Tumbling Along Thru Life...

When I was in elementary school, my mother found free classes offered by the city in 'stunts and tumbling'. Junie, Neffie and I all took these little classes in the summer at Betty Virginia Park. They had a cinderblock building and it had mats in it. We learned to do summersaults, back bends, splits, stand on our heads, etc. I loved these classes. My sisters and I spent many summer afternoons and evenings practicing and playing with these skills in our yard in Shreveport, Louisiana.

When our kids were little, we signed them up for gymnastics while we lived in Denver. They had a great gym that trained Olympic capable young people. It was one of the things I regret about moving. Nissa was really quite good and limber at it and we never managed to get her back into it in Maryland.

Yesterday Claude, Papa and I went to LaGrange to meet up with Hayden and Bailey and go to their gymnastics class. Andie found this class for a summer activity. Hayden and Bailey could both attend at the same time. Hayden would work with the teacher and a class of kids. Bailey's class would have a teacher but the parents would help with these little ones and their skills. Andie would be one the floor with Bailey but could also watch Hayden on the floor in another part of the gym. Andie has been telling us how cute they are. Hayden has been raving out what he had learned from his 'coach'. Yesterday was the next to last class for this summer and the first one we were able to attend. It was great fun. They are really learning to use their skills and learning to be in a class situation and follow instructions. I spent the time without my shoes (this is my favorite part, I'm a barefoot girl for sure!!) walking around the gym taking pictures of the kids. Claude and Papa watched from the chairs in an area designated for parents and family.

Here are a few pictures of Hayden...practicing cartwheels, holding the rings before he swings, learning to hold out his hands to balance himself when he dismounts and walking the balance beam alone.

Here are a few pictures of Bailey...swinging from parallel bars, jumping from springboard, swinging from rings, walking balance beam with Andie's help and getting her stamps on her feet, hands and tummy for doing a good job.

It was great fun to watch these little bodies learn to move and gain strength. Such great lessons in just that for the adult viewers. It takes a lot of practice, making mistakes and trying again to train our bodies to perform as we choose for them to. Once again the older crowd marveled at the energy of youth. Hayden and Bailey really love this class. Grampa treated everyone (Michael joined us) to Steak and Shake for dinner. It was a great afternoon and early evening. Then Claude, Papa and I headed back to Georgetown & Sadieville. Now for a bit O' history from the Christensen Family Picture Files... I found a page of Nissa at a gymnastics tournament in September 1982. In those days we didn't have digital photography. You got 24 shots maximum on a roll of film and what you took you saw after it was developed. You paid for any and all prints you had made. So these are old shots I have scanned and then lightened and cropped. They are of Nissa and her class lined up for competition. Nissa is circled. (You really should be able to figure that out yourself but just in case...I tell you.) Nissa running and jumping on the springboard. Nissa on the parallel bars. And finally, Nissa at home on the piano bench with her ribbon.