Bend, Bounce, Balance

Here are a few pictures of Emma during summer gymnastics lessons--hopping on tip-toes, balancing heal to toe, bear walking on parallel bars, and handstands!  She had such a blast and was an excellent listener! I was the only mom who EVER took a picture, so I didn't feel comfortable taking many, . . . but I was able to get some.

First Gymnastics Lesson

 Balance Beam

(walking heel to toe)

 Balance Beam

(hopping over the stuffed animals)

 Intro to Cartwheels

Coach Kim 

 Backward Somersaults

Intro to Handstands

Bars

(squeezing the stuffed animal between feet and dropping on the floor)

Bars

(intro to bar flips)

The library summer reading program rewards participants with "book bucks," which the kids use to buy things (trinkets, restaurant coupons, activity passes).  Emma spent a chunk of her reading money on a free gymnastics lesson at a local academy.  She was an excellent listener and followed every direction given by the coach.  Emma enjoyed the 45-minute session so much that we decided to sign her up for summer lessons.  Even though they are just three years old, her classmates were wearing leotards.  So immediately following this first lesson, we went out to get Emma her own.

Super Gymnast

During Spring Break, we took Emma to an open gym for some exercise and fun!  The foam pit was her favorite, and she did a good job of "swimming" to the sides to climb out.

Up In the Air

Since Emma enjoyed her first visit to the gymnasium, we tried out another in town a few weeks later. Emma was up in the air more than she was on the ground!

Little Gymnast

Emma participated in the public library's summer reading program and earned prizes for her reading endeavors. One of her selections was a free pass to a local gymnasium for a one-hour open gym. She took to the floor like a fish to water! The trampolines and balance beams were her favs. She was very thirsty and tired as the time came to a close, but excited to have had the opportunity.