More Fun at the Beach

I love these boys so much!!!

Someone's Getting Married...

Cubby Proposed!!! We are so excited...

Guitar Hero

For Christmas, the kids received a wrapped gift from Santa, inside was a question they had to answer. Questions ranged from who is your favorite hero to singing your favorite song. Once they answered the question, they picked out a gold wrapped present. Inside the package was a letter. When all the kids opened all the letters, it took them a while to notice the letters spelled "Guitar Hero"... in the closet was the World Tour Guitar Hero band with the cordless mic, drums and guitar.

This is terrific family entertainment.

On Christmas Eve, Meagan's Dad brought over his system for us to practice.


We even got Grandma to sing a song!!!

Christmas Morning...

Feliz Navidad

As usual, thinking about Dad...

The Beach

While, Jordan and I visited my mom at work (she works at the UC San Francisco - Radiology), Jason and the boys went to the beach. Taylor and Tanner took some fantastic photos!

I really like these photos of Taylor. The sky looks so dark on one side and then the sun peeking through on the other. A little reflection of Taylor finding some light at the end of a storm, it's been a rough year for him.

I know Tanner wears that obnoxious green/pink sweatshirt to bug me!!!

San Francisco

The kids have been to San Francisco twice this week. Taylor even drove to the city! Yesterday we went to Peir 39. Busy, busy, busy with loads of people and traffic! I can't believe how much traffic there is. It doesn't matter what time of day, you will hit traffic!!! Of course, traveling with three teenagers, we eat at yet another Hard Rock Cafe. My expensive soup and the kids overpriced hamburgers satisfied our hunger since we didn't eat breakfast and everyone felt yucky driving in traffic and smelling the air freshener that Tanner dropped in the car vent. Yes, my sweet Tanner was playing with the "new car" scented tree and dropped it inside the vent. So when the heater or even cool air in on, you smell melted "new car" scent! It's gross and gives you a headache!!! Sweet Tanner, some days I just want to tie him down!

Taylor and Jordan look like one of the characters from Twilight while Tanner looks like a Christmas elf in that obnoxious green/pink sweatshirt. Jason and I are just trying to survive raising them!!!

King's Family Dinner

In amazing time, we safely arrived to California Saturday morning...this is after leaving a beautiful snow storm in Utah!!! Jason and the kids spent a few hours visiting Santa in San Francisco with Uncle Tom and his family. Later that evening we spent a memorable evening with most of the family on Jason's side. It's been decades since many of us were all together. Thank you Linda for planning such a spectacular event for all of us to treasure!

Taylor, Amelia, Jordan, Tanner and Amelia's friend on a cable car.

Time to go Home!

I can not believe how fast time is FLYING by! Last night we had our last dinner with Cordero. He wanted to take us out (probably sick of my cooking!). We had a wonderful evening stuffing ourselves at Tucanos! I had imagined the day he left would be sad and we would plan a "good bye" party but once again his plans have changed! He decided to move back and finish his Junior year at East and continue training in Salt Lake City. He will spend two weeks with his family who he misses so much while we will spend the next week in California. Taylor is also joining us to California and for the first time I look forward to the drive. Just Jason, me and the kids. It's been a long time coming!!!

The Last Night

We finish this year with much success. I say "we" because so many people play such an important role in Jordan's success. From her dress designer to her choreographers. Her school teachers, church leaders and especially her sponsors and support from Salt Lake Figure Skating club. Strength trainers, massage therapists and pilates instructor. To Mark, the zam driver and Phil at Harlick...her physical therapists at TOSH to those that just encourage her every day. Jordan started Learn to Skate 6 years ago and since that time we have made wonderful friends, gained new family members and experienced life lessons on many important values.

As you can tell, it's more than tying on a skate boot and skating on the ice. It's all about learning who you are, how much pressure you can handle. It's about listening, trusting and respecting others. It's about overcoming pain, frustration and doubt. It's all about setting goals, skating your best and learning life long lessons!

it's also about having fun!!!

After the competition and the awards ceremony, the LOC provides a competitors party. Unfortunately for Jordan and Cordero the theme was "High School Musical". They did a great job with photo booths, DJ, karaoke and a inflatable jumping slide...but the theme was over kill for Jordan and Cordero! Jordan decided to hang out with her new friends and play pool at the hotel until the wee early hours. This is one of her favorite parts, not having to think about how much sleep she is getting, what she should eat, what she is skating the next day etc.

Infact, I don't think any of the skaters were thinking of that!

Cordero's Results

After Jordan competed, it was Cordero's turn! He had a terrrific skate, with one fall! Cordero competed in the last warmup and it was nerve wracking to watch each competitor skate and wait for the scores. We knew he medaled before the last skater and won the 4th place by .01!!! It was an exciting event! We are so proud of him!!! My mother also encouraged him to drag those flowers back to Utah! She carefully wrapped them in newspaper and Cordero took great care and they are safely in water right now!

Cordero finished 4th in the nation for Intermediate Mens!!!

The Results for Final Round

It's about sucking in the difficult moments of pain, frustration, doubt, exhaustion and nerves and experiencing the moment of accomplishment!!! She has trained all year for that moment and she did it Saturday morning! Jordan peaked at the exact time and saved her best performance for the final round at Junior Nationals. Her smiles gave me goose bumps while she skated because she knew she was in control of this program. She wasn't the best skater out there but she was the best Jordan King had to offer. Of course she didn't want to experience her injury the past few months or change her program but I believe it made this final round even more special for her. As Nancy Kerrigan commented on Jordan's program, "She skated a nice clean program!"

After she skated, she was greeted by the camera man from Icenetwork.

Jordan waited in the "Kiss and Cry" for her scores.

While she was waiting for the scores, the ice sweepers gave her the Qualifying Crab

and other stuffed animals thrown on the ice.

She was so happy with her performance!

She received 50.25 and came in 14th for her freeskate.
Those scores are added to her short program 27.15, which gave her an overall score of 77.40.

She finished 15th in the nation!

The Warm Up

Jordan was well rested and excited to compete Saturday morning for final rounds. The video clip is her warm up during the competition. Five skaters at a time receive a 5 minute warmup, Jordan was the second skater in this warmup. I enjoy watching the warmups...you see the skaters determination and how they interact with their coaches. Sometimes skaters have a terrific warmup and then skate poorly. I have also seen many awful warmups, skaters getting off the ice frustrated and very tense waiting for their turn to skate and then pull it all together and skate a terrific program. Jordan had a great warmup and I still couldn't believe how relaxed, focused and in control she was during this competition.

Below is a video clip of her double lutz, double loop, double toe jump.

Below is a clip of her double lutz, double toe.

Getting Ready!

Oh, where to begin...Let's start with the early morning warm up. It was solid, then off to breakfast and then it was time to get ready! She was relaxed, in control and ready to compete. It's exhausting to mentally be prepared for three days of pressure and desire to skate your best. Skaters often have "cranky" moments or "melt downs" during the week of competitions but Jordan was in a completely different state of mind. It was overwhelming to see her so ready for the next event!

Jordan and I before we left for the rink, Saturday morning. The hotel was loaded with beautiful trees, lights and wreaths.

Cordero and I waiting for Jordan's event to start. Cordero competed later on that evening.

The first photo is Cordero and his parents, Jeff and Jo. The other photo is my mom and I.

Friday Evening

Jordan skated in the morning and placed 16th for her short program. She skated very well and we were excited with the results! Later that evening Cordero competed. He was the first skater and placed 5th place. This photo was taken on the way UP the STEEP HILL to our hotel. This is the lobby and yes it was snowing! In between competitions, we had time to shop and Grandma found a new friend...

IceNetwork Photo

Click here to see backstage photo from Icenetwork.
A photo of Jordan was featured...
http://www.icenetwork.com/gen/photogallery/year_2008/month_12/day_12/cf57396.html

Short Program

I remember in 1994 watching the US Nationals at my Aunt's cabin in Tahoe. It was 14 years ago, a year before Jordan was born. My uncles were dying a slow death having to watch ice skating but enjoyed the "drama" that happened between Nancy Kerrigan and Tanya Harding. Today, Nancy Kerrigan is at US Junior Nationals in Lake Placid and is a commentator for IceNetwork. For the final rounds, all the events can be viewed live on IceNetwork and Nancy Kerrigan is commentating the events. This morning as Jordan was competing, I had a flashback sitting with my Grandmother watching Nancy Kerrigan on TV. I never imagined 14 years later, I would be listening to Nancy make comments about my daughter at her US Junior Championships!

She skated well and landed all her jumps. Her spins didn't receive the levels she wanted but overall we are pleased with her performance. She placed 16th and will compete her long program tomorrow...This week has been incredible watching Jordan dig deep and fight hard to overcome injury and perform the way she has. Tonight Cordero will compete his short program (I love this program!) We have another early morning!!!

Today was a very exhausting day!!!

My Friends!!!

She Made It!!!

Jordan came in 8th place!!! She moves on to the final rounds. We started off the day with a great night of sleep, delicious breakfast and a good morning practice. At least 25 skaters were on the morning practice. It went well and we returned to the hotel to rest, eat lunch and get ready for the competition. She was very relaxed. Jordan had 21 skaters in her group. She was the 10th skater, scoring 51.19. Many may not know, Jordan has a back injury that she has been battling for many months. The past 8 weeks has been filled with many doctors appointments, massages and therapy to relieve the pain. She almost withdrew but felt she really could get through this. Fortunately, she didn't give up! We had to make changes to her program to help reduce the strain on her lower back. As she skated today, her jumps were high with a little step out of her double flip, double loop. Her spins were shakey but enough to get her through! Watching the last 11 skaters was nerve wracking!!! I never get nervous watching Jordan compete but waiting for the scores of the last 11 skaters made my heart beat faster. However, if she didn't make final round, I would not be disappointed. She skated quite well considering the past few months and I was already pleased with that. She looked beautiful and determined! She practices late this evening and competes her short program tomorrow at 9:00 am. Cordero competes his short program tomorrow at 8:15 pm!

Cordero, Jordan and Mark

A big storm is coming this evening. 12 to 14 inches of snow!!!

I don't care how sick I feel, I just love this weather. Yes, I have been very sick.

Just love my Nyquil, soup and tea.

and this is the STEEP hill we climb everyday at least 2-3 times!

Mom and I are getting better each day. We can now talk to each other while walking!!!

Qualifying Crab

Among the snowboots, winter jacket and thick sweaters...I also brought the qualifying crab!!! When the kids competed in Colorado at the Broadmoor Open in June, a sweet family purchased this crab to toss out on the ice for our skaters. We noticed that the "Qualifying Crab" was good luck since all the skaters were qualifying to final round when we tossed the crab on the ice.

It worked!!! Cordero competed today and placed 3rd! He now advances to the final round and will be compete with the top 20 Intermediate skaters. The scores start over and he will skate his short on Friday and long on Saturday. We are so proud of him.

Today started VERY early. We woke up at 5:00 am and all of us did not sleep well. I am starting to feel sick (sore throat, ear and body aches). Over night the weather was warm and melted the snow. When Jordan and I left at 6:00 am, it was raining and very wet! Walking down the steep hill was no longer fun but the view of the partially frozen lake was beautiful. Within a few hours the rain turned into snow and it remained snowing the rest of the day! (I loved it!) Of course with snow, comes colder weather...which doesn't feel well when I have a sore throat, nasty cough, and ear ache. I am taking medicine but I fear the walking in bitter cold weather is not helping...After Cordero skated, we went to the very SMALL grocery store for water and they had incredible ice cream that my sore throat was begging for. As we were walking back, I thought eating ice cream in the snowy cold weather, walking up this steep hill must look odd but oh it felt good on my throat.

Jordan competes Thursday and must place in the top 10 to advance to the final round!

Lake Placid

After a 12 hour journey, we finally arrived at Lake Placid and SNOW!!! It is absolutely beautiful... Our first stop was Cincinnati, Ohio to which I almost missed the plane. I thought I had plenty of time to purchase a drink before boarding our little two seater plane. Jordan's coach called me and said, "They are closing the gate...HURRY UP!" Sure enough, Jordan and Cordero were on the plane and I was the last one to board. They were not worried at all, they would have left me there! After arriving in Albany, we loaded up on a shuttle bus for a three hour ride to Lake Placid. We finally arrived at 9:00 pm to the hotel. The Crowne Plaza is gorgeous and it's a winter wonderland. The town is covered with thousands of christmas lights and decorations. Cordero reunited with his parents and Jordan found Grandma! Our room is beautiful and very comfortable. The next morning we woke up to a fresh layer of snow. We walked to the rink that is fairly close but on a steep hill. Going down is easy but coming up is not as fun, especially when it's icy. The facility is huge and the ice arena is terrific. Jordan quickly found her friends throughout the country. She had a great practice and was relaxed and in her element. She loves to travel and she loves to compete!

After her practice, we walked down the main street for a few hours in the perfect winter weather. It's just beautiful!!!While I was waiting in the LONG line for practice ice, Jordan called me and said she was locked in the bathroom at the ice rink. She really was! I could not loose my spot in line and my mom's phone was not working in the building. Fortunately, Jordan called Cordero's mom, Jo for help. Between my mom, Jo, Lisa and the facility management, they found the bathroom she was locked in and got her out. (There are many bathrooms to check!)

Cordero competes his qualifying round on Wednesday and Jordan competes on Thursday...