Getting my Olympic Outfit Ready

This post is a total brag fest on my 4 year old. 

My little A-A has been invited to join a competition gymnastics squad. Yep. She is the youngest on the team, by the looks of it. Kristy talked to me last week about it a little, and then when we went in on Tuesday, she was all, "here is your packet. Why doesn't she start tomorrow?" So, we head to the secret gym that I didn't know existed and are now part of the cool kids club. 

If you follow me on twitter, then you know my Mama Bear has come out more than once about Addy and her gym mates, from bullies to teachers not paying attention to her not getting the coaching I felt she needed. Well, look no more. Because this is basically one on one coaching. This squad won State this year. You know what that means? I better start preparing my "mother of the Olympic athlete" speech. 

Her 45 minutes of gymnastics a week just turned into 3.5 HOURS of gym time. 

This is whole different level, people. These girls are GOOD. It took Addy a little bit to warm up, but within 15 minutes of this class, she had already mastered her back bend. She is totally coachable and I think is super impressed with the bigger girls. It doesn't hurt that one of her instructors was an Alabama gymnast, either. 

She gets to travel with this squad starting in December. And she was kinda ticked she didn't get a trophy after Wednesdays practice. But, maybe she will get over it. 

I said she would be the next Dominique Dawes. 

Someone else said what about the next Keri Strug? I said. No. Duh. She hurt her ankle! 

Maybe we can compromise on the next Shawn Johnson. After she competes in the Olympics, she can go on to win the coveted Mirror Ball trophy on DWTS. 

Come on. You know you'd watch. 

Here are some videos from Wednesday's practice. Maybe we should re-think the Olympics? :) Either way, I am super proud of her for this opportunity. She loves gymnastics so much and it's a thrill to see her face accomplish something. 

She told me she is ready to learn to switch bars. Umm.. alright. Let's get on that! 

Untitled from Rachel McPhillips on Vimeo.

Untitled from Rachel McPhillips on Vimeo.

This weekend deserved a Ta-Da!!

This weekend was a little on the crazy side. Friday started with a bridal luncheon for John's cousin that was getting married. And then of course, the McPhillips had a get together Friday night full of laughter, stories, pictures, pizza, and wine. (This is the reason I fit in so well.) I seriously love his family. All the cousins, aunts, uncles, babies-- they are just fabulous to be around. 

Saturday started with Addison's very first gymnastics jamboree/recital/thing. I would be lying if I said that I didn't tear up at times. She looked so big, yet so tiny and vulnerable. She thought it was going to be a normal class, I think, because when she saw all the chairs, she freaked a little. But, calmed down and did her thing. 

Our first Ta Da! of the day. 

I had Dad video it, so you can see the Olympic goodness in my 4 year old. She dominates every event except the beam. Which I can't blame her, that thing freaks me out too. Instead of posting a bazillion pictures, I'll just post the shortened video. Dad took to heart when I told him I only cared about her being on it. He literally videoed her sitting and watching the other girls perform. Well done, Boompa. Well done. I now have 40 minutes of precious Addison video, of which I am only going to post about 5 minutes on here.



The part she was most excited about was her medal. Seriously. The running medals are rubbing off on her because she couldn't wait to tell me about it.

One last Ta Da!! 

My Saturday then continued with a maternity session, some light yard work, and the gorgeous wedding. It was outside and I don't think they could have asked for a more beautiful day. Tracie and I were told we were the life of the dance floor and passed our "sorority girl"dance moves onto another generation. You know, where you just shuffle your feet or move your hips and do all your dancing with your hands? It takes talent to not spill your drink too. 

We also may or may not have been the leaders of "Come on Ride This Train"... let's not play. You know I spent the summer before 8th grade watching and learning the dance on MTV. You know you did it too. Just admit it. 

We ate breakfast with the cousins- Marie, Dave, Sarah, Scott, Ashlyn, Jay, Joseph, and Tracie. Even MeMac showed up! Then it was back to do some more yard work and trip to the 'Mart before the girls arrived back home. 

It was a jam packed weekend, but super fun! 

Gymnastics...

Addison started gymnastics on Monday night. It was kind of a last minute sign up, but I knew I just HAD to get her in. And, I guessed right. I was super nervous for her, because, well, this is a first step in being a big girl. Not a toddler. A little girl. I know we have to get her a leotard now. Maybe with a tutu. 

We signed up and we had to wait on our class to get called. She kept asking, "Why haven't they called me yet?" Well. They finally did and she took to her teacher. Held her hand the whole time. 

They started on the balance beam, and she was the first one up. She raised her hand to go first. I was so proud.

They had to kick their legs up and try to meet the girls hand and Addison is moving her teachers hand so she didn't have to kick as high.

Can you see her in the background? Teal shirt? She started climbing over everything after jumping the vault and everyone else in her class followed.

Waiting her turn for the trampoline.

I was such a proud Mommy. She has some real natural talent and a love at such a young age for gymnastics.

She kept getting in trouble for getting up on the bars without a teacher and doing flips. No instruction needed.

At the end of class, she got a bracelet and a stamp. It was LOVE. I had to take her out to the car kicking and screaming. I'm pretty sure she wants to live at gymnastics. On Tuesday morning, she woke up and asked,"Can I go to gymnastics after school?" And immediately broke down crying when I said it was just for Mondays.

I think she liked it. Hard to tell.