Gymnastics

First Meet

 

Last meet

 Astrid has spent many hours of her last year practicing, conditioning her little muscular body and learning and working toward perfecting skills for her first year of competitive gymnastics.  She's a level 4 and her team just won 1st place in their state division.  She's doing really well, scoring in the top few for her team.  Here's a video of her floor routine at the state meet. 
     It's been a wonderful experience for us, as a family to watch her progress.  She has grown leaps and bounds (ha.) through the hours of practice.  She's become such a confident, down to earth person who has learned very young that hard work pays off! 
     The girls started in a homeschool gymnastics class years ago.  I remember asking if Astrid could participate even though she wasn't 4 yet.  They asked how close she was to 4 and I think she was just shy of three!  They let her in anyway and the rest is history.  One of the owners of the gym noticed her baby muscle strength and fearlessness and eventually they invited her to join the Rising Star pre-team.  She spent a year there and then was invited to join the level 4 competitive team.  She absolutely loves it.  She's sad on the days she doesn't have gymnastics and spends more time on her hands then on her feet.  There are always footprints on the refrigerator.  They are at my eye level.
    This summer she is practicing 4 days a week and never tires of it.  It's wonderful to see her so passionate.  It a dream of mine to have each of my kids find their passion(s) through experience.  I don't care what it is that they fall in love with.  I just want them to experience the feeling of deep love for something, whether it be a sport, art, activity, whatever.  To have a child find it at such a young age is gratifying and makes my heart smile.