Leveling Up?

Happy Monday Ya'll!
So today I had a meeting with The Munchkin Princess' new coaches for the Summer. She has been selected to train wit the next level above her in preparation for training at a higher level in the Fall. Just to explain things a little there are some level name changes happening this Fall during competition season nationally. So all of the girls currently training on the Level 4 team will be competing on the "new" Level 3 come Fall. It will still be all the same skills expected of the old Level 4 but because USAG is doing away with Level 1 all of the other skill levels and being bumped down a level in terms of their names.
So, The Munchkin Princess is being groomed to skip competing at Level 3 in the Fall and jump right into Level 4 competitions. This is really exciting for all of us. It also will be a big adjustment for all of us. This level increase will demand more time, money, and energy from the whole family. But I know we will make it happen and our little star is going to shine. I am beyond proud and I know that even though being put into the new training group for the Summer doesn't guarantee she will actually end up competing at Level 4 in the Fall; she will be step up to the challenge and do beautifully. Because after all it's her love and she has nothing else expected of her but to do her best and her best has prove to be amazing. Here's to recognized talent and being given the chance to grow.
Fly High and Stick It Ya'll

Your word/phrase of the day (this one The Munchkin Princess is working on):
Kip - a kip is a basic skill on the women's uneven bars. The kip is an important skill that is used as both a mount and an element or connecting skill in a bar routine. The kip allows the gymnast to swing below the bar to arrive in a front support on the bar. From the front support, the gymnast may then perform any number of skills. The glide kip is the most commonly used mount on the women's uneven bars.

She says it's her job....

Back from the weekend and I'm excited to report that the Summer training schedule will be out in a few days. This means a LOT to parents (and grandparents) because it allows us to begin planning. Almost certainly means longer hours in the gym for The Munchkin Princess and fewer days with the grandparents over the break. Sad for the grandparents but this is the nature of the beast if she is going to compete. Maybe grandparents will come visit us for a couple of weeks during the Summers instead so that they can spend time together without her missing training. Honestly, that may workout to be the best bet for us after this Summer. 

Amazingly enough The Munchkin Princess has little complaints about having to cut her visits short. She has just made extensive lists of things to do in a condensed span of time. Her approach is, "Gymnastics is my job, just like school. I love gymnastics and it is going to make us rich one day. So, I don't mind working hard at it." These are the words of my 9 year old child and if more adults (myself included) had her focus and drive this world (My world) would be so different. Well if her job is to succeed at school and gymnastics then my job is to lay the pavement for her to travel as smoothly along as possible. With my baby being awarded Gymnast of the Month for March and now being evaluated to potentially move up to Level 5 I will strive to make her only worries be how to master her next skill. 

Out of the mouth of babes the truth shall be spoken, Fly High and Stick It!

Your gymnastics word/phrase for today:

Balance Beam - (This event gives me the most anxiety at the moment)

ust four inches wide, the balance beam challenges gymnasts because they must execute routines that give the impression that they are performing on the floor. The world’s best seem to “attack” the beam and are very confident while demonstrating excellent height, flexibility and power.

New skills Unfolding!

Happy Monday All,
So last week The Munchkin Princess officially acquired a new skill. I am so excited for her, she was absolutely beaming after "proving" her punch front. When a gymnast has a new skill, before they can have it officially recognized they practice it a few times and then they ring the bell. When the new skill bell is rang the whole gym stops moving and all of the gymnasts chant "Hey hey what do you have today?" the gymnast with the new skill responds (in this case) "Punch Front" then the gym responds "Prove it!" and the gymnasts shows their new skill. And my baby did it, she threw that Punch Front big and with confidence and beamed a great grin when she stuck it. Unfortunately I missed her prove it moment (toddler parents and tiny gymnasts in the way) but I did see her Punch Front today and it was exactly the same way that her coach described it to me. Her coach and I were discussing how before that day she had never even really given a that particular skill a solid try, but she some how managed to make it powerful and as large as if she had been practicing it for months. I think she has the same physical abilities as her father, to slow movements down in her mind until she is able to analyse them well enough to understand how they relate to her own body. Gymnastics is her physical gift just as stepping, popping and locking are her father's physical gift. How amazing are they and how fortunate am I?

Your  Gymnastics Term for the week:
Punch Front - A front flip with take-off from two feet. Usually done out of other tumbling elements Forward moving flip punching off both feet.
(The first move in this clip is a the actual punch front, I keep trying to get decent video here but the view is rarely ever clear)

Gymnast of the Month!!

Happy Monday!
So my daughter's coach approached me after practice today and told me that The Munchkin Princess has been selected as gymnast of the month for March! I am so proud, because this is not one of those "everyone gets a turn" awards. These girls have to earn this honor with their work ethic, dedication, positive attitudes, sense of team and sportsmanship. Again, I say that I try my best to be realistic and objective when it comes to my child so that I don't place unattainable expectations on her. So when I said before that she amazed me with her passion and drive; apparently I was not the only one noticing. She doesn't know that she is getting this award yet. Her coach is planning on surprising her with it. I have to send a picture to the gym on Wednesday and fill out a little personal survey about her for the poster. When she receives her award I will post her picture and share her reactions. I truly am so blessed to have such an amazing little person. And to think half of her is Me... well maybe a little more than half. Haha

I'm off to find the perfect little picture to give the coach for her poster. Fly high and Stick it Ya'll!

Summer Camps & Sleepaway

Happy Monday...I Guess,
So with the end of the school year quickly approaching we are quickly making plans for Summer vacation arrangements. This will be the first year in awhile that The Munchkin Princess will have to cut her grandparent visits short. Mostly because she is expected to be back in the gym training at least a couple of weeks before her competitions begin in August. So June will be dedicated to grandparents and July will be dedicated to training as much as possible without going overboard. But then that brings to question gymnastics camps. There is an overnight camp that a few of the girls on her team will be attending, but they will all be going during the last week of June (grandparents' time) and I am a bit apprehensive about leaving The Munchkin Princess at an old ranch that doesn't allow parents to see practices. She maybe ready, but I am not. Plus the camp that these girls are planning on attending is the Karolyis Camp in Houston and yes he is a world renowned gymnastics coach who has trained amazing athletes, but I am not a fan of his technique. And I am not keen on the idea of paying for a camp with his name on it and he won't even be on the ranch grounds. I would much rather start with day camps in search of facilities that trust and then move into overnight camps rather than pick one with a "Big Coach's" name attached to it and drop her off hoping it's worth the time and money. Don't get me wrong I think overnight camp will really pay off for her and relatively soon. but this year is not the year. I need more time to do more research in order to really understand what is actually worth $500-$1500 for 3-7 days of intensive workshops. I also know that I am a little envious at the thought that my child will eventually be attending sleep away camps like I always wanted to as a child. I am so proud that my husband and I work together as a team to be able to provide the things that we always dreamed about as children, praised to The Most High.

Your Gymnastics Terminology for today's post is:
WOGA - World Olympic Gymnastics Academy
This is a training facility located in Frisco, TX that offers recreational and competitive training camps for children.