Eva's Mini Olympics

To say that Eva enjoys her weekly Tumblefun Gymnastics class would be a huge understatement. It is actually the highlight of her week, always asking,"Is today Tumblefun?"

The instructors there do a great job and each week, they have the gym decorated with a different theme. Some of the past themes have been zoo animals, Peter Pan, Outer Space, Toy Story, Spiderman, and Dora the Explorer. Next week for their final class, they will be celebrating with a carnival theme.

Eva demonstrates a "Bell Hang."

This week, the theme was Mini Olympics. Parents, grandparents and friends were invited to attend and watch.


The kids performed all of the skills they had learned throughout the year. Eva's favorite thing each week is the circuit, or "obstacle course" as Dave calls it. Most kids get through the course one time, and then they're off and running for free play. Eva, on the other hand, will usually do the entire circuit at least three times before she's ready to venture over to the trampolines or balance beam.

They have a system of shapes and diagrams to help the kids remember which skill they're supposed to do. For example, every time the kids see a star on the ground, they put their arms in the air and say,"Ta-Dah!" A triangle means do a scale; a square means do a V-seat, etc.

I tried to get some video of her doing the circuit yesterday but for some reason, she was in a real hurry to get through it. It was like she was in 'fast forward' motion, practically running through the whole course as if it were a race.

At the end of the class, all of the children and their parents went into a separate room for the Awards Ceremony.

The Olympic March was played while the kids marched (I use that word loosely. Meandered might be a better word.) behind the main instructor. Then one by one, the children were called to the front where they were each awarded with a medal.

Eva was really shy when it came time to stand in front of so many people.

Eva thought it was pretty special to have her very own medal. Here she is with her best friend, Colleen.

Getting tired of posing for pictures!

Since Amanda was at Preschool and Liam was home with Dave, I was able to have some rare one-on-one time with Eva. I decided to treat her to a cookie at the Sweetcakes.

Appropriately enough, they had star cookies! I don't know which made Eva happier, the medal or the cookie!

A cookie for the star.

The best part was when Amanda's reaction when Eva showed her the medal later in the day.

Amanda threw her arms around Eva and said,"Eva!! You got the SILVER medal!!" She was so proud of her little sister!

Eva wore the medal around her neck the entire day... until it broke. (Well, maybe not broke - but the medal has become separated from its accompanying ribbon.)