Mama Likes to Jitterbug

Cheer Pictures

This past weekend was Gracie's first cheer competition of the 2009-2010 season.  And her first year as a Mini.  Here's a picture of Gracie and the girls she started cheering with over two years ago on Tinys. 

 

This is Gracie and one of her best friends, Emily.  They're always getting in trouble at practice for talking and hugging.  Gracie was drawn to Emily from the start of the season because she doesn't treat her like the baby of the team and has a quiet, reserved personality that Gracie seems to be drawn to in choosing all of her closest friends.

The entire ECE Minis team.  Gracie is on the front row, far left.

Love this picture Steve took of the "Mama-razzi".

 

Posing.

Gracie and one of the many friends she made while she was at Sparks.

 

Love that they can be competitors on the floor and kids that just enjoying hanging out after.

 

Sean at the hotel swimming pool and giving two thumbs up for the only good thing about being the brother of a cheerleader.

 

Video: Gracie's Cheer Routine

Here's a video from Gracie's first cheer competition this season.  To say I'm incredibly proud is an understatement. Watching this video, it's hard to believe these girls are only 5-7 years old.  Gracie is the littlest one and pretty easy to spot, but just in case you need a little help, she's the flyer on the far right during the first half of the routine, the last tumbling pass from right to left, and the flyer on the far left during the second half of the routine.

 

Video: Learning to Ice Skate

Here's a video that Steve put together of the kids learning to ice skate.  It's amazing (and pretty darn funny) to see how far they've come since the start of the season.  Sean loves hockey!  Especially the part that involves scoring goals.  While she's done really well, I think Gracie will be content to flirt with the boys from the sidelines next year.  It's nearly impossible to do a cartwheel in ice skates and the helmet does nothing for your hair.  LOL!   

Our 2009 Christmas Card

Speaking of the holidays, here's our 2009 card.

Holiday Party Invites

In addition to making the hair bows for Gracie's cheer team, I was also recruited to make these invites for the team's holiday party.  A lot of work, but I live for doing stuff like this.  It reminds me of my own mom who spent many, many late nights doing the same sort of thing for me. 

 

  

ECE Gym Showoff

Here are some pictures from Gracie's gym showoff last month.  It's amazing to see how far she's come this year.  Her confidence, her ability to learn choreography, her ease in making friends, and of course all of her new skills.  She absolutely loves cheerleading and it shows in her smile.

Gracie is the flyer on the far left.  

 

Gracie's big tumbling pass.

 

Gracie sporting her new ECE backpack.

 

Gracie and her teammates. 

Gracie is a peanut!

Gracie and her BFF Teagan.  Hard to believe they've been friends for 3 years!

A close-up of the bows I made for their performance. 

Video: Gracie's Front Walkover

Here's a video of Gracie's front walkover.  She's worked so hard to get this and I'm incredibly proud of her determination.  It's now her new tumbling pass in her cheerleading team's routine.  Go Gracie!

Snow Day

  

Update

Thank you for all of the emails and calls.  I want to ensure everyone that we are still alive.  LOL!  I feel incredibly guilty about not blogging for so long, but these past few months have just been absolutely, insanely busy for us as a family.  Between work, the kids activities, and the holiday season, there hasn't been a lot of spare time to play on my computer.  And if that wasn't enough, we've spent the last two months getting our house ready to go on the market for sale.  Almost all of the work has been completed and it's scheduled to be listed THIS weekend.  Our plan is to (hopefully) sell in the spring and move into a new house before Gracie starts kindergarten in the fall.  With open houses scheduled, cheerleading season starting, and our dance event at the end of March, things aren't going to get any less hectic, but I promise to try to post more frequently.  Below are the pictures I took of our house for all of the online listings and promotional materials.  It's hard to believe we are selling our first home.  So many wonderful memories here, but we know it's time to move on.