Vault

First time on the big vault

Stretching

Class is starting with stretching.

Nutrition

Last week Jedadiah had his very first private with Coach Xiaoping. Before the training began, Coach Xiaoping and I talked for a few minutes. While speaking with Coach Xioaping, he mentioned that he would like Jedadiah to eat more veggies and reduce his sugar intake. He said that Jedadiah has a chance to make it to All Stars as a second-year level 5, so Jedadiah needs to be careful about what he intakes. We appreicate his honesty and care about our son. With that in mind, I have been cooking every day, almost every meal. He hasn't had any candy this past week. I have also started researching more about healthy eating and meal planning. The USAGym says this about food: https://usagym.org/docs/Home/120610_weightmanagement.pdf This was more theoretical information, but I wanted more practical. A friend, Jen, recommended that I watch Food Inc. I was blown away by the images of the poor cows covered in feces being slautered in such a tragic way. Later on, I also saw a movie called Food Matters, where I relearned how valulable supplements are to the human body. Jedadiah will be drining either Almond milk, soy milk and organice whole milk. I started making fruit smoothies, with yogurt and chia seeds. Both kids love them. I feel challenged to feed my athletes the best food, so they can perform well this next season.

Injuries Do Happen

One of the academy girls possibly dislocated her elbow this evening.
I know this is a dangerous sport, but to see it happen makes it a reality.
I hope she won't be traumatized and scared away from gymnastics.

Goodbye

It seems like the kids have learned early on that coaches come and go. Life, school, schedules and jobs take people to a variety of places. The kids said good bye to coach Elly. She will attend university in San Francisco. She will be missed.

Vault

They are looking stronger.

Matching outfits

This week the kids were measured for their team leos and warm ups. The girls are excited.

Coach Xioa Ping

The Coach is working hard tonight with the boys. He's getting down to their level.

Open Gym

Another night at the gym....and open gym night.

Beam work

The team is working hard on the beam today with Coach Pam.

Relaxing

Optional gym practice... Mostly the boys bond and condition ;-)

Coach Tyler

He works with the girls on the bars and starts the class most days.

Good at...

She drew a picture at church yesterday of herself dancing because she was asked to depict herself doing something she is good at.
I feel so confused and torn.

Fortune cookie

Her fortune cookie had this saying:
"Participation in sports may lead you to a lucrative career."
Gymnastics???

Last dance competition

This week she competes for the very last time. She earned third in her lyrical category for her age division, 5 to 6. Tomorrow the two groups will compete in the jazz and lyrical categories.
I am sentimental and want her to enjoy every moment she spends on stage dancing.

Coach Pam

End of the first practice

Vault

Coach Jane is working with them on vault

First day

Her very first day of level 3 training.

Coach Bobby

Shreddy started his gymnastics training at KIPS Gymnastics when he was almost two and a half. Our intentions were academic. One of my friends, Karen V., shared a story about her son which prompted me to put Shreddy in gymnastics. Karen said that when her son went to be tested for kindergarten the teacher asked if he could jump on one leg or hop. He could hop, but he couldn't jump on one leg. The teacher advised Karen to hold her son back one year and put him in gymnastics to build up his gross motor skills. The ability to jump on one leg, either right or left, would then transfer to fine motor coordination. Following her advice, at the age of two, I signed Shreddy up for gymnastics through the Park and Recreation program. I wanted him to be able to hold a pencil when he got to kindergarten. This was my reasoning. He loved it! He enjoyed jumping on the trampoline and flipping on the bars. Samara was only four months old, so I used to carry her in the Bjorn baby carrier. KIPS give yearly attendance trophies, so these rewards really helped to keep him motivated. Somewhere along the way, he didn't want to continue so I talked to Coach Carol, the manager at KIPS. I told her Jedadiah no longer wanted to come to class; she suggested the boys' class. I never saw a boys' class on the schedule, but such a class existed. So following her suggestion, I put him in that class. He was so happy to be with all the boys. His first coach was Coach Tiffany and later Coach Bobby. It was Coach Bobby who suggested that we take him to another gym to be evaluated for placement on a boy's team, as KIPS does not have a boys team. Coach Bobby said he was naturally strong and showed potential. This was the beginning....

New and Old Gymnasts

Since gymnastics is such a huge part of our lives, I thought I should begin chronicling our adventures at the gym. I should have started two years ago when Shreddy started level 4, but I didn't. Last year he competed level 5 and has recently begun his training for second-year level 5. Today Samara will begin training for level 3 team. For her, it has been a long road to get to team; two years of pre-team at two different gyms. I am so proud of her and all of her sweat that she has invested in the sport already. I look forward to sharing the day-to-day life at the gym, the highs and the lows and all of the adventures that gymnastics will bring to our family.