Famous

Sort of! Cassi was on the front page of the Recreation section of the newspaper today! She is very proud of her 'toe-touch' the photographer captured. Once it's up on the newspaper's website I will update this post so you can read the article. It was well written and nice to read.

I must say cheerleading is so important to my girl. Actually to my girls. Cali loves it too! Cassi is involved in many, many things but cheerleading continues to be her true love!

And speaking of Greatness

I told you I was having a moment. :)

Cali is doing awesome with her little mini team. She is a leader to be sure. She is confident and man is she ever cute out there. It's hard to tell you where she is all the time but she is a base and at the end she will be sitting in the front on your left.

Since we are talking about Talented

Remember I mentioned I didn't really want to be boastful. Well, sometimes it just happens.

Cassi and Cali had a cheer competition this past weekend. And they were awesome! :)

Here is Cassi's individual.

You will see in her tumbling, she didn't do everything she'd wanted to but she did pull it off in her team competition so it's all good. Her next individual will be in February and I am certain she will nail it!

Now watch and see just how great she is! :)

Twin Cheerleaders

They are liking this 'twin' thing!

It was a busy Birth-Day

Cassi woke up early; I felt her stirring. She slept with me last night.  I did my best to talk her into going back to sleep.  I don't think it worked.  It seemed like only a minute later and she was saying to me, "Come on mom, get up, it's my birthday!"

Of course the Birthday Fairy made a midnight visit.  And she brought great gifts. Like earphones for all the girls and a soccer blanket for Cassi. And really cool mini travel pillows that are really, really soft.

Cassi also got her very own camera. She's been taking an after school photography class.  She shows a real eye for great photos. I think she is quite excited to have her own camera to take back to school when she returns from spring break. And of course, it's pink.

We had a rather low key day and stuck fairly close to home for most of it. It was a gorgeous day so the girls played outside a little bit, then Amber came by and we went to see the movie,  Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  It was super cute and I think the girls enjoyed it.

After the movie we had a little ice cream cake. It's been a strange birthday week for Cassi because we actually celebrated last week while her Dad was still home by going to Extreme Tubing. (It was a last minute decision and was only supposed to be a small family affair.  It turned into a bit more but not the friend party she had thought she'd have this weekend.

Long story short, all plans have changed and instead of having a party she has decided to go one more time to Extreme Tubing with a different friend on Sunday. Phew. While we usually have a rather big get together for birthdays, Cassi will instead have 3 different days to remember for year number 11.

I was wondering if she will ever remember this day. I remember my 11th year because I moved to Georgia that year. I don't recall my birthday however, in fact I remember very few of them. Maybe because we will have this blogging journal, she'll have a better chance.

Here she is, at the exact moment she turned 11. She was born at 10:16pm.  This is a big deal to her so I am glad she made it to the minute tonight.  She enjoyed the moment. She even sang to herself, "For she's a jolly good fellow..."  It made me giggle because really, she is!

Retail Heaven

Well technically, not really retail but close enough. Recently our Daddy went to Virginia and when he returned Aunt Vicki sent him with a suitcase full of Mandy's hand me downs. Heaven! There was even some fluffy heaven for the tiniest girl!

There were so many things to choose from that my girls were almost overwhelmed. I said 'almost'!

Truthfully, they were lounging amongst the choices and reveling in what they would wear for the rest of the week and the weeks after that!

Aunt Vicki knows the way to a girls <3 - she shot a love coated arrow straight to ours!

Cheer-a-licious

That's what Cassi calls herself. It makes me laugh every time I hear it.

I am playing catch-up here by posting this but I have the truest intentions of blurb-ing my blog by year starting someday soon, so I want to post a few things before I get back to our current events.

About 2 weeks ago, we headed out for a road trip to Anchorage. I guess it's not technically what one would envision for a road trip but when we head up north, we always make a party weekend out of it so it's what we call it.

Scott was out of town which always tears my girls up. They hate when he misses a special event. That in turn breaks my heart so I bare the weight (which I admittedly put on myself) of making it extra special.

We were very fortunate to be able to stay at the Norwood abode for which I am always grateful. Not only does is save us from having to stay at a hotel but more importantly, ALL of us never fail to arrive and depart their home feeling most loved! This visit was no exception.

It was horrid traveling- only due to the fact that I hit awful weather through the mountains and my wipers quit working!!! Talk about stress. Regardless, Holly and Rocky met me at the door with a Hornesby's. My favorite. I'm not a big drinker, but after that drive, whew, it was heavenly.

Even though we were spending the weekend there, the main event was only Saturday. We woke up very apprehensive. Well two of us. Cassi has been struggling a bit with owning her round-off, back-handspring, back-tuck. It has been essentially owning her. She is very nervous and can't being herself to throw it with out a spot. At this competition she really had to throw it and nothing less to even be slightly in the running. There were more tears in past weeks over this than I care to remember. She can do it, but talks herself out it. Than it takes days to get going again, it works for a couple days then we start the nervous-to-throw-it pattern all over again.

When we arrived at the competition Cassi was a mess. I was nervous for her, about finding parking, you name it. I had Cori walk her in while Cali and I parked. Cassi was in tears when she left me; I was very worried. Cali however promptly advised me she was very sure of herself and I needn't worry about her! I think she'd over heard too many conversations of "You can do it! Be confident!"

When we got inside Cassi was surrounded by her team and again she was in tears. Everyone wanted to pass on some inspiration and confidence. I could see she was struggling and she told me she wasn't going to throw her tuck. She wasn't even sure she was going to do her routine. I'm not sure whose advice finally pulled her through- mine was to tell everyone she had it. She was good to go, then make the decision as to what she wanted to do when she was backstage. Thereby not answering to anyone. Her coach finally explained to her she had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Jen tells me Cassi's eyes lit up and she agreed. This made sense to her! So-if you have a literal child who often makes things more difficult than necessary, remember this simple piece of advice, it may save you some tears and struggle. :)

Super-awesome confidence-building coaches
Don't they just exude spirit and fun

So after this super long story, what I am trying to convey is how much I love my girls and their sorrows and struggles are very much my own. My heart feels their pains and heartaches in the depths of my soul.

When it came time for Cassi to compete individually I held my breathe, literally. And SHE THREW IT!! I actually turned to my friend Michelle and had to ask if she had really done it. I think I was looking through squinted eyes and wasn't positive. But she did! And it wasn't perfect, but she had nothing to lose. For the simple fact shes overcome her fear, IT WAS PERFECT!

Both her and Cali's team routines went off without a hitch and Cassi's team performed so tight that we were all in awe! They too have struggled a lot this season. To see them perform so well, let's just suffice it to say we were certain wed nailed first place. Finally! It was a long time coming. There is only one gym in our town and it is a small group that participates. We always lose to the big gym in Anchorage.

Cali with the mini team trophy

It was a River City sweep

Not so this time my friends! Both of the girls' teams won 1st place! And the crowd went wild! Not really, but we did! And the girls did! Oh, and Cassi took 7th place. By her reaction, you'd have thought it was 1st- it was just as good for us!

Confident (finally) and proud

After we competed, we had some down time so we walked to the nearby mall. It was a beautiful day and the walk was nice. The mall was great fun. We found a dress for Cassi to wear on her birthday; a tradition that is her own. It is sparkly and wonderful! Grandma had sent Valentine spending money knowing we were headed to Anchorage. Cali used hers to finally buy the coveted zhu-zhu pet. Who hoo!

Woot-Woot, its a zhu-zhu

Walking to the mall

Relaxing with friends

Silliness; much needed

Still in cheer mode

Cheer friends

Cori mostly tagged along but was proud for her sisters. She was a dutiful big sister that day. She was the brick when Cassi needed her to be, the super fan for Cali when she was so excited she could barely contain herself. She was helpful to her momma when there were too many directions to turn. She pulled through in a time of teenage angst when pulling through isn't always the easiest thing to do.

The drive home was fairly uneventful. The weather, although not perfect was bearable with no wipers and we made it home safely to put the truck in the shop-getting it ready for the next road trip.

This is a wonderful picture at an awful angle! uggg!

I wish I could still do this

I probably still could but there might be complications and I certainly wouldn't look near as cute doing it!

My Cheer PRINCESSES

Cali had her first cheer competition this past weekend. Cassi also competed individually.

It was a family affair as always. We stayed with Holly and Barry. (Rocky and Wren were out of town) Holly was so sweet to take care of us the hectic morning of the competition. It was actually amazingly calm as compared to past competition mornings. So Holly, thank you. You know we love you sooo much!
Holly made everyone breakfast while the rest of us worked diligently on making competition necklaces. I'm not really sure that is what they are called but what ever we should call them, we couldn't have gone without them. Cali has been looking forward to them for a LONG time.


We worked on hair together too. Anastasia (I wish I had a picture for you- she is Barry's girlfriend) came to help with Cali and Cassi's hair. In case you didn't know, I am hair challenged but, I can wield a mean blow dryer though! :)



We even had time for a little pre-show improvisation.

These competitions are old-hat for Cassi but for Cali and the other little girls, it was a long day.


Still, you can tell, some of these girls will be cheering for a long time! :) They were in awe of some of the big kids! Truth be known, I am always in awe too.

Cassi and Cali's floor times were spread out a bit so in the middle we took a break to go get lunch. Food and treats make everyone feel better, right? Ice cream works wonders I tell you!



I took so many pictures of Cassi and Cali that I am afraid the blog may overload, so I'll give you only a couple more! ;)




It doesn't appear that we got video of Cali's group. If it turns out we did, I will post it but for now, only Cassi. Here she is...She's a ROCK STAR!