Her game

My big girl is a social butterfly.  She was sorely disappointed when Ian and I told her that she would not be returning to her preschool this year.  (Thankfully my efforts at home preschool have mostly alleviated that disappointment).

Another disappointment alleviator?  We decided that being the oldest child should have some perks.  So as the only four year old in the house (until next month), Kylie got to select something she was interested in doing from the parks and recreation department.  Based on the rapt attention she gives gymnasts on TV, ~ I think her love affair with the sport began while we watched the Beijing Olympics ~ it was no surprise to me, AT ALL, that she chose "gin-NAS-ix."

And since we registered her for the class, I've heard her ask every day, at least once a day, "when is the first day?"  Today the long awaited day arrived.  (And she asked me every ten minutes, starting at 8, if it was time to go yet).

To avoid losing my mind possibly being late, we left plenty early and arrived about ten minutes before class started.  The door was closed while the teacher set out some of the mats and things, but that didn't quell Ky's excitement.

Another fun thing about the class that Kylie was looking forward to was knowing that she got to take it with two of her sweet friends, Lottie (one of her "China sisters") and "China Abbey" (not to be confused with cousin Abby).  I'm so grateful for the precious friendship these three girls share.

Kylie was all business and after the stretching/footwork exercise part, she gave her teacher her undivided attention while she went over the obstacle course.

When it was time to begin, Kylie and Abbey headed straight to the mini-trampolines.  My heart almost jumped out of my chest when she began doing her tuck jumps and her knees were OVER the handlebar.  Seriously, she was barely able to keep her hands on the bar.  (I think I may have a Christmas idea...)

She smiled her way though the obstacle course, jumping, sliding, "hopscotching,"

cartwheeling,

front rolling, back rolling (both with instructor supervision and skill building), tunneling, and balance beaming.

Then it was parachute time.  If I hadn't been holding Darcy Q I would have walked around to capture the HUGE smile on her face.  What is it about shaking a handle on a big piece of colorful nylon that brings out giddiness in a kid?

None of the skills they practiced today were particularly new to Ky.  There was no big balance beam, tumble track, vault, or uneven bars.  But she had something that for the first time in a long time is all her own.  She was in her element and I suspect that she found "her thing" at her very first try.  Darcy I predict will have a tough time choosing between dance and gymnastics.  Caleb, I suspect will bounce around between soccer, karate (or some form of martial arts), gymnastics, and swimming before he selects "his game."  But Ky?  I think she has found hers. 

Her smile says it all.

And the questioning has already started.  "Mommy, when is it time to go back to "gin-NAS-ix?"  Come on next Friday...