Josie and Tessa's Meet! Videos!

Last weekend, we spent Saturday morning in Martinsville watching the girls' second gymnastic's meet. Tom and I missed their very first meet of the season so this was our first time watching them this season and first time watching Tessa period. Despite the 5:30AM wake up call, we were excited to see them in action!

Tessa is a Level 1 this year. So, she was up first!

Her second vault...

Bars...

Beam (This one is really hard to see - she's in the pink in the back right corner of the gym)...

And, finally, floor...

I didn't get photos of Jack, but he was SO well behaved! He was happy to have the Kinnaman boys to pal around with during Tessa's meet. Then, he found a friend part way through and I was glad that he was entertained. Josie and dad were good spectators too.

It was really fun to watch her compete after four years of practices. Awards were given to each age division and Tessa won her division! We were so proud of her! 

She was pretty proud of herself too. 

Up next were the Level 2 girls. This is Josie's second season. (She started as a level 2 and Tessa started as a level 1.) I shared videos of her first meet in this post. 

One of her vaults...

And, bars...

Then, over to the beam. Dad got a great spot to video!

And, finally, over to the floor.

She did such a great job! So improved over last year! (Here's her first meet post.) Second place finish for this girl! And, in the 9-year-old division!

They've come a long way since their very first time showing off their skills! I forgot all about this post from 2011! Last night, Josie managed her first back handspring in practice too - something I never managed to do. :) 

Being a parent, you have proud moments and not-so-proud moments. This is definitely a proud moment. It's even more meaningful because of how proud they were of themselves. I think it's all finally clicking with them that working hard really does pay off and feel good. Another important lesson learned in youth sports! 

Great job girls! 

Josie's Gymnastics Debut!

I'm a very proud mama right now! Josie had her first meet today for gymnastics! We've been taking her to classes for a few years and then she decided this year she wanted to compete. Today was her first chance to give it a try!

The last two weeks, she has really been practicing non-stop between gym practice three days a week and basement practice the other days. (Completely self-imposed!) Honestly, she just seems to be having so much fun!

I, being the nervous mom, was concerned that she wouldn't know her routines and may be embarrassed in front of the crowd and the judges. I was sorely mistaken! She remembered all of them and didn't have one ounce of stage fright and really did a great job! While she didn't make it on the podium, she got a medal, and probably more important to her, a free t-shirt. :)

I'm so glad she has decided to compete. The benefits are so huge for her character development, not to mention the physical exercise. Being on a team yet having an individual experience is one of the reasons I've really enjoyed running. I'll never win a race (never say never right?), but I can always improve. Same goes for gymnastics. I think she's going to make some great friends along the way!

Can't say enough how proud I am of this little one. Sweet girl and growing up so fast! 

JPAC Fall Spectacular!

The girls had their first gymnastics performance debut today at JPAC (Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center - Jaycie is from Greenfield and a member of the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal Team and Co-Owner of the gym.) None of us were quite sure what to expect, but they all did a great job! It was set up like a real meet so the groups of girls went through their rotations and Josie and Tessa had to wait and watch all the other kids which is different than their normal classes. They were grouped with the older girls and I was really impressed with how well they did for the entire time (especially Tessa!). The younger girls group still performed as a group together much more like their classes. Each coach had the girl do the skill that was most applicable to their age group. And, of course, everyone got a medal and got to stand on the big mat/podium! It was great exposure to competition and performing. I really like that they get a chance to perform but we don't have to spend hundreds on costumes. Just a $20 leotard!

Here are the pics...

Warm up -

Jack also was a great sport - sat relatively still on Tom's lap for the entire two hours!

Josie and Tessa's group - The Olympians - Josie spotted us obviously!

The whole group

Josie and Tessa (she was the shortest so she got to be the leader the whole day - made her day!) walking to their first rotation

Josie on the bar

Josie getting ready to do the vault - cheese ball!

Josie on the vault again

Tessa getting ready for vault - her teacher told me last week that she's really good at this because she can run so fast and with power!

See the judge with her hand up? Tessa was waiting for the OK to start.

The coaches tried to keep the girls busy while they were waiting.

Josie doing her floor routine - prepping a handstand

Tessa's handstand - nice work!

Tessa and the judge

Josie getting her medal from Jaycie Phelps. So cool that the girls get high fives each week from an Olympian!

Way to go Josie!

Tessa walking to the podium

Tessa getting her medal from Jaycie

Just a little shy but I can't believe she got up there and did her thing! (In her defense, there were probably 100 people in the crowd!)

Sweet sisters!

What a fun experience!