The Top TEN of 2010!!

WARNING: This is THE LONGEST post in the history of posting (at least in my world!) Keep reading for my "grand idea" to cram in some posts and lots of cool pictures and happenings from our family that I failed to blog earlier due to my wonderful talent called procrastination!!

So, as pathetic as it may be, I'll admit---I've only posted 3 times in all of 2010. And one of those doesn't count because it was Jessica that posted, not me (I'll let you guess which one...yep, you're right, the one of the mice getting into a couple of our Christmas bins and the girls decorating for Christmas)! My girls love to look at everyone's blogs including ours and I think they get a little sad when weeks and weeks (or months)go by with no new posts! SO...so much has happened in 2010 and if I tried to blog it all, we'd miss all of 2011. Instead, I've decided to pick the top 10 Events/Things of 2010 and post about them in the next few days before Christmas (or at least until the end of the year)...here it goes....

Number 10:Being that these 10 things are in no particular order, I have to start with CROSS COUNTRY.

Both Jessica and Kimberly decided to run cross-country this fall for the first time. This caused a bit of excitement in their Dad's heart!! Oh the memories that came flooding back to him as the girls ran in their first meet in Cody. As the season progressed and the girls kept running faster and tougher and stronger, I didn't know which was better---watching the girls run, or watching Kent watch the girls run!!

Jessica had a great first meet. She did her best to stay strong throughout the race.




Here she is at the home stretch for a 4th place finish!!



Kimberly, with almost no summer running, except for the week-long BYU camp with Jessica, Ivy and Erica, did her best to finish the race, and even had a kick in the end! Here she is hanging with Hannah and some great runners from Jackson:





The first meet in Cody was a great learning experience for both Jessica & Kimberly. They both learned how mentally tough it is to run...and they both decided that they wanted to improve their times for the next meet.

Here they are with their Dad after the first meet:



The next meet was in Gillette, Both girls improved their times. Jessica used the downhill stretch to her advantage. She came in 3rd. Her time for the 2-mile was





Kimberly didn't let Hannah get ahead of her this time...and she beat her PR too! Here are Sydney and Kenna cheering for big sister Kimberly mid-race.




The Gillette meet worked out great for our family. Even though it was a long drive, it was beautiful and we all got to be there, 'cause right after the meet we headed down to Casper to catch our flight to Las Vegas where all the Holiday Family was gathering to celebrate Grandma Horst's 90th Birthday! (one of the top 10!!)


Sheridan was the location for the next meet. It was so awesome to have both of the girls running at the meets! I LOVE the way the middle school and high school meets were combined!! Made it GREAT for our family!!

Jessica started strong towards the front...can you see her? She's in a white tank and maroon shorts...







Pulling ahead of the competition...




And she passes her!!


Sorry Kimberly, no pictures of you racing 'cause the camera battery died right after I took that last picture of Jessica...oops! Poor planning on my part!

Next Meet: Lovell

Coach Maggie Kirkham always gathered the team together for a pep talk and warm-ups:





Jessica ran really strong in Lovell...she stayed close to MaShayla...



For the Middle School meets they usually had the boys and girls run together. This was really good for Jessica because it gave her more competition. But, I feel bad for the boys...it must hurt to get out-ran by a girl!!



Sorry Jessica, this is the only picture I have of your finish. My running photography skills need a little help, but I'll learn...with lots of practice!! (and maybe a new lens...hint, hint!)



And what's a race without an after-race hug and chat with Dad??



Kimberly's up...
And...they're off!!



Sydney, Kenna and Brooke made a great cheer team!! They are pretty good sports to be dragged all over the course while we cheer big sisters on from different points throughout the course.



The end of the first of 2 laps...





The Home Stretch!!! Lovell was a great race for Kimberly...she really improved her time!



Talking with Dad & Jess after the race...



Thermopolis was next...

This was a super fun meet. The weather was absolutely gorgeous!! Maybe a little too hot for the runners. Jessica & Kimberly had lots of support even though Kent couldn't be there, because Brian & Colleen's family came and so did Papa & Grammy!

Jessica wanted a picture with Grammy & Papa before the race started!


Here are the middle school runners all lined up and ready to go:



Jessica staying close to MaShayla (a fast 8th grade runner from Cody)as they come around a tight corner right before the bridge.







Sprinting at the end of the race to stay in the lead to capture FIRST PLACE!!! YEA JESSICA!!!!



Dad called from Korea, shortly after Jessica's race to find out how she did! So, even though you can't see him, Kent is in this picture with us!





Jessica and Blake after her win!


Some of the "Cheer Team": Sydney and Kelli


Lindsey followed Jessica around all afternooon...


And Brooke and Jacob probably got in 3.2 miles with all of the running around they did on the golf course!


Here is the Cody Girls Cross Country Team Before the race started:
Holly, Anne, Emma, Kimberly and Hannah


Approaching the sharp turn before the bridge...


Staying with the lead...



Second lap after the bridge...



Finishing Strong...



Chatting with competitors and friends after the race...



Kimberly Jo Holiday after her 4th place finish!!


Next Meet: Worland

The Cody Middle School didn't make the trip to the Worland Invitational, but our family was going anyway to watch Kimberly, so we asked the coaches if Jessica could come along and run in the Middle School race and they both thought it was a great idea! More practice for Jess. Well, it turned out pretty awesome...



Running strong in Worland!


Jessica helps the boys keep a good pace and improve their PR's.


Jess stayed far ahead of all the other girls...the entire race!


Jessica and a boy sprinting towards the finish line.


Jessica crossing the finish line in FIRST PLACE for all of the Middle School girls...


Jessica and Mom. We're so proud of Jessica and all of her hard work and tough mental power to do so well! Keep up that attitude with every "mountain" you face in your life, Jessica, and you will go far!!


We love it when so many people can come and cheer for the girls!!


Jessica talking with some girls from Riverton after the race...



Jessica and Blake with another 1st place medal!!


The final words of encouragment and strategy from Coach Shafer...


Just after the gun...


Taking a turn leading the pack...


Kimberly racing Kim Shumway for 3rd place...


Brooke, Gage and Jacob playing Ring Around the Rosie and other "run in a circle and fall down" games.


Grammy walking with Brooke:


Jessica ran in another smaller meet in Powell, but I forgot my camera that day, so no pictures. She took FIRST PLACE again, though! That's THREE in a row!! She also ran in a meet in Cody, with only Powell there to compete with. Jessica had an "off-day" that day and just didn't feel very well.

The next meet for Kimberly was Regionals in Lyman, WY at Fort Bridger. Kent flew into SLC the morning of, then drove up in a rental car to Lyman. After a long business trip and missing too many meets, Kent was VERY ready for some cross country!! Grandpa Holiday had been in Cody, so he and Jessica drove down to Lyman and spent the night at Little America the night before to see the meet. I couldn't go, but Jessica took the camera and captured some great photos!

The Location...


Warming up...


The Cody HS Cross Country Girls Team:


And they're off!!


Running tough!











NEXT STOP: Douglas, WY for STATE!!

EVERY meet we had been to with exception to Powell (which I didn't include on this blog...no camera that day!!), was absolutely gorgeous weather! We couldn't have DREAMED of a better weather cross-country season! That said, the weather at state wasn't "ideal". It was very windy, rainy and COLD!! Later in the day, it cleared up and warmed up a little, but throughout the entire girl's race, they were running in rain, wind and COLD!!

Here's Kimberly stretching and being positive before the STATE RACE!!


Trying to stay warm before the race starts.


Kimberly pysching herself up for the big race! And freaking some opponents out...


And THEY'RE OFF!!


Staying close to the lead runners...


2 Words..."The Hill" (and the rain and cold made it slippery and scary!!)


Off to the finish!


Kimberly's sprint for the finish!!


Giving all she has in the end!!


3rd Place/4th Place Finishers...talk about a close one! Kimberly took 4th by .4 of a second...or look at this picture I took...who do YOU think was in the lead?



Kimberly and Anne! Anne took 2nd at state. She, too is a Freshman and an AMAZING runner! She has been an inspiration and a friend to Kimberly all season. Thanks Anne for being who you are!!



So here they are...Cody wouldn't have had a team without the 2 "new girls". Holly,a Senior who moved to Cody from Colorado and Kimberly, the Freshman girl from Ten Sleep. They became good friends by the end of the season, and Holly is graduating early this December which makes Kimberly sad. We'll miss you Holly! Best of luck in all you do!!



The Cody Boys and Girls Cross Country Team 2010! 4 of these runners made all-state: Kimberly Holiday, Anne Brinnegar, Chase Constantine and _______________

Kimberly approaching the all-state podium to receive her All-State Honors as the 3A 4th place champion!!


Introducing the Ten 3A All-State Cross Country Runners of 2010!!


Coach Shafer tells the greatest story about Kimberly. He says he remembers the day her met her and was so excited to hear that he had another potential runner for the girls team. Then he heard she was from Ten Sleep and his hopes slid a little...a "girl who like to run"---good so far---"from Ten Sleep"---not so good. And then he went to the counseling office to meet this Kimberly Holiday. When he entered the office where she was waiting for her meeting with the counselor, he said she looked all dressed up and didn't "look" like a runner. But, he was still excited to have another girl on the team. Then, at the first practice he watched her run a block and a half and thought, hmmmmm, she does look pretty good, maybe we do have a runner here. That said, coach has told Kent and I many times that he would have NEVER guessed that by looking at Kimberly for the first time, even at the first practice, or after the first meet, that she would place 4th at State. Kimberly surprised us all!!!



As parents (and grandparents) we couldn't be happier for Kimberly's cross country success. At the beginning of the season Kent said, if Kimberly can break 23:00, that will be great! Well, she did that and SOOOOOO much more! Her fastest time of the season was at state with a 20:59. (She actually shaved more time off her PR at the Boise Regional Nike Tournament a few weeks later, running a 20:36!!) Throughout the season she improved her time by 4 minutes and ran her little heart out! She always gave it her all, and by winning 4th place as a Freshman at State, anyone could see she's going to be one to watch next season. We love you Kimberly!!