We love Gymnastics!

Thanks to Keri who recommended her friend, Kim, for gymnastics. Every Wednesday we attend gymnastics at Kim's Gym.

Ava loves to jump and run and bounce and hang and crawl. It's no suprise that it's a great outlet for Ava, as physical as she is, so it was a no-brainer for us to start gymnastics. If she could hang out and do it all on her own, all day, she would. I was a little thrown back at first because she is so not into the group participation part of it. This shouldn't be a surprise though, because just like her mommy, she likes to stand back and watch, all on her own time and will come when she's ready.

Which reminds me of something else...what a person she is! It's moments like these, where she makes her own choices based on her feelings and emotions, that shows me who she is and what makes her comfortable. I can't (and won't) very well make her do things (like group participation--she stands back in music class a lot also) that don't make her comfortable and don't really matter in the grand scheme of things at 2 years old. She has that personality where if she doesn't like something, she'll let me know. What can I say? She marches to the beat of a different drum. It just makes me realize what an independent little girl I have. She just responds amazingly to making her own choices.

Anyway, attending organized extra-curricular activities and seeing pictures such as these totally remind me of who she is, so spirited and determined, serious and hard-working. All while maintaining a silly side.

So here she is jumping. This girl has been jumping for such a long time that, as you can see, her feet come up to almost higher than the bar. She loves to jump. Everywhere.
Here is Ava hanging out on the bars.

A look of detremination as she conquers the balance beam.

Running to step on the "bubbles"

Doing the high balance beam with Keri.

All ready for stamps, this is a highlight of each session.

Walking out with Mia. They MUST hold hands. Again, Kim's Gym is such a fantastic place that truly nurtures and facilitates the children's interests and abilities, providing an outlet for us (both moms and kids) who need it.