Birthday and Anniversary Weekend

Friday Trenton celebrated his 23rd birthday!!!  I just can't believe we have a 23 year old son.  I love to look at old pictures and see how much the boys have changed.  I posted this on Instagram on Friday for him.  Also used a Pinterest idea and sent him some cash in individual balloons in a big box.  The surprise was ruined by the Post Office though...payed for a 2 day priority and it arrived according the them yesterday morning at 4:30 am.  Guess Trenton won't get it until Monday morning at North Central.  Pretty bummed about that!

And yesterday Ben and I celebrated 22 years of marriage.  Gabi had a friend (Brooke) stay over on Friday night and they made us some anniversary cupcakes!

I have to say we have had some twists and turns in this journey but we both would not trade it for the world.  Looking forward to many more anniversaries together.  I made steak and eggs (courtesy of the leftover steak from Ruth's Chris last night) for us this morning and celebrated the fact that Gabi's competition in Ft. Wayne had been cancelled due to weather.  Looks like we are hunkering in today folks.  Weather has been pretty bad here...extremely cold with below 0 temps and plenty of snow - at least a foot by now.  Ben said there were 4 foot drifts at his work yesterday.  Tired of it for sure.

Jamfest Day 2

Another 8:50 am competition time meant early rising again.  Gabi was ready.  She knew that all they had to do was hit all their stunts, tumbling and jumps and they very well could take first place.  The team's performance and skill level was upped at practice the day before at practice and they were going to max out the score sheets. 
The team did GREAT up until the pyramid (last sequence of stunts).  Something happened and they team improvised.  We had some tumbling errors and we knew it would be hard to take over first place.  Ben, Tyler and I watched the other teams in her bracket and as you wouldn't have guessed...everyone had some trouble.  The Maryland Twisters (first place after first day) were the last to perform and they had just one major error.  We kind of guessed our placing would stay the same and it did.  Final standings:
Maryland Twisters All Stars (Fourcast) day 2 score was 91.68 and  final score of 91.06
Ice Eclipse day 2 score was 89.55 and final score of 89.46
Fire and Ice Premier Extreme Elite day 2 score was 89.22 and final score of 89.12

We placed second.  Gabi got a medal.  She wanted the medal and jacket, but she settled.  This time.  Her heart is on fire to win.  I think they will get there.
We took Gabi and Tyler to Steak and Shake for some celebratory shakes.  I just can't tell you how proud I am of this family and the support we bring.  Her dad and brothers are there.  All the time.  And it matters.
I joked on Instagram that it was somewhat a payback for all those wrestling tournaments that Gabi had to go to, but you know what...none of us would have wanted to be anywhere else on those long days.  No where else but with each other.  Cuz that's what we do.

Proud of this girl today and love to see her do what she loves.
Below...awards...waiting for results as a team.

 Gabi and her friend, Cassidy...after learning they got second place.

Jamfest and The Majors!

Gabi cashed in on a pair of tickets to the Majors with me on Friday evening before her Nationals competition on Saturday and Sunday.  We were able to see big named Level 5 teams and what a showing!  Gabi LOVED it.  I can't tell you how many times she hugged me and said, "this is awesome, mom!"  Tyler met us in Indy as well to hang with his dad while Gabi and I enjoyed The Majors at the Convention Center.  Awards were at 10:15 pm so we quickly exited and made our way to the hotel to get some shut eye before getting up at 5 am on Saturday morning.  Eclipse was the first team to compete Saturday morning, scheduled at 8:50 am.  It was a tough one for us with some errors here and there.  Gabi's stunt group actually saved their flyer from a touch down but we got deducted.  Also a big tumbling error brought the score down.

We found out later that we were actually in second place...
Maryland Twisters All Stars (Fourcast) had a score of 90.43
Ice Eclipse had a score of 89.36
Northern Elite All Stars (Fire) had a score of 89.02
Some very close numbers!
Gabi and I did the "Meet and Greet" with the Majors who came to compete on Friday night in another Hall way and I was introduced to "cheerlebrities" as she calls them.  She was way beyond excited to get some photos with them.  It's funny after talking to some other moms...just how much social media plays a part in all this.  None of these "cheerlebrities" would be just that if it wasn't for social media.  But it was fun for so many girls that look up to these athletes. 
We walked to the mall to eat lunch and headed back to the conference center for Ice Eclipse to get a practice in. 
An evening of R & R and some pizza and we were out like lights by 10 pm  for another early morning rise (5am)
Below Gabi actually got to fly this time...twice!  At (0:53) she is on the far left side of screen and at the end (2:06) she is on the far right of the screen in the pyramid and does a waterfall down. 


Gabi also shared that she prayed for the team...their routine before going on includes a circle with one foot in (right)...and one person prays.  They shake each hand and each foot for a count of 8, a count of 4, a count of 2 and then they just shake it all out...the jitters that is.  She loves this time with her team.  So exciting before heading out on stage.  Here is a pic one of the coaches got.  So glad I got a copy of this moment....

This Is War

Eclipse ready for Jamfest this weekend in Indianapolis.  Stay tuned.  The last time a Senior Level 4 team from Mishawaka brought home a banner (first place) was in 2007.  These girls are determined...and they are ready for war!!!  The link above may even have video coverage of this weekend. 

Brothers

Took these pics before Trenton took off back to school the Friday after Christmas.  Was sure nice to see the boys together...hunting, watching football and basketball, and just enjoying each other's company. 

He made it back just in time before the big snow storm that brought us about a foot of snow last week.  Speaking of snow...this little pup LOVES the snow!  He loves to run in really fast with little snow balls attached to his fur and jump up with anyone who has a blanket handy.  He is truly "something else" as Ben likes to say.