Spring Break 2015 Coming to a Close

...Good night noises everywhere.

Volleyball

I never thought I would be enjoying volleyball this much but Syd is getting better with each game, and it's fun to see that. I think she's liking it more too although I don't think she would admit that. She's tough to figure out. Even more so as a teenager. 

I got to bond with her a little the last couple of days. She invited me out to hit the ball to her. She is so consistent with her passing that she rarely misses my hits. The time I'm practicing with her will  be one of those times I look back and feel happy that I got to hang with her.

The last couple of tournaments have had their challenges but the team is really coming together. This last week the girls had a game in la vernia, east of San Antonio. The four girls on our team that live in our neighborhood rode to Schertz the day before the game with the rest of us in tow. It was kind of fun to be out of town together even if for a short trip. 

The next morning the tournament began at 8am. We were there about 830. They started out with an expected win but had a much harder time the rest of the tournament. 

More than anything else I want to Syd to feel what it's like to be part of a team. Last season seemed tougher in that regard. This year she's connecting with more of her teammates and experiencing what it's like to play on a club team. I see them winning more often this season but also really working together. 

It's gonna be fun season. 

Round Rock Sports Center

Look Ma, no training wheels

So this week Kiley and I ventured out to attempt to ride her bike with no training wheels. We tried first in our driveway. A really short distance that I thought might be far for starting out. To my surprise she rode the distance without any help and with no falls. We were so excited!!!

This journey started about the time she was going to do her first tri. I wanted to see if we could get her started on the bike rides without training wheels. It was more for me than her at that point. I knew she could do it but she wasn't ready and I didn't want to force something that often happens by itself. 

So we hadn't really tried again since. She's been riding her scooter to school and I suspect the balance required for her scooter helped her move to the bike more easily.

This Christmas she said she wanted a new bike. We had already been thinking about it since the summer and considered it for her birthday but her focus was on other things. So we are very excited to have her new bike hidden in Jake's closet. 

I went to pick it up a couple of days ago and when they rolled it out I almost cried. Sad but true. One, because I wouldn't have to put it together and two, I was really excited for this stage in Kiley's life (and ours). 

I can't wait for Christmas morning. I'm sure we'll be out on the road bright and early. :)

Getting ready for Christmas morning by making sure she can ride without training wheels. As you can see she has outgrown her current bike. 

Number 6

Yesterday Kiley turned 6. Pretty amazing that such a short while ago.... Everyone says that don't they. :)  and it's true. Time moves very quickly. When I think about how quickly jake and syd have grown its wild. I first met them when they were in 1st and kinder and now they are teenagers. 

Jake has tried his hand at sports and didn't quite find his groove. He's traveled the world to many places most adults have not visited in a lifetime. He's started a business venture where we saw him mature in ways I could not have imagined. It didn't take off this time but he's looking for the next big thing. We can already call him an entrepreneur and he's only in ninth grade.

Syd has visited the same places as jake and more. She has developed into an incredible athlete where she uses her height and size to her advantage. She is a force to be reckoned with. She has a love for animals that is so sweet. She has a hamster and bunny that she cares for each day. And two beastly dogs that love to dance with her and slobber her. I think she secretly likes it. 

Kiley has learned so much from them in these six years. Jake teaches her the ways if the world each day. He says. "Kiley have fun in elementary school because it becomes work after that". He says, "Kiley, you don't have to follow all the rules. Be yourself."  Sydney has taught her competition. She doesn't let her win without a fight. When they play in the pool Kiley has to work really hard to hold her own in finding rockets on the bottom or racing across the pool. Syd keeps her focused and sometimes frustrates her but all in the spirit of competition. Because of that Kiley is playing soccer, doing competitive dance, she swam on a team this summer and wants to continue doing that, and did her first triathlon a couple of months ago. She says swimming is her favorite so we'll keep her busy with that after soccer finishes in November. 

And now she's six... At her chuck e cheese party her sweet brother and sister and some of friends combined their winnings to get her the biggest slinky ever. She loves it. It's impossible to know what she'll be like when she's a teenager but if she follows in her siblings footsteps she'll be doing very well. 

Happy 6ixth birthday sweet girlie. 

Made from a scratch except for Ariel (syd and mom)

Lots of friends

Actual birthday dinner. 

Crazy girl at school lunch

Spying through the blinds (ballet, one of three dance classes each week)

Mr. Rabbit Man!

It's been a full day since Mr. Rabbit Man joined his new family.

He lived at House Rabbit Resource Network (http://rabbitresource.org/) for a about 2 years before Sydney found him. He was one of the few that she was introduced to on their website. It's a non-profit made up completely of volunteers who love bunnies.

Back in May 2011, Syd began a campaign to get a bunny (http://ryan-ortiz.blogspot.com/2011/05/subliminal-message-bunnyplease.html). It pays off to be persistent. She never gave up on her quest. When it came down to it, Syd did all the research and filled out the application once we gave the "ok". She found a cage, all the supplies to make the bunny happy, figured out what food he would enjoy, helped move furniture in her room, everything. (okay, not everything she was present when all the furniture in her room was getting moved to accommodate the pretty big new habitat for her little critter) even if she didn't actually do the moving.

Kiley loves that her older sister has a bunny and has offered to help take care of MRM.

The puppies may meet him next week. Syd thought it would be better not to scare him right away.

Colin's Hope Tri - Kiley's First Ever

Kiley was so excited about doing this event. A few weeks before we ran through transitions. She was great the whole way. She says she loves swimming the best but I can see her doing really phenominal on the bike and run too.

Courtney helped her through through the transitions and I took some pictures.

We are really proud of her first effort in this very cool sport.

Club Jollyville

She's on the team!!!

This past weekend sydney went to a tryout for middle blocker. I don't think she was at all nervous about it but Courtney and I certainly were.

Syd hadn't really practiced this summer and had petty much decided she wasn't going to play. When we found out the team she was on last year was not going to have a U14 team Courtney looked around for another option. She found Club Jollyville. Such an outstanding program. It's very mature and we believe it will increase Syd's skills and build a team mentality that she has lacked in the past. 

When we arrived I thought the whole team would be present but instead it was the Club Director, the U14 coach, and one other strong blocker who was trying out for U15. 

The other girl was a strong freshman volleyball player that was the only one to make the JV team at Westwood. Syd stayed with her every step of the way. Syd was obviously tired towards the end but we talked about that before the practice so I knew she was ready when her muscles to start giving out. 

She powered through and after the tryout  they were both offered a spot in the club. I was ecstatic!! So proud of our super strong, super tall athlete and role model for her younger sister. 

2014 Club Jollyville tryout