Rylee's New Life and Family

Cheer leading is a world all it's own and we are slowly learning all about it.

At the first parent meeting Rylee's coach told the girls to look around at each other because the girls in this room will become your new family. She told them they will be spending so much time together and she wants them to become like a family only to treat each other even better than they would their own siblings.
Rylee has to be at practice each morning before school at 6:15 a.m. They practice and then all get ready for school together. They will continue to practice during the summer and have cheer camp for a week during the summer and have practice everyday all year next year before school. Rylee gets her self up and ready everyday. She has learned if she gets all her stuff together the night before she is not as rushed in the morning. She is slowly realizing she needs to go to bed a bit earlier each night so she is not as tired.
Last weekend they had a "get to know you party" at one of the girls homes. They BBQ'd and made s'mores around the fire pit. They made up cheers and watched a cheer movie. The captains gave each of the girls a gift bag with matching t-shirts, flip flops, earrings, and hair bows. They all wore them to school today since they had a safety clinic after school.
It is neat to watch Rylee learn new skills (hard work, dedication, sacrifice, friendship building, respect) that will help her in her life and build new friendships. I am looking forward to watching her grow and mature throughout this next year. I am learning how time consuming and money consuming cheer leading is but the excitement in my daughters eyes is worth it all.


Here is a picture of Mike escorting Rylee when they introduced the new cheer leaders at this year's Cheer Review. You all know that Mike hates to dress up and sitting through an hour or so of cheer performances isn't really his idea of a way to spend a Friday night, but what an awesome dad he is. He did all without complaining. When I thanked him after for being such a good sport his reply was that he did not want to do it but he wouldn't miss it for the world. It's for his little girl and he knows how important it is to her. One of the reasons I love him!


Here is a banner that was hanging up at their party this weekend. I wish I had gotten a picture of all the girls together.


Here is one of Ry in her new shirt! She had a blast at the cheer safety clinic today!