Disclaimer: February was perceived with coughing/aching/fever colored glasses.
Feb 4th
I got home from NZ, everyone was sick (the twins and Master D) I hadn’t done any homework in NZ so I wrote a paper in two days — completely jet-lagged (which I should NEVER do). It wasn’t my best paper.
Feb 6th
Took the twins to the dentist, picked up B from the airport and went straight to The twins piano recital.
They both did really great!! Ari played Up & Up and TT played 
We had to leave early in order to get TT back for LaCrosse practice – which the season started again having practice every single night of the school week. And Ari had to cheer at a basketball game.
Feb 7-8
The next day I had a Dr. appt and then school, put Ari on a red-eye plane to Florida with her team for a competition. And then I flew out the next morning to Florida. (I don’t like red-eye flights if I can help it so I didn’t fly with her team). As I was landing in Orlando, I thought my ear drums were going to explode and that was my first clue I was getting sick too. I spent 4 days doping up on cold medicine, tylenol and Advil – dragging my still plugged ears that made me feel like I was underwater the whole time (and lasted 10 days) — back and forth to watch her team practice and then compete. Let me just say Cheer Competitions are BIZARRO world! It could have been the cold medicine, flu, fever and plugged eardrums causing my perception to look like an episode from Twilight zone, but it was a trip! The rest of the time I spent in the hotel room coughing up a lung and binge watching Netflix (I’m all caught up on New Girl). Ari, however, was having a great time! It was a giant cheerleading slumber party in a hotel, going to the Disney parks in between.
Their team did awesome! They were the first team from Utah to ever make it into the finals and then they placed 8th in the nation! Yay Corner Canyon! She’s decided to try out again for next year, hoping to get on the varsity team. She really really loves it! And I am hoping that one of my friend’s daughters, that are trying out this year, make it –so we can go to Florida together next year – and make fun of the super intense entourage cheer moms (some drunk), ginormous bows, club-kid makeup, drama, crying, screaming of a few thousand high school cheerleaders in one place — Bizarro world. To be fair, these girls really are athletes and it’s really fun to watch them do all their cool stunts. I was also very impressed that Corner Canyon’s new principal this year came to Florida with his wife to support and cheer them on and even bought them all dinner one night. I don’t think principals do that very often?
We got home the night of the 13th, and I spent Valentine’s day in bed at home coughing and wanting to cut my head off. The most thoughtful and romantic thing B could do for me at the time was bring home chicken noodle soup — which he did.
We celebrated, sort of……a little later when I was feeling a little better. I went to class again armed with cold medicine, cough drops etc and still had to excuse myself and leave the room when I couldn’t stop coughing. This cough though has been a beast to get rid of and is still hanging on!
Ari had her cheer banquet, where she lettered in cheer which means that she put in all of the time needed, with few absences and kept her GPA above a 3.0. In fact she has a 3.67, while practicing daily, going to school at 6:30 three mornings a week, and cheering at games 2-3 times a week, plus finding time for practicing piano. She’s a tough little go getter! And earned the “Most Improved” award. (yes Lelu she is wearing your clothes, and yes I made sure she put them back)
I can’t believe it’s already March. We got a snail mail hand written letter from Lelu last week and expect to hear from her in a few days. Sounds like her own outdoor mini-mission of trials and joys…..Hopefully she’ll be able to email some good photos and a more detailed update about her life transforming walk-about. We miss her like crazy!!
I saw this quote the same day I got her letter: 