Remembering 2010 and Happy 2011

Today is January 1, 2011. It's 1-1-11. Wow...it's hard to believe we have reached that date!

The past year went so fast, but it seems like the past decade has also flown by. I remember when people were wondering if the world would end in in 2000. The world is still here and it is 2011...

My youngest child, Annabelle, was born in 1999 and she only really remembers this past decade.

Anyway...enough of my rambling...

I will never forget 2010 because About.com sent me to the Winter Olympics as their sole media representative. Annabelle went with me. Going to the Olympics as a member of the media made me feel like I made the Olympics. It was an experience I will never forget.

Sadly, right in the middle of the men's long program, my husband's father, John Farris, died. While I was in Vancouver, Dan flew out to Long Beach to be with his father during his last days. It almost seemed like the two of us were in different realities during that time.

Other people we have known for many years who died in 2010 include Moishe Rosen and Annie Johnson.

I flew to Seattle before the Olympics and got to spend time with my cousin, Cherie Kadison Jay. Cherie became a grandmother a week or two after I left. Baby Lexie is the daughter of Cherie's son, Josh.

As usual, skating took up most of our time in 2010.

The things we'll remember most about skating in 2010 is that ALL THREE Schneider-Farris kids skated and competed in Midwesterns and at Junior Nationals. THAT is an achievement in itself. Annabelle also won the test-track Juvenile event at regionals.

We did some traveling too. During the summer, the kids and I went to Washington DC and Maryland to attend the Wheaton Ice Skating Academy Ice Dance Camp. We got to see the fireworks IN Washington DC ON the 4th of July!

We went to Long Beach and had a wonderful beach vacation in August. Dan had a great time visiting his family during that time. During that vacation, we got to see my dad's brother, Bobby, who we had not seen in about 15 years.

Joel and Rebekah and I also went to the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championsips where Joel and Rebekah won the intermediate free dance event.

Another highlight was getting to attend the 2010 Synchronized World Figure Skating Championships which took place right in Colorado Springs. I also went to the Professional Skaters Association (PSA) Convention which was in Colorado Springs.

Also, both Annabelle and Rebekah went to Camp Ramah Outdoor Adventure.

My mother is very ill right now. She became very ill in early September of 2010. Our family didn't think she'd make it until 2011, but at this time, she's hanging in there. I went to visit her in Illinois during late December of 2010 and spent some quality time with her and my dad.

Other news is that my sister Lynnellen is about to become the grandmother! Lynnellen's son, Cody, will be the father of twins (a boy and girl). The babies are due any day now.

The kids and I made an commitment to take part in everything Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy offered this school year. That commitment has made them very busy. Through the school, they took part in the Parade of Lights Parade, were in a recital at the Colorado Springs Conservatory, and were part of the school's drama club presentation. They learned Taekwondo, Kung Fu, fencing, and baton. Joel said learning about the Holocaust at school was difficult, but he is glad he's had that opportunity. They kids got to make some great art projects in their art class. There is so much going on with their school, that the children's lives are so very busy and full. Although they are homeschooled, they are the busiest kids in the world in my opinion!

Some other "kind of neat things" are that thanks to Facebook, I've reunited with many friends from my past in 2010 including Bernadette McEwan (who I last saw the day I graduated from Junior High), Erin Madison (who was one of my best friends the first half of 8th grade I recall), Lenny Shaw (who went to elementary school with me starting in about 3rd grade), and Barbi Smith (who everyone in the figure skating world is so glad to find!).

I've reunited with many other people. In fact, my list of Facebook friends has grown to over 1100. Many of my Facebook friends are figure skaters. Skating just connects people. I love it!

Facebook has really made life fun in my opinion. Now I don't have to wait to December to receive holiday cards telling me what is happening in people's lives. It's great!

We wish all of our friends who read this a great 2011.

Happy New Year and Happy 2011!

Salt Lake City Memories - Junior Nationals Competition 2011

As 2010 draws to a close, our family will never forget how hard the kids worked all year long towards competing in Salt Lake City. I've put together photos and videos to help us remember that experience. Who would have thought a few years ago that ALL THREE Schneider-Farris kids would compete at one Junior Nationals!?!?

For those of you who read this who don't "know figure skating," doing this meant skating 6 days a week from two to four hours a day. It meant waking up at 5 or 5:30 AM most mornings. It meant a lot of driving on Jo Ann and Dan's part.

It meant sometimes missing drama club at Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy so the kids could perform in many, many Fire and Ice exhibitions on Fridays evenings. It meant getting a lot of costumes made. It meant fixing the girls' hair and make-up over and over again.

It meant passing several figure skating tests. It meant doing run-through after run-through of competition programs and pattern dances. It meant a lot of falling down and trying moves that seemed impossible over and over.

Most of all, it meant loving one another.

That's what figure skating IS! Happy 2011!

Visit to See My Sick Mom and My Dad in Illinois - December 22 to December 23, 2010

I'm writing this on Friday evening, December 24, 2010. I'm sitting on the couch in my parents Illinois home. I arrived in Illinois on Wedesday morning 12-22-10.

Many of our friends and family have known that my mom has been very sick since early September. My dad left it up to me and my brother Billy and sister Lynnellen to come out to Chicago only if we had the time.

I thought about squeezing in a very quick trip, but I just couldn't find a time where I could be away from my own children. They've just been so busy with school and skating. We had one obligation after another. When Junior Nationals ended last week, I realized that there were two weeks ahead of me without obligations.

If I wanted to see my mom before we lose her, this was the time. So, here I am!

My mom still seems to know who I am. She gave me the okay to take a video and photos of her.
The kids and Dan are back in Colorado at the Schneider family vacation home. I miss them, but I'm glad I get to see my mom and my dad.

Dan lost his father on February 22, 2010. Some of our other friends also lost a parent in 2010.

Thank you to everyone who has been thinking or praying for my family during this difficult time.

• About My Mom - Edith Kadison Schneider

The Three Figure Skating Schneider-Farris Kids Are Competing In Multiple Disciplines At the 2011 U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships

Way back in "my day" there was a figure skating family with 2 girls and one boy. The boy did pairs with one sister and ice dance with the other.

That's the way things are in our family.

The three Schneider-Farris kids are members of the Broadmoor Skating Club. The skate and train at the Colorado Springs World Arena. They will be competing in multiple events in the upcoming 2011 U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships that will take place from December 14 to December 18, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Rebekah Schneider-Farris and Joel Schneider-Farris will be competing in intermediate dance.


Annabelle Schneider-Farris and Joel Schneider-Farris will be competing in intermediate pairs.



Annabelle Schneider-Farris also does ice dance with Val Katsman. Val and Annabelle will be competing in juvenile dance.
Val is also competing in multiple events. He will be competing in juvenile boys.



Does this make sense? It does to us!

• Broadmoor Skaters Are Heading Off to the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships


• What Is the U.S. Junior National Figure Skating Championships?
  

The Kids Were In the Parade of Lights 12-4-10

Annabelle, Rebekah, and Joel got to march in the Colorado Springs Parade of Lights 2010 with Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy. Joel and his friend, Andy, carried the school banner and the girls got to twirl glowing batons! They also got a cool school warm up suit to wear in the parade.

It was very emotional for me to see my kids in this parade. The Colorado Springs community really enjoys the parade and I was proud to be part of such a great city tonight. Only in a city like Colorado Springs would an opportunity like this happen. There was so much happiness and excitement tonight!

Fire and Ice and Chanukah - December 3, 2010

Fire and Ice went well on Friday, December 3, 2010.

Annabelle and Joel did their throw double Salchow for the first time in a public performance. Although, Annabelle fell, the jump was high and would have been clean!

Rebekah and Joel's and Annabelle and Val's free dances were also good. Everyone's twizzles are improving. Joel and Rebekah's step sequence may have achieved a Level 2 which was exciting for the kids.

After Fire and Ice, we were fortunate to be able to go to services at Temple Beit Torah. It was a special night there since it is Chanukah. There were tons of menorahs lighted at once. The youngest children in the religious school were honored. All the kids left with Chanukah goodie bags.

I got a kick out a song that was sung at th end of the service: "If you're Jewish and you know it, clap your hands!....."

Anyway, this was/is the 2nd to the last Fire and Ice before we leave for Junior Nationals! The kids are pumped up and excited!