This was the forth meet for eNeRGy girls team this year. This event was hosted on home turf. Natalie bested her overall performance from the previous week. Scoring on Vault: 8.425 (6th), Bars: 9.275 (4th), Beam: 9.275 (2nd), Floor: 9.525 (3rd), and All Around: 36.500 (3rd). The Prep Op Gold team placed 2nd to a very good team from Durham named Bull City Gymnastics. We’ll need to keep any eye on these Bulls City girls they are super tough!
This was the third meet for eNeRGy girls team this year. This event was hosted at the Greensboro Collesium. Natalie landed her best overall performance of the season. Scoring on Vault: 8.450 (N/A), Bars: 9.125 (7th), Beam: 9.225 (4th), Floor: 9.500 (2nd), and All Around: 36.300 (5th).
Eli was awarded his Junior Yellow belt. He has worked hard at his new dojo. Below is a video from his belt test.
This was the 2nd eNeRGy girls meet for the season and was hosted and held in the eNeRGy facility in Raleigh. The Prep Op Gold team had a good showing landing 1st place overall. Natalie scores were; Vault: 8.450 (7th), Bars: 8.675 (7th), Beam: 9.100 (3rd), Floor: 9.350 (1st), and All Around: 35.575 (3rd).
A year late, however I managed to put together the 2010 Wykleville year in review. I took most of the posts from Wykleville as the foundation and added many additional photos. I again used Blurb to produce the book and FotoFusion as the software creation tool. The “Extreme” version of FotoFusion is still paying dividends and allows full double page layouts and higher resolution. As you can see by the feature photo above, I continued to use Microsoft Autocollege product that to produce a few of the picture collages. It is a very simple program and does a very nice job of merging many images and maintaining the important parts during creation.
The first copy of the book that arrived had a printing error that was quite comical. See if you can spot the mistake.
You can check out the finished product by clicking on the icon below…
Shelley and I took the opportunity this year while on vacation to get some photos taken while in Punta Cana. Below are just a few choice shots, but the full album can be located here.
It’s has again been another successful summer vacation to the Dominican Republic.
It started out with an uneventful flight from CVG to PUJ. Both couples (Wykle’s and Nolting’s) have traveled multiple times to the same resort complex (Grand Palladium) in Punta Cana and knew the routine by heart. The shuttle from the airport to the resort was about 30 to 45 minutes which included a few other drop offs before arriving at our destination. At check-in we were processed by a very nice gentleman named Jose. He was quick and efficient and we both received “upgrades” to better rooms.
Both couples separated and proceeded to unpack and planned to meet prior to dinner. Once reconvening it was apparent that the upgrades were not the same. We had both booked to stay in the Palace. Shelley and I received a loft suite in the Palace, but the Nolting’s were moved to the Royal Suites. The Royal Suites the “all adult” section on the Palladium resort. It has more amenities and has a dedicated pool that only allows people 18 and older. After this revelation, Shelley and I proceeded back to the front desk to now have a nice discussion about our ability to move with our friends to the Suites.
After 45 minutes of friendly (yet persistent) discussions and pointing out several times that we are repeat customers (3 times) to the Palladium resort, Jose agreed to meet us in the middle. Due to considerable price difference (and our unwillingness to pay said difference) between the Palace and the Suites, he was unable to give us a “complementary upgrade”. He was able to relocate our room to an ocean view in the Palace. In addition to the room move, we finagled the coveted “gold” bracelet that allowed us unfettered access to all the Royal Suites benefits. We were able to eat in the Royal Gourmet restaurant and hang at the Suites “adults only” pool. This was a nice compromise (upgrade) and did make the entire vacation even more enjoyable. Thanks Jose! Here are a picture from both our room and pool side.
View from Grand Palladium Palace room 8207
Royal Suites pool scene
The first week seemed to move at a nice pace; relaxed and casual. Andy and I had the opportunity to impress the Europeans with our awesome football passing skills while the girls logged many hours of sun worship, reading, and swimming. Each afternoon (~4PM) the pool would typically liven up as people migrated from the beach and landed at the pool for pre-dinner drinks. We befriended a number of people from Germany, UK, Canada, and US.
Andy and Stacy before mexican food
Chris and Shelley before having some mexican food
Chris, Shelley, Anika, and Marcel
Shelley again…outside the Spanish restaurant
The full album is located here.
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As you can tell by the lack of updated content (last post 02/07…UHG), I’m falling horribly behind on updates to Wykleville. Between work, travel, work, kids, health, work, and self…I’ve only able to post the new Picasa photo albums. With this simple public post, I’m vowing today that I will make a concerted effort this weekend to get back into sync with the Wykleville and make a grand push to bring everything up to present day. After all, this ongoing work makes my life easier at the end of the year when I go to compile the 3rd annual Wykleville blog book. Thanks for the understanding!
We have been in the constant pursuit of an activity that suits Eli. I think we have finally found a fit.
For the last few years, we have driven past the Ichiban Karate School and thought “hummm, I wonder”. Finally Shelley was motivated one day to stop in a check out the facilities. They offered a 2 week trail for $20. You could attend as many classes as you would like. Shelley and Eli packed in as many as they could manage. The main instructor, Renshi, has quite the knack of making the instruction fun. The kids seem to enjoy the conditioning.
Eli is in the “Little Dragon’s” age group. He has been quick to pick up the basic skills and has progressed quickly. He was just recently awarded the Yellow Belt Junior Grade. The attached video shows the awards ceremony.
Eli punches
Eli blocks Renshi’s hit
Junior yellow belt
Eli practicing his kicks
Eli has finally reached the big S-I-X. This year he wanted to have a sleep over for his birthday party. After a bit of waffling and contemplating, Shelley and I decided to float the idea with some of his friend’s parents. Most parents polled seemed agreeable to the idea. We sent out the invitations and 7 of Eli’s friends RSVP in the affirmative. On the official day, January 27th, Eli got to pick his restaurant of choice. He picked Dewey’s Pizza. We ate and proceeded home to open his family gifts.
Look at the 6th birthday loot
Shelley lights the candles on the ice cream
Shelly and Eli
Cool Star Wars collector stamps
More DS games
A shirt with Chewie
Legos rock!
Then Friday, sleep over time, rolled around. The event kicked off with some crazy “run around the house and shoot Nerf guns” time. In order to regain order, we went had everyone sit and eat some chili and grilled cheese. The night consisted of bouts of chaos and order. The night wound down with cake, presents, pictures, and then bed time preparation. The kids then piled on the downstairs couch and watched Star Wars Clone Wars. This put the bunch into a trance and acted as a nice tranquilizer before bed. Everyone went down without issue and the night was considered a grand success.
The 6th birthday cake
Mathew chomps a grilled cheese
Hannah and Eli
Aidan and Eli
Brooke’s gifts
Cody and Eli
Silly face picture
Eli, Cody, and Brooke watching Clone Wars
Boys settling down for bedtime
This event was Five Star’s first event in Bardstown, KY this season. The “My Old Kentucky Hom Invitation was hosted at Nichols County High School. The level four team had a reasonable showing with Brooklyn landing a 1st place finish in the bars and Natalie taking a 3rd place finish in the floor routine. Kate had the level 4 high overall score with a 35.5. This meet was particularly tough because their were eighteen girls classified in the 9 year old bracket.
Level 4 team stretches for the meet
Introduction…salute!
Nice toe pointing, girls.
Natalie shows off the “hops”
Natalie and Kate having a little post competition dinner