Gymnastics

We started the boys in gymnastics on January 3rd.  It was something I had been wanting to do with them to get some energy out and encourage social skill development, such as taking turns and waiting in line.  The first session just happened to be the night of a snow storm here (what night hasn't been a snow storm?).  Instead of getting to go home and eat before gymnastics we had to go right there because we sat in traffic so long.  The boys were wild!  I know, those of you who know my children know they are not typically wild children-right?!  So this was a new and uncharted territory for me.  Not only was it new, Jeff wasn't there as we had planned. The night before our kitchen sink had become clogged and we had to call a plumber. He was waiting for the plumber to come and couldn't make it to gymnastics.

We had to skip one session because I was sick, so we only went to 4 sessions. The boys had a blast!  Each Monday night there was snow, making it tricky to get to gymnastics on time.  By the 4th session the boys were starting to feel more comfortable in the warm up circle and were starting to partcipate.  They still ran all over the place while they were supposed to be waiting to do each aparatus.  Boy Jeff and I got good workouts chasing them around.  Owen was the most crazy.  We saw their different personalities really come out!

Chase warms up by making a table.  Owen wouldn't do it more than one time and I missed the first one.

Owen stands on the feet and waits his turn to run down the mat to the vault.  I think this is the first time in gymnastics that I saw him wait his turn.

As you can tell Owen doesn't wait long before taking off.  They were not ready for him so he bolted.  He's so funny!

Here comes Chase racing back from jumping off the vault.  I'm pretty sure his feet are not touching the ground he is running so fast.

This is what Chase and Owen did while the others were waiting their turn in line.  What can I say, my boys have energy.

Chase jumps on the trampoline and loves it!

Mommy and Chase wait for the balance beam.  Actually I'm trying to keep Chase in my arms while he tries to escape.

Chase wants to run off where Owen is.

Chase walks across the balance beam.  He's very good at this.

He's concentrating very hard.

Chase finishes a somersault.

Owen swings on the bar and loves it!

 This was part of an obstacle course.  The boys went through it before we could stop them and then hid inside the red octagon. They loved gymnastics!  Owen watches Chase come through before he takes off to run the course again.

Owen was so independent. He didn't want others to tell him where to go or what to do. If you could get him on an aparatus he was more cautious than Chase and required you to really help him. It's not that he couldn't do the task, he was just nervous about falling off or whatever. If he didn't want to do what was asked, he just ran and ran and ran. He was very difficult to catch!

Chase participated more in the tasks. He really enjoyed each aparatus and seems to be more of a people pleaser in that he would listen to directions and nod his head in understanding and then do what was asked, even if he really wanted to be off running with his brother. He was able to be redirected to the tasks and really wanted to show off his moves. He was less cautious than Owen and flung his body all around, not really worrying about how he could hurt himself. He was quite good, actually.