XC Varsity Trip to Dallas

This is a big smile on Jordan's face.  She finally is wearing the Varsity shorts.  It would be nice if they were 2 sizes smaller for her but she DID NOT care!

A note from Coach Helm

She was so excited to be able to travel with the team for a weekend to Dallas.

The trail they raced on was around this lake.

Warm ups with Varsity.

She told me later she was just so excited warming up with them.

At the start

On the trail

up one more hill.

 to the finish.

The girls are numbered 1 thru 10.  Jordan is 9 on the team and that is exactly how they all placed.  1 thru 10, Jordan being 9 for VHS.

She was pretty happy with her time.  This was her first 5k race as JV only runs 2 miles so cant really compare it to her other races.

She was pretty proud and more than that she just had so much fun at this meet.

 Whenever there is a meet 3 or more hours away,  I always struggle to decide if I should go.  So far, I always have and so far I have always made the right decision to and support her.   I love being there for her and seeing her hard work pay off.  Being on cross country is not for whimps.  They run year round and start as early as 6am.  Hard hard work outs and many miles are put in.

 Amalia, Caroline, Jordan, and Sydney

Cool down by the lake.

Best friends.

Whats so cool about this meet was Isabell was just as excited for Jordan.  She had been waiting just as long as Jordan has for her to be able to join her on the varsity team.

Jordan's Stake Dance

It always sounds like a great idea to plan something especially when it is 6 months away.  Then as time creeps up it may not have been such a great idea anymore and I realize that we probably did not think everything through.

However,  Jordan took on planning a stake dance as one of her personal progress projects.

She came up with a country/western theme on her own.

 Making sugar cut out cookies is fun but only when your NOT making 300 of them.

They sure did turn out cute though.

We kept the food simple with hot dogs and BBQ chips, Root Beer, and lots of snacks.

 We had fun coming up with some of the decorations.

 The hay was a great touch but borrowing a truck and driving across town and then having to return it all makes me think I had better own my own truck and farm before I do the hay thing again.

 We added in carnival games.

 This is Jordan's friend, Warren.  He would be the one to come dressed as Woody.

Hopefully these 3 will not end up in any real jail.

The kids were able to use this as a photo booth.

 Lots of country line dancing.

 Besties!!!

Jordan got tons of compliments and thank yous from the kids tonight.

I was one sweaty mess from all the set up and running the food .

Big thank you to Sis. Hanson for sewing the banners and majorly helping with the set up!

We would not have made it without her that day.

In the end,  I was really glad that I could do this with Jordan and it was worth all the effort.

Hopefully doing a dance will not be part of Jackson's Eagle Scout!

Homecoming 2012

Homecoming parade means 75 floats and groups at VHS.  That makes for one long parade.

 Larson gets prime position for all the candy and paraphernalia he is about to collect.

 Jackson walks the route with his team.  He makes sure that he loads Logan up with candy.

 Jordan chose to be on the choir float this year.

Michelle driving Jordan in the parade.

 The aftershow is pretty amazing and fun.  Im sure its done bigger somewhere else but Tom and I would like to see what that looks like.

Introduced the fall teams, homecoming court, a flashmob and fireworks to end the night.

This is a late night for school the next morning but you really get a sense of community spirit and its totally fun for the whole family.

 Jordan didnt even get to wear her mum to school last year because she was traveling with the xc team. This may be mean but I just switched out her freshman ribbons with sophomore ones and let her wear last years.

Jail

You mess with Mama and you end up in jail.

Larson and Logan just having fun with a prop that Jackson built for his sisters upcoming dance.

Getting Ready for Halloween

We have some extra guest dining with us this month.

Hello Halloween Kitty!

All the kids love the Halloween decorations but Logan really is into it.

Our 4 year wants everything to be scarier.  Skulls on our dining room table is about my limit.

For Jordan

Every girl can use a
 little pick me up!

Middle School Football

#77

What a huge change from Pop Warner to middle school football.  In some ways it is easier but you do have practice every day.

The great thing is all these boys (all 130 of them!!!) are now on one team.  Well, they are actually split into 3 teams but they are all trying to win for the same school.

7th grade football practice is at 7 in the morning.  How great is that?

When the school bell rings in the afternoon, you are done!

Offensive Line

New stance, he doesnt get all the way down.  Its kind of been weird.  Sometimes he just does like a fake block.  Its part of the coaching.  Hes just suppose to be a distraction and lead the guy away from the play side.

The boys watching the game after them.  They are great about cheering for them.

Always a spectator, never a player!

That will change in the spring!

Fall Soccer 2012

Larson is our soccer kid.

 It gets very confusing on the field as it just looks like a bunch of little referees out there.

Larsons hair style this year is all his own.  I want to state that I never ever touch and take no responsibility for "his style".

 Its great to see that he is aggressive, determined, and scores goals but more important...

 He has fun playing soccer

St. Andrews XC Meet

St. Andrews is probably Jordan's favorite course to run.

I think it is the fairest of all courses.

Down to business

Making her way through the pack.

That is the toughest part of the race when there are so many girls. 

only a 1/4 mile to go and they are still in a pack.

Jordan was getting blocked in a lot.

To the finish.

14:40

Another personal record for Jordan.

Her first cross country meet she came in at some like 21 mins.

I can see her goal of being in the 13's now.

cool down with Isabella

Amalia had her best race today also!

She hates the pictures but sometimes I just cant help it.

So proud of Jordan.

Keep it up!