Heinz Family Part 2!

What a weekend in Waterloo, Iowa.

With the extreme heat in the forecast, Blake, Willow, and I made the trip while the boys stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa. As much as they would’ve loved to come, they definitely would have been miserable in those temperatures.

Friday morning kicked off with individual competition. This was Willow and Shawn’s fifth year competing together, and they chose a fun Despicable Me theme. Their ski teammates Destiny, Aurora, Kenley, and boat driver Jesse embraced it with Minion hats, making it even more memorable.

Unfortunately, after a successful first pass, a bobble on the first dog bone ended their run much earlier than expected. Going first is never easy, and I think the nerves got the best of them. Watching Willow come back to the boat in tears was absolutely heartbreaking. She and Shawn had spent the entire summer refining new tricks and more difficult passes, so having their competition end so quickly was a tough pill to swallow.

After a little time to regroup—with a shower, some favorite snacks, and a nap—we headed back to cheer on the rest of our team. There was plenty to celebrate as Destiny claimed first in her event, Aurora earned third, Ashlee had an outstanding finish, and Seth took first in jump during his very first year competing. It was an exciting day for the Aqua Addicts.

Saturday brought team competition. Despite the sweltering heat and being the last team to perform, the Aqua Addicts delivered a fun, energetic show with our Winter Olympics theme. We had a few falls along the way (none by Willow this time!), but the crowd loved the performance, and the team gave it everything they had.

We headed home early Sunday morning to relieve Grandma and Grandpa after watching the boys and the dog, but we listened live as the regional awards were announced. Hearing the Aberdeen Aqua Addicts earn 3rd Place Overall made the drive home even sweeter.

I’m so proud of Willow for getting back out there after Friday’s disappointment and proud of our entire team for the hard work and heart they showed all season.