Countdown is on for Ontario Championships with my cheer team. I cannot wait!

He said

The past week for Emelia has really been focused on getting ready for the Ontario’s which will be this upcoming weekend in Kitchener at The Aud. It’s a two-day competition that will run Saturday and Sunday morning. The team has been working really hard at rebuilding the routine and getting it honed in. In fact, their practice last Sunday was one of their hardest and most focused yet! The girls looked exhausted after running through and picking it apart over and over again. But, if the video that Danielle sent me of their progress tonight while I was at work is any indication, they will have a great competition as the routine is looking great. The hard work is paying off.

This week Emelia started her second semester of Grade 10 and by all counts she is really happy with this semester. She’s happy to have Grade 10 Math behind her and to move into Spanish, Civics & Careers, Science and, Gym. Spanish is being taught by one of Emelia’s favourite teachers from last year so she is excited about that class. And, her Gym class has the largest collection classmates she calls friends, and most notably, Grace is in it with her. But overall she is happy with this collection of subjects, especially because she ends her day with Gym!

The other big news this week was I was able to get out for not just one, but four bike rides outside! I have finally put to rest the hold February had on my goal of getting in at least one ride in every single month in the year. Last year, winter really made a big play through the entire month such that I just couldn’t get it done. Well, the weather this week took a very favourable unseasonably warm turn and I was able to get rides in Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and again today! With that out of the way, it’s really the only road block in my way. But, the best part is the weather looks like I still should be able to get in a few more rides this upcoming week.

So naturally the focus this week will be all on Ontario’s. Allegiance will have one more practice on Tuesday to finalize whatever they need to in order to be ready to go Saturday and Sunday. Because the competition is only in Kitchener, we’re going to drive down and back both days. While we do have to check in by 8am on Saturday and that does mean an earlier than we wanted departure it does mean Emelia can sleep in her own bed which is so much better for her. We’re really hoping this is their best weekend of performance and results yet, this year! We’re crossing our fingers.

She said

It is hard to believe that Emelia is already in her second half of grade 10! I was told by a few friends who have older kids that I will be amazed how fast high school goes by. And were they right. It is hard to believe that Emelia will put in her final class choices for grade 11 next week. These courses unlike when John and I were in high school when your courses for university application did not really hit until grade 13. Now for high school students their grade 11 and 12 grades can impact their application. It is crazy that 15/16 year olds are making decisions that could impact their university career. Emelia has a program she is really focused on and is planning her courses around that.

By all accounts Emelia’s first week in second semester is going really well. She is really loving her courses and teachers and is excited for the term. She was a bit nervous about one course because she doesn’t have any close friends in that class but has settled in really well. The week has gone smoothly and she is balancing school, friends, sports and work really well.

The biggest focus for Emelia this week was with her cheer team. After a some rough practices a few weeks ago things have started to come together. The pressure on Emelia has come down and her focus is laser focused. The coaches have been working the kids hard and it is really paying off at practices. The kids have had some cleaner runs of their full outs and we are really hoping that these changes and hard work will play out at next weekends Ontario Championships.