Gymnastics...

Katherine has been taking private gymnastics lessons every Friday since her birthday. It's something she totally loves, and looks forward to each week. In fact, if she could skip dance or preschool and head straight to the gym, her life would be all good.

At first when we were doing the private lessons I wasn't sure if they were really helping her that much. I'm not sure what I expected.... maybe visible improvement each week? Maybe a growth in her self confidence? Maybe the chance to get her feet wet and find out if this is really something she wanted to do long term? Maybe all of the above? Maybe something more? I'm not sure. All I know is that I had a little girl who was doing something that she truly loved, and if I could do something to support that, I was more than willing.

In the last several weeks I've seen real growth out of her.... not just in self confidence, but a real improvement in her gymnastics skills. Prior to the private lessons, she was really good, but not leaps and bounds better than the other girls in the class. Today, I realized that she really was in a different league. I can't believe that I'm admitting that, but at this point it's true. I'm not sure how good she really is, but compared to the other girls in her class, she's the stand out.

Each week in class, Mr. Tarry pulls one of the girls out, and has them demonstrate the skill he wants all of the girls to do. Sometimes it's something simple like a backward roll, other times it's a bar or beam skill. Well today, he decided that if Katherine could land a cartwheel on the beam, then all the other girls were going to try it as well. So he pulled her up and told her to show the class how it was done. Not only did she land the cartwheel on one side, but BOTH sides. (Right hand first, then left hand first). I was shocked! I couldn't believe that she didn't fall off! Tarry had told me to put a line of painters tape on her mat and have her practice landing cartwheels on that for the time being. The thought is that if she can get close to landing a cartwheel on a half inch strip then the beam will be a piece of cake. All week she had been working on it, but it was tough. Well.... true to his word, she landed the cartwheel today! And yes.... no other girl was even close.

Later in the class the girls go through an obstacle course of sorts. I'm not really sure how to explain it, but Tarry sets up stations so that they rotate through the different skill areas -- bar, beam, floor, trampoline, etc... Today he set up 4 different bar stations, and he was at the uneven bars helping the girls with their pullovers. Katherine has been working on her pullover for a few weeks now and it's been really tough for her. To say she's had a heck of a time, would be the understatement of the year. But, for some reason, she has her wits about her and manages to stay calm and keep trying, and trying, and trying.... Tarry has tried to show her how to do them countless times -- he's done them himself, he's moved her around the bar, he's brought in another gymnast so that they could do them at the same time, he's done just about everything. Anyway, today in class, he was standing next to her just watching, and low and behold -- THAT GIRL MADE IT OVER THE BAR! I was cheering, Tarry was clapping and all the other girls just looked confused. It was such a great moment for her. Definitely one of those things she won't forget anytime soon!

So.... Katherine is nosy. She's very curious and wants to know EVERYTHING. One of the things she *really* wants to know is Tarry's middle name. He's told her that he'll tell her once she gets the pullover on her own. So today, she was begging to know, but he still wouldn't tell her. She was standing on a wedge mat before she did the pullover, and he wants her to do it without ANY help. So here's to hoping that tomorrow is the day!

Tomorrow, Matt's parents are coming down to stay for the weekend, and I've asked them to come early so that they could stay at the house while Katherine is at her lesson. That way, Caleb can get his nap in and not turn into a gong show later that night, and I can sneak into the gym and take some pictures. So be on the lookout for those this weekend!!

Oh, and about the private lessons.... After the first lesson Katherine showed up to her regular class and spouted her mouth off about being able to go in the big gym with just Mr. Tarry. I got several of the other moms seriously questioning why I'd ever do that for a 5 year old and spend that type of money. At the time, I didn't think it'd be a long term thing - just something for her birthday. Well, of course it snowballed and we've kept it up, but all along, I've told Katherine not to brag, and that there wasn't any reason to discuss it. Anyway, Tarry asked me if I'd want to split the cost of the lesson and let Katherine take them for an hour. It'd be double the time and $10 cheaper, so of course I thought it was a wonderful idea.

I had told Tarry that I wanted to keep the private lesson thing just that -- private. I really didn't think it was anyone else's business, and of course, he honored it. With that being said, he told me that he'd put me in contact with the other mom who wanted to split the lesson, and wouldn't you know... she stopped me right in front of several of the moms who I've become friends with.... Oh, the looks I got. I could have just about died! As luck would have it, I didn't feel overly comfortable with the other mom and her daughter, but one of the girl's in Katherine's class is now going to join in the private lesson. So, starting tomorrow, we're now going for an hour. Katherine is thrilled that she gets to be in the gym longer, and I'm thrilled that I can sneak in and take a few pictures. It's all about the scrapbook you know!

Today for lunch we picked up my mom for a little celebration. Katherine wanted to go to Culver's for their chicken strips and ice cream, so off we went. She was just beaming! She had me call everyone and tell them her news. She was in her element!

Then tonight after naps we met up with some friends at the mall, had dinner and hit the play area. Katherine was still in a celebratory mood, so on the way out we got ice cream. She told me ice cream had never tasted so good! LOL.

We got home around 8:15, and then played outside with the neighbors until sometime after 9. So it was good day all around.