Jumpin' Regionals

The day dawned early (way too early).

At 4am, B was telling me that she was excited and nervous for the jump rope competition that day. I told her she wasn't going to have to worry about being nervous if she didn't go back to sleep because she would be asleep during her routines!

The Regional competition is held in April and the top 4 in each category get to continue on to Nationals in Galveston, Texas at the end of June. B made it last year and was really (REALLY) hoping to make it again. She moved up into the 11 and 12 year old group this year, so that really put the pressure on.

She was ready, though!

Think James Earl Jones and say this in with his voice,

"Judges ready. Jumpers ready. GO!" If I heard it five times, I heard it 1000 times on Saturday.

I had to be a judge for the afternoon during the freestyle, so I couldn't take any good action shots of the kids being upside down, or doing a back handspring or doing a tush up. (I'm sorry, did you just ask what is a tush up? It's when you are sitting on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you and you swing the rope around horizontally and "jump" over the rope with your butt. Yeah, that's right. Who knew your butt has springs? Mine doesn't.)

1 minute and 3 minute speed pictures are not very exciting because the kids are staring straight ahead with a pained look on their faces. I did snap a shot of my nephew doing double dutch speed which is a little more exciting to watch.

Sorry for the flowers. B is very into internet safety and won't let me show the team name. I'm ok with that, plus I love flowers.

Those of us in the stands should have known better than to get too excited over the fact that the morning was running so smoothly and we were AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. That oversight was taken care of in the afternoon. All and all we were in that very nice new gym at Exeter HS for 12 hours. Yeah, I said it. 12 hours. Then I drove 3 hours to get home. Can you say pancake ass?

Anyway, can you tell by the smiles on these girls that 12 of the 15 kids on the team made it to Nationals? Very exciting!!!

Let the fundraising commence.