First Gymnastics Meet of 2009

Taylor had her first meet for 2009 today! It was in Hanover, PA. It is about an hour and 20 minutes from home. We had to be there by 7:30 a.m. We arrived at 7:00, there was no traffic. I guess everyone was staying indoors due to the cold. This morning's temp is a record, it was the coldest the kids had ever felt. It was 0 degrees! Brrr! Thank heaven's Taylor has picked an indoor sport. :-) Back to the meet, she was in the 10 and under age group. She had 24 girls in her age group. She started out on Balance Beam. She had a few wobbles but managed to stay on. On the skill's part of her routine, she looked really good. She recieved a 9.125, earning a 7th place medal. Floors she came out of some of her skills with extra steps which are .1 deduction for each little extra step. She received a 8.5, earning a 12th place medal. On Vault, she had to go first and she has a hard time rembering straight arms and 'popping off". She got a 8.25 for her score. On to Bars, last year Taylor really struggled with bars and she has been telling us this would be her best event this year. yea, yea,...... I thought. This past couple of weeks, she has been falling off on her 'squat on' costing her .5 deduction. It is where she gets(squats) on the lower bar getting ready to jump to the high bar. In warm-up she kept falling and I was thinking she was going to do it on her judged turn. She didnt. It was the best bar routine, I have ever seen her do. Even her coaches were surprised. In practice when her coaches "score her", she gets in the mid 8's. Today she got a 9.05. If you could have seen her face when she saw her score. She was really excited. It was really cute. Duane was trying to get her to look at us so we could get it on film but she never did. Bummer! She earned a 5th place medal in bars. For All-Around, she got a 34.925 which was 10th place medal. So, she got a total of 4 more medals to add to her growing collection. Her team earned 1st place. She needed a 32.00 All- Around score to qualify for Sectionals in April. She did it. YEA! She felt really good about her meet. The next two months are the main competition season. She has a meet in two weeks and thereafter for four weekends in a row. Taking us all over Pa, and even to Colombus, Ohio.

Exercising.....yuck! :-)

Did I ever mention I hate exercising? When does it get easier? I wish I could see results in the first few days so that I can keep motivated! I hate feeling weak and sore AND out of breath! I guess you can tell I just got done exercising. For Christmas, I received a epilitical machine. I had always wanted one, thinking it would be a fun way to get in shape. I didnt realize how much work it is. :-) I know in a few MONTHS or YEARS, I will be greatful but right now, I struggle. I love the show Biggest Loser, it gets me motivated for about 24 hours then by Thursday, I am rebounding. I need that show on every day! Hint, hint ABC! It is amazing how good they look in 12 weeks. If I had Jillian or Bob in my face all the time, I would expect to look good in 12 weeks. Okay, I am now not so short of breath and feeling better. I know in a couple of hours I will be glad I exercised. I really do feel better afterwards and have more energy through out the day but it is the getting started part....... :-) My goal is like my niece Trichelle, to get firm. I would like to be lighter on the scales but my main goal is to look better in my clothes. I am trying not to focus on numbers, it can be discouraging. Positive Attitude, I need!!! I can do this! Have a great day and thanks for letting blow of my steam.

Taylor's first sewing project

Taylor wanted a sewing maching for Christmas. Grandma and Grandpa bought her a cheap version per my input. It turned out to be piece of junk. Oops! :-) I then got Grandma Lowe's machine out. I had never used it since recieving it in 2003. We plugged it in and the machine went to work but there was no way to make it stop unless you unplugged it. We played around with it but to no use it has a mind of its own. I went online and ordered Taylor another machine that a friend has gotten for her daughter. It came today while Taylor was at school. When she got home, we set to putting in use. She wanted to make a bag for her I-pod. Here is her first project. Cameron was so impressed, he wanted to watch her make something so she made a bag to hold all of her sewing supplies. She was so proud of her work, she changed her mind and now made it her grip bag for gymnastics. She wears grips on her hands when doing the uneven bars and keeps them in a bag when not in use. While I am putting these pictures on this post. Taylor went through Grandma's drawer and found a lot of things that she wants to put to use i.e. lace, trim, string etc......






I thought I downloaded these pictures in order. I guess not. This picture shows Taylor putting the rope in her almost finished bag.


This is her with her first finished project.

Taylor happy to be finally sewing!

Cameron watching her.

Kids and Gramps!

Gramps and Cameron

Cameron, Gramps and Taylor

We had planned to take Grandpa and the kids to get their pictures taken at Picture People so that we would have some nice photos of the kids and grandpa. Due to my dad needing to go back to Utah early, we had to improvise. We have had lots of fun having granpa here with us this Christmas season. We were hoping to have him a bit longer and had some other things planned guess they will have to wait till next time. I forgot to take my camera with us on some of our excursions. Again, next time! :-)

League Champions!

Cameron played on his first indoor U-8 coed soccer team. His team was undefeated. They scored 76 goals and had 5 goals scored against them in 11 games. They had a blast and plan to do it again for the spring session except they are moving into an all boys league. He loves to play up front on offense and goalie. I am not sure on the techincal names for positions on soccer. I am still learning the rules of the game. It is a lot of fun to watch them play indoor soccer, the kids really learned how to use the walls to help pass the ball. I am looking forward to the next session.

robot cow barn

My dad is here visiting from Utah, bet you cant guess where we took him? To a Robot Milking Farm! Duane's uncle has the only milking farm here in Lancaster County that uses robots to milk the cows. It is really is quite impressive to watch. Duane had not been their yet so we took him and some of the kids friends. My dad had seen it last time he was here but it was fun to go see again. It is all run by computers and robots. The picture with my dad and Cameron is what the robot acutally looks like.

Tagged.....

Thanks Dawn! I am supposed to write 6 unspectacular quirks and then tag 6 others. I am having a hard time coming up with six, I guess if my family was here, they would probably have more than 6. :-) Here goes....

1. I hate being late................ yes, this is quirk but I think it is a good one. I dont like rushing around and showing up late. It stresses me out and gets me all worked up. I have passed this dear trait onto my children as well. You should hear them in the mornings as they are getting ready for school. :-)

2. Spotless House before vacations........ I have to clean my house and make sure everything is in perfect order before we can go on vacation. I will stay up till 1,2, or 3 in the morning if I have to making sure it is the way I want to find it when I coome home. I never understood why my mom would do this when we were growing up, now I understand. Thanks Mom! I love to comehome to a clean house!

3. Finishing a book...... When I start reading a book, I will read until I finish. I could stay up all night reading just so I can finish it. I can block out just about every distraction while reading.

4. Toys in right spot....... When we clean the kids toys, all the pieces have to go with the right thing. For example, all polly pocket shoes in one bag, all shirts in another, pants in another and so one. I like to know if any piece is missing so that I can look for it. When Taylor was little I let her take the farmer from her Little People set with us somewhere. She lost it. I was unable to buy another farmer without buying the whole thing, so I never let toys leave my house unless it was a McDonald's toy that I didnt care if it got lost. Duane always comments that I am to anal about this. :-)

5. Clothes on hangers.... Growing up, I did not have a closet. I had one in my room but my parents used it. They did not have a closet in their room. I always wanted to hang my clothes up. No room, so I had to have my clothes in drawers. I really disliked that. Well, this house has closets and most of our clothes are on hangers except under garments. I love it! Out of the dryer onto a hanger and almost never any ironing!

6. Cant carry a tune..... I love to sing but not very good. Taylor was telling me just last evening that I shouldnt sing because I dont do very well. She said since we are in the same family, we should be able to be honest with each other and it shouldnt hurt the others feelings. I was crushed but didnt let her know. I guess I will leave my singing to the shower or in the car by myself.

I guess it easier than I thought. I am sure I have many more quirks but will save them for another time. Now, I am to tag six people. A couple of mine will be the same as Dawn due to my blog list being very short at this time. I choose Trichelle, Erin, Natalie, Natalie, Cindee, Stacey. Have fun!