1st order of business - A taekwondo tournament in Brainerd. Ace was supposed to go with us but came home from school sick AND Ian choose to stay at a friends the weekend vs driving all over western Minnesota to watch the kids compete. So, it was just Tracy and Billy's road trip adventure. We got up to the hotel in time for a yummy Pizza Ranch dinner and then swimming in the mini water park with Lanie and Ashley. The kids had a great time and conked out at 9pm - Yes!!
Saturday Billy competed in Demo, weapons (bow staff), pomsea and sparring. They did great! Their demo was their best this year and he took home 2 silvers (weapons and sparring) and a bronze in pomsea. We aren't quite sure what happened in pomsea as he looked great but then again, what do I know... With his sparring he competed against the kid he won in state an it was another tough match. Tied at 10-10 and sudden death. This time, the other kid got the 1st kick/point and Billy took 2nd. It was fun to watch (see below for all the videos)
We then high tailed it out of Brainerd and started driving south by southwest on HWY 23 to Sioux Falls. At just about the same time, Tom was leaving with Jimmy and Kay. Destination = Sioux Falls for the Region 4 Gymnastics competition. There were 7 states represented (Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa). Kay was nervous, this was her 1st away meet and I'm pretty sure she packed her entire room for the trip. They got there in time to swim and we all met up at dinner ~8pm. We had dinner with her coach (Samir) and her friend Lindsay (level 8 14 yr old) and her Dad. It was nice that Kay had a friend along and that seemed to help her nerves.
Sunday morning, but EARLY (6am) to get ready (hair, etc). She was too nervous to eat much and was trying to pick a fight but ... thats nerves. Once we got to the competition she went into "mode". She was focused, determined and (I hope) having fun. She did amazing! Best all around score of the year (35.42 - best by .55). She got a 9.05 on floor (stepped on the white line a few times, needs to work on that) a 8.225 on vault a 8.8 on bars (her warms ups were perfect, her feet didnt hit - but then they lightly hit in the routine - bummer) and the most amazing beam routine with a 9.35. She placed 3rd on beam and 11th overall. REALLY impressive and she is thrilled with herself! She said she wasn't as nervous this time because it was the last meet of the year and wasn't a qualifier for anything. Plus, she realizes she loves away meets and is really excited to go to level 9. She's already planning the skills she's going to learn in level 9. She was all smiles and chatting and happiness after the meet. She stayed the rest of the day to watch Lindsay and really seemed to enjoy herself.
That night she and Billy swam and she was too tired to go out so we headed for dinner with the boys and brought her back fries, spring rolls and soup. Grease was on TV and we had a great time cuddling and watching movies in the hotel room.
Monday we let everyone sleep and then headed back to MN in a sleet/rain storm. AND, by the time we got home and everyone to their practices (yes they had football, gymnastics and tkd practice) it had started snowing. It looks like Christmas but I'm sure it'll all melt by tonight. (Its supposed to by 55 degrees by 5pm tonight).
So proud of our kids. They love their sports, work hard, are coachable and compete with all their best. So fun to know they are doing what they love and working hard at it.
Love you Jimmy Kay and Billy!
See below for photos and videos - Ian had a great weekend too, he went to Como Zoo and the MN History Museum and really seemed to have fun sleeping over at his friends. We got to see all his photos and .... all is good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klktIo5ku4o Kay winning 3rd on Beam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5jJv7R6eJ4 Billy one of many sparring videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dveV-pB5tAk Kay Beam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvQdsCTR5xY Kay Bars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKSH9JDgQv4 Kay Vault
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH6DsMwMD6I Kay Floor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-1drN-ZI2Q More Billy Sparring
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh2HZjANXsg And more Sparring
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gXFqpYhfX8 Again Sparring
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5jJv7R6eJ4 Last Sparring video
Brainerd or Bust
One of the crazy demo teams
2nd in weapons
A fruitful day!
Sioux Falls or Bust
After worrying his tooth for 4 full hours, it came out - shocking
Headed into S Dakota from western MN
And, in the other car ....
passed out....
Headed to Sioux Falls
She wouldn't let us take her photo so we had to sneak one
warm ups
more warm ups
are we warm already?
NW Gymnastics!
3rd place!!
11th overall!
Kay and Lindsay!!
Too cute!
Team MN rocks!
Fruitful weekend
Grease! Proud to say I still know all the words to all the songs
My favorite sparring team - love these kids
April in MN
