And the results are.....

First place in Floor and Bars!!!! We're so excited that Kaylie did so well! She had a lot of fun, and didn't have any problems with nerves. Her best apparatus is normally the beam, but she lost her balance, and fell early on in the routine, so lost a full point for that---but the good news is the fall didn't shake her, and she did really well with the rest of the routine. She missed the twist in her dismount, so since she still had time, she got right back on and re-did the dismount correctly. Not sure how much that helped her with regards to her points, but really proud of the confidence she displayed to re-do the element.

She did a fantastic job on her bar routine--still needs to work on her glide, and had a bit too much momentum on her stride circle, but did so much better than the other girls it was a pleasure to watch. She scored a 8.7 for that event. She did one of her best floor routines ever---an event that she has always struggled with--I think because her coach for levels 1-3 didn't focus on those skills, she came onto the level 4 team seriously lacking in floor expertise. She really enjoys it though, and has worked hard to improve. She was sooooo thrilled to come first in that event, scoring an 8.5

Vault is just not her event, so she didn't expect to do well in it--just have fun and do her best. She did enjoy getting to see the video of her vaults, and the opportunity to see what she's doing wrong, and where she needs to improve.

The next mini-meet will be held on June 27th. The goal of the coaches is for each girl to improve upon her scores from the previous mini-meet, and to build their skills and confidence heading into the state preliminaries.

Great job Kaylie---We're sooo proud of you!

Competition Today--Sort of!

Wow, it's been too long since I've posted---guess things have been really busy!

Today Kaylie will be competing for the first time----but not in an actual, USA Gymnastics competition. Because the annual membership in USA Gymnastics runs from August to August, the owners of Kaylie's gym decided to have 3 mock competitions at our gym over the summer, rather than enter the girls in real competitions. This saves all of the parents from having to pay the membership fee now, and then again in August. So sort of good, and sort of a bummer. Kaylie seems ok with it though--so if it works for her, it's fine by me. I'm always happy to save a buck! She is bummed that she doesn't get to wear her team leo--but since she's the only level 4 team member that has hers, it makes sense! Kaylie was measured as the fit model, so hers was the first one to be completed.

The events that are planned will include prizes and goodie bags, just like a real competition, and will be judged by actual judges. Each competitor will have to do their routines under the exact same guidelines as a real meet, so it should be a good introduction for them into the world of competitive gymnastics. Each event will have a theme of some sort, and provide a fun family atmosphere. I'll be posting pictures, maybe some video, and comments tomorrow.

Update on Gymnastics Camp

Well, we got mixed news about the scholarship for Kaylie to attend a week long summer gymnastics camp. She did receive a scholarship, but it was only for about 23% of the fee, and we just can't afford to make up the difference at this time, so she won't be able to go this year--hopefully things will improve in the upcoming year and maybe she'll be able to go next summer.

Also, we have not yet been able to take pictures/video at the gym, as Kaylie had a cold over her spring break, and we weren't able to go to the gym. Oh well, sometime soon we'll get some new pictures!

Kaylie's First Meet!!

Finally we know when Kaylie will get to participate in her first competition!! She will be competing at the Club Champion gym's annual Pasadena Classic on the last weekend in May!! We won't know which day, Saturday or Sunday, that she will compete on until a week or two beforehand, but we are excited to finally know which meet she will be attending! She will be competing at level 4 in this friendly meet, which will help give her some experience prior to the state preliminaries in the fall.

Team Leo!!

Well, it's been a while since I last posted---have been working extra hard lately to make ends meet, and cover all of the gymnastics expenses. I have taken on a part-time job to cover Kaylie's basic training fees and started a small business/website selling my Barbie size fashions. Keeps me too busy! But with all of the economic challenges these days--our family has been hit hard, like many families all over the world---I'm very happy to be managing as well as we are.

Kaylie was super excited at the gym today, as she was able to try on the sample team leo, and was measured for fit for her leo!! Very exciting stuff, and helps make the upcoming competitions more real. It has been very hard for Kaylie to keep her focus during the last several months of waiting to find out when she would be competing. We still don't know the dates yet--but we know they're coming! It's looking like May/June, but I'll keep you posted.

We are also applying for a scholarship for Kaylie at one of the local gymnastics summer camps--we'll keep our fingers crossed that she is accepted for a week this summer. We are also celebrating Kaylie's 11th birthday this week--tonight she has several friends coming for a sleep-over. We should be taking some new pictures, and even some video in a few weeks.

Hewow!This is a post about a website I play on. It is called,Whyville.This website is kid friendly.It is really fun because you get to make your own avatar and meet new friends. You can also get in touch with your friends that you know if they have an account. Even though the website is kid friendly, some people aren't as nice as they should be. But you can either silence or vaporize them so they don't bother you. If they say bad words you can also report them. go to the website at:
www.whyville.com. i really think you should go to this website because i have had alot of fun on it doing various diferent things, like making my avatar look like a cat, or a carrot! yhis is probably one of my favorite websites to play on. did i mention you could get a house? well anyways,
the website will give you all the information you need. There are also people you can ask questions, so have fun!! my username is gymgirI12

Where does the time go?

It seems it has just flown by lately.....maybe it was just the rush of the holidays, but here we are----it is now 2009!

Kaylie has had somewhat of a break from gymnastics for the last few weeks--between holiday activities, the unexpected (but wonderful) snowfall that we had, and the gym being closed for the holiday. She's gearing up for a new year, and excited that she is getting ever closer to actually competing.

One of the funny things about the lower levels of gymnastics is that you work, and work---but you may not have a "competition season". In soccer, or football for example, you practice for a few weeks, and then you play against other teams, ready or not. It has been hard for Kaylie, who has a generally competitive nature, to work and work with no opportunity for competition. Right now it looks like May or June--although she'd be quite happy to compete sooner if she can.

I also would like to take a moment to thank our friends and family who have supported Kaylie--it is so deeply appreciated. I have had a very hard time bringing myself to search out donations, in this very difficult economic time---so I did not end up doing the raffle. We are incredibly fortunate to have people in our lives who have been able to help out in spite of today's challenges, and I thank you all for your time, and generosity.