Halloween Jam

This past weekend was Halloween Jam. It is the start of a month of recreational cheerleading competitive events. It is what Abby lives and practice for all season. The chance to perform. She is smart enough to realize that no one really watches the girls at youth league football games other than their parents but everyone watches at competition.

I used to say that cheerleading isn't what I would have chosen for her. But you know what? It is exactly what I would have chosen, not because I am trying to fulfill my dreams but because Abby is such a great cheerleader. She is smiley and peppy and loud. She loves to jump around and fly through the hair. She loves to be part of a team but yet shine on her own. Cheerleading lets her do all of that. She asked me the other day if I was proud of her for being a cheerleader and I could honestly answer "yes." Truth be told I would be proud of her no matter what because she is an awesome kid.

So Sunday afternoon, we did the hair, put the paw print on her cheek, dressed her in her full uniform and added some shiny lip gloss and sparkly eye shadow for good measure. We arrived late as usual and she jumped out of the car with water bottle in hand and ran to find her team. Maddie and Abby's little friend M.K. and I were left to pay our admission fee and find seats in the overheated, very loud gymnasium (Bud and Destiny were at Destiny's soccer game).

If you have never been to a cheer competition, it is an experience to remember. Lots of little girls running around, lots of big hair and curls, loud music, loud yelling and just frantic energy from the girls and their parents. Sunday's competition also featured a spirit award for the girls supporter's with the most spirit. So we came prepared with our megaphone, our pom-pom's, our Hoya t-shirts and our loud voices. Maddie came prepared with ear plugs because she hates the noise.

Sunday turned out to be a great day for the Due West Hoya's. Abby's team placed second which was incredible because they were in a category with two other teams that beat them soundly last year. They also won the best choreography award (way to go coaches!!!) and we won the Spirit award for being the most spirited supporters. Go Hoya's!!

It's Kickoff time...

Waiting for the D1 140lb boys to run through the banner

Almost got trampled by the boys!!!

Kickoff Time

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, my name is Abby and I say Hi!

Mouth always open

Our boys

Final Score

Today was Abby's first football game of the season. It was hot, it's always hot the first game (Temp. greater than 90 degrees). The girls cheered their hearts out and our boys kicked butt. Go Hoyas's!!!!

Big Southern Nationals

Well, the day that Abby has been anticipating finally came. Saturday was the Big Southern National Cheerleading Competition. Abby has worked so hard for so many months and it all came down to this one performance. We think she did an incredible job.

(She's the one in the middle)

Abby at the beginning of her performance

Working on her scorpion

Abby with the second place trophy

Abby and Coach Deonte. "Let's go Ray's"

Abby and her Dad. He doesn't always understand cheer but he always supports her!

Two more weeks

I am in cheerleading hell.  I fully acknowledge that after five months I have come to the conclusion that I am not cut out to be the mom of a competitive cheerleader.  I am anxiously counting down the days of this "pre-team".  Two weeks from today and I will be free!!!

What is there to not like?  I really hate that practice takes up two nights of my week with a third going to a tumbling for cheer class.  I don't like sitting in the upstairs glassed-in observatory room that smells most days like a gym locker and old McDonalds.  I hate sitting in a room that has no lights on because some moms have decided that there is a glare with the lights on and that bothers them so the rest of us must sit in darkness so they won't miss a moment of their daughter's performance.

I am okay with the fact that I will never be a "front row honey" peering at my prodigy the entire time she is practicing.  Sitting in the front row does not make you a honey, it is all about your attitude.   Front row honey's are those mom's who arrive extra early to ensure a front row seat because they cannot bear to miss one moment of their daughter's practices.  Some days I smell lots of missed opportunity with a smattering of "I want my daughter to be just like me" in the air in the parents observatory.   The emails that I receive are filled with words like extra practice and mandatory.  Did I mention she is eight years old?

So the question to me always is, "Why did you let her do it?"  The answer is because she has wanted to be a cheerleader since she was four years old.   She worked very hard this past fall on a recreational league team and improved greatly.   So we decided to let her work on her skills by doing this pre-team.  I am actually glad that we did this pre-team because Abby will never wonder what it would have been like.  She actually said the other night, "I will be so glad when this over."

Don't get me wrong.  The gym does a phenomenal job.  They have a top-notch program with some of the best coaches in allstar cheerleading and I never doubt that Abby is in great hands. They have amazing results, recently coming home with seven first place finishes, five second place finishes and several thirds at Nationals.  This isn't your mother's "Firecracker, Firecracker, Boom, Boom, Boom."  Any person that would tell me that these girls are not athletes has not watched them in the gym.   They work so hard during practice and what they are able to do is nothing short of amazing.  Their coaches are hard core and don't tolerate goofing off and inattention.   

It just isn't for us though.  I don't have the ability to act like cheerleading is that important, it isn't.  It's cheerleading.  The hard core mom's are their own brand of crazy and I want no part.   I suspect that nothing that requires that my daughters devote all of their attention and time to it will be on my list of things to become involved in, unless it is schoolwork that will get them into a good college. 

Two more weeks, just two more weeks

Sweet Victory

After three months of hard work, endless practices and long football games Abby's season with the Hoya's ended.     In three competitions they took fourth place, third place and then yesterday FIRST place.       

Due West Hoya's are better than the rest

Come on crowd, say it loud

Hoyas's are the best

Hoya's are the best!!

Abby and Peyton with Coach Rachel and the First Place Trophy

Abby in the cheer pose (note the forced smile)

Avery and Abby with their first place trophies

Homecoming

Saturday was homecoming for the Due West Hoyas where Abby cheers.  She had a great time cheering on the Division 2 100 lbs. and under team.  They won which made the day even sweeter. I think she was more excited about her goodie bag though and the bounce house that she got to do after the game was over.  

Game Day

This fall we became one of those families who run from sporting practice to sporting practice, game to game. I swore we would never be those people which was very easy when the girls were not old enough to be involved in organized activities. I should have know that I would eat my words eventually and for the past few weeks I have. Abby is cheering once again but this year for the Due West Hoya's, an awesome organization compared to our experience last year. Maddie is playing soccer for the YMCA and Destiny is getting ready to begin Tae Kwon Do twice weekly. Add Bud's new softball team and my nursing organizations and I am sure that someone (me) will be crazy by November.

Yesterday was the first game day for both girls. We left the house at 9:15 a.m., returned at 1:00 p.m., left at 2:00 p.m. and got home at 6:00 p.m. Maddie's team won a game and lost a game. She scored her first goal of the season and loved the snack that the team mom handed out. Abby cheered hard , loved the snack and goodie bag she got from the opposing team's cheerleaders and then had a massive nosebleed that scared every parent within 50 feet. (I think it was from being hot and overheated so Daddy carried her to the car and turned the A.C. on quick).

I wish to point out that if you visit the Gamblin's at any point between now and then end of November, our house will not be clean and the laundry will not be done but our daughter's will be well-rounded athletes. At least that is the goal.




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My smiley girl at the beginning of the game

In action, she is number 10 and she scored a goal her first game!!

"Mom, it's hot out here"

Maddie and her good friend, Emma

"That's it, I am out of here. Where is my snack?"

"Mom, it's hot out here"

"One, we are the Hoya's, Two a little bit louder...."

Halftime Show (Our girl is the flyer on the right)

Our Cheerleader

Moments before the massive nosebleed that caused quite the commotion