California Classic

I think even gymnastics-despising Caleb would agree that this was one fun travel meet.  

We arrived in San Diego on a Thursday afternoon.  After checking in to our hotel, we went straight to Old Town for Alyssa's traditional pre-meet meal of beans and corn tortillas.  I'm telling you, this is the place for the best Mexican food ev-er!

We'd been to this restaurant before so already knew the treat we were in for.  Natty tried to reinacted her napkin-around-her-neck pose from two years ago: 

Fiesta De Reyes Restaurant in Old Town San Diego.  On left: February 2012.  On right: March 2014.

The next morning, Jon took Caleb and Natalie to Sea World.  Alyssa was scheduled to compete in the California Classic that evening, so spending the day walking around Sea World was not an option.  But don't feel sorry for her.  She and I got to spend a lovely, relaxing day together and I spoiled her plenty.

On the way to Sea World, Jon dropped us off at a wonderful pancake house that served gluten-free pancakes.

Then Lys and I did a little shopping at a nearby mall where she picked out a new pair of Keds.  On the way back to our hotel, we stopped for a mani/pedi.  See what I mean?  Spoiled.

Alyssa's hair was done in curlers for her meet and she got comments about them everywhere she went.  We had fun soaking up some sun rays together.

Our hotel room was on the 28th floor.  Here's a look at the pool that Alyssa never got to try:

It was a great hotel located directly across a quiet street from the San Diego Convention Center, the site of the competition.

 Later in the day, we met up with Alyssa's teammate, Gracie, and the girls had fun together while they waited for their competition to finally start.

Caleb and Natalie returned to the hotel sunburned and excited about all of their fun at Sea World.  We would be going together as a family the next day and they were already looking forward to going back.

But first, we had this competition to get out of the way.  It was, after all, the reason for the trip.  This was easily the stiffest competition Alyssa would face this season.  She had 6 WOGA girls in her age group!  WOGA, the gym owned by Nastia Luikin's father, is a top gym in the country and has produced multiple olympians.

Alyssa was nervous but she did her thing and pulled out her best meet of the season!

She even competed a new skill on beam: a straddle jump, back tuck combination.

It earned her fifth place.  Check it out:

This bar routine (which I don't think is her best) tied for second place:



She placed fourth all-around with a season high, 36.025.

Great meet.  Way to go, Lys!

And now it was time to relax and spend some time enjoying California.  Lots more fun to come...