Our Little Junior Olympian!

So I'm not sure if cup stacking is popular everywhere, but our district does it and Chase absolutely loves it.  He really got into it last year and Coach Blake (who Chase is pretty close to) gave him a set of cups, a mat, and a timer.  Then he got more cups from Santa for Christmas in orange, his favorite color.  They do a district competition, but apparently we missed that memo last year so he didn't compete.  However, this year he was all about it.

Coach Hooten and Johnson have been working with the kids that would be competing which is just icing to the cake for Chase, because if he could go to PE every day of the week, he would.  I have been super impressed with out hard he's worked and how into the cup stacking he has really become.  Apparently this is a major sport and highly competitive, who knew?! 

Wednesday night the district wide tournament finally arrived and Chase was so ready.  He competed in three different forms? Stacks?  Not really sure what they are called.  He was a little nervous, but we got lucky and he got Coach Hooten as his official timer and I think that helped.

Due to computer issues, we didn't get official ranks until yesterday afternoon, but can I just say he rocked it!  Out of all the 7 year old boys to compete in the district he got 2nd in 3-3-3, 8th in 3-6-3, and 5th in the full cycle.  Wowsers!!!!  We are so, so proud of him!

However, there's more!  This morning Coach came to my class to tell me that he had been invited to AAU Junior Olympic Games Sport Stacking Championships in July that will be held in Michigan!  How do we say no to that???  So, guess where we are going this summer with our little Junior Olympian??!?!!  Words do not even come close to saying how proud we are, I knew this little boy was destined for great things!

Here's a shot of the 3-3-3, check out that time! (He is all about Coach's orange shoes!)

 

Practicing during warm-up, total concentration.

Of course the princess wants to be just like big brother!  He's training her young!

How lucky I am to be his Mommy!

****I am grateful for
1) wonderful opportunities
2) competition, keeps us on our toes
3) great coaches, all of them
4) summer trips
5) proud moments

Our school rocks!

I love teaching and I love that my child is at my school.  However, last year was rough.  VERY rough.  To the point I had told Jeff that if I had to do another year like that, I would leave the profession.  I dreaded going to work, Chase dreaded going to school.  It was just awful.  Then, things were changed.  I didn't ask for it and was not the happiest at first, but sometimes we just have to go with it.  And I am so very thankful we did.  This year has been so much better.  I love my school, I'm back in first, my principal is awesome and most importantly, Chase is happy.  His teacher is wonderful.  He has made new friends.  He is rocking the grades.  One day I will learn that I can't be in control of everything and that things happen for a reason. ;o)

Every six weeks we have an academic pep rally and this six weeks was themed Western.  Jeff even got to come up.  Chase absolutely loves these, so do all the other kids.  I think it's great the school
does them.  They are a lot of work and our specials' teachers go all out.  My two favorite guys!

We also had Nacho's and Numbers recently, which is family math night.  Emery is so ready to go to school and was over the moon happy to be at her Bubba's school doing "work" with him.  I love these kids!

****I am grateful for
1) changes, even the ones I didn't ask for
2) a wonderful school year
3) a job I enjoy
4) the 100th day of school (it was last week, this year has flown)
5) smiling at my job again

****I am grateful for
1) my two miracles
2) everything we went through to get them, I'd do every single thing all over again
3) love
4) smiles
5) the chance to be their Mommy

Emery's Surgery

Emery had her surgery to close the hole in her ear a week ago this past Friday.  I have to say, I was a nervous Momma but it went really, really well.  The hardest part was when she woke up she was immediately ready to go and they wouldn't let us leave until she ate some slushie or drank some water.  That made her mad, really, really mad.  Overall she has had minimal pain and what she has had is from where they took the graft off the back of her ear to cover the hole.  I am so very thankful that so far everything has gone smoothly.  She is a little trooper for sure!

We go back for her first official recheck on Friday, here's praying for some good news!

****I am grateful for
1) all our prayer warriers
2) a successful surgery
3) God watching over her surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologist
4) little pain and meds for when she did have it
5) answered prayers

Our Pageant Princess

So we haven't done a pageant since last July because we were busy and then her December pageant was cancelled and well, life just happens.  So, we jumped back in a few weekends ago and Emery loved it just as much as ever.  She absolutely loves dressing up and playing with all the other little girls and I'm so thankful that the pageant world isn't like what you see on Toddlers.and.Tiaras.  Don't get me wrong, I've seen some crazy things, but that show is so not realistic.  Although you could tell we'd been off the stage for 6 months, I still think Emery did pretty good.  She came home with 7 crowns and 2 satin sashes.  I can't even remember what all she got, but I know she got Christmas Star (this was the pageant that was supposed to be in December so it was still Christmas themed), Overall Natural Photogenic, most beautiful, best eyes,  top model, natural beauty and a ton of other stuff.  I think she rocked it.  Now, that being said, I think our pageant days are drawing to a close.  While she loves them, they get expensive and can be a little frustrating.  Plus, I think we are going to move to a different dance studio this summer and put her on a competition dance team.  I'm SUPER excited about the possibility!  Here are some pics from the pageant (sorry, they are out of order but I figure I'm doing good just to get them on here)!

2012 Christmas Star

Ready for Beauty

Singing for talent: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Getting Ready

Disclaimer: I did not give her this, it was with her goody bag, she hardly ate any but it cracked me up since pageants and pixie sticks are hand in hand thanks to TandT

Working it

Holiday Wear

Natural Beauty

****I am grateful for
1) my princess, I'd do everything all over again to get her
2) dressing up
3) meeting new friends
4) sparkly crowns
5) fun weekends

More Disney World Pictures

I could go on and on about how much fun we had at Disney World and all the wonderful memories we made.  But I think the pictures tell it so well.  Chase did the Jedi Training Academy this time, which was a first.  I'm pretty sure it was one of his top 5 favorite things.  So awesome!  He'll be doing it again for sure and as soon as Emery is old enough, she'll be doing it too!!!

****I am grateful for
1) wonderful, amazing memories
2) new experiences
3) weekends
4) Yoda, my lap dog
5) recliners

Friday Night Leftovers

~ I really can't believe that January is almost over. I can't believe it's been over a month since we were at Disney.  I can't believe that the school year is over half way over.  Apparently I have a lot of disbelief going on!
~ The boys went camping this weekend, my mom is out of town, and Emery and I are on our own.  I had these visions of coming home today, putting her to bed (and her actually going right to sleep), and then sitting downstairs and catching up on my 7 episodes of Grey's Anatomy with no interruptions.  Let's just say that didn't happen!
~ These was a rough week at work.  It was just busy and crazy and the kids were wild.  Big ol' moon tonight, explains a lot.
~ Emery is having surgery next Friday.  I don't think I've mentioned that.  This last round of ear infections did a doozy on her and her right tube came out in November.  Due to the trauma, the hole has not closed on it's own and at this point will not.  As long as there is a hole in her eardrum we risk water getting in it, which could cause an infection, which could then cause permanent hearing loss.  That scared the crap out of me.  So, they are going to go in next Friday and take a "fat patch" from the back of her little, bitty ear and use it to cover the hole.  Then hopefully the eardrum skin (not clue what you really call it) will take over and close properly.  She'll have two little stitches in her ear and should be pain free, except for maybe that part.  It's supposed to be a routine, simple, fast surgery, but I still feel sick to my stomach when I think about it.  Any prayers are GREATLY appreciated (for a smooth surgery, no pain, and healing).
~ We have three birthdays this weekend, two parties (one is a set of twins).  Busy.
~ Of course, that's after Emery's pageant tomorrow.  We haven't done a pageant since July.  Hope she does OK.
~ My Tahoe had the engine light come back on, this was after having it in the shop in December.  Fortunately, the Auto.Zone manager told Jeff something to try after running a diagnostics on it and sure enough, a day later it went off.  I'm praying this means it's OK.  As much as I would LOVE a new Tahoe, I would NOT love the payments! Ours is going on 12 years old with 185,000 miles, but it's been awesome.  Praying to get lots of more miles out of it.
~ Hope everyone has a super fantastic weekend!

****I am grateful for
1) weekends
2) camping trips for the boys
3) wonderful weather
4) new pillows
5) skilled surgeons and all those that help them