Visit to Uncle Scott's House

Sunday, July 11 - Sunday, July 17, 2021

After the Troy competition, Emily headed for Boone with Grandma to visit Scott, Karen and the kids.  She had really been looking forward to this trip and I think Grandma was happy to get all the grandchildren in one place together again.  Due to Covid we missed the normal holiday visit.

Since I was not initially part of this trip, I cannot report all the goings on, but from the few pictures I did receive, I can tell that hiking was involved.

   

It was also reported that Emily was a big help with her cousins and that they all had a blast playing all over the house and in the backyard.  I got to go down to visit on Friday and see Scott's house for the first time.  It is really nice and so much bigger than the old house.  Lots of space for everyone.  Scott and Karen were also kind to help me celebrate my birthday while I was in town - I got all my favorite things: Family of course and also a starbucks gift card, ice cream and cake too!  And we got to make a quick trip to the outlet mall for some shopping!  We also visited a little park with a pond - the weather was terrific.  It was a great trip!

   

   

Cousin Love.

Troy Figure Skating Competition

Friday-Saturday, July 9-10, 2021

Wow!  What a weekend this was!  We started out our skating weekend with practice ice at Troy on Thursday night where we met up with Heidi, Cate and Carri.  Then we headed to Marion's for pizza and Graeter's for ice cream!  It was fun showing them all a little bit of my hometown.

   

Then on Friday morning, we headed back to Troy for more practice and then Cate skated her freeskate.  She fell on her doubles, but managed to come in 4th.  We had some time to kill in between Cate's performance and Emily's so we drove down to The Greene and had lunch at Brio.  Not crowded at all and good service so that was a win.  Then the girls hit up a few shops (Lululemon of course) and then it was time to part ways.  Emily headed back to Troy for her Short Program.  She loves this program and we only worried about one of the jump combinations.  Unfortunately, she missed the second jump in the Lutz combo and then fell on her double flip too.  So, she came in 8th out of 9.  She was very disappointed - too bad too because the pics were great.

   

  

   

After a good night's sleep, she was back at it on Friday night for the Intermediate Ladies Long Program.  This time there were 14 in her group - the biggest group she has ever skated against.  We worried a little that the disappointing short, might make a come back in the long a struggle, but boy were we wrong.  She skated in the first group of skaters (which she was very happy about) and she seemed pretty relaxed about the whole thing.  

   

  

   

   

When her turn came, she completely killed it.  Nailed the double lutz, double loop (although she did miss the double toe) and she landed all of her other jumps completely clean.  Even her spins looked pretty solid.  After she skated she was third overall.  She remained in third all the way through the rest of the night. (even beating quite a few of the Mt. Lebanon girls)..until the very last skater, which pushed her off the podium and into fourth.  But I can promise this was the very best gold ribbon ever.  She has never been so happy to get a ribbon.  What this competition seemed to prove to her, once and for all, that she belongs in this level and when she skates well, she can score as well (or in this case better) than many of the other skaters.  What a night this was!  So exciting!!!  And we celebrated with - what else? - Graeter's!!!

     

4th of July

Sunday, July 4, 2021

As much as I love all of our travel adventures, it really is true that there's no place like home - and that is exactly where we spent the 4th of July.  I absolutely love when we get together with our neighbors, the Johns, and even more in the summer and on holidays.  All day today just felt like summer.

We started our afternoon with some fun for the kids.  We got water balloons and chalk bombs and the kids chased each other alllll over the yard.

   

   

   

   

Then it was time for our cookout celebration and dessert party!  I made some easier desserts this year since we had just gotten home from Sun Valley they night before, but they were all still fun, festive and pretty tasty!

   

   

Once the sun started to go down, it was time for sparklers, poppers and the fun fireworks with the parachuting guys inside!  This year we didn't launch any into the trees!  It was also time for the guys to set up all the equipment for safe fireworks!

   

   

When it was finally dark, it was time for the main events - sparklers, fountains and fireworks!  This year's show was definitely the best yet!

   

   

   

Happy Birthday America!!

Sun Valley - Saving the Best for Last

Friday, July 2, 2021

Well, we saved the best part of the trip for this final post - WE MET SCOTT HAMILTON!  I could hardly believe it.  Daniel and Emily went out, just for kicks, to one of the late afternoon public sessions and I looked over to my left and sitting right there in the stands, just a few feet away, was Scott Hamilton.  I didn't want to be intrusive, but once someone else asked if he would be in a picture, I was next in line.  What an amazing experience!!

Friday morning was our last morning at Sun Valley and Emily had one less class today so we took advantage of the open time slot and went back to Konditorei for one last breakfast.  This time we sat down at a table and actually ordered breakfast.  Emily had hazelnut crepes and I had the most amazing granola banana pancakes ever.  So yummy!  I also had one more iced snowball mocha. Can't pass it up.

Then after a little more skating, and returning of the bikes we rented for the week, it was time to head out.  We drove back to Boise, stayed in a less than desirable Fairfield Inn and hopped on our flight home...first class (thanks again Daniel) so it wasn't nearly as depressing.  What a wonderful week we had.  I would definitely go back.  I think everyone found something they really loved.