Busy Weekend! 3/11-14/2010

We started our last trip of gymnastics competition season on Friday morning, we left Adam home after his blue light light from the dermatologist made his face welt, and the sun only makes it worse, so it was just the four of us. We pulled into our hotel around two that afternoon, and after checking in we walked to the Planetarium. This museum was a LOT smaller then the Discovery at the Gateway, but the kids still enjoyed it.







After the museum, we met Grandma, Grandpa, and Kolby at the Red Iguana. We had see this restaurant on Food Network, and have always wanted to try it. When we arrived they told us the wait would be 45 minutes or more. She said she would call the other restaurant that was two blocks down the street that had just opened a month ago. They said they could get us right in, so we went there. We are SO glad we did! I am sure the food would have been just as good at the other Red Iguana, but new equals CLEAN, and the Red Iguana 2 was MUCH nicer than the first one! We all loved our food, and will go back next time we are in the area!



When we drove home from dinner I asked what what going on at the Energy Solutions building, Kolby told me people were there for Disney on Ice. So we all went back to our hotel and I got online to find tickets. Ticketmaster only had the upper bowl available and wanted almost $40 per ticket. Then I checked KSL, and found a lady with four tickets for $120 in the lower bowl, I called and asked her if she would take $100, she said she would think about it and call me back. She called back and said yes! We walked over to the Energy Solutions building the next morning around ten, the show didn't start until eleven, but honestly I wondered if the tickets were legit! We got there and they scanned our tickets and we were in! We walked into section A, and were told our seats were down, and to the right. We started walking down, down, down, until we finally made it to the FOURTH row! I couldn't believe it! Not only were we on the fourth row, we had the isle, and our seats had cushions on them! We all absolutely LOVED the show! I didn't know what to expect, but I wish I would have recorded the kids faces when the first group of characters came out, it was priceless!






After Disney on Ice we met Grandma and Grandpa again for lunch, before Jaden's meet. We had yet another delicious meal, this time at Hoppers. We went to Jaden's meet that was supposed to start at 4:00, we were told they were running a "little" behind. THREE hours later they were finally ready to start. After looking at the score sheet I counted 31 boys in Jaden's age division. My heart sunk. Jaden and his team practice 10-12 hours per week. I knew the other teams that were there practiced 25-40 hours per week.
In the end Jdog scored some of his best scores, but didn't place. Koda started crying when they didn't call his name. Then Bailia, who had been helping score the entire meet, started BAWLING! She said I watched him at every event, he did his VERY best, why did he not get a medal?!? It took everything I had not to start crying with her. I knew how bad he wanted a medal, I looked over at him sitting with his team, I smiled at him and told him he did great! He smiled back at me, but I could tell that he was trying not to break down.
After the award ceremony we walked out to the truck, as soon as we opened the outside door of the building Jdog couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears came pouring down, we sat in the snow covered parking lot and cried together. I think watching your children suffer, might be one of the hardest things about being a parent.
We pulled ourselves together, and got in the truck. Kenna started texting Jdog to see how he did. He was still crying pretty hard, so I sent her a text to tell her that he was having a hard time. They will probably kill me for this, but they are such good friends, and I wanted to keep this for J's journal. They truly are best friends. They laugh together, cry together, support each other, through good times and bad. Here is there conversation from that night, spelling and punctuation has not been changed to maintain its innocence...
How did you do on your meet its kenna
Kenna-This is Marcia-Jdog just finished, there were 31 boys in his age division and he didn't place. He feels really bad and can't stop crying-if you will still be awake in a few minutes I will have him text you when he calms down.
Tell him that I feel bad and that I care about him and then tell me what he says I care about him ALOT
After I told him what she had written, he wanted to talk to her, so I handed him the phone.
Thanks Kenna that really means a lot to me I just really wanted to place. I care about you to I care about you alot kenna you are my best friend
UR mine too you are the best gymnastics player I know All you can do is it best and I am sure you did fabulous
Thanks kenna that is why you are my best friend you always make me fill better! I tryed my best
Great you are going to make me cry
Don't cry I all ready cried enough for both of us!
That is on of the good things about u J u never give up don't cry anymore
Thanks that make me fill good
Well goodnight see u on Tuesday
Thanks I will see you there Love Jdog
He felt a lot better after talking to her, and hearing a few of my failure stories. When we finally made it back to the hotel Jed and Nikki were there. Jed had been to a work party, where they gave him a plastic gold medal-he gave it to Jdog and told him that he took gold in his eyes! That lifted his spirits even more.
Then he got a call from Devin. Honestly Devin is who every coach should model themselves after. He is caring, supportive, makes Jaden want to do his best and try harder. They cried together on the phone while Devin told him how proud he was of J, and that he thought he did great. If it weren't for Devin, Jaden wouldn't love gymnastics like he does.
After the meet on Saturday, Jaden said I am SO glad competition season is over! Then Monday when it was time for practice, he couldn't wait to get there! After having your confidence BLOWN from you just two days before, and wanting to get right back up and do it again, shows how dedicated Jaden is, and it also shows how great Devin is.






The next day the boys slept in FOREVER! They needed it, and woke up feeling rested. Instead of driving straight home like I usually do, we stopped by Grandma and Grandpa Williams house to visit before hitting the road. Travis came over, and our kids had a blast playing with together. Jaded LOVED having a nerf war with Trav, Gavin and Koda couldn't get enough of each other, and Bailia mothered Kimberly and Mariah the entire time.