Our little gymnast

Noah has been really excelling at gymnastics.  He has a great coach, who really gives great direction, corrects them when they don't do things perfectly, but still is very positive and encouraging.  From day one she has told me how awesome and strong Noah is.  Friday, at class he did several pullovers in a row on the bars.  He's been able to do them for awhile, according to my definition.  But, he is now doing them in perfect from from beginning to the proper end and that takes a lot of strength.  He's able to do several in a row.  I sit up high in the bleachers, which is why I don't share videos and pictures.  I can't really get decent ones.  But, after class Friday his coach came to me and said he is ready for the advanced class.  She said it's not normal for "Munchkins" to be able to do all the skills he does.  She's working with him on a skill where he's in a bridge and flips out of it.  He would have more time to work on this skill and others in the advanced class.  She wants him to be not just ready, but super ready, in her words. So we'll probably wait a month to switch him.  It will be the same amount per month, cost-wise, but it's Thursday evenings.  Friday mornings really are better.  Also, we won't have the same coach, who I love.  But, she assures me the advanced coach is great.  And I trust her.  Very proud of Noah.  He's not only strong, but a perfectionist.  He works diligently, tirelessly to get things "right".

This video of him doing a cartwheel at home is the best I could come up with right now.  I'll try to see if  his coach will let me sneak down for a video of him doing his pullovers in a couple weeks.  We'll miss next week, as we'll be out of town.

Noah at Gymnastics

We joined a new gym. It was a better fit for Noah AND they have a class for Elliot the same time and day. They also have open gym/play immediately following their class. Win-Win-Win. Here's Noah showing some of his moves during open play.

Lunch Bunch

The place Noah and Elliot take Gymnastics classes started something new called "Lunch Bunch".  It is for ages 4+ and it's a three hour drop-off.  They have open playtime, eat lunch (that you send) and do a craft.  It's from 11-2 every Friday.  It's new and no one has taken them up on it yet.  So I got a couple of Noah's buddies a few weeks ago and signed them up.  They were the only three there and had the huge place to themselves.

When I picked them up, they were all sweaty and red-faced and came running up to me excitedly and asking if they could play hide and seek just one more time.  According to Brina, the activity director, they played for 45 minutes, ate lunch & did a craft for about 45 minutes, then played non-stop the rest of the time.  They had a blast!  We are already planning one for next month.

These three kids met when they were babies in the same playgroup through Brookside Mother's Association.  Once our second babies came along and a lot of the older kids started doing different preschool days our playgroup kind of gradually just quit.  Murray & Noah have stayed buddies since his mom and I have stayed good friends, and even though Sidney's mom and I have kept in touch and do the occasional mom's night out, Noah and Sidney didn't remember each other when PreK started this year.  Now they are all in the same class and friends again. It's so cute seeing them together and having memories of them running around as toddlers playing at the park.

Sidney & Noah back when they were little

Noah, Jack, Liam & Murray celebrating 2009 on New Year's when they were 2!

My little Gymnast

Elliot started gymnastics about three weeks ago.  He has class on Monday mornings (when Noah is in school) and gets to be in class with his friend, Nona Grace.  It's a 2 and 3 year old class and after warm ups they have two teachers and separate the ages, so they don't actually do most of the class together.  Parents wait and watch from the bleachers and I get to do this with my friend.  It's fun for everyone :)  Elliot really loves it!  Elliot has a hard time watching Noah at soccer and does not understand why he can't play too.  He tries to run on the field and cries saying he wants to play.  So I was very excited to give Elliot an opportunity to do his own thing.

(When Noah saw these pictures and some videos I took, he wanted to sign up too.  He has only gone twice now.  I will blog about Noah's next week when I have the opportunity to get some better pictures.  Noah's class is harder, because it's at night with LOTS of kids and classes going on, but I'll bring the camera next week.)

lining up with Nona Grace before class

they go in here to warm up

jumping on the trampoline

doing a "v sit"

dominating the rings