Yesterday, we drove to Bartlesville to watch Kate compete in her first gymnastics meet ever. She's taken gymnastics since she was two, but only recently joined an official gymnastics team and begun taking it kind of seriously and to the next level. Had no idea the time commitment required for gymnasts! This summer, she spent nine hours a week in the gym conditioning and practicing. This fall, her level is required to do 6 hours a week. Those girls do conditioning exercises that would make me cry...or at least cry for mercy! I began watching her closely to make sure she was actually
enjoying it as she always had, now that the demands on her time and body were so much more. She had always just taken a one hour class each week for fun. This was totally different! I just knew I would pull in the parking lot one afternoon after practice to pick her up and hear her say....this is not fun anymore. This is work and I'm exhausted. Don't like it.
Not so. Not even close. She gets in the car happy, high energy, and loving all of it. I don't know why I'm still surprised. But, okay - gymnastics it is! So we are moving forward. This weekend was really big for her. She's been working toward this since last May. She was nervous but excited. I told her, "Just get through this one. Don't focus on your scores, what you walk away with in the way of ribbons....I know you want to do well and see those results, but just do the very best you can and HAVE FUN!" "This one is about learning what a real meet feels like".
Well, she did it and she enjoyed it so much. All that hard work paid off! She had fun and even placed third in her age group. Thank you for rolling out to see her, Grandpa! And I know her Mississippi grandparents would have loved to have been there - so here are a few pictures! But I have a feeling you will have many years ahead to see her compete. She's got the bug now for sure! They wouldn't allow flash photography - so these aren't great - but you'll get a peek!
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| Heading back to warm up with Abby |
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| Floor routine |
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| Floor routine |
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Floor routine
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| beam |
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