on the road in Nevada (travel meet)

The Little Giants came home Sunday night from Colorado.  They squeezed in a few practices and a couple days of school.  Then we headed back to Las Vegas for the second time this season. Of course all work and no play isn't going to cut it for this clan. 

Once again we went off trail taking an alternative route between SLC and LV.  It's a good thing they are gymnasts and not part of something like the Amazing Race we would have been the last place team.  As far as we know we were the first to leave and the last to arrive! But it was well worth it!!! 

 Bristol Well, Nevada 

Cathedral Gorge State Park

This time we did NOT stop in Caliente! Creepy!

On to the meet!!!

Good Luck to all the Little Giants

from Utah competing this weekend

in Las Vegas at Brestyan's.

Travel safe.

the skies of Solitude

odds and ends from pikes peak 2018

Beam

Floor

Vault

Bars

art and sky and winter warm

It was the color of the sky that drew me out there in the first place.  The strange rosy glow amidst the winter warm.  Such a winter we are having.  What there is for snow lays rotting like carrion.  There is isn't even rain.

I wanted to look through the lens and see the farm differently.  See the winter ground peacefully sleeping.  But when I looked, it was not sleeping it was dead.  It is hard to believe there is so much land trapped here in the city like this.

I spent the morning binding up fences and closing gates.  Wrapping up long hoses and raking the fallen leaves as if I am on the first side of winter, not the last. 

Seven Falls, Colorado Springs, CO

There haven't been many photos sent home from Beach while she is out on her adventures in Colorado.  Three to be exact.

I am sure her Instagram is better stocked.  These turned up in my email late last nigh sent from the gym owner & fellow gym mom (not to mention Beach's trip mom) on their hike along Seven Falls.  

She had a fantastic meet and most importantly she is having a blast! 

By the end of the day she will be home <3 

from here

From here, there is nothing to do. I sit with my laptop open to the Pike's Peak Meet Results. Under the banner of the host gym it reads: waiting for scores.

You and me both, buddy, I scoff.

This is a King Solomon moment. Scores don't mean anything. They don't tell me what or how she is doing. Scores only say how the judges, who don't know her, think she is doing on this particular morning, on this one split second chance, in a blink of an eye. 

I would trade all the scores I will eventually get for some real information. Beach has been competing since level 3. This will be the 2nd meet I have missed- both over money :C

Before Beach is done competing I will be taking Baby J to 'dan-astics'.  Unlike Beach, she will let me hold her hand through the parking lot. Unlike Beach, she will look for me.

From here, I try not to worry about the details, about food, about rest, about nerves, about fear, about the emotional & social winds of a flock of 14-15 year old girls. Beach is heartbreakingly silent when she is gone. I have to not take that personally.

Yesterday, the only information I received was from a teammate still in town who told me about a snap chat that put Beach with 2 other mates driving from Denver to Colorado Springs in the head coach's car, then one 3 second phone call when they were at the Broadmoor checking in, and a goodnight text to her dad's phone after hours of nothing.

I knew this moment would suck for me.  All I can do is hope that it doesn't suck for her. She is with her people.  She's in good hands.  She has everything she needs.  So we're all just waiting for scores....

Meet Hair Pike's Peak 2018