after my dads Birthday to put up the Christmas tree (Dec 4). My mom would always make homemade chex mix thanksgiving and peanut brittle for Christmas and you could count on it.

I on the other hand wish I could be more like that. Rather I thrive by the seat of my pants every day of the year, the holidays no different. Organization and planning isn't part of my genes. My parents always joke that I came from the cabbage patch because I am so not like anyone else in my family. Sometimes I think I am a cabbage patch baby!

This year with all of the craziness and instability I crave that schedule. Baking cookies on Christmas Eve. Helping my mom make stuffed shells for Christmas Eve dinner. Midnight mass. The ride to church - always taking the long way so we could look at all the houses decorated with lights. Shrimp cocktail after church and opening one present before bed. These long rooted traditions - something that no matter what I could count on as a child. I miss that.

So back to my roots ... Christmas cookies are about to begin. I am going to attempt to make my moms famous stuffed shells. (Wish me luck) and maybe start a few traditions that my kids will crave each year.

That is the beauty of Christmas. It is the birth, or beginning... So it is my hope this year, that some of these crazy things I do are the beginning of something. Something wonderful I hope.

Parenting doesn't come with an instruction book - no matter how hard I wish there was. I may not be the best parent, but one thing I know is that when my kids go to bed each night the last thing they hear me say is I love you. Life is short, it's never too late for a new beginning.

Merry Christmas my friends. May 2013 bring you and your family rich blessings.

What Christmas Means ...

Growing up Christmas was a magical time. The tree was brought down from the attic with all the assorted boxes of decorations and such. Christmas music was played on our huge stereo that was the size of a dresser or some other huge piece of furniture. The day long game of matching the colors of the ends of the branches to the color of the pole - always an adventure trying to figure out if that color was pink or white or yellow. But by the end of the afternoon the tree was assembled and the ornaments hung with care.

This was also the beginning of the holiday baking. Cookies, pies, chex mix, and more. My mom always baked for everyone it seemed. She felt that it was her way of telling the neighbor down the street thank you for being our neighbor and looking out for our kids. I never was involved in her secret deliveries. Sometimes they were left anonymously while others were left in celebration. It was what she lived for all year long.

The year her mother died she did not bake that Christmas. Not sure if she didn't feel the Christmas spirit or what but I remembered a magical thing happened. It started days before Christmas and lasted until Christmas Day - people stopping by with holiday baked goods of all kinds. One lady not only brought friendship bread but she also brought the bell ringers from church to bring us some holiday cheer. On Christmas Day we had carolers sing some of the most beautiful hymns. For us kids, well especially me, it was a magical Christmas. We didn't have tons of presents to open but what we did was celebrate what we had. Our family and our friends. These friends who came by all touched our hearts and made me at least feel what Christmas should be about. The spirit of giving and spreading joy and love.

This year has been rough but it will not deter me from my Christmas Baking. We may not have much, but we have each other and some wonderful Christmas recipes. I can't wait to spread some love and joy this season. As it seems we have some pretty special elves helping Santa this year. For this all I can say is that I am humbled and truly blessed to have these elves in our life! I guess I know how my mom felt that year when her
Mother passed away. She had
Some pretty special elves too.

Merry Christmas to all!! Please go out and share some love and joy with the people who touch your life in some way. Make a difference. Make someone smile. That is what Christmas is all about.

Family Time

I remember when I was growing up that TV was something I barely got to see. Maybe Saturday morning cartoons and Sunday evening with The Wonderful World of Disney. Today it seems that watching TV is a huge part each kids world. To be honest, I hate it.

This week the kids have been off from school. The past few years we have been blessed with time at Ft Gaines Georgia with dear friends of ours. It was always kidapoloza! No Tv just playing outside like kids should. This year we couldn't make it up there and I was deeply sad about it. More for the kids not being able to play and have fun with their good friends but also the much needed mommy break I wanted to kick back and enjoy some good old time with my dear friend Sonya and her family.

So this week the TV were unplugged and it was for the most part playing games and playing outside. We did do a movie or two one night this week. But other than that, no TV, no computer etc. at first the kids were pissed. By Thanksgiving they were loving the time together.

I cooked a huge turkey and all the goodies to go with it. It was the 5 of us plus Tim's dad for dinner. It was wonderful. Not only did I pull off cooking a whole Thanksgiving meal ( my mom would be shocked) but the kids enjoyed helping cook and clean. I always got stuck snapping the beans for dinner at my moms house. I think as would be mortified if she knew that I used canned beans. Oh well ... It turned out just great.

 

 

Black Friday was spent playing an epic game of Phase 10 that lasted 4 hours.  Little did we know that Cailin is quite the card shark.  You always have to keep your eyes on the quiet ones (ok she is like never quite, but you get the point).  The kids laughed and giggled themselves into an all our spazz attack.  It was great! 

 

Saturday was even better as we took the dogs to the dog park for a bit to let them have some fun.  Too many other dogs and smells to run and play.  Think the kids had more fun playing with other peoples dogs then ours.  Hershey of course got his trophy tennis ball from the park.  Always makes me laugh that he has to assume ownership of a random tennis ball while at the park.  Once back home it was onto Apples and Apples marathon game.  It was the silliest, craziest game I have ever played.  The kids loved it.  Since it was cold out we fired up the fireplace and got the marshmallows out and it was on from there.  Nice fire going, everyone sticky from the marshmallows....time to play flashlight tag.  A few hours of that and I finally had to call them in before our elderly neighbors got upset as it definitely was past their bed time. 

 



 

The best part of it - was hearing our kids laugh.  They are often so serious with their activities, I think they forget to stop and have fun.  So this week is exactly what each of us needed!  Total crazy fun!! I missed Sonya, Danny, Melissa, Mom & Dad, Amy, Martha, Meeme and Poppa...I missed everyone!!!!!  But this year, this year this is where we needed to be!!!  I love you guys very much!  Lord willing, we will see you next year!

 

 

So to end this post . . . Thanksgiving is being thankful for what you do have.  We don't have much here in our family, but we have each other, a roof over our heads, food to eat, we have our health, we have the Love of God and our friends and family!  So when you look at it that way, we are rich beyond measures!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  



Confessions of an overachiever!

Growing up I didn't get to do anything cool.  While I watched my friends play tennis, soccer, danced etc I just kind of existed.  It wasn't until I was about to start middle school that I finally talked my parents into letting me play an instrument.  I wanted the cello...they wanted something small that I could fit into my ugly baskets of my purple bicycle.  Ugh, the clarinet.  Sigh...so I decided to make the best of it and for my three years of middle school I was the best or almost the best clarinet player in the band.  But I wanted more.  My band buddies all had other things - tennis, soccer, dance, choir...me, just a band geek...

When I had kids I guess I didn't want them to suffer - well I can't really say I suffered, I just wanted more than my parents wanted to take responsibility for.  In any case, I wanted to make sure my kids were doing something.  Since the world had changed and you couldn't wander all over the neighborhood until dark without parent supervision any longer - I wanted to keep them busy.  First came soccer for Ashley when she was 3.  Tommy started soccer when he was 4.  Cailin being a lot like me, and not one to follow a crowd wanted more.  We tried dance...hated it.  Every week while sitting at her sister or brothers soccer practice she would watch the Rec cheerleaders practice.  That was it - she was sold.  So cheer it was. Well, until we realized that rec cheerleading following the same rules as the schools do and if you birthday wasn't this, then you couldn't cheer until next year. So we were introduced into All Star Cheerleading and Cailin hasn't looked back.

Fast forward a few more years and here I am.  I spend my days juggling between soccer practice, cheer, and homework.  Last year it was rough with Tim overseas and I was juggling Ashley's middle school soccer schedule, her travel soccer schedule, Cailin's cheer schedule, and her competition schedule, with Tommy's soccer practices stuck somewhere in between.  I would anxiously wait on the soccer schedules to see if they overlapped the cheer competitions.  This year it is the same...high school soccer season runs for 3 months, compared to one month of middle school soccer.  These girls travel this year all over the neighboring 4 counties with games three nights a week.  Oh did I mention that the games are on the same days that Cailin has her 4 hours of cheer practice?  Me being me, want to be there for them both!

People ask me all the time if I am crazy.  I guess I am.  But I hope that I am giving my kids what I wanted when I was their age - someone cheering for them, a friendly face to look for, a huge hug at the end of a game or competition.  Is it worth it - you bet.  Do I wish I was in Bora Bora sometimes with all the driving here and there and everywhere in between, you better believe it. 

With all the juggling I do I try my best to make sure that I am there for practice and games because it is important to them.  Am I crushed when I can't make it work - incredibly.  But when I am sitting there watching Ashley score the first goal of the game and her first instinct is to look over at me smiling in the stands - well, it makes all the driving, and insanity worth it. 

This weekend was Cailin's first competition of the season.  She has worked so hard to accomplish so many goals - and for being 8 she has a big list of goals.  When our gym didn't have enough girls to make a team for her level, she set out to be the best she can be for her team.  In the process she is helping out one of the older teams so they too can be the best.  For her this is heaven.  Watching her walk onto that stage Saturday with her Mini Team and her huge smile was priceless.  Watching her perform 10 minutes later with her Junior Team was the icing on the cake.  Having both teams win 1st place - priceless!  The hugs after awards were what made the 3 hr drive to Pensacola on no sleep worth every bit.  "Mom, thanks for being here and watching me and cheering for me". 

This is why I do what I do. I am a mom-overachiever and I am proud of it!  If I keep this up Red Bull and Starbucks will never go out of business! :)