Olympics, Olympics & more Olympics

The morning after Michael and I stayed up late watching the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, we woke up bright and early to watch Anna Kate compete in the much more prestigious Kindergarten Olympics!  Henry's Little Bear Heroes entering the stadium... I love how Anna Kate makes an entrance! 

My how things change in a year!  Last year the Kindergarten Olympics was pushed back a week due to weather, so they were held on March 8th. Which was our 10th wedding anniversary and merely a week before Tate's birth!  I was supposed to be on bed-rest, but Michael had to take Wesley to the spelling bee in Orlando, so I had to pick my mom up from the airport.  So as long as I was defying bed-rest, I came to Anna Kate's Olympics, where all the moms fussed and practically carried me to a seat.  I remember being emotionally exhausted from the fears surrounding the entire pregnancy and attempting to give it all to God and rest in His peace.  One year later... just take a look at this perfect, healthy, happy, blue-eyed,  snaggle-toothed boy!  God is good!! 

The kids did all the events, but got to choose three events that would count for competition.  Anna Kate chose softball throw, long jump and hurdles.  -BELOW- Resting and enjoying a snack with best buds Lily S. and Marin while Coach Evans and crew calculated the results.  

Then it was time for the traditional tug-of-war match-ups.  The girls straight-up defeated the boys in the Boys vs. Girls match-up... I kept looking to see who was assisting the girls, but they really did it on their own!  Good job, girls!  Class Dash:

I had to hide near the bleachers with Tate during the ribbon ceremony because he broke into pitiful sobbing tears every time the crowd clapped and cheered.   I love this photo of Anna Kate receiving an award from Coach Evans.  Lots of confirmations of the power of prayer present at the Olympics!  When he found out he had stage 4 cancer in December, one of my thoughts was that LCS Olympics wouldn't be the same this year, assuming he would be too sick.  Such a blessing to have him there running the show!  Our prayers continue to be with Coach Evans and his family as he continues his battle against cancer. 

Somehow Anna Kate ended up with a ribbon for obstacle course, even though she had not chosen that as one of her events, so her finishing time should not have counted.  I know they had a lot of results to calculate in a short amount of time, so there were probably a few snafus. But Anna Kate actually received a ribbon in each of her three chosen events as well, so combined with the team ribbon, she received 5 ribbons... which shouldn't have even been possible.  She was beyond ecstatic.  We Rogerses are not accustomed to athletic achievement.  Ribbons are awarded through eighth place.  She received a 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th place ribbon in individual events, and a 2nd place team finish.  That's like sheer Olympics glory by Rogers athletic standards.  Proudest. day.  EVER.  Parents are allowed to take their children home after the Olympics, but Anna Kate was so proud of her haul that I think she was itching to find some people to tell.  We offered several times for her to come home, but she wanted to stay for the rest of the day.  She was one of only two other kids in her class that stayed, and she was the one and only at carline that afternoon, because the other two kids went to supervision  

Second grade Olympics was held Wednesday.  Wesley's chosen events were the half mile run, hurdles, and obstacle course.  Wednesday, February 26 

That's Angela, Tate's labor & delivery nurse, there in the background.  And seeing as Veronica was still in Angela's tummy when Tate was born, she was also technically present in the delivery room. -BELOW- Porter & Wesley with their babies, Olivia & Tate.  Dr. Langley delivered Olivia just four days after he delivered Tate!

Love Wesley's "attack mode" at the starting line of the half mile run.  He finished 5th.  Maddux, Taten, Caden W., Hyatt, Wesley, and Caiden N. snacking in the stands awaiting results:

Wesley celebrating their tug-of-war victory.

5th place finish for half mile run and 1st place class finish.  Wesley's class has been the 1st place finisher for four years running.  Wes said, "Whatever class I'm in, that class gets the blue ribbon."  He's like the stinky lucky sock.  Back: Hyatt, Bryce, Emily C., Cooper, Wesley, Caiden N., Emilie M., Amelia &  Sean.  Front: Caden W., Jacob, Lauren, Kaleigh, Mrs. Sligh, Grace, Hailey & Ellie. 

This World is not my home

Gateway in the sky tonight. For a second I thought God was beckoning but I was on my way to church so I figured I'd better go ahead and turn.

Lego to a Party!

Today we drove over to Lake Wales for Matthew Barranco's amazing Lego Movie party!  Everything was Awesome!!!  -BELOW- Anna Kate & Caroline

Marin & Matthew with some of their Lego pals.

Lego relay!  Ethan, Wesley, Matthew, Elizabeth, Emilie, Avery, Lauren & Lydia

Anna, Marin, Anna Kate & Caroline.  Such a fun party!

Tate's first time to experience grass up close and personal... not sure what he though of it!  Poor little man needs a haircut.  :-/  Carigan insisted on wearing her Doc McStuffins outfit she got for from Miss Jacquie for her birthday... she shed the jacket sometime mid-party.

You can see Bok Tower there in the background.  Matthew & Marin's dad grew up in this house... one of the coolest houses I've ever seen!  Very French chateauey.

Happy Birthday, Matthew!!!

President's Day of Play

We spent President's Day at Hollywood Studios.  The weather was absolutely perfect.  I used to think the crowds at Disney put me on edge, but I figured out the last time we had passes that it was actually the heat making me crazy.  I've had my fair share of the grumpies at Disney before, but I've discovered that when it's not hot and the weather is mild, they can pack us in there shoulder-to-shoulder like sardines and I just smile and laugh and go with it.  I'm not so easy going in the heat. 

My blue-eyed boy in his Official Tate State:

I'm happy to report that Carigan has adapted to the near-constant presence of Darth Vader near our go-to lunch/dinner spot.  Back in November she hid under the table, literally shaking in fear.  Now Darth doing battle whilst she eats her Cheetos is no biggie.
 
We started with The Great Movie Ride (we keep the girls' eyes covered during the Alien part) and Star Tours, and then watched the Muppet movie before heading to the playground to get our wiggles out before taking in three big shows in a row!  Carigan wouldn't go up inside the "web" of nets without me, so I got my exercise climbing through the course with her three times.  Monday, February 17, 2014 

Tate slept while we played on the playground and while we waited for the car show to start... but it would be kind of impossible for anyone to sleep through all the noise once the show started!  Carigan specifically requested to go to Hollywood Studios so we could see "that car show with all the fire."  You never know what will scare her and what will delight her... I guess there's enough of a separation between the performers and the audience for her not to freak out. 

Next Michael and Wesley rode Rockin' Roller Coaster back-to-back while I took Tate and the girls to see Beauty & the Beast.  Thanks to Tate's stroller, we got to sit right in the middle on the front row!  Carigan balked at first at being so close to the actors, but she soon got involved in the story and forgot to be afraid. 

I could totally kick my leg like that... if I wanted to.  Tate was mesmerized.  My arms were exhausted from holding him as he wiggled and tried to escape the entire car show, so it was a nice break to have him sit happily in his stroller. 

Carigan's face lit up when Belle came out in her "wedding dress."  We met back up with the boys and headed straight to Indiana Jones.  We saw the car show the last time we were at Hollywood Studios, but this was the first time we'd seen both Beauty & the Beast and Indiana Jones since our passes expired years ago.  Wesley was SO excited about Indiana Jones.  He was only five years old the last time we saw it, so his memories were vague, but he did remember some.  

Tate never cried during the Lights, Motor, Action show, but did cry a couple of times during Indiana Jones.  Not too bad though.  One last thing to do before we call it a night... heading back to Rockin' Roller Coaster for my turn with Wesley.  Brief photo-op stop:

I love how Anna Kate still has Cheetos in her mouth.  Lovely.  -BELOW- My brave boy!  They snap your picture during the initial take-off (which is the fastest, scariest part of the whole ride!)... Wesley very defensively assures us that he only closes his eyes because of the bright light from the flash.  ;o)  I'm so impressed that my little boy that cried after Thunder Mountain Railroad the last time we had passes will now ride the fastest coaster in all of Disney three times in one day!  What a champ!

The After-Disney effect... Wesley and Anna Kate had to get up at 7 a.m. for school the next morning, but check out the time on the clock there with Carigan still snoozing away!  Still in her clothes.  At least we took out the bows.  :o)