I Can FLY!

This past weekend was the State track meet in Gulf Shores. We took the team down Thursday so they would be rested from traveling for the meet that started Friday. Thursday night, we went out to dinner and then to "The Track" that had putt putt, go carts, an arcade, and the infamous SkyCoaster. The week leading up to the trip, different kids asked me if I would go on the SkyCoaster with them. In passing I would say, "sure, why not?!"

Luckily they did not all hold me to it, or else we would not have had any money for the rest of the weekend, but I did go with two of our girls. Even though I looked like a scaredy cat, I absolutely loved it, and wanted to go more. When we got to the top and Bridgett pulled the chord to drop us, our heads turned completely upside down toward the ground! We didn't "coast" until after it looked like we were going to hit the ground! What a rush!

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Track Meet Troopers

Let me start off by saying that we would not have been able to survive this track season without the help from all of the wonderful parents. Last year we made arrangements for Avery for every track meet. This year we just started bringing the kids along for the ride, and everything has worked out just fine.

I did not ask permission to use names so I won't be listing them here, but there are a few particular parents who I'm especially grateful for. I know I can completely trust that when Avery or Braden are with them, I don't have to worry about if they are being fed, have enough sunscreen on, or are just flat out being taken care of. If anyone has any ideas of how to 'treat' these special people, let me know. I wish I could spend the money to honor them with a whole day at the spa.

We had Sectionals this past weekend, and Friday was a long day. Avery and Braden were both troopers. Here are a few pictures from the day. Fortunately there was a park nearby, so Avery was able to use up some of her energy there.

State Bound

This past weekend we were at the Sectionals Track Meet in Mobile. It was a great success with the girls bringing home first place and the boys with second place.

18 Girls will be heading to State this weekend, along with 13 boys. I'm sure Kenny will post more details.

Sweet Meet

If you've been a part of a sport that's "in your blood" you know what I'm about to describe. For basketball it may be the smell of the leather ball, or the gym floor. For football it may be the nasty sour shoulder pads. Volleyball, balls resounding off of red, bruised arms. For soccer, maybe the freshly cut grass under your feet. Baseball, the sounds of the balls hitting metal bats.

For me it was the sound of the PA system, along with the smell of the air and rubber track on a good "track day." There are bad track days (those which include rain and wind), and there are good track days. The good ones have a briskness in the air, sun shining above, and this smell that's just hard to describe, other than saying the smell of Spring.

So far during practices this season, we've had some good ones, along with some bad. It's been fun being on the opposite side of things, as a coach instead of a runner, but it's been a little hard adjusting to not being the runner. Of course I can still run, but it's not the same as the feeling of fast competition. (Except the day Kenny and I raced...a sight to see!) So, I haven't felt the sense of nervousness that comes along with the smells and sounds of track season....until yesterday....

Yesterday was our first track meet of the season. We heard all week from parents telling us how nervous their kids were, and I was really glad to hear that. That meant they were serious about what they've been working so hard to achieve. And they did it.

Not only did we have the largest team by far, which showed up when there were entire heats in races of only ACA kids, but we finished well in most events. It was great, we were proud, and the kids improved.

Onward and upward to Saturday's meet!