Wildcat Pride Weekend 2011

This past weekend was Wildcat Pride Weekend. As you know, when pep rally's are going, it's the cheerleaders taking center stage! Unfortunately, we realized after we were seated that our camera battery was d-e-a-d. Every parent's nightmare when it comes to your kid's special event. Our good friend, Julie McFarland, was there to rescue us with a few special shots for the night. Another friend of ours took a video, and will be sending it to us soon. I will try in the meantime to figure out how to post a video on the blog so I will be ready to post it when it comes.

Music Please...

Right before the music begins for their performance. Her smile in this picture is classic!

The Varsity football players are entering the gym.

Are you taking my picture?

Karagen did not know our friend Julie was taking these pictures for us so Karagen has a funny look on her face, but I still like this shot.

It was an early morning!

The J.V. WCA cheerleaders as they leave for state camp and competition. This picture was at 5:40am! The bus arrived at 5:45, and they left shortly after, at 6:00am. Left to right: Coach Jen, Emily, Karagen, Marissa, Rachel, Saenea, Lucy, Ashton. Not pictured was Aly, who made the bus by the skin of her teeth around 5:59am. 

Cheer Camp & Competition

This summer our J.V. WCA cheerleaders went to a wonderful camp and state competition for their level of cheer. They took all 3 top top honors- first place: dance performance (aka Home Pom), Overall Cheer, and Most Improved. They were truly exhausted after those 3 days, but became a much closer squad. Along with the aforementioned honors, they were also the first team for the year to win trophies to be displayed at the new WCA campus location! We are so proud of them all. Praise be to God!! The team- back left to front right: Coach Jen, Lucy, Saenea, Aly, Ashton, Karagen, Marissa, Emily, Rachel. You have seen a few of the girls from the team in previous blog updates over the past year.  

Winner winner

Karagen (Spirit Captain), and Emily (Head Captain), just after having won one the Spirit Awards. Karagen is holding the spirit stick that says UCA Spirit. Emily is wearing a ribbon around her neck to display her individual award for All Amercian staus. She won this as a special prize that was reserved for some of the top cheerleaders at camp... you should see this girl do a double back handspring tuck!

The waiting game...

The girls while they are waiting to hear which teams took the top place honors. Coach Jen is on the right (french braid in her hair) telling the girls a funny story about her days as a former WCA cheerleader. Trying to get their nerves settled as they waited anxiously...

Giving thanks

Even though it was a tough few days, they were all so thankful for the experience.

Happy family

We were all very tired, but so happy to be there for this very important event in our lives.

Next up...Summit Camp in Colorado!

This summer, Karagen also went on an amazing adventure with her youth group...to Colorado. This is one of our favorite photos of Karagen. The beautiful girl on her left, Hannah (you have seen her in previous posts), also went to camp and they took this picture on the front deck of their cabin. More information about Summit Camp and photos...to follow.

Left and around: Rachel, Andrew, Karagen, Michael, Jordan, & Thomas at the end. Brendan is across from Rachel in bottom right of photo.

Of the faces you can see- right front and around: Brendan, Hannah, Allie, Emily, Allysa. Rachel is sitting across the table from Brendan.

Front right and down table: Thomas, Mary, Jordan, and Andrew in the far back in blue shirt facing camera.

From left around table of the faces you can see: Hunter, David, Olivia, Allie, Allysa, Emily with her head turned, then Thomas on front right.

Adult table

Adult table with the empty seat on the right being where I sat with some girlfriends. Directly accross from my seat is Maureen Eichenlaub (green/cream top), Andrew's mom, sitting by Belinda Ritter, Rachel's mom. Following down the table to the left of Belinda is Tim and Rosamma Weston, Michael's parents. You've seen Michael a few times in previous posts.

Handsome hubby at the end of the adult table.

Service Project

This a picture of Kk and some friends after having spent a few hours of service to their communty at the St. Louis County Food Bank. left to right: 7th grade teacher (also K's math teacher last year) Ms. Allison Pautler, Emily, Megan, Kk, Rachel, Hannah, and Ms. Ashley Woodal (also WCA 7th grade teacher).

Fun with Uncle Pete

Not too long ago (like it was yesterday, by my blog update reputation), our youngest brother, Pete, came out to visit us before he deployed for Kuwait. He is so much fun to have around and we always go out to places we rarely visit unless he is here. In this picture we were at Dave and Busters. That drink in the middle of the the table is called a bomb pop, it is the fruitiest girly drink on the menu, and it belonged to Pete, even though he didn't want anyone passing by to know it was his. He kept scooting it over in front of Mariah when cute girls walked by...

Will and Pete concentrating on a football game. There's some intense competition in this family...

Bowling

Another night out on the town with Pete. This time we went bowling.

Wrapped in love...

Karagen and her Grandma Jan while Grandma was out here visiting. The beautiful quilt they are wrapped inside was made with love by her Grandma's hands and heart.

Summer at the Muny

Here is cute picture of Karagen and her sweet friend Emily enjoying dinner at The Cheesecake Factory before we went to the Muny to see the musical Titanic when it came through Saint Louis last summer.

Mommy's out to dinner

Melenie Broyles and I while taking our girls out to dinner before going to the Muny last summer.

I just love this picture of our girl and this sweet little puppy we rescued from the pound, Bene. Karagen is growing so quickly, I'm having a hard time getting blog posts up before she has changed again.