UCA 2020

UCA 2020 at Disney World is an experience for the books.  The NBA was canceled due to the rising case of Coronavirus, but cheer competitions GO ON!  Six hours before our flight, I learned that all competitions were canceled…but not UCA, the one where our teams would compete for National Champions.   Sadly our two-day experience was now only a one-day.  Our entire team, minus us, were already in Florida enjoying the sunshine and pool parties.  Not wanting to let our team down, we boarded our plane and learned that Disney World is shutting down.  Confirming one last time that the competition was still on, we took off for warmer weather praying that this trip would be worth it.  Upon arrival, still apprehensive about our travels, we learned that Michigan schools were closing immediately...but UCA was still happening!

I decided to make the best of this trip, knowing that this may be the only version of "spring break" Allie and I would get to experience this year.  Coronovirus already was making an impact on our lives in ways...little did we know things were going to get much worse.

On Friday, I delivered Allie to her one and only practice and then to our Stingray POOL PARTY!  Some fun in the sun is just what we needed to take our sorrows and uncertainties away.  All gym rules were lifted...meaning we could swim for as long as we wanted to.  In fear that President Trump was going to ground all flights, the thought of having to drive back home was not a pleasant one.  When he made no announcements of this, we swam together and drank fancy popsicle beverages!

Competition day at ESPN is a day that Allie has been dreaming of...little did any of us know that her dreams were about to come true.

Although only fans and family were allowed to view their teams, the Patriot Rays put on their best performance yet!  They HIT!  Our girls showed their best routine, yet.  Their tumbling was beautiful and their stunts were in unison.  They were all smiles!

Coronavirus also robbed us of our awards experience...back at the hotel we gathered in a conference room and watched the UCA announcers report our ranking with the other 7 teams that attended.  After seventh through fourth were announced...I was pretty sure we would be third.  No?  Maybe second then!  When the girls didn't hear their name...they knew right away they had WON...FIRST PLACE!  They had WON!!  MEDALS...and JACKETS!!  Allie's dream came true!  The uneasiness, the worrying, the indecisiveness…was all worth it!

So proud of her team's accomplishments, Allie didn't take off her jacket for the rest of the trip.  It became her coat, her swimsuit coverup, and her pajamas too.  UCA 2020 was not all that it was supposed to be...but nonetheless, one we will always remember.

Kindergarten Concert

Take TWO!  Ayden did a super job singing at his second kindergarten concert.  Some of his favorite songs were..."We Are the Penguins," "Winter Wiggles," and "Freeze Dance."  They sang the "Gretchko Stars" song, as well.

First Tooth

The first wiggly tooth fell out and the Tooth Fairy made her first visit to Ayden.  She left him $10 and a keepsake box to keep his very tooth in!

100 MORE Books!

Goal accomplished!  Ayden read the first 100 books last year in Transitional Kindergarten...so this year we tackled 100 MORE books to read in kindergarten.  Way to go, bud!

Summit Bound!

After a jammed packed weekend of cookie booths, practice, competition, cookie booths, practice, competition, and more cookie booths...today the Patriot Rays learned that they received at AT LARGE BID to THE SUMMIT!!  Us super fun moms surprised our girls with Stingray Minnie Mouse ear headbands and cupcakes.  They are stoked!  

Tip Up Town

Houghton Lake was cold, but super fun!  Lot's of Lego building, Uno, and cocktails.  Ayden almost made a trip to the emergency room when he jumped up on a bed and hit his head on the fan.  There was lots of blood, but no stitches were needed...however, there might be a scar.

Tip Up Town was mega GROOVY this year.  the Polar Plunge didn't disappoint and the pie eating contest was something I was hoping my kids would partake in...no such luck.  The ice slide entertained us for a while but the real fun was the swings and the little cars and motorcycles.  We cut our stay a little short on Sunday morning when we left for Allie's cheer competition in Birch Run, leaving Ayden to hitch a ride home with his buddy Carson.

Happy New Year 2020

We arrived home on New Year's Eve approximately around 5:00...within an hour, we showered, unpacked, and dressed for a New Year's Eve gathering at the Leese's house.  Kids in tow...we ate, drank and partied the night away.  So thankful for good friends to celebrate 2020!

On New Year's Day we wrote out our wish balloons.  Allie's goal for 2020 is to achieve her front and back tuck.  She's been working really hard on her tumbling at cheer...but needs to perfect her back handspring before moving on to tucks.

Ayden has his eye on a drum set he sees every week when we take Allie to music lessons.  I'm not sure I'm quite ready for that!

 

The sound of "2020" makes me think that this will be a year we will remember above all else.