Charlotte's Big Weekend

The weekend before Christmas was an eventful one for Charlotte.  She helped win the 4th Grade girls basketball tournament AND she got her ears pierced.  Life doesn't get much bigger than that when you're 10 and it all happened in a single day.

Charlotte's team, The Fire, went into tournament in second place.  The first place team was undefeated and had handily beat every other team on the bracket in the skills competition.  To build strong skills at a young age, Charlotte's basketball club included a skills competition along with each game and assigned points to each skill as well as each game half.  If one team swept the skills, the other team had to sweep the game (win both halves) to tie, sending the game into overtime to determine a winner.  You can understand why the #1 team was so intimidating - not only were they good in the games, but they consistently swept the skills competition.  But December 18 was not their lucky day.  I've always said, if you're going to peak as a team, do it during the tournament.  And that's exactly what Charlotte's team did.  Because of their 2nd-place standing, The Fire had a bye the first round followed by an easy win during game #2, placing them in the championship game.  The first place team also had a bye the first round, but ended up in overtime during their second game where they squeaked out a win by one basket.  I personally think the mental fatigue is what killed them as that first game shook them up pretty bad and it was only right that our team take advantage of their drop in confidence :).  Charlotte's team rolled into the championship game and won the skills competition, but were unable to sweep it.  No problem - those girls played their little hearts out and came together like a well-oiled machine.  They looked for the open person and passed ahead instead of trying to gun it in themselves and they were hot - everything they shot, fell.  It was one exciting game and The Fire pulled off something we as parents didn't think possible - they beat the undefeated team and took #1 in the 4th grade girls tournament.  Here are some pictures.

Awesome # 5, making a move on her defender

Catching a pass before going to the basket

L to R, Back row first: Coach Melissa, Sophie, Mia, Natalie, Abby, Erika, Coach Scott, Emily, Allie, Megan, & Charlotte

Sporting her new trophy & medal awarded to this team for most improved in the skills competition

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To celebrate her big win, Charlotte got her ears pierced the same day.  Actually, she received permission and a gift card for her birthday in October to get her ears pierced, but had to wait until basketball was over.  Within hours of the big win, Charlotte was sitting in the chair waiting for some stranger to change her body forever :).  Now you've got to know that Charlotte has never been a big fan of needles or pain, so let's just say I was worried about her reaction.  I had visions of Charlotte hopping out of that chair after the lady pierced the first ear and walking away lopsided.  I guess she really wanted this because she sat as still as a statue without a peep while both ears were done and I must say, they look beautiful!  Of course we took before and after pictures.

Before: perfect, complete earlobes

After: perfect, complete earlobes with a small diamond stud