On the last day of each gymnastics class session (well, it was supposed to also be the last day of gymnastics but the many snow days nixed that plan) they invite the paparazzi in to take pictures and we were determined to make it this time since in the past we’d always skipped the last day for one reason or another. This makes me terribly sad since I have no pictures of her when she first started out in gymnastics at just 18(ish) months old.
Hard to believe she’s been at this for 18(ish) months now.
Like her mama, she loves the bars and she’s a natural at them. It’s amazing to me (and to her teachers) how easily she can work the rings and how much upper body strength she has already. It is nothing for her to flip 5-10 times straight on the rings – perfectly rotating her shoulders – without ever being taught or even encouraged to do so.
She adores the trampoline.
The plan was for Daddy to escort Ava around (it’s a parent/child class) and I would take pictures. This worked out moderately well for about 15 minutes until she decided that Daddy would just not do and implemented her plan to replace Daddy with Mama by laying down on the balance beam and refusing to get up. Her method worked very well and we swapped out with me in clothing that was NOT at all suitable for chasing an almost 3 year old around a gym.
She likes the beam, too. It’s second favorite, I’d say.
With Daddy:
And without:
There are zero pictures of her in or around the vault area because she hates it. Really, really loathes it. Occasionally she’ll give a half hearted bounce and attempt a leg over the mini foam horse but mostly she just clings and whines and goes all boneless – refusing to participate. I totally understand her feelings on this. I HATED the vault with a passion and never was any good at it despite my best efforts.
And no pictures from the floor either. J was over all the mama/papa/grandparent jockeying for prime photog position so he gave up. I had no problem with this because by then it was pandemonium and no one was focused on gymnastics anyway. It was all I could do to keep Ava pointed in the right direction and sort of participating in the routine they’d set up. After I had to climb in and drag her out of the loooonnng tunnel by one leg since she decided to just sit down right in the middle of it I kind of gave up too. After a lot of running amok, some parachute play, and a sticker she was Done (with a capital D) and so were we.
But.
We? Are gluttons for punishment.
So we headed for our local amusement park figuring she’d accommodate our timing perfectly and grab a quick nap in the car before we met up with friends.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
No nap. No lunch (her choice).
Except we walked in and she promptly commandeered Izzy’s popcorn. Seriously. Izzy offered to share and Ava took the whole bucket with nary a please or a thank you.
And then she grew up more right before my eyes when she told us that she wanted to ride the horses with Izzy – not Mama and/or Daddy.
So she did.
With J and I waving like idiots every.single.time she went around.
Then we got to watch an employee drop a 5 day old baby lamb on its head. That was fun trying to explain to Ava who was simply heartbroken that the little lamb fell down. She has a thing for ‘yams.’ The baby ‘yam’ was okay, by the way.
More rides and more BFF time followed (for all of us).
And more popcorn.
Wait! Where’s it going???
Oh well, all good things must come to an end.
And it ended thusly.
WOW! I’m impressed. All of that talent in that little body.