Photos From Our Trip to Ann Arbor 11-9 to 11-13-2010

I didn't use my camera as much as usual in Ann Arbor, but I did get some photos. One of the highlights of our trip was spending some quality time with our friend, Athena Kolbe, who teaches at the University of Michigan. Athena went out to eat with us several times and came to the rink to see the kids perform. Annabelle also made a good friend: Nora Carlson. Billy got to spend a moment with Brittany Bowlen, who is very close with his family.

Midwesterns 2011 - 3 Schneider-Farris Kids - 3 Medals - Pretty Cool!

The 2011 Midwestern Figure Skating Sectional was a busy competition for our family. Annabelle and her ice dance partner, Val Katsman, won the bronze medal in juvenile dance. Joel and Rebekah won the intermediate free dance and finished 3rd overall. Annabelle and Joel also competed in intermediate pairs and finished 8th. Everyone qualified in all events for junior nationals! My brother, Billy, was the technical specialist for singles, so the whole thing was also a family affair!

It is hard to describe what it was like to keep track of all the events and all the costume changes. I woke up 5 days in a row at 4:00 AM. Annabelle usually got her hair and makeup done first, followed by Rebekah. Joel lucked out. He would shower and put on his skating clothes at the rink.

Some of the practices began as early as 6:00 AM. The hardest day was when the kids competed in juvenile and intermediate free dance and also intermediate pairs. By the time they were done competing, I was so very tired!

Taking part in the awards ceremony was an emotional and happy moment for all of us!

Dan and I and my dad are so proud of Joel, Rebekah, and Annabelle! 3 kids - 3 medals - pretty cool!

More of My Articles Have Been Published By US Figure Skating

In the last month, three of my articles have been published by US Figure Skating. The photo below, courtesy of Renee and Charlie Vinson and the Broadmoor Skating Club, was used for an article I did for US Figure Skating Online on Broadmoor Skating Club's Fire and Ice exhibitions.



I also wrote a piece on the National Solo Ice Dance Championship and the Haley Rose Gans Memorial Award. A shorter article on the Haley Rose Trophy that I wrote was published in SKATING Magazine in November, 2010.

Annabelle Passed Her Pre-Bronze Dance Test ! 11-7-10

Annabelle passed the entire Pre-Bronze Dance test today, 11-7-10. She took all three dances: The Swing Dance, The Cha Cha, and the Fiesta Tango at once. She passed by all 3 judges too. I'm so proud of her.

Thank you, Ryan Jahnke, for skating with her for the test. Ryan and I began a "project" this past year. I believe Ryan is so talented and can do anything. You see, Ryan was a world competitor in SINGLES, not dance. I believed he could learn ice dances he passed when he was a little kid and skate with Annabelle for her ice dance tests. Every week, Ryan sets aside twenty minutes for me and Annabelle to work on dances with him. Coach Patti Gottwein checked if all was okay a week ago and we were ready to test. Thank you Patti! Thank you Ryan! Way to go Annabelle!

My Kids Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy School Photos

I would never have thought my kids would have had "School Photos" taken, but thanks to Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy we now have that opportunity. How cool is that! Wow, do the kids look grown-up!

Another Fire and Ice 10-29-10

The kids skated this morning and had a full day of school, but right after, participated in another Broadmoor Fire and Ice exhibition. This is the 2nd to last exhibition before we leave for the Midwestern Figure Skating Championships on November 9. This particular Fire and Ice had such a wonderful and supportive crowd!

By the way, I wrote an article on Fire and Ice for US Figure Skating that was published this week. Click on this link to read the article. What a great opportunity Fire and Ice is!

Awards Photos 2010

I am so proud of my kids! Here are some photos of them receiving awards in 2010.

Annabelle WINS! - Southwesterns 2011

Sunday, October 17, 2011 was a big day since Annabelle won her event at Southwesterns and won a huge trophy.

Then, later, she won some kind of strength wristband thing for guessing the correct amount of jelly beans in a jar. (That gizmo was worth over $125!)

Also, our good friend Sam, won Juvenile boys, and Annabelle's ice dance partner, Val, placed 2nd!

Now, it's time to get ready for sectionals and the US Junior National Figure Skating Championships since Annabelle will be competing in intermediate pairs with Joel and juvenile dance with Val, and Rebekah and Joel will be competing in intermediate dance. US Figure Skating has already posted numbers and all the kids competing in those events at sectionals will advance to junior nationals.

Regionals "warmed us up!" Midwesterns and Junior Nationals HERE WE COME!

The photos below show Annabelle smiling with friends and family and her trophy! (In the excitement, I forgot to get a photo of Val, Joel, or Rebekah.)