Gymnastics

 

Last Sunday the girls were invited to be in an exhibition for the girls' gymnastics team at their club. They had never done anything like this before, so it was all very new to them.

 

A and E watching the older girls to see what's next. There were a few of the oldest members of the team leading warm ups before each individual level did their routines.

 

Getting ready to do straight jumps.

 

I loved Alyssa's mouth in this photo. She does this funny thing with her mouth a lot when she's concentrating hard on something.

 

Emma in her beginning pose of their routine.

 

They learned their routine on Thursday, then performed it that Sunday. The difficult part was that many of the more experienced kids who had done the routine before, did not come to the exhibition, so they didn't have much of an example to follow. Alyssa took the routine very seriously, trying to make everything perfect, Emma was more relaxed.

 

Finish arms up!

 

Preparing for their full turn.


The rest of these pictures were taken in the gym a few weeks ago during practice.

 

They do a lot of drill work in rows on the floor. I think it's been helpful for the girls in learning proper technique.

 

Kicks.

 

Playtime!

 

The gym is very relaxed, they pretty much give Rebekah free run of the place because one of the coach's daughter is her same age and they love to run around and play together during class.

 

Rolling on the mat.

 

Arms up and (you might have to click the pic to see it) her tongue is out. It's funny how little kids often feel like they have to stick their tongues out to get the rest of their body to work. I had a teammate who bit her tongue pretty badly doing the same thing.

 

Playing on the p-bars.

 

Alyssa loves bars, but she told me that beam is her favorite.

 

Right before class starts the girls usually have a few minutes of free time, and they always run right to the bars or trampoline.

 
Emma was very disappointed to learn that p-bars is a boys event, she swings like a monkey on them!