I was torn...

yesterday was a pretty emotional day for me...

not only was it my birthday,

BUT

both the kids had events happening that I could only attend one of.

Courtney - dance competition

Tyler - First Tae Kwon Do competition

WHAT does a parent do?

considering courtney has had many, MANY dance competitions already, I weighed the pros / cons and decided that since the TKD was still a new thing to our family ( tyler only started this January ) that he should have his mom at his very first competition!

courtney was okay with my not being at her event as mike and my mom both went with her to support and encourage her on

( i was more concerned with the focusing and warming up...but i have a great family of dance mom friends who took courtney under their wings for the day and also watched out for her )

THANK YOU LORI, SHEILA and SUSAN for your help at the competition!

Anyway...as I was organizing the kids' uniforms and costumes late friday night, i was still really

feeling torn about not being able to be at both of their events.

i'm sure this was the first time of many more to come that i will be put in this

position, but i sure didn't like being in it!!

tyler was going to compete in two events at his competition, and here he is getting ready in line to compete in his Patterns competition...

...tyler demonstrating Basic Pattern One...

here we go!!!

...all done...

...so excited...he won second place in his first event!!

this little award presenting podium was the cutest!

...tyler and diane, his instructor and my cousin!!

Very proud!!

...and one proud and ecstatic mom I'll tell ya!!

way to go little man!!

...tyler's second event of the day was a Sparring competition.

i was a little in shock at this event as at lessons, sparring is always 'no contact'.

so when i saw the first few sparring matches in tyler's group, and saw

LOTS of full contact...i was quite surprised!

i was unaware that at the competition, the kids were supposed to 'attack' and go at their opponents....yikes!!

now i totally understand why i had to buy tyler all his protective equipment!

( i thought it was for 'just in case' he gets hit....not knowing about the full contact! )

ANYWAY...here's some shots of his sparring matches...he is in the white helmet with the red on his chest in all of the following photos!!

-nice kick buddy -

the kids spar for 1 minute, have a 30 second break 'in their corners' and then spar for one more minute in their match...it is awesome!!

the litle girl with tyler in this photo is a classmate of his from lessons, and she was an amazing little personal encouraging cheerleader for tyler ALL day yesterday...what a great kid!! she just took him under her wing and i was pleasantly surprised to see such great attitude and sportsmanship in her!!

...the announcement of tyler's first win in his very first sparring match!!

woo hoo!! soooo exciting!!!

...he then went on to spar with a new opponent and even though it was a great little match, the other little boy won!

( tyler is on the left )

BUT....he won another silver medal for his sparring competition!!

so amazing...so happy for him!!!

...a pose outside after it was all over...

..and then went home for a bbq steak dinner from mike, a couple drinks and birthday cake, and a visit from my mom!

i was hoping to get out for some adult playtime, but everyone was soooo tired after a loooong day of events, that we just stayed home and chilled.

...and miss courtney had a pretty good day at her competition too! she won 3 thirds and 2 fourths and i am very very proud of her!

she had some major drama with dance shoe problems between dances and still rushed out to dance, emotionally upset, but did her best!

i cannot thank my mom and mike enough for taking on the stress of a Highland Dance competition without me there...fending for themselves ( hahaha ) and pulling through

a long long day!! Thank you for all your support and helping making my decision on the days events as comforting as possible!!!

well....i'm bummed out right now...

i have been trying to upload some video of tyler sparring from yesterday, but Blogger

can't seem to upload it...i've been trying for 2 HOURS!

hmmmm...maybe i have to open a you tube account for this?????

'nite all!

:O)