Heart of a Champion!!!

Makayla had her first qualifier on Sunday. After all the stress and the disasterous start to the weekend, she did extremely well!! Friday night she was so stressed out and distracted she couldn't even concentrate. She injured herself hitting her feet on the high bar. Ruben thought about pulling her from practice to prevent her from hurtinig herself severly. She was exhausted from the day and was glad once practice and the day werer over. Saturday she spent the afternoon with her friend Kortney for so much needed relaxation. When she got home, her spirits were lifted. We spent about an hour before bed going over her routines video taped from Friday's practice. I gave her some pointers, the same ones I always give her, and a small pep talk. She took it all in and was ready for the competition.

The day started early but she was pumped and ready. She started on her strongest event, the uneven bars!!! Her routine was strong and she stuck the landing!!!! This was a rare occasion for her so she was excited that she stuck it on competition day. Her next event was the balance beam. I was glad she listened to the pointers she had been given. Her rountine was the best we had seen dance wise. Her skills have never been an issue, but as Caoch Marina put it, she's boring to watch, but not this time!!! She sliced her back walkover but it prevented her from falling so it was worth the deduction. Overall it was a great routine!!

Next came floor ex. More dancing!!! She applied the same principles in some parts so it was easier to watch and she had a little trouble sticking her back tucks. Her score popped up and we were appalled a 7.75!!! What happened?? All of the girls on that rotation were getting scores lower than previous rounds. One of our moms came up shortly after and explained to us what had happened. A new judge was judging and wasn't aware she could take partial deductions so she was taking full deductions for everything!! How unfair. Next was vault. Her weakest event. She did etxtremely well!! Some of her best vaults.

When it was time for awards she was worried that she wasn't going to place and she was certainly scared she wouldn't get first on bars like she always had in the past. The first evet they announced was valut. To her surprise she placed 4th!!! She was shoked and excited. On the balace beam she placed 6th. She placed 7th on floor and 1st on bars!!!! In the all around she came in 3rd!!!! She was very pleased with herself as she very well should have been. She had a great qualifier!!!

I spoke to her coaches on Monday and they asked if she was pleased with herself. They were very proud of her especially considering the circumstances prior to the meet. Now that she has this one behind her she can push herself to do even better at the next qualifier.

First Day of School

All the girls, well except Alayna have started school. Makayla and Julie started on August 25th and Isa Started on September 2nd. Makayla said she was scared the first day because everything was so crowded. Now that she is in 7th grade, all of the 7th and 8th graders are all mixed in together. It also didn't help that her schedule was wrong at orientation so she didn't get her schedule until the first day of school unlike the other kids. She didn't get to practice going from class to class. She has off campus PE due to the number of hours she practices gymnastics every week. It has helped her tremendously. She has more time to do the things she needs to do, especially homework and studying.

Julie had fun the first day of school. It was more of a get to know each other for her. She is also a big fish now that she is in 5th grade. Her teacher is a new teacher to Millsap but all of the other teachers had great things to say about him. Her other teachers are Makayla's teachers from 5th grade so it's comfortable for her.

Isa started her first day of pre-school. She is attending SEEDS Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. SEEDS is the Mother's Day Out Program at our church. I was very impressed when I visited in the spring. So far she seems to really enjoy it. Tuesday started off great. I dropped her off and everything was fine since she had been going to day school during the summer. When I picked her up her teacher told me that she learned a lesson that day. When I asked what it was she told me she learned not to hit friends!! I was in complete shock. That is so unlike Isa!!! Apparently her friend had a toy that she wanted so she hit her and pushed her in the stomach. I was completely appalled!!!

Fridays she is enrolled in the dual language program so the entire day is taught in spanish. Her spanish teacher was very nice and the class is held in the nursery so she looks forward to this class. After her first week at school she has really had fun!!

A Little Behind

Ok, so I'm a little behind on my blogging. The girls have been extremely busy since school started so it has kept my schedule a little hectic. Plus, I am on my third book of the Twilight series. Ruben heard about it and thought that I might like it since I used to read so much. He bought me the first book. I started reading it even though from what he told me I knew I wasn't going to like it. I had to give it a try for him. The first few chapters were like any other book, setting the story. Ruben was discouraged I didn't like it, but then I couldn't put it down. Within a week I had finished the first one in the series. Labor Day he took me to Barnes and Noble and bought the next 2 books. I then found the final book on sale at Kroger, of all places!!!!! I finished the second book in 3 days even though it was a little slower than the first. I am now a quarter of the way done with the third. Ruben started reading the first book after me telling him all about it. He was excited he found something that I enjoyed and that I am doing something I really used to enjoy. It has given us something to talk about besides the kids.