Cheer Nationals 2012

I've been to about a dozen competitions since William started competitive cheerleading, however, NCA Nationals in Dallas - wow... over 600 teams over 66,000 people 5 stages, it is overwhelming but, exhilarating at the same time!

This is a competition where the best of the best from all over the United States come to compete.  As a parent you make many friends and sometimes just as many enemies... Front row seats are a premium and to secure a seat you either have to arrive early in the morning or slowly move up as people leave and to do this you need to make friends fast!!!  The best we got was 2nd row center stage, however, I made friends with the ladies just in front of us and when it was our teams turn they were willing to swap seats so my husband and I could see it all.  On the second day they made it to the front again and again they swapped with us when it was our turn to perform - Love me some ACX Cheer Parents :)

We learned a completely new routine in less than 3 weeks since the last time we competed... this is a fantastic routine and I'm not just saying that since William takes center stage for about 30% of it...  The entire team executed almost flawlessly over the two days we had less than 1 point in deductions.  Varsity.com shows about 2 minutes of each teams 2 1/2 minute performance - you can view by clicking this link http://videos.varsity.com//competitions/NCANDA/2012%20nca%20nda%20allstar.aspx#ooid=lvbWlsMzoN4DeMtukC5NbS2T6rfEn1AY

We did find some time to have fun, just outside the convention center is an art installation of a stampede of longhorns - at any given time you would see at least 50 cheerleaders climbing up for photo ops... not to be left out William did too.

This time no pictures during the event and I didn't video either - I wanted to take it all in and I bought a copy of the professional video which I should receive in 4-6 weeks!!!  But as they gathered on stage for awards I did pop out my cell phone and captured William and his team on stage.

Pink Panties and my Mom

This story falls into the category "joys of your mom living with you"

I'm kinda boring in most senses that my typical under garments of choice are beige, white or black and are of the cotton variety.  However, I do from time to time wear more colorful and sometimes less material non cotton type under garments.

This past Saturday my husband and I planned a night out - it was the local PNO (Parent's Night Out) at ASI which gave us 4 hours of quality time together.  It was also the weekend before Valentines - not that we really ever celebrate valentines officially since we got married 18 years ago...  note we are both believers that valentines is a holiday more designed for singles to celebrate.

Our date didn't include much dressing up - I was still in jeans and a sweater, but it was date night and I decided to wear my hot pink thong panties and matching bra.  I will leave what happened later to your imagination.

Monday our normal routine - Gil and I went to work, William to school and mom stayed home with the pets... sometime during the day mom decides to do laundry and goes upstairs into my master bath to grab the towels to wash, however, as she is walking out of the bathroom she noticed laying on the floor next to the bed my pink panties...

Later that evening while I'm prepping for dinner, my mother walks in and proceeds to tell me that she did laundry and she washed my pink panties.  I was mortified, but I just kept chopping those onions, never looking up.  Roll the clock ahead 45 minutes, we are all sitting down at the dinner table when my mother tells everyone that my darling daughter always seems to be yelling for everyone to put their clothes in the laundry hamper, and goes into this story how she finds some of my clothes laying on the floor next to the bed.  I hold my breath fearing what words are going to come out in her next sentence - she casually looks over at my husband and asks "so what did you think of my daughters hot pink panties?"

SILENCE....

She then mumbled guess we know what you were doing last night...

Joys of having your mother live with you.

~G

Baby Wills Adventures

We were in Houston this past weekend for NCA Cheer Nationals - sadly even though our team performed well both days and had zero deductions, we came in 3rd place.  The notes provided from the judges complimented the team for execution, but stated the reason we lost, was due to the skill level performed. We need bigger and better stunts.  For the next three weeks we will be practicing 5 days per week to learn a new routine in time for the next Nationals event in March.


What parent has not used bribery to get their child to do something?  Ok, I'm sure someone out there has all the tricks and bribery isn't one of them... We, on the other hand, from time to time use bribery!  William was not feeling 100% on the first day of competition, we talked about accountability, responsibility and commitment - we explained that he was given this awesome opportunity to be a member of an elite team of kids and travel to different places to perform.  In the end we promised if he gave 110% even while not feeling 100% we would let him pick out anything he wanted from the vendor tables.

William knocked it out of the park and his gift a small giraffe stuffed animal which he promptly named "Baby Will"  Baby Will was now required to go everywhere we went and when we didn't win or at least get 2nd place, Baby Will helped to comfort us while we were down.

Monday, William smuggled Baby Will into the car, just before he was to get out, I noticed Baby Will and reminded him that he isn't permitted to take toys to school.  Tears welled up and he then asked if I could take him to work and  let him see what it is I do all day?   I replied "sure". 

When I arrived to work and was about to get out, I looked over and saw Baby Will on the seat - my first thought was to just leave him in the car, but I couldn't get William's sad face out of my head and I grabbed Baby Will and headed into the office - it was then my bright idea to stage pictures of him doing various things around the office.  I was caught three different times by co-workers and resigned to say that it was a school project I was helping with! I do believe a couple of those that caught me thought I was loco.

Pictures of Baby Will's adventure (first two are in Houston)

Not so happy with the losing :(

Poppy and Baby Will enjoying the Competition

Will arrives to Nina's work in style

Baby Will studying for the CCNA Exam

Taking Calls

Answering emails

Coffee Break

Afternoon Break

Testing in the lab (love these Video phones!)

That was "EASY"

Washing my hands