Tampoline!

With Shelby's 11th birthday approaching in the next couple weeks and Ch'ree's not far behind that, Jeff (never one to keep or wait around for a surprise) decided while he was in town to get the girls an early birthday present.

A trampoline.

Now Mom, I know you said you don't think they are safe, but it's pretty big and lots of padding. And it will help them with their cheerleading stunts. Ok? Feel better now?

Here is the crew putting it together. Drew especially wanted to help. There were a few little glitches (one of which is Jeff not reading the instructions in the right order, then not listening to me when my common sense told ME how to do it, and I backed it up with the correct order in the instructions). But, he is a man and who needs stinkin' instructions? Not him!

Eventually it was all put together. Drew isn't quite sure what to do. So he just likes to sit there and let everyone else bounce, therefore bouncing him in the air.

Ch'ree's got the jumping down, though!

And wow, Shelby! Look at that toetouch!!

Chance likes to get in everyone's way. Especially Shelby's. What else is new?

Drew needed a break from all the bouncing, so he decided to sit on the brown drought stricken grass that I can't water til my well is fixed and pick his nose.

And his toes.

"Here mom, want some boogers and toe jam?"

And yes, I have been jumping on it, too. It's really alot of fun and a good aerobic workout. Which is exactly what I need to lose these last few pounds.

Cheerleaders

Earlier this month, our school's varsity cheer squad went to Albuquerque to compete in the State Spirit Competition. And this year they came away with the 1st place trophy!

We decided to surprise them as they came home that night by meeting them at the county line with almost all the village's fire trucks and the ambulance, lights on, sirens wailing, and gave them an escort to the school, where many parents and students were also waiting for their arrival. It was pretty cool to have a 1st place trophy at the school again. There have only been 2 in the last 10 years, and this is the 1st for cheering at our school (though we have had 2 second places before).

Sidelines during a boys basketball game.


Taking a breather after halftime
Timeout cheer
One thing that makes these girls so special is that over half of them are also basketball players. On game nights, those 5 have to go out and give there all for their game first (most of them are starters, too, not benchwarmers. One, a freshman, consistantly scores the most points as well. On Varsity. That same girl is also the only girl on the Varsity baseball team. She got a grand slam a couple weeks ago. These girls aren't wimps), then they have 20 minutes to clean up, change into their cheer uniforms, and come cheer the boy's game. See the girl with the leg brace on the right? She was hit by a TRUCK 2 years ago (before she moved here). In fact, points were deducted during their routines at State for the brace. And we STILL won!! Most of these girls are also in FFA (Future Farmers of America). The State FFA contest was held in Las Cruces the same week as the State Cheer competition. So some of these girls had to go to Cruces first, do their judging, then get their hineys up to Albuquerque for the cheer competition. Whew!!

What's really good is that none of these girls are going anywhere. No seniors, one junior. The rest are all 9th and 10th graders. There were 7 other schools in our division (1A).

And while we are on the subject of cheerleaders. These are the older half (4th and 5th grade) of the elementary squad that I coach. Well, some of them. There are about 12 girls, but I was focusing in on Shelby (cheerleader in the middle).

And here is the younger squad I coach (preschool-3rd grade). Ch'ree is in the back row, on the right.

Congratulations on winning State, Broncos!!!

Elida Tournament, 2008

Last weekend was the Little Dribbler Tourney in Elida, NM. This is our school's first year doing Little Dribblers. Some of the kids have played on city leagues for years, and many have never played at all.

Shelby doesn't get to play a whole lot. She is on a 5th-6th grade team, and her being a) a 5th grader, b) it being her first year playing and c) 12 girls on the team, 4 of which are 6th graders, she doesn't get alot of playing time. But I did catch a couple of shots that she was in the game.

Getting the rebound!

Here she is hustling.

And here on the bench. LOL!

Ch'ree gets a bit more playing time on her team. It's a 3rd-4th grade team. But there are only 7 kids on the team: 2 4th graders, 3 3rd graders (including Ch'ree), a 1st grader and a 2nd grader.

Ch'ree holding onto the ball.

Hey, I got the ball!! Now, who can I pass it to?

She actually dribbled, too.

Drew had a good time in the concession stand. Here is Terminator Drew, checking out the brackets with his nachos and my sunglasses. He'll be back.