Classically St. Louis

As meet season continues (and continues and continues and continues), I find myself looking at my children in a different light.  This past weekend was St. Louis Classic, which is the gymnastics meet hosted and run by our gym, Team Central.  Our coaches and parents volunteer and do all the prep work, set-up, awards, tabulating, tear-down, etc.  It's a long weekend, but it's also a lot of fun.

The weekend started early on Thursday night, when I went to go help my awards co-chair set up our two awards rooms.  We organized medals and trophies and made sure the room looked nice.  As I headed out from the America's Center, I discovered that I was locked into the building, unless I wanted to walk three blocks around the outside to get to my car.  After finding someone who worked there, who found another someone who worked there, who found a security guard with a key, I was released and headed out to pick Anna up from the gym.

Friday morning, I arrived at the meet ready to work.  I checked into the Renaissance Grand Hotel across the street and headed over to see what was going on.  The first two session went well and then Anna, Jake and Andy came down to help with awards and see their friends.  Anna wasn't feeling very well, so I sent her home.  She ended up with a 102 degree fever.  Crying, she asked my why Jake had to get her sick (he had been sick earlier in the week).  I told her that's what brothers do - they share!  Friday night, I joined the Knuth, Holtzworth and Swann ladies for dinner at the hotel.  We had a nice dinner and got to hang out and get to know each other better.  It was fun to talk to the girls and get the inside scoop on the coaches.

The amazing men in my life!

My awesome score keeper!

Jake still wanted to help out at the meet on Saturday, so my friend Donna picked him up and brought him down to work.  I didn't think he would want to work, but he was very sweet and made friends with some of the other moms and let me hug and kiss on him all weekend.  He got to flash scores and be a runner, plus he helped me organize the medals again during awards.  Anna was very sad and wanted to come help, but at least her fever was gone and she was resting.  Thankfully, she wasn't scheduled to compete until Sunday afternoon.  After the third session of the day, Donna took Jake home.

Saturday night was spent eating pizza with Terri and sleeping for about 6 hours.  Sunday morning came very early, but the good news was the Anna was feeling better.  She rested during the day and headed down after lunch with Andy and Jake.  Again, Jake helped out and Anna hung out in the hospitality room with Grammie (who also volunteered her time to help).  I got to be the hairdresser of the afternoon and did Katie, Anna, Caroline, Bridgette and Taylor F's hair.

Katie L, Katie H, Taylor, Anna, Caroline's friend, Caroline, Alyssa and Bridgette

The important hug from Coach Troy

Cheering on their friends on Floor

The Level 5 team had a decent meet, but struggled on bars and beam.  Lots of falls...but they bounced back and had a good time - and finished 4th Place as a team.  Anna got her highest scores of the season on floor (9.225) and bars (9.35) and her lowest of the season on beam (8.2) due to 2 falls.  Vault was about average (8.75).  She still placed on three events (Vault - 5th, Floor - 3rd, Bars - tied 3rd) and all-around (7th - 9 year olds).  Considering where her weekend started...it wasn't a bad outcome.

Ashley and Anna

Olivia and Anna

Vault - 5th Place

Bars - Tied for 3rd

Floor - 3rd Place

All Around - 7th Place

Team - 4th Place

Tired girl!

VERY tired girl!

I hope our coaches know how much we appreciate them and the amount of work they put into making this past weekend a huge success!  Congrats Team Central!