cRoSs cOuNtRy 2009......

The girls ran their 1st cross country meet for this year last nite.

We took the camera but the battery was dead so I will post a pictureless post.......

{not a fan of no pictures!!!!!}

So anywhooooo..........

Delaney got 1st place with a time of 15 minutes and 35 seconds!!!!!!

And Taylor got 11th place with her time 17 minutes and .06 seconds!!!!

As a team they got 3rd place.

Yippppeeeee........AWESOME job ladies!!!!!!!

We are soooooooo proud of both of you!!!!!!!

Looking forward to a great season!!!!!!

ThAt'S a Rap.....

Ok....it's been awhile.....so I have some catching up to do!!!! So i am going to do a quick version of most of it because basketball games start this week and i know i will get behind real quick if i try to make more than one post out of all of this!!!! So i will start with last Thursday.....the girls had their Cross Country banquet....it was very laid back....i liked that....pot luck....EASY!!!! Again...i like that too!!! But getting to the point here....they both lettered, they both made the all conference team and Taylor was voted(by her team mates) the most valuable runner and got a plaque and everything!!!!! COOL!!!! They both had a really good year and made some really good friends and that is what we like about them going to a different school to run....that they get to meet new people and get to use that experience later in life!!!!! And Laney even met a boy......but they are just "friends".....so she says!!!!! haha!!!! This the picture of all the people who made the all conference team!!!!! Good job everybody!!!! And we also want to say thanks to coach Miller and the entire team for letting the girls run with you this year and hope to see you next year!!!! And AWESOME job Taylor and Delaney....we are sooooooo proud of both of you!!!!! Then on Friday up to the elementary school we go......the 6th grade class every year makes posters for a contest that the Lions club has....the theme was Peace Begins With Me......it is an International contest and each local group picks 3 posters from our school for a first, second, and third place......each of the three places get a check and a certificate and only the first place poster moves on to a district level to be judged. Kale got third place, his friend Al got second place, and one of the girls get first......they display the posters in the local bank for 2 weeks and the first place poster goes on in the competition......good luck "K"!!!!!

sTaTe MeEt....

Saturday morning we were up bright and early and on our way to Ft. Dodge to the state cross country meet to watch Taylor run......and hope that she runs fast!!!! No we just want her to do her best and be happy with her results....no matter the place she gets. Because as far as I am concerned anybody who can run 2 1/2 miles without being carried off on a stretcher is a true champion in my eyes!!!!! We got there kinda early because you have to get a good parking spot and a good place to tailgate and hangout after the race. We got a good spot to park not far from Troy's Uncle Gary and Aunt Jill......they are the true tailgaters.....thanks so much!!!! So we were able to watch some of the early races and prepare for the 1:00 race(Taylor)....ya know....where do we want to stand and where is the best place to get a good picture or two......so many questions you must ask yourself just to enjoy a 15 minute race!!!!! But it is all worth it after you get to watch your child perform at this level!!!!! So I am sure you are all wishing I would just get to the point.......how did she do!!!!!! So she got 28th place with a time of 15:56 out of 127 girls in class 2A.......so I think she did sooooooo AWESOME I can not even tell you how proud we are!!!!! She is one of the top 30 runners in her class in the entire state!!!!!! Pretty stinkin' cool Taylor!!!!We are very proud of you!!!!!! We took a few pictures so I better share those too!Two of Taylor's friends Jo and Chelsey made the trip to cheer Taylor on.......thanks for coming ladies!!!!

Kale hangin' out with "the ladies"......now who wouldn't like that!?!??!?!?!?!

The cross country team after the race.

Taylor and her coach.......Mr. Miller.

Taylor and her Melcher cheering group.......thanks to you all for coming!!!!!!!

And I can not leave her loving family out......aawwww aren't they all so cute?!?!?!?!?! Although her father seems to be telling me to just hurry up and take the darn picture!?!??!?!?!

I just about forgot to put the pictures of Taylor running.....I must have gotten excited about everybody coming out to watch her run?!!?!?!? I think she is flying in this picture?!(if you look close I think both feet are off the ground at the same time!!!)

Running in the middle of the race......and she is ahead of some of the girls that beat her this year so you can't ask for much more that that!!!!! She ran her best time of this year and finished the race without being carried off on a stretcher so in my eyes she is a true champion!!!!!!!
Just want to say thanks to.....Grandma Jan & Grandpa Mike, Grandma Becky, Uncle Gary & Aunt Jill and all of the Melcher fans for coming out to watch Taylor run I know it means the world to her knowing that you all think so much of her that you would drive for 2 hours to cheer her on........and so you can eat at Applebee's!!!!!!!

fT. dOdGe.....hErE wE cOmE!!!!!!!!

Last nite was our regional cross country......well not ours.....the girls!!!!! For regionals you have to finish in the top 10 or as a team you have to be in the top 3 to go to state!!!!! And because we had both Taylor and Delaney running I was hoping there was a way.....either way that they both got to go.....I just did not want to see the disappointment on their face if one made it and the other one did not!!! It had rained all day and it was very chilly....and all the way up my stomach was in knots worrying about them doing good or not because of the crappy weather!!!!

When we got there they both were in good moods and smiley.......good sign I thought to myself!!!They both had an awesome start......and away they went. Cross country is one of those sports that if you are not in really good shape yourself.......it is quite a work out!!!! They are usually at golf courses.......for the most part quite hiLLy.......and tonite was no exception......plus mud......ALOT of mud!!!!!! So where I was standing I did not see alot of the race. But at the end Taylor came in 3rd with a time of 16:23 and Laney came in 17th with a time of 17:27.........oh poop I thought that does not put Laney in the top 10........so it was like a nitemare in my head.....how horrible she was going to feel.....but how happy Taylor was going to feel......so as parents......what do we do??????? YIKES!!!!!! I can not talk to them right away if they are upset and look like they might cry.......because you guessed it.......I will cry too!!!!!! So back to the meet.......we still have a chance if the team finishes in the top 3.....................HOLY COW.......they got 4th place.........so Taylor will be the only one running at state from her team.....I am soooooo happy for her but I know she would have much rather everybody one her team to get the chance to run. So I just want to say to them both AWESOME!!!!!! job......we are SOOOO PROUD of both of you!!!!!! And GOOD LUCK at STATE TAYLOR!!!

WE LOVE YOU BOTH!!!!!

cRoSs CoUnTrY...

Tonite was our last regular cross country meet.....our next one will be next Thursday.....that will be regionals.....if they do well enough there they will get to go on to the state meet in Fort Dodge......if not the season will be over......i am so excited for them and yet so nerveous for them too!!!!! Last nite we went to Corning.....we were suppose to go on Monday but it got rained out......wow!!!! a 2 hour drive from here.....but very worth the drive.......Taylor placed 2nd with a time of 16:34 and Laney placed 6th with a time of 17:09.......they both did GREAT. Tonite we went to Chariton......they swapped spots tonite......Laney got 2nd with a time of 16:13 and Taylor got 4th with a time of 16:26......they did AWESOME again tonite.......i can not tell you how proud we are of them.......if you could not tell!!!!! So we will keep you up to date after they run next week and hope to go on to state!!!!! Cross your fingers for us!!!!!