Knoxville Bound!

Thursday I checked the kids out at 2 because Mo was getting on the road with her daddy and I.  It was State time and we decided to leave the T and H with Mimi and Boo Boo.  Turner wanted to go, but we decided to drive to Knoxville, compete, and head straight home.  That didn't sound like something a 6 year old would enjoy to me.  He also didn't need to miss another day of school.
  This is the first time we have gone somewhere with only 1 kid in tow.  I think Maddie enjoyed the 1 on 1 time and it made the drive a breeze.  We stopped in Linden at the Log Cabin for dinner.  It was good and Maddie had an upset stomach.  This year nerves have definitely gotten the best of her.  We had to stop a few times on the way.  We got to the hotel around 10:30 and didn't wasted any time getting ready for bed.
  We all slept till about 8 and I was so glad Maddie got a good night's rest.  Daddy took her to breakfast while I got ready.  Once everyone was ready we headed to the convention center.  Her meet started at 11.  She was nervous but ready to go.  She started on bars, beam, floor, and ended on vault.
  It was an emotional meet.  She did great on bars and floor and placed 2nd in both.  Beam has been a huge struggle for her this year.  She has to fight to stay on and the last meet she managed to do so, but did the wrong dismount.  Friday she hung on the whole time and did the right dismount.  We were screaming, jumping with joy proud of her, and almost in tears.  The smile on her face said it all-she was so proud of herself.  Then we saw her score....8.4. It was her lowest score of the season, lower than when she had fallen in the past.  We still don't know why she scored so low, but it definitely hurt her feelings. 
  She managed to pick herself up and do well on the floor and then came vault.  I have watched it on tape 20 times and still don't know what went wrong.  But she scored an 8.95, her lowest vault score to date.  After that score, the crying began.  It is a big deal for gymnasts to keep a positive attitude and not fall apart during a competition.  You dont want to rattle the other gymnasts and it is important to be a good sport.  I kept looking at her and trying to tell her it was ok from across the gym.  She looked defeated and it broke our heart.
  She ended up 5th overall and this was her least successful meet of the season. You can't win all the time.  You aren't going to win all the time.  It is a good lesson for our very competitive, determined daughter to learn.  She looked so sour on the stage getting her 11th place vault medal and 9th place beam medal.  I could have strangled her.  All season we have talked about the importance of both winning and losing gracefully.  I say this all the time, but it is so important to me that she be humble and proud of herself through the wins and losses.  She didn't place high on the beam, but she did what was asked of her and tried her best.  You can't do or ask for anything else.
  All that to say, I don't know what is next for her.  She has talked of quitting and we have the week off from gym.  Next week we have a parents meeting to see what the year will bring.  The manager called me a few weeks ago saying they wanted her to start training level 5.  They thought she would be able to skip level 4, but would decide for sure in the fall.  I haven't told Maddie this yet and don't know how it would affect her decision.  We are just praying for clarity, for what would be best for not only Maddie, but our whole family.
Glad to have the week of Easter off and just be at home as a family.
  After the meet we headed home.  We ate lunch at Cracker Barrell and were ready to see T and H.  About an hour from home traffic stopped.  We did not move for 2 HOURS.  I can't tell you how thankful I was to only have 1 kid with us and not 3.  It was not fun.  A cargo truck caught on fire and I pray everyone was ok.  It was almost 11 before we made it home and Turner and Harper stayed an extra night at Mimi and Boo Boo's.  We headed to bed because M and T's first soccer game was in the morning.
  It has been a busy few months of traveling and looking forward to weekends at home.
 

Spring Break 2015!

We are wrapping up our Spring Break and it has been a good one.  We had a few friends over to play, went to Chuck E Cheese and Pump It Up, saw the Easter Bunny, had a few well checks, and squeezed in an overnight trip to Savannah.  Monday and Tuesday were beautiful and the kids got a lot ouside playing time.  I am so excited for Spring weather.  I never realize how cooped up we are until we get to enjoy a few days outside.
  Harper is in the 70% for weight and height and Turner is in the 90th!  Harper had to get several vaccines and her finger pricked...she handled it like a champ.  Turner's appointment went well too but doctor said he has a small bit of scoliosis but not to worry about it.  It could correct itself by age 12.  Don't worry and me don't usually go hand in hand.  But after the year we have had with him, I am ok.  Things can appear so much bigger than they really are so we will just wait and see.
  It was fun seeing our Savannah family and Maddie was great with Granny Francis.  She was very calm and interested in all that Nonna does to take care of her.  It was good to see her compassionate side and made me realize how quickly she is growing up.  Hoping next time we go it will be for a bit longer.
  It has been nice to have a week with everyone together and to get recharged.  Soccer has begun and State for Maddie is next weekend.  Those posts will probably be next.

Doodlebug is 2!!

I just can not believe that Harper turned 2 today.  She has been such a fun 1 year old, I can't wait to see what 2 brings!  She thinks she is big stuff at MDO...she is so loved!  She helps me get my class ready and then roams the halls to visit whom she likes.  She is a Daddy's girl!!!  If he is home, that is who she wants most of the time.  Kinda hurts my feelings, but kinda gives me a break;)  Boo Boo is another one of her favorite people.  She lights up when she sees him and talks about him at home all the time.

  She loves imitating Maddie and Turner and playing with them.  She loves to sing, can count to 12, and can say anything.  A few of my favorite phrases are-
"Snuggle me"-she wants you to join her on the couch with a blanket.
"What cha doing"-said in the most expressive voice ever.
"Ok, see ya later"- how she ends her phone calls.  This girl talks on the phone a lot!

  Her favorite things right now are Mickey mouse, stickers, Kylie and Zach (bitty twins), and her toy car.  She loves search and find books and playing in her room.  She has turned into a great traveler and just always seems to be having fun.  She loves wearing M and T's shoes and can often be found walking around with their underwear over clothes....very often!
 
  She is going through a picky stage with food but usually likes pancakes, chicken, hot dogs, strawberries, fried potatos, apples, and grapes.  Her very favorite foods are cheese, fruit snacks, and yogurt melts.  I noticed all the vegetables on this list too.  We are working on it!  She loves her milk and water.

  She likes to sleep in our bed, and we haven't really been bothered by it.  We did just turn her crib into a toddler bed and last night went well.  Here is hoping tonight does too!!  She is currently afraid of taking a bath and it is quite the ordeal.  On one of our trips there was some black fuzz in the tub she found while in it....traumatized her I tell you!

  She has inconsistently been peeing and pooping in the potty for a few months now.  We are waiting till after the State meet to really work on it with her, but not really stressing.  I am pretty sure it will happen when she is ready, and I am not going to get worked up about it.  My how my thought processes have changed from baby 1 to 3!

  We kept her "party" very low key.  This is the first time we have celebrated a kids birthday without inviting 20 kids.  And you know what?  We love her just as much and I think she had just as much fun.  We had Mimi and Boo Boo, Megs and her kids over after lunch for cupcakes and ice cream and it was great.  No stress, hardly any money spent, and Harper had a ball!  She got her very own bitty baby, a Crayola art easel, and a Mickey mouse clubhouse.

  I think our Doodle bug had the best day.  Hard to believe she was my 6th (and last I am most sure) pregnancy, our only surprise gender baby, and the easiest going toddler we had.  Can't wait to see what this year brings us with her and we thank God for her every day!

Nashville Nights!

What a weekend!  As the kids started getting sick and the snow came in, we were really concerned about getting to Nashville.  Originally, we were leaving on Friday and staying for the weekend.  We decided to wait till Saturday morning to let the snow melt a bit more and allow Turner an extra day to get over the stomach bug.
  Saturday morning at 4:45....I hear Kev go to the bathroom and begin throwing up.  I just cried in the bed and wondered how I was going to do Nashville with 3 kids by myself.  I continued to cry for the next few hours as Kev hugged the toilet and the kids destroyed the house.  I was thankful we hadn't gone the day before and had an idea.  Maybe my parents could watch Meg's kids....and maybe just maybe Megs could go with us.  I began making phone calls and everything came together.  Kev was so sad to stay at home, but my sister joined me on our two day adventure.  Thank you Lord for working everything out when I was ready to fall apart!
  We stopped in Jackson to eat at Casey Jones Village and made it to Nashville around 2:30.  Nonna and Marci were there and we got settled in.  We were able to eat at Rainforest Cafe and the kids loved it.  Chelsea met us there and it was great seeing her.  We then went back to Gaylord and let the kids swim.  They love an indoor pool and Brittany and Marci came to hang out with us.  We got the kids to bed around 10 and Kev was finally feeling better at home.
  Sunday morning we ate at the hotel and let the kids play in the arcade.  Turner won a stuffed animal and was thrilled.  It was time to get ready for the meet.  Mo's big sister met us at the Convention center with a Bear wearing a leo.  She has had so much fun this season having Bradleigh as a big sister.
  Maddie had a great meet but was frustrated at the end.  She scored a 9.45 on vault and tied for 3rd.  She placed 1st on bars with a 9.35.  Her floor looked great and scored a 9.0 which placed 4th.  We had really wanted her to work hard on staying on the beam.  She did, but didn't do the correct dismount and she got an 8.3.  It was her lowest score this season and she was sad.  The coach talked to the judges about her score and our girl was just a bottle of nerves and the judges could tell.  They got the best of her in the end.  She still managed to place 3rd overall and I am so proud of her.  She really works at correcting her mistakes and she did her best yesterday.  She had the stomach bug the week before and only made one practice.  I hate she is so hard on herself.
  She had a crowd to support her.  Nonna, Megs, Marci, Brittany, Chelsea, Turner, and Harper were there cheering her on.  She has had an amazing season and the state meet is in a few weeks in Knoxville.  I just hope she is proud of herself no matter what happens.  She has accomplished a ton this year.
  After the meet we said goodbye to everyone and headed home.  We dropped Megs off at 9 last night and are ready for the week ahead.  1 week of school and then Spring Break!!  Woo hoo!  We also have a special little girl that is turning 2 on Sunday.  A post all about her soon.