First Gymnastics Meet

A little less than a year ago Mareea started to ask me to take gymnastics.  Most of the time the kids don't ask to do something, but it seemed important to her so I did some research and found a gym right on base...about 10 minutes from the house!  They offered a free trial class so I signed up both the girls for it and when I got there I forced encouraged Ashton and Landon to try it out.  It turned out that the gym is not "regular" gymnastics with bars, vault, etc., but trampoline gymnastics.  The previously reluctant boys were sold at jump two  on those super jumpy trampolines.  The girls loved it also so we kept up with it.  One class a week lead to two classes a week which eventually led to THREE two hour classes a week.  Quintin came back to homeschooling and after sitting next to me at class a couple times casually mentioned that he would like to try gymnastics and we signed him up, too. 
Currently Q, Ashton, Landon, Thea and Mareea are all in the intermediate/pre-team program, Gideon is in beginners (at three years old when they normally don't let them in until they are 5) and Evangeline is in the preschool class.  Recently we have dropped to two classes a week to give us a chance on Fridays to do field trips or meet up with friends at the beach. 
A couple of months ago they were given the opportunity to compete in a meet.  It was a very "friendly" atmosphere and a great introduction to competitive gymnastics.  The have recently been asked to join the team and but considerable financial and time commitments are holding us back for now.  For now we'll do the local meets at the preteam level. 

So we went and competed again mostly team members.  It was pretty uneven as far as skill, but it was a great experience.  Mareea blew us all away by getting a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in her events.  Go Mareea!  She gave away a trophy to thea who missed 3rd place by .1 points.  Next time, baby, next time. 

I just have to say how proud I am of Landon.  He is shy and normally uncomfortable around a lot of people.  He got out there and competed and did he best.  He didn't act nervous or upset or want to leave.  They even had him in a different group with none of his siblings.  Way to go, buddy.

One thing to mention about Ashton was that he messed up his first double mini pass (there are 2).  He ended up getting last place in his favorite event and  I know he was disappointed, but he did not pout, complain, say things were "unfair", nothing!  He made fun of himself a little in a very good natured way and moved on and congratulated his siblings.  Honestly, I was more proud of that than if he had gotten first. 

Dan had duty or was gone (can't remember) so Erin the Awesome came to babysit the babies.  While she was at home with them Gid took it upon himself to "get the hair out of his eyes"...with a pair of scissors.  Poor Erin.  She said she came into his room from putting E to nap and he was looking very guilty and then she noticed the tufts of his hair all over the floor.  bahahaha.