Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions pics

Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions 2012

September 27th 2012

Maverik Center 

{click HERE for story}

I'm gonna make this place your home

 {click HERE for pictures}

A little girl once sat on her living room floor, mezmorized by the flipping gymnasts on the screen. She watched them soar through the air, and land perfectly on a mat while the croud erupted in screems and cheers for the gymnasts. She dreamed of one day meeting these gymnasts. See, this little girl was not like the other girls, while others sit on pinterest fangirling about One Direction, and Justin Bieber, She spent long hours in the gym, and always had her nose barried in USA Gymnastics magazines. Some of the other girls had their walls plastered with pictures of their favorite actors, or their favorite singers, but she had her walls plastered with posters of her favorite gymnasts. She wondered what she would say to them if she got the chance.

This little girl became one of the "big dogs" at her local gym. She worked hard. When ever she would start to lose sight of her goals she would watch the recaps of her favorite Olympic moments, and remember the joy she felt when she made her first National Championships, because to her, a National Championships was her Olympic Games. She watched the recaps of her favorite athletes, and their greatest moments. She dreamed of meeting them.

This little girl turned 16. For her 16th birthday she asked for tickets to the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Championships. She wanted nothing else. The show would be held at the Maverik Center on September 27th 2012. She expected to go with just her parents. She expected to sit far away. But she didn't care. She just wanted to go.

One day she got her tickets...and then some more came from her dads work... and then some MORE came from her aunts work. She counted the stack of tickets in her hand. She counted again, certain that she had made a mistake. She hadn't. 21. 21 tickets to the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Championships.

She invited all her closest friends. She invited her family, she invited her favorite team mate. She picked her seats.

She sat on row 11, close enough to see the faces of the athletes.

The grand day came. At the moment she saw the arena she started to squeal with her team mate. She joined the rest of her friends that rode in the other car, and together they entered the arena. They got signatures from her favorite colledge gymnastics team. They went to see what was upstairs. A lady approached her. A lady she did not recognize. The lady told the girls father that she had one extra meet and greet pass. One extra pass that she wouldn't be using. The lady asked them if they wanted it. The girl stood in shock. She was going to meet her idols! She started jumping up and down. She started squealing. The lady handed her the red wrist band and left. This lady never will know the joy this little girl felt that day.

The group split up to go sit in their seats. The girl and her favorite team mate headed down to row 11, seats 18 and 19.

They took pictures of the arena. They cried when they heard the audio from some of the greatest Olympic moments. They cried when their favorite gymnasts came out. They cried when they heard the song Home. They watched the greatest performance they had ever seen. They took lots of pictures. When it was announced that the show was over the girls stomach flipped. She was about to meet her biggest idols.

They found the girls parents and she took the camera. She said she would meet them in the front soon. She left all by herself. She joined the mob of people with red wrist bands. She bought a program. She waited. She walked into the room. The view of her favorite athletes blocked by a line of people, and a big meet and greet sign. But she knew she was now standing in the same room as the last two Olympic all around gold medalists. She saw her favorite athletes. She talked to them. They said happy birthday to her, she tried not to cry. This moment was a dream come true.

She walked out of the arena and hugged her team mate. She showed the signatures to all her friends. She got floated the whole way home, while playing the song Home by Phillip Phillips on her iPod. This song will never play the same in her mind. 

crossing the Delaware

I french braided my cousin Spencer's hair today while we watched the closing ceremonies. Haha isn't it cute?!?

Today was a normal Sunday. I saw mama Loureiro at church today. That was kinda weird. I said hi to her and talked to her for a minute. (she was their for a missionary homecoming in our ward.)

Did you guys get sick of girls camp posts? because I did. That's why I just stuck with pictures for the last few days.

I got my schedule for high school yesterday. HIGH SCHOOL! This is actually happening. This little girl is going to be in high school in 22 days! And I am going to be 16 14 days after that! Crazy stuff!

Today was the last day of the Olympics! I absolutely LOVE the Olympics! I'm kind of an Olympics fanatic. While we where watching the closing ceremonies I french braided my cousin Spencer's hair. Then he pretended to cross the Delaware. haha it was funny!

GUESS WHAT! I start work at Bowmans on Thursday! (as a facer) AND I start coaching again on Tuesday. I'm quite happy about this! And I'm really glad I will have some $ soon!

Sorry that was kind of a post about nothing.

Astalasagna!!!

Hey guys! I'm leaving for 4th year hike & girls camp tomorrow morning! My last vacation of the summer :( hope everyone has a fantastic week and I'll write again in 6 days. Astalasagna!!!

true Inspiration "You can do it!"

CLICK HERE!!! to read something REALLY cool! It's called the Rice Experiment. READ IT!

(Remember how my team named me White Rice?! Well use kind words to me or I will rot! haha)



So yesterday I watched Gabby Douglas take the all around gold in womens gymnastics. So proud of her and her golden smile. Her smile is contagious! I'm also proud of Aly for proving everybody that she was a contender. She finished third, but lost the tie braker, so she is ranked 4th. I'm even more proud of Jordyn Wieber and how she has been such a good sport through all of this. Seeing her in the stands cheering for her team mates compete in the event she didn't make was truly inspiring. She said she would be the loudest person in the stands cheering for Gabby and Aly. Sure, it's heartbreaking, but Jordyn has been so supportive of both Gabby and Aly. I want to be just like her in terms of being a great team mate. That is the true spirit of the Olympic Games.

Hey did any of you know that if you unscramble "DOUGLAS" you get "USA GOLD"  ?! Mind blown!!! It was meant to be.

Today I watched Phelps win his last Olympic medal. Phelps will always remain a ledgend, and a true inspiration to me. Another swimming inspiration of mine is Missy Franklyn. I just can't get enough of her!

Today I watched Trampoline in the Olympics. That inspired me to work harder on my new trampoline passes, because I don't work as hard on trampoline as I should. Now don't you think it's time for Power Tumbling to get a spot in the Olympics????? I DOOO! Please Oh please oh PLEASE!

Today I watched a segment on the Magnificent Seven. It was extremely inspiring! (it was so great I had to record some of it with my iPod so I could play it again later) I hadn't been born durring the 96 Olympics but I have relived the moment many, many times on YouTube, and I have also read several of the Gymnasts books. This was a fantastic segment! And if any of you missed it SHAME ON YOU! My FAVORITE part was when Bella Koroli said this (talking about Keri Strug)

"This is a proof to me. That everything on earth is possible. This is a living proof that every child no matter be calling her the little baby or the little mouse, she can come out with the greatest, most courageous performance of the time when everything is on the stake." -Bella Karoli

I was sobbing by the end of thoese words. Sobbing. (I know, I know, I'm a sap when it comes to inspirational sports stuff) I was sobbing because there have been times recently when I've felt like others don't believe in me. These words made me feel like I can do ANYTHING. I may be the smallest, and not the most tallented, but I am willing to work the hardest. Like Bella always says "You can do it!"

another thing that has helped me get out of this slump are the words my coach Jake posted on our teams facebook page. He said:

The truth is that the difference between good tumblers and great tumblers is very, very small. Tumblers who can flip, whip, spin, and double up, are a dime-a-dozen, but tumblers who have the uncommon level of desire to become the best are very, very rare. You have to be willing to do things that other tumblers aren't willing to do in order to separate yourself from the competition. Because it's those things you choose to do when no one else is watching that will make you stand out from the crowd. The words “I CAN’T” are never spoken, and are never thought. When the going gets tough, these individuals persevere through the pain. When passes become nerve racking or scary these individuals push past the fear!!! As coaches we can teach you skills, but we can’t teach you heart or passion. YOU AND ONLY YOU can find this! THINK BIG!! and you will be one of the few on top!!
JUMBOLIA

(Jumbolia is his food name we gave him on Wednesday) Don't those words just make you want to go do something fantastic?! I thrive off of this kind of stuff! This is what motivates me. These are the things that make me feel invincable. I can't wait to get to the gym in two weeks after Girls Camp!!! (I'm still dissappointed that Girls Camp fell on the same week as Tumbling Camp! I'm so sad I can't be in Logan with my team tumbling every day! But there will be others.)


I can't wait to watch Womens Trampoline tomorrow, along with the last of the swimming events. Can I just tell you how much I LOVE the Olympics?? Well I do.... A LOT!

Feel my Sunlight

Jordyn Wieber | My Journey

Jordyn Wieber: London 2012 Profile

USA Swimming Performs 'Call Me Maybe'

Phillip Phillips -- Home -- U.S. Olympic Team Trials Gymnastics

Fab 5 Golden Girls

Mckalya Maroney's vault was perfect!!! ....but her bra strap was showing.... .267 deduction because her bra strap was showing! hahaha my coach is so funny! I <3 Stick It! Look at the judges faces!!

The first time its happened in my life time. The 2nd time in history. The last time it happened was the year I was born. I will never forget the day the US Women became Olympic Champions.  These five girls will go down in history. Im so happy for all five of them, especially Jordyn. It was so good to see Jordyn's smiles after seeing her heart breaking tears in qualifying. The U.S. women dominatied on vault. Maroney's vault was perfect! Just look at the judges faces. They made up that deduction. But it doesn't matter because the U.S. are just AWESOME! They fought hard the whole way through and came out on top. WAY on top! Russia was 5 entire points behind with no chance of catching. That moment in Alys floor routine when she landed that last tumbling pass and they knew they had gold was a moment that will forever replay in my head. There may or may not have been tears on my end. 

Now everybody keeps telling me they can't wait until I 'm part of the fab five. Flattering, but when will they realize power tumbling isn't in the Olympics?

I can't wait until AA and event finals.

Feel my Sunlight

Olympics in primary

So I got to teach primary today! I was teaching CTR 5 and I had the cutest kids. One of the little boys told me he watches the 'limpics. I asked him if he had watched gymnastics last night, and I told him I had. He got all excited and then he said "YES! The US did very well. The Chinese men usually do very well too, but they where struggling a little bit." Then he went on to tell me about the competition. It was hilarious coming out of a 5 year old mouth. This kid is my new favorite!
I also got the title of the "best primary teacher EVER!"
I was pretty proud of that!

Olympic Gymnastics

*Spoiler Alert*

So with the time change from London to here they don't air the Olympic events live. They air them during prime time several hours after they happen. Facebook however, posts things like results and pictures as they happen. There was a warning before the gymnastics events started on Facebook saying that if you didn't want to know results as they happen you should unlike the page, then re like it after the Olympics. I was not smart enough to heed this warning. I got on Facebook this morning and at the very top of the page it had results. And those results where shocking results.

Women

Team
The USA is in 1st with a score of 181.863, Russia in 2nd with a score of 180.429, China in 3rd with a score of 176.637, and Romania in 4th with a score of 176.264

(mens & womens both in 1st after prelims for team competition! Go team USA)


U.S. women individual finals
AA- Raisman and Douglas will compete in finals Raisman is in 2nd, and Douglas is in 3rd

{now this is where I was shocked! Jorden Wieber was the favorite to win gold. She was the "it girl" She has won every recent competition in the US and scored above Gabrielle Douglas, and Alexandra Raisman in every competition leading up to the Olympics. Including Olympic trials! Before prelims we all thought that Wieber and Douglas would be the two to compete. Wieber is in 4th after prelims, and because there is a rule where only the top 2 from each country may compete in finals, Wieber misses her chance at All around gold. I'm super sad for her, it broke my heart to see her tears and I just wanted to give her a hug. I agree with everything Bella Karoli said. This rule that only too 2 can advance NEEDS to be thrown out. If you don't let the best athletes compete how can you call it the all around competition? In my opinion all 3 Americans should advance to finals. My heart breaks for Wieber, but super excited for Raisman, because nobody thought she was going to have this chance. Good luck girls!}

Here are the U.S. individual event finals (finish in qualifications):
VT- Maroney (1st)
UB- Douglas (6th)
BB- Douglas (3rd), Raisman (5th)
FX- Raisman (1st), Wieber (6th)

So there's a different outcome than we all expected. I can't wait to see how the rest of the competition turns out!

Boating

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever... But I blogged yesterday so I don't know what that's all about.

This morning I got up early (okay, okay it wasn't that early, but come on its summer!) to go boating with some of my teammates. It was me, Teri & her mom, and Kodee & his grandpa. It was Kodee's grandpa's boat and let's just say I had a BLAST! I wake boarded for the first time and I'm not to bad. I'm a little sunburned, and I'm super sore. Thanks so much Kodee for inviting us! & thanks Teri for letting me hitch a ride! I know what your thinking "Whitney! Why didn't you take pictures?!" but I kinda forgot, and I didn't really want my camera to get wet anyways.

So I'm staring at this calendar in my room... There's a problem with it. There are only 4 Saturdays left of summer. 4 SATURDAYS!!! I'm not ready to go back to school! This happened last year. I wasn't ready to go back, and then I dreamed about summer for the entire school year. But have no fear! I still have girls camp before I have to go back. 1 more trip to keep me sane through the summer. 1 more trip to help me dread going back. Because this has been the best summer ever. And I don't want it to end! (I feel like I've had to say that a lot recently. I also feel like I've said a lot of good byes recently too. Maybe it is time for a constant)


So there you have it folks. I'm a pretty good wake boarder, and I'm not ready to start high school. Ahhh! Wish me luck!

Feel my Sunlight

P.s. anyone watch men's Olympic prelims today?! Pretty awesome! They are in 1st after 1 day of competition. Go team USA! Can't wait for women's prelims tomorrow!

Olympic Party & a Cake!!

Look what I made!

Olympic Cake

Its red white & blue inside!!

Like my apron?? I made it myself!


Hey friends! Who watched the Olympic opening ceramonies?!? I DID!! We had a viewing party with my extended family. I also made this fantastic cake! (I know what your thinking...I should deafinatly be on Food Network.....right?) It was fun! As you all know from my last post, I'm obsessed with the Olympics. The opening ceramonies where fantastic this year and I can't wait for these competitions to begin. The Olympics always bring a sence of National pride. The Olympics bing the world together for a few moments. We put international differences aside and start fighting for the same thing. I'm so proud of team USA and I wish them all the best in every event they are competing in. I'm so excited to watch the gymnasts compete for our country. I'm so happy with our team this year and I hope we go far. I <3 The Olympics!

Go Team USA!!!

Feel my Sunlight

Olympics!!

My screen saver! Isn't it awesome??

Olympic opening ceramonies tonight! Anyone as excited as I am? I'm so excited I'm having a party tonight. I'll tell you about that later.

I can't believe Beijing was 4 years ago! Feels like yesterday. Im so proud of the US gymnasts. I can't wait for competitions to start. Its going to be an exciting olympics.
I think I'll go bake a cake with the olympic rings on it. Yup!

So get ready for all things Olympics, because I'm an olympics fanatic! And if you aren't a fan of the Olympics... I don't sugest reading my blog for the next few weeks.


Happy Olympics!

And may the odds be ever in your favor

(I had to add that...I watched Hunger Games again last night)



Feel my Sunlight