Author: Ruth

Today we drove down to Ft. Cherry for the PA Junior Championship Road Bike Race.  All three girls raced.  Ana and De did 16 miles in the 10-12 year old group, and Jenya did 32 miles in the 13-15 group.  Jenya was the only girl in her group, so she came in 1st.  Ana came 2nd in her group, and De came 3rd.  Biking seems to be the opposite of figure skating – lots of boys, very very few girls.  

Before the race:

32 miles later, Jenya comes across the finish line:

Summer clothes shopping at the JBF sale.  Giant consignment swap of kids' clothes – love it!

On the way back from Charleston, SC, Ana and I stopped for me to do some work, and she got an informal tour of a working manufacturing plant.

After Program Components Camp, Ana and I spent several days in Charleston, South Carolina.  We went to the beach at Isle of Palms, and Ana collected shells and tried surfing.

 

We also went to Magnolia Plantation, and Ana enjoyed the superb gardens and really impressive petting zoo.

Ana and Ben were able to attend the USFS Program Components Camp in Charleston, SC this weekend as a pairs team.  We drove down on thursday and friday, and friday afternoon they did STARS fitness testing.  Then they spent the rest of the weekend in a very intense skating camp — 10+ hours days with 5+ hours on ice and lots of off ice classes and training. 

They were in a group of other pairs and dance teams – 4 teams total.  They learned quite a lot and had a wonderful time.  Unfortunately Ben had to leave early, so one of the expert skaters helping run the camp was kind enough to skate the show with Ana. 

 

 

A nice trip to Columbus for the Rhythmic Spring Fling.  It's easily the biggest rhythmic competition in the season so far, lots of competitors from all over the world.  It was at the Columbus Convention Center again this year.

De competed Friday morning, and had a very nice floor routine (4th out of 12):

 

We enjoyed our usual Columbus meals at Culvers, and had an uneventful drive – overall a very nice trip!

Somehow this just happened – everyone reading their Life of Fred math book at once.  Not posed!  If it were posed I would have included De and her Fred book too.  :)

Today was Shamrock Skate, our local ISI competition.  We spent the day there, with Jenya and Ana competing, and all of us volunteering.  Jenya and Ana both premiered their new freeskate programs, and Jenya also skated her minecraft program – the one she choreographed herself.

 

Ana competed her axel for the first time, and had two clean axels!  Very cool.  And she won her group – 1st out of 3.