During the winter months, Austin and Erik attended a tumbling class and a ninja warriors class. They decided on tumbling because they loved watching Victoria's private coach, Shannon, come over and teach her cool tricks (btw, Victoria got her ariel!) Shannon ended up getting a job at Jumparama, a small gym in the area that offers gymnastics and tumbling classes on a more simplified level than the bigger, more common gyms. I really like it and wish that it were around when my girls were younger. They would have loved it there! Plus, Shannon is the best! Victoria was able to go to Jumparama a few times before she got really busy with track and dance competitions (and before she injured her shoulder...).
My boys loved their time in tumbling. Austin worked on his back tuck and pretty much has it on his own. Erik worked on back handsprings and looks really good! ( I can't find any videos of Erik's flip flops.) Shannon was impressed with their flexible backs in their abilities to do backbends. They did some front handsprings and other tricks, but those tucks and flip flops were definitely the favorites! She did a great job with the three kids she worked with who were all at different levels. And she always made it fun!!
At Ninja's Edge, where the boys went last year, they were excited about the strength and endurance they gained by climbing, balancing, swinging, and hanging. Bonus: Kai got a job at Ninja's Edge at the end of January and teaches the preschool class there on Mondays and Saturdays! We had found out that Olivia got a job there, at age 14, so it was easy for Kai to get a job there at age 15, plus we already knew much about it, having attended there last year. Kai loves it and has learned so much. It's a paying job and workout all in one! Her Saturday shift overlapped slightly with the boys' class, so I was able to discreetly watch her teach (I tried not to make a big deal taking lots of pictures so I wouldn't embarrass her, but I couldn't resist a few.) Today was the boys' last class since soccer season starts in a week, but we thoroughly enjoyed it!
Coach Kai with Erik during one class!
Coach Kai led stretching with her class.
Erik finally made it up the third warp wall! That's his rear end climbing up after he made it!
Austin's in the white long sleeved short hanging and Kai is in the blue sweatshirt.
Austin's my music man. He has such a good ear for music and has recently brought his piano practice to the next level. When he hears a theme song for a movie, he will go over to the piano and play it back. He does the same thing with songs on the radio. He used his cello one time as well to playback the theme song from The Lord of the Rings.
Two weeks ago he killed it at Federation. He was the most prepared any of my kids have been for Federation. He didn't have to scramble last second with hurried memorizing and dynamics. It was done ahead of time and we both felt confident as he walked into the judge's room. His music was so beautiful and he got a Superior on both pieces! Next year, if he gets Superior again, he will receive a trophy!
A few days after Federation was his choir concert. Though they still had to wear masks, I felt like they had more confidence and sang out more loudly. I could actually hear them fairly well! I think one of his favorite classes is choir. Every day he has lots to say about his choir class. He has such a good time there!
I love seeing his development in music!
Waiting for his turn at Federation.
Here are his Federation songs the next day, not played as well as at Federation, but still very good! Here a fun choir song that is actually one of their warm-ups that they were demonstrating at the concert.
My students were trying to guess my age about a month ago. Since most of them are 4 years old, they liked the idea that I am 44. They had some pretty wild guesses. Most of them guessed that I am in my 20s, a bunch guessed my 30s, and then a couple random guesses were 50 something and 70 something. The funniest part is that my assistant that day was the 18-year-old, who I had no idea she was that young, and their overall guesses for her were in her mostly in her 30s and 40s. Obviously, I don't look younger than her, but she's a lot taller than me, so that throws off 4-year-olds. We got a laugh out of that!
Around that same time, I had a thought of taking my family for a bike ride on my birthday, it being on a Saturday this year. We can finally put all of our bikes in the truck and drive to Maybury and enjoy being outdoors in maybe slightly warmer weather? How bad could it be on March 12? Luckily, Jason was keeping an eye on the weather so that I was prepared a week earlier for the freaky cold weather that would occur pretty much just on that day! It was a real feel of 2 that morning and 15 later on. I think the regular temperature was in the 20s. I had already decided that we would just go to the movies, which I actually don't think I've ever done on my birthday, so it was a real treat! We saw Uncharted which we all really enjoyed. We stopped by to pick up some Lebonese food from Peepos, a new restaurant in town, on the way home. The food is so delicious and they have excellent smoothies as well!
Kai made a playlist with some of my all-time favorite songs and we had a dance party that evening. It was so fun to spend time with my family that day and to talk to friends and family who aren't local. Birthdays are the best!
The Saturday before my birthday there was a super good sale at the grocery store. .99 raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries! Berries are my absolute favorite and my kids, including Erik, all love raspberries! I was a happy camper!
Two weeks ago the Young Women in our ward learned how to knit hats using a 36 peg loom. Dawn Kennedy, who's a flight attendant and isn't always available for weeknight activities, was the teacher. She had learned to make hats from a passenger on one of her flights and has been a hat-making machine ever since. She not only taught the girls how to do it at the activity, which, in only an hour and a half with 15 girls probably didn't yield a lot of results, but she had enough hats saved up that she gave one to each girl there!
Kai gave me hers and it's the softest, most comfy hat ever! I immediately sent a thank you text to Dawn and she offered any free lessons so my girls could learn a little better if they wanted. They had enjoyed it but weren't really interested in making a whole hat. Austin, however, wanted to take lessons and make his own hat.
Dawn and I set up a good time for our schedules last Monday and she got us started on the rim, which took about an hour. We then had two days to finish up so we could meet on Wednesday for the next part. We had all the way till Monday, yesterday, to complete the final part because it was a longer portion. Then yesterday, she helped us finish them off! We love them so much and it was so fun and relaxing to make them. Austin's already starting another one and even brought it to school today to work on during downtime, which he totally did! He wants to be like Dawn and make hats for everyone!
Austin was fairly quick and very dedicated to making his hat.
Just completed his first hat!
I made the blue one and Austin made the black and gray one. We borrowed the regular size loom from a friend for Austin and I couldn't find one to borrow, so I just bought one. The only one available at JoAnn's was a child-size one. I figured I could give it to some cute little kid I know. Turns out, Austin likes the smaller one better. So we traded hats!
This is the one Dawn made that Kai gave me. The pom on top makes it so adorable!
Here's what the loom looks like. I'm starting another one on this borrowed loom since Austin's using our smaller one for his next hat. We love our new hobby!
