Father Daughter Cheer Night

By far the main reason Kaitlynn wanted to cheer in junior high as well as the most fun experience of her 8th grade cheer year was a no-brainer: Father Daughter Cheer Night! Last year's event was such a success and hopes were high for Jeff and Kaitlynn to have another fun night together. Of course, the Dads learned all about the expectations of their performance last year, so they made sure to take their jobs seriously and learn the cheers and dances for the big night. Jeff and Kaitlynn practiced at home to an audience, and even Connor and Marie decided to join the fun. There was no shortage of laughs as Jeff tried to nail his role!

When the big night arrived, it was a bit chilly but we were all ready and anticipating the entertainment ahead. Connor and Marie joined us for the occasion, and we all enjoyed watching Jeff sweat as the game kicked off and he nervously awaited the half-time and 3rd quarter performance. 

Finally it was time for the Dads to join the girls on the track, and they excitedly took their places. The girls were ALL smiles and loved cheering alongside their Dads, and most were having a tough time containing their giggles as the night wore on. They performed a few cheers on the sidelines and then made their way to the center of the football field for the much-anticipated halftime performance. Each of the girls introduced themselves and their Dads, and they all tried to outdo one another with the best "trick" they could manage in front of the crowd. It was top notch entertainment and nonstop laughter from the girls and the Moms. These Dads sure are great sports! 

Jeff was SUPER relieved when his performance concluded and he could rejoin the bleachers as a regular fan. We enjoyed watching Kaitlynn cheer on the crowd for what turned out to be one of the best junior high football games of the season. 

At the end of the night, we felt beyond thankful for this fun and memorable experience that Jeff and Kaitlynn could enjoy together, especially considering Kaitlynn's decision to make this year her very last year of school cheer. These are the silly, hilarious, and precious moments we'll always remember with this 8th grade cheerleader and her Sweet Daddy.

8th Grade Sideline Cheer

Amidst her busy schedule with school sports, Kaitlynn was continuing her fall season of sideline cheer with her 8th grade squad. This girl was BUSY - attending weekly cheer practices and football games amidst her hectic schedule of sports, competitive cheer, and tumbling. Once volleyball season ended, it was immediately time for basketball tryouts. Kaitlynn put all her energy into practicing for the new season ahead, which often meant evenings shooting hoops in her cheer uniform, ha! 

Although Kaitlynn started her 8th grade year with high hopes for enjoying a new season of school cheer, she realized fairly quickly that this year wasn't going to be the experience she had hoped for. She loved the time with friends as well as certain highlights from the football games, but overall she was struggling to keep a good attitude amidst the "drama" that came with being a part of the 8th grade squad. She did the best she could at smiling her way through the situation and trying to soak in the memories while cheering from the sidelines. 

Regardless of Kaitlynn's feelings about her 8th grade year of school cheer, Jeff and I really enjoyed watching her and were thankful for this experience and the many life lessons along the way. 

Wrapping up Volleyball Season

Kaitlynn's volleyball season continued throughout the fall and concluded with an end-of-season district tournament during the last weekend of October. Kaitlynn's 8C team played so well and ended up in the championship game only to lose in the final minute of the game. Although it was a disappointing end for her, we were beyond proud of Kaitlynn for putting herself out there and going outside her comfort zone to try an entirely new sport. She had a great first (and last!) season of volleyball, pushing herself to learn brand new skills while enjoying so many amazing moments and memories with new and old friends alike. Here is a final collection of photos from her volleyball experience - what a fun and memorable experience in her last year of junior high athletics!