My Little Gymnast

Annabelle has been taking classes at The Little Gym this summer. She loves it, and is actually quite good :) I think it's from all those playground hours we're logging! The Little Gym has been a fun place for her, a place where she can climb, fall, explore, and jump using different equipment and obstacles from normal life. She's always full of energy, and is always wanting to do her own thing...which, to be honest, is more than ok with me.

Every class begins with the kids getting bells out of the bucket for themselves and for mom. Then we sit and sing the welcome song, introduce ourselves, etc. Annabelle is so nice to get me some bells, but then she immediately takes off for the low bar to hang and swing away. Ha ha :) I can't help but laugh. I have become quite accustomed to "warming up" by myself while she warms up in her own way (i.e. running, hanging from the bars, speed walking through the parallel bars, etc). The teacher encourages her to return to the group a few times throughout the warm up, but who really wants to walk in a circle when you can get a head start on practicing tricks? I can't blame her. She's just a Busy, Busy girl, and rarely stops for anything.

She has been learning new things as well. She'll usually try the "skill of the week" twice, sometimes more if it doesn't involve flipping while mom spots (I'm am the world's WORST spotter, so I oftentimes offer up Annabelle as the guinea pig for the teacher demonstration because I feel so darn uncomfortable spotting a 2-yr old! Call me crazy). She can do a forward roll, and she has just recently gained enough courage to get on the beam. Yahoo! Now she calls curbs and retaining rock walls "Beams." It's amazing how walking on those "Beams" has helped her conquer her fear of the real thing!

All in all, we've enjoyed going and trying new things. I think it's helped her develop better coordination and balance, as well as jumping skills (well...the jumping skills could be due to "Jumping Judy" from The Doodlebops--Annabelle SO loves her)! As for the social interaction, Annabelle has always loved other kids, and I've been too busy watching her and laughing that I can't even tell you who's in our class--so much for making new friends! Oh well, there's always time for that later :)

LOVES the bars!!
She's already trying to pull her legs up to the bar!

Speed walking through the parallel bars

They don't introduce the rings in her class--Obviously! Yet every week she makes her way over there and looks around, wondering if today will be the day.

She LOVES kicking, throwing and rolling the balls. She's always really giddy and giggly during this portion of class :)

Such creativity

Bubble time! Check out her upward focus and openness through the sternom! Makes my heart swell with pride :)

Playing with the toys after class. "Vroom Vroom!!"

Stewart Falls

We decided to hike to Stewart Falls on a Thursday afternoon after Josh came home from work. It was so beautiful! The trail was more moderate and less challenging, but definitely worth hiking. It was actually the 1st hike we have done in Provo Canyon! We both decided we'd like to try more hikes in this canyon, especially since it's so close to home. The only canyon we truly don't like is Milcreek--SNAKES!! Twice! Need I say more?

I definitely prefer hiking in the early morning though. Even though the temperature in the mountains was wonderful, and the waterfall was stunning, I didn't have near the energy and stamina that I typically do first thing in the morning. Plus Annabelle got car sick and threw up on our way; that delayed us for about an hour. I'm sure all you moms out there know how it can be quite taxing and tiring to clean up a throw-up incident, rinse the clothes, wash off the child, change clothes, replenish fluids, then observe them for about 30 minutes to decide if you should bag the trip and go home, or continue on, chalking it up to a hot car and lots of turns. We decided on the latter (obviously), but I was tired!! Annabelle did well, and LOVED hiking on the way down--that girl has some serious balance and coordination for her age! All in all, it was a good learning experience for me. I learned that afternoon hikes should be few and far between, and that I shouldn't walk 4 miles in the morning on the same day I'm hiking in the afternoon--my legs were Jell-o!