On February 28, 2013, the MMHS Elleves Drill Team traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in the Contest of Champions. Scott and Kendrick were able to travel along with me since my assistant was 8 months pregnant and wouldn't be able to go. Every year I say, "this will be the last year Kendrick get to travel along with me", but luckily for us, we got one more year to have both Scott and Kendrick go with me.
We left Maple Mountain right after 2nd period that day and traveled to the airport. Our flight left around 1ish that day.
Waiting to board our plane. Kendrick thinks he is one of the team!
We made the team and chaperones Micky Mouse head shaped sugar cookies.
Kendrick and Scott on the airplane.
Kendrick - love his smile in this pic!
Kendrick did pretty good on the flight. We had to change planes in Denver, Colorado, so the first part of the flight was short. He didn't like having to wear the seat belt? Go figure, he wears straps all the time in his car seat?
More pics on the plane.
Kendrick likes reversing it on the phone so he can see our faces!
We made it to Orlando! Our flight arrived at 10:04 p.m. and by the time we got our luggage, boarded the Disney Magical Express and traveled to our hotel, it was near midnight!
We stayed in the All-Star Sports Resort, which is right in Disney World. I had not ever stayed in a Disney property before, so this was a new experience! It wasn't a high-end Disney resort, but it was nice.
This is how our towels were arranged on the bed when we walked into our room! Kendrick loved it!
The next morning we went down to the eating area and Kendrick had Mickey Mouse waffles. He has one in his hand in this pic.
Scott and Kendrick at breakfast.
We walked by this statue of Mickey Mouse every day. Kendrick wanted to say Hi to Mickey every time!
Little did Kendrick know, he was about to meet Mickey Mouse in person!
Friday was a free day to spend in Disney. We opted to go to the Magic Kingdom first. I think a lot of the drill team girls did too. The first ride we went on was Pirates of the Caribbean. Kendrick liked it! He was saying Hello to all of the pirates! Kendrick also went on the merry-go-round. All of the other "kiddy" rides had huge waiting times. Kendrick didn't really understand the meaning of standing in line and why.
Most of the team at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom.
Here he is watching a water/splash pad type thing that had a train in it, so he liked watching it.
We then decided to take a ride on the Disneyland railroad. Kendrick liked it, until he wanted to get off and it wasn't time to get off!
So we tried to occupy him with the camera phone again!
Riding the merry-go-round!
I really like the show. It is different, but cool. Some of the characters in the show are a little bit strange and the show can seem a bit weird at times, but also cool! I think I've seen the show 5 times now! Kendrick and Scott stayed back at the hotel. There's no way Kendrick would last watching the show!
All of the girls - just after the show.
After the show, we had a team dinner all together at Rainforest Cafe. We had to wait a while for our reservation. Scott and Kendrick came and met us there. I was a little bit nervous that we were eating so late and staying out late and we had competition the next morning, but I also knew that the team needed to eat a good meal and were probably hungry. So, we got back to the hotel a little late and had to be up very early!
We met at 5:45 a.m, with their makeup already on and eyelashes! We headed over to the ESPN Wide World of Sports. We had a crazy bus driver, of course, he was asking us if we knew where to go? I was a little bit nervous. But, we made it there. I had not ever competed at a national competition in Florida before. I had only done performance trips. So, this was all a new experience for me!
When we entered the arena and they showed us around, I was very impressed! This competition was what I had always imagined a national competition would be like! All of the others I had been to recently, just seemed like a dance studio competition in a high school.
We competed in the military category at 8 a.m. that morning. Then the kick category at 9 a.m. We just about missed our kick time! For some reason, after military, we went down to where we were changing, and lost track of time. I went up to see where they were in the order and just about had a heart attack, we were on in about 4 numbers! We still had makeup to change, hair to do, oh my! But we made it! Just caused a little anxiety, no big deal!
Here we are just outside of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex entrance.
We had a huge break until we performed dance, so we went back to the hotel to get lunch and relax a bit. We also came back to the hotel in between dance and hip hop. We didn't perform hip hop until 9 p.m. that night.
Some of the drill girls taught Kendrick how to "beat box" on the bus ride back and forth. Here he is with Brooke and Brooklyn. Kendrick loved it!
All ready to compete in hip hop.
Here are the girls with their trophies.
One of the things that impressed me was the stage set up, lights, etc. It just made it feel like you were part of something that was a "big deal".
Minnie and Mickey Mouse made an appearance at the awards ceremony. I thought that was cool! Kendrick was asleep and missed it. It was around 11:45 p.m.
The next day was Sunday, and we slept in a bit. We didn't get back to our hotel until after midnight! We decided to go to the Animal Kingdom park. It was a bit cooler today! I actually was very cold in Florida!
Kendrick thought it was fun to climb on the stools and table. He was content to do that!
Seriously, he could have stayed and played there all day.
Giving Minnie a hug!
And a kiss! :)
And then he had another breakdown. Two-year olds and theme parks maybe don't mix!
We went on the safari ride and Kendrick enjoyed seeing the real animals. He was able to see lions, alligators, giraffes, elephants, hippos, rhinoceros, and more!
We then decided to head over to Epcot. We were hoping to take our traditional pictures in every country, but first went to see the characters.
Pluto and Kendrick
The Disney people insisted on a family shot. I wasn't too excited, I wore a hat that day because I was too tired to get up early enough to do my hair! :) Oh well, I'm glad we did it now.
Minnie and Kendrick.
Kendrick liked playing with the viking sword and shield in Norway.
Maybe he can be a viking for Halloween this year?
Here's a picture of the sunset as we were leaving Epcot.
A few more pics Scott took at Epcot.
Across the water is the tower in Italy.
It was getting dark and colder, so we headed back to the hotel. I went and filled up my refillable cup with hot chocolate and sat in our room to get warm! I was freezing! I also was getting a cold which didn't help matters either! I still cannot believe I was drinking hot chocolate in Florida! Every other time I've been to Florida, I'm sweating or dying of the heat/humidity!
The next day was our last full day in Florida! We headed to Epcot first so we could take our pictures in each country. It was definitely a little warmer today!
First stop - Canada. Kendrick reminds me of the Brady Bunch TV show opening in this one!
He probably wasn't sure what was going on?
But, he smiled for the picture anyway!
The next country was Great Britain. Here we are with the red mailbox.
Kendrick liked the phone booth.
He wanted to stay and play in there all day!
He kept saying, "hello?"
He also liked knocking on the door.
What? Scott and Kendrick coming out of a pub in Great Britain?
That must have happened while I was shopping for chocolate.
This candy bar reminded me of my old roomie, Lauren. She told me Americans don't know what good chocolate is supposed to taste like because ours tastes like wax! She would always bring back these Cadbury candy bars and they were divine! I had to buy one for old times sake!
On we went to France. Here we are enjoying the gardens.
That's Belle, from Beauty and the Beast to the left of us.
Our next stop was Morocco
Kendrick and Scott at the fountain in Morocco.
Kendrick got up on this bench and so we took his picture. We would ask him to pose and this is what we got. He just started posing!
Next stop - Japan.
You would never guess these two are father and son. Kendrick is standing just like Scott and we didn't stage it. Kendrick just did it. :)
Now were are in the colonial United States. Kendrick was knocking on the door.
No one was home.
Just hanging out in Italy now.
Scott served his mission in Italy and was at this actual place before in his life.
Kendrick posing again.
He was having fun!
Then we decided to look at the flowers.
He liked trying to smell them.
Scott and I were looking at the menu of an Italian restaurant, and he pulled up a whole geranium! That was the start of a small tantrum.
He subsided a little while watching the train in the miniature village on the way to Germany.
But it turned into a full on tantrum in Germany.
It may not look like it, but he was crying and wanting to get down in this picture.
He stopped for a minute.
But then started up again!
He decided he wanted dad to carry him.
So, on we continued.
There's a little shopping area that I think used to be Africa? But now they just sell stuff?
Kendrick liked playing with the bongo drums.
He had a good time!
Next country - China.
Checking out the cool dragon made of plants.
Instead of fire, it blew out water/steam!
Here we are in Norway, posing by a viking.
Kendrick had a good time playing inside the little house.
Hide and seek.
Poses again.
More poses.
He loves to pose!
Looking out of the windows.
Wave to dad!
In Mexico, Kendrick tried on a sombrero.
Where is Kendrick?
There he is!
He wanted that sombrero--
But we said, no, too big!
Me, outside of the Mexican building.
We had made our way around the countries of Epcot. Next stop, Disney's Hollywood Studios. We took Disney transportation over to the studios.
Keeping Kendrick occupied while on the bus! He loves talking pictures when he can see it.
More pictures!
We had a good time on the bus!
Kendrick and Mickey Mouse in his Sorcerer outfit.
Scott and I then took turns going on the Tower of Terror. It is one of my favorite rides, so we had to go on it. We did the buddy pass thing.
Kendrick, waiting with me while Scott was on the ride.
He was pretty patient, thank goodness!
We then went over to the Aerosmith roller coaster ride. Another one of my favorites! We stood in the single rider line, because they were not issuing any more fast passes. It didn't take too long to do the single rider. I went first, then Scott.
I read in the brochure that Lightening McQueen was at this park. We walked around until we found him. Kendrick was so excited!
Kendrick standing with Lightning McQueen and Mater!
We also tried on some of the Disney fashions while we were there.
Kendrick had to try it on as well.
Am I too old for Mouse Ears?
Kendrick wanted to try on the ears too.
Dad wanted the Goofy hat.
We opted to not buy any of those hats, thank goodness! Instead, we headed back over to the Magic Kingdom.
Here we are at the entrance.
Closer shots.
We then decided we had had enough and decided to head back to the hotel. There were a lot of rides that we didn't get to go on, but oh well. We had a good time and I think Kendrick had fun too. Especially seeing Mickey Mouse!
The next day we packed up and headed to the airport.
Waiting for the Disney Magical Express to take us back to the airport.
It had been a good trip and I think everyone had a great time. My only complaint was that I had a slight cold. Oh well, I made the best of it and tried not to complain.
I'm really glad I went to the Contest of Champions. It was a good competition and I'm sure I will go back when we compete in Florida. Who knows, maybe next year we will go to New York? I guess it all depends on what the parents vote for. It will be a performance year, since we alternate competing with performances. Either way, I like traveling no matter what!
No comments:
Post a Comment