#5 Aces tournament (CHAMPIONS!!!)

Saturday and Sunday was the Slugfest NIT Great 8 tournament in Nevada.  Since Cora was 'free' all day Saturday, and we had a 'drive' --- we all rode together Saturday morning.  Early morning for us!!  The boys played 3 solid/fairly easy games on Saturday -- all three the big W.  Exciting!! We spent the whole day there...  'tailgating' and being with our baseball family.  I tell you what - that's what it is.  Parents are taking care of other kids, littles are running around like they are brother/sister, paying for random things for other kids.  It's just what we do, and we do it well.  Or at least I think so.  It's a great group of families, and I feel very lucky. 

Home around 7:30 Saturday night...  then Tate was in town for baseball, so we quickly went to their hotel to see them for about 45 minutes.  Fun to see them - and Tate was SOO excited to see Kayson and have his teammates meet K.  So sweet. 

Moving on to Sunday...  First game was at noon, so Ryan and K headed back to Nevada.  Sis and I stuck back and got a few things done here, and she had dance practice.  After practice, we headed back up to Nevada to see the last game - the championship game!  And it was a WIN!!  The Aces won all 5 games this weekend and went out with a bang!!  It was SOOOO much fun, and so amazing seeing those boys win and see those genuine smiles!!!  So proud of them and K!!!

2021 Showbiz Dance Competition

Last competition of the year --- Showbiz.  And this one was dedicated to our senior group (kind of a make up type competition for them).  So Cora was only in the production for this competition.  

It was quick!!

Results - HSM production - 3rd place overall

CESOD Try Outs & Team Building

Can't believe this is happening already --- but Saturday morning, Cora had 'try outs' for competition team for next year, already.  I know it goes fast and they have to start prepping already... but wow, where has this year went?

Cora's group, plus some others that were trying out started their day at 9 til 10:30.  One fun thing was Brittlyn was one of the judges, which was fun.  Cora said - "I couldn't hug her!"  I giggled and said - "So formal!"  But Cora said try outs went well... and hopefully we will hear soon.  My guess is she's in, but you never know!  

Skipping ahead a little - Sunday afternoon was our normal dance hour, then the Petites and Teens got together for a little team bonding, plus Moms.  It was a very fun 3 hours... I was happy to be there and meet some of the other moms and just see the girls all mingle together.  The Teens are such nice girls, and do really well with those 'littles'.  It was fun.  I know Cora had a blast, and she was absolutely wiped out when we got home! 

COVID Vaccine #2

Monday, Ryan and I were set for our second vaccine...  we headed down to Creston for this again.  Seems silly to drive there, but we also made an additional stop - furniture shopping!  

First - we both had NO symptoms from the second vaccine.  It was a shocker!!  We both were expecting to be 'down' for at least a day, and the only thing that happened was being tired about 14 hours after.  And it wasn't terrible tired, just a normal - but it hit me hard for about 2 hours.  Then I was good.  I'm super pleased that we both handled it well, and it's over. 

Second - furniture shopping!  We have needed new family room furniture for awhile now - the leather couch and chair have been with us for 16 years or something like that!!  I'd say they got we/Ryan got his money's worth!!  We stopped in at Coen's Furniture - family friend owns it, and we had a good visit with the owner and ended up buying a new sofa and chair.  I'm excited.  We need it, and it'll be a good 'update'.  Unfortunately, we may not receive it til this winter, but oh well!

Petite Edge Update

This past year has been weird, with COVID and just a lot of precautions.  So with that, parents were unable to go into the dance studio to view anything.  NOTHING. It was tough, especially being new - hard to get to know other Moms (even though, I have), but also just not seeing what your kid does in class.  

Anyway, we got to have a 1:1 call with Charlee and Mr. Nick - to get updated on how things are going.  I appreciated that very much. 

Positives:

Cora is strong - very muscular 'build' and that benefits a lot

She has her 'counts' down - she counts to the music and is 'on time' all the time

Respectful and focused in class

Asks questions at the appropriate time

Great facials

Things to work on:

Flexibility!!  This is not a surprise, but she's definitely improved.  Things to continue to work on - left split, sugar bowl and back bend/kick over.  

Both Charlee and Mr. Nick expressed that she's grown a lot just in the past year, and she's a joy to have at the studio.  Charlee said "she was the missing piece they needed for Petities."  I'm assuming she's telling me the truth!... and I loved hearing that.  

Cora enjoys dance, and from what I see - she's great at it (for her age).  Yes, she has a lot to learn, and a lot to improve on, but so far - so good!!

#4 Aces Tournament/Mother's Day 2021

What a busy weekend...  always is, it seems!

Friday night, we stayed in... which was nice.  Kids played outside for quite a bit.  Ryan and Kayson went fishing for an hour or so.  I enjoyed relaxing.

Saturday, we got to sleep in.  Like really sleep in - we didn't have baseball early, and it was great.  I think I rolled out of bed around 8ish.  That hasn't happened in a long time, and it was great.  :) Our morning consisted of just hanging out...  did some laundry, then got ready.  Kayson had baseball in the cold and wind in the afternoon, while Cora and I headed over to Coralville for a bridal shower for Shanna.  We met Trish, Jill, Hope, Linds and Ash over there, and that was super nice.  Long trip for a quick shower, but we needed to go.  I know Shanna and Monette really appreciated us there, and that's all that matters. 

Meanwhile, K's baseball team didn't do all that great.  A loss and a win...  but what I'm hearing, we totally should have won both.  Of course!  Our kids are just not playing to their potential sometimes, and we can be a great baseball team!!!  

Cora and I got home about 4:45...  then Ryan, K and Ryan's folks got to the house around 6ish... we ordered supper in, and was a nice night.  Cora's allergies were terrible, and she had lost her patience and I had too...  she was a hot mess.  Bed was early. 

Sunday, we got some much needed rain - and it was Mother's Day!  Always a nice day - feeling very thankful for my kids and what we have, but also that tear in my heart missing my Mom.  Gosh I wish she was here.  Unfortunately, the boys lost their first baseball game, so we were done for the day.  We all wish we could stay all day on a Sunday at the fields!! and win a championship!! 

We relaxed Sunday afternoon...  groceries, laundry and playing with Boomer.  It was a nice day. 

Cora and the bride and bridesmaids!!

Love this picture!!!

My babies.

Mother's Day at the fields, getting a rose from my boy.

Random pictures

Random pictures. 

Friday afternoon was a beautiful day - so I sat on the deck and worked for about an hour.  Boomer joined me and eventually found the shade and crashed.  It was awesome!

Ryan and Cora updated Grandma Janis' old TAYLOR sign that's been in the family for years and years.  It was all old and dull looking - they scrubbed it and gave it a fresh coat of paint.  So great.  Grandma loved it!

Cora also got a little award from Miss Charlee last week.  Her star award called out her "Great Facials".  So fun, and Cora loved it!

#3 Aces Tournament

We drew the morning games for the tournament this weekend... and that worked out great.  Playing at 9am and 11am - we get the games done and over with! We had two good wins Saturday morning, which was fun.  Ryan's parent came to watch, as well as Trish, Greg, Hope and Logan...  so that was extra nice.  The weather was good - super windy, but sunny and warm...  everyone got a little sun!  

We grabbed lunch out with Trish and them...  Cora was a tired girl, not very happy, but eventually perked up a little.  We spent the afternoon just hanging out - doing this and that around the house.  We all were pretty tuckered out. 

Sunday we were back at the fields at 10am...  with a great, exciting win for that game...  Then unfortunately, we lost the second game, missing out on the championship games.  We really want to get to that championship game!!  But the kids did well.

I don't have many pictures, but it was a good, warm weathered weekend.