Texas Days 3&4

Days 3 and 4 are going to be combined because they were a long whirlwind! 

Double Dutch Day was Saturday and the thing about double dutch jump roping is that it is truly a team sport. You must have at least 3 people to do double dutch (2 to turn the ropes and one to jump). We have now labeled double dutch day/ drama dutch day. It is very hard to keep all the jumpers in a dd team calm and happy before they perform. It doesn't help when they fight the coach on changing something in the routine at the last minute. You have to put your faith in the coach that he knows what he is doing. When you are 11 and 12, that is not easy. 

B started her day with double dutch speed. This is very straight forward, B and another girl were the spinners and 2 people jumped for 1 minute each. You try to get the most jumps today in that 2 minute period. There were a lot of misses and they certainly did not do as well as they had been doing in practice. Next up was her double dutch 3 person. All 3 girls jumped and spun at different times. I have seen them nail this routine and make it look like it was easy. Not the case on Saturday. The coach had changed a few things and they forgot things half way thru their minute and 15 seconds. There were tears and frustration all around. 

It is hard to parent your child and give them advice and cheer for them all at the same time. I had to take B into a bathroom stall and remind her that this was Nationals, this is what she had worked for all year long and I was so proud of her for just getting this far. I told her that she could go out on the floor and "moo" and I would be proud. At least that got her to laugh off some of the anxiety. You do not realize how proud your parents must have been of you growing up until you have a child of your own. 

So after the 3 person disaster, she went off with her 4 person DD team to practice. I never saw her before she and her team took the floor. I think I held my breath for the whole routine....the AMAZING routine that they pulled off! They had one miss about 45 secs into it, but other than that it was flawless!

Later that day at the awards ceremony they were called up for 10th place. They screamed, I screamed (we all screamed for ice-cream) and I barely remember running over to get a picture of them. Our team had never gotten a double dutch top 10 finish! So our drama dutch day turned out to be one of the best ever. 

Later that day, any jump roper that wanted to cut 6 or more inches off their hair for "Locks for Love" were encouraged to come back to the convention center. B decided that she wanted to and was one of about 35 jumpers that did. 

It was a very proud day :)

Texas Day 2

I think New Englanders are probably some of the fastest moving people in the country. I don't mean that in a jump roping sense. We always seem to be "hurry up, let's get here", "hurry up, I need this". In Texas, I don't think the work "hurry" is in the dictionary. Everyone moves at a slower pace here. The Starbucks line is slower than it is at home, the grocery store people take their time, the waitresses move as if they didn't ever want their tables to turn over. I'm not saying this in a mean way, I just find it hard to slow down.

Yesterday, we came to the convention center in the morning for practice, then we had to be back at 1 for the competition to begin. We were here until 10 last night. Oy. The youngest kids jumping here are probably 7 and the oldest goes right up to adult. Even the adults were tired last night.

But we were back at it this morning at 8:30 and we will be here until approximately 5:30 tonight. I give B the most credit. She is set to compete in 3 events that are all taking place on Saturday. That's right, 2 long days of cheering on her teammates and practicing for Saturday. She has such a great attitude about it, too. She was just cracking us up by singing Kung Foo Fighting (complete with hand motions). I may have to sneak in a video of that.

What I do have is a video from yesterday's practice room. It's loud, crowded and noisy, but gives you an idea of the different levels that are here. B's group is first, then another group from the team and then 4 older kids that are absolutely amazing! The strength that the older teenagers have is incredible.

Texas Day 1

Everything is bigger in Texas. That is our motto for the week. We are at the Jump Rope National Championship for the 3rd year in a row. It is crazy trying to get here every year, but totally worth it to celebrate B and the jumpers on the team that have worked so hard all year to get here. They have practiced 3 days a week for at least 2 hours a practice since October. 

For the 3rd year it is in Galveston, Texas. We feel like we know the place by now and have figured out the restaurants, the hotels, the people, the grocery store.... Well yesterday, the grocery store threw us a curve ball. Here's the setting... the convention center(where all the action takes place) is in the middle, our hotel is on the left side of it, Kruegers is on the right side of it...all within walking distance. It's all within walking distance unless you are carrying 75 dollars worth of groceries which includes a case of water.... So my friend Kate, her daughter C and I went to the grocery store to stock up on snacks for our jumpers for the next few days. I was thinking of the walk back and didn't buy a full case of water, but a 12 pack. Still what I had was bulky. Kate bought a case of water and a bunch of other stuff. (Let me just say the grocery store here is SO much cheaper than at home! Along with the gas!!!) 

We decide to take our carts out of the grocery store parking lot, thru the parking garage of the convention center and to the hotel. Last year, I did take a cart into the parking garage. I happened to notice a big posting yesterday before we left the parking lot that said if you took a grocery cart out of the parking lot, the wheels would lock. We looked at each other and said, "yeah, right. How can that happen?"

Kate proceeds out of the parking lot (while cars are driving by us) and hits a bump and has to fix the wheels on her cart because it seemed to get stuck. She tries to continue on and the wheels WILL NOT GO. I so hope the grocery store has a security camera on this because we were in hysterics! Cars trying to get out of the parking lot, Kate trying to get her cart to move back into the parking lot (but the wheels are frozen) and it is muggy hot out. It was like a magic spell had been cast upon her cart. 

I am in the process of taking my groceries out of the cart, because Kate just proved to me that the sign was right! Kate is wondering how she is going to carry all her stuff when a woman drives up and asks Kate where she is trying to go. Kate realizes that this is the woman she helped to reach the cream in the grocery store minutes earlier, so they are instant friends. She gets her groceries into the woman's car and she and her daughter jump in, get to the hotel and load the groceries on a luggage rack. 

I have chosen to walk at this point and I am still laughing about the whole thing (I had been up since 3am, I was completely giddy) and was hoping that this random woman hadn't kidnapped Kate. 

Groceries are a whole lot lighter when you are laughing I have decided. 

Frag'n Friday

I don't think I have fragged in awhile, but I am doing anything to procrastinate this morning..... check out other people's procrastinations over at Mrs. 4444s.

*A HS friend of mine put this as her status this morning:

Started my day a bit late in my hotel room and frantically searched the bathroom for the hairdryer before determining that there wasn't one. I called the front desk in a slight panic and told them I needed a hair dryer. There was a pause and the woman said "It isn't attached to the wall?" I looked and sure enough there it was. I laughed and thanked her and knew for sure she was laughing AT me, not WITH me. Duh!


She often has gems like this on her status, she is so funny!


*My girls wanted to go to a half day of school today before we went up to the wedding festivities. Did you get that? They WANTED  to go to school. Yes, I am impressed too.


*B won 2 awards at her Jump Rope banquet the other day. One was for compliments. She lets everyone know when they have done a good job at something. The other was the BIG award of the year for team spirit, attitude, jumping, effort, etc. I am very proud of her :) and she totally deserved both! Of course she had no problem getting up on the mic and thanking everyone profusely too, like it was an Emmy.

*While B was winning awards, K went off to Boston to be an extra in the upcoming Adam Sandler movie, I Hate You Dad. It is a secret what she did and she had to sign something to say she wouldn't tell anything about it! She got home at 4 am!! Ah the life of a "movie star" and she said it was totally worth it!

*I have no idea how it can go from 90 degree hazy, hot and humid one day to clear and beautiful 70 degrees the next day. Since my brother's wedding this weekend is outside, I am happy the hot 90 degree weather took a hike!

*HaPpY wEdDiNg EvE and DaY tOmMy and JeNn!!! LoVe YoU!

Once Upon a Time Wednesday

Once upon a time Wednesday is about things from the past. There are many stories in my head that I want to share with my girls. The trip to Ellis Island, thank you very much Liberty Mutual, this summer made me realize that I had to get these stories documented. History is extremely important and fun!  Play along if you want!

Once upon a time..... my brother, Tommy, was born. He was born as the 3rd in the family and the only son. I am 6 years older than him and my sister, a year and half. Naturally my sister and he had a lot in common and similar friends, but Tommy and I actually got/get along quite well.

Tommy was a chubby baby and kept his baby belly until he was about 10. I totally remember him losing his belly and turning into more of an adolescent/man. It was weird. Of course I was about 16, so what wasn't weird.

He is getting married on Saturday. It is sort of odd, different, interesting thinking that my baby brother will be married. I mean he is totally old enough (and some would say, "what took you so long"), but he is still 18 in my eyes.

He has asked the guests at his rehearsal dinner to put their two cents in and tell a story about he or Jenn or some marriage advice. Of course in the schedule of the evening, he has only allowed an hour for eating and story telling. I am wondering if he thinks if he only plans an hour for this, he will get off easily. Knowing 1/2 the crowd that is going (extremely well) he will not be adhering to his schedule. Our side of the family likes to talk and make fun of and expound on things. He could be in for a long night. I could tell you what I have in mind, but in the odd chance that he reads my blog before then (or ever?), I can't risk it. Instead I will tell you what I am not saying, because being all serious and gushy in public (especially when I get a chance to "roast" him) is really not me.

Tommy, On this eve of your wedding to Jenn, I want to tell you how proud I am of you and that I am impressed with the man you have become. Technically in my eyes, you will never be a "man", but I am willing to concede to boy/man. It's easy to see you still as a boy because you like your trucks, your lawn tools, making things in yards now (where once it was the beach) and your love of adventure. I can still picture you playing fetch in the backyard with Todd. I am sorry that I was too old to keep an eye on you in HS. I am so happy that you got to go to Waterville Academy and ski all winter instead of being in regular HS (although at the time, I was a little jealous).  I miss that we don't live closer and I hope when you have a passel of kids, you come visit often. (I love little kids that you can hand back to their parents). Plus you will have built in babysitter cousins for the little nuggets.

Jenn is a lucky girl to have you as her husband. Just remember to tell her often what she means to you. Remember to do your own thing, but to reconnect at the end of the day and be proud of each other. And remember that it is important every once and awhile to feel as good as that day you were wearing your Vaurnet shirt, your cool shorts with the white side stripe, your tube socks and you were the cat's ass (haha, pun intended) as the head of the school (6th grade).

Love you millions xoxo

Sundays in My City

Cape Cod is lucky to have a bike path that goes the length of the Cape, more or less. And we are lucky to live right near it! This is the newest thing that the girls like to do, B rides the bike and pulls K on the ripstick up hills. It works and makes them laugh, that's all that matters.....

Tic Tacs

Tic Tacs have come a long way since this commercial.

I have always liked Tic Tacs minty freshness. But since they started making tasty, refreshing flavors... YUM!

Tic Tac is coming out with 2 new flavors just in time for summer! Peach Fusion and Wild Cherry! I had the opportunity to taste them both and share with some friends.

The very unscientific poll I took determined that both flavors were tasty, but one was not better than the other. It depends on the day for me, too. One day I like cherry better, one day I am in more of a peach mood. Whichever flavor you prefer, they definitely both scream SUMMER!

You can like Tic Tac on Facebook and sign up for their summertime Pandora music station.

And of course, look for these new flavors coming soon!

I was given 4 boxes of Tic Tacs for this review and everything I have said is my opinion. 

Once Upon a Time Wednesday

Once upon a time Wednesday is about things from the past. There are many stories in my head that I want to share with my girls. The trip to Ellis Island, thank you very much Liberty Mutual, this summer made me realize that I had to get these stories documented. History is extremely important and fun!  Play along if you want!

Once upon a time.... I was given a Snoopy by my Uncle Dick. I am not sure how old I was when I got it, but I am going to go out on a limb and say I was about 3 in this picture and he looks loved already.

Snoopy was my one and only.

He never let me down and he didn't hog the covers.

He went on vacations with me, overnights and to college.

He has had a few operations and been re-stuffed a few times, too. (Kind of like me, lol)

He moved to the Cape with me.

He has been around a very (very!) long time. And even though he is not too fluffy for hugging these days, he still spends his nights in my room.