All the Olympic buzz has left me feeling a bit nostalgic. So I thougt it might be fun to take a little trip down memory lane. I started gymnastics when I was 3 years old because my pediatrician told my parents that I was too flexible. Apparently he thought I needed to stregthen the muscles around my joints because all of them could hyper-extend.
So my parents enrolled me in gymnastics and I was hooked. I did carwheels everywhere. I even kicked my mom in the jaw (in the kitchen) because I couldn't resist flipping everywhere I went. Every line became a balance beam. Mary Lou Retton became my hero!
This is my favorite picture....just love that smile! It reminds me of Chloe!
I tore my ACL when I was 16, just entering into level 10. I wanted to compete at the collegiate level division 1, but that never came to pass. So, instead I turned to diving, met my husband, got married, and had a family. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Who knows where I'd be if I hadn't torn my knee apart in gymnastics.
Wow do we look young! I'm the second in from the left on the top row. Jason is the second diver in from the left on the bottom. This is where our life began together! I wouldn't trade that for anything!
Everyone asks me if I want my children to be gymnasts. The answer is no. It's not worth losing your joints 20 years later. My advice is find a gentler sport. Any sport you choose will have it's risks. So remember to factor in your family history; arthritis? knee replacements? back injuries? What goes around comes around...especially when it comes to genetics. You have to deal with what you've been handed...so make the best of it...and try to stay surgery free!
On the other hand you need to do what you're passionate about. Gymnastics helped me to become who I am today. It taught me perserverance, hard work, goal setting, how to handle pressure, how to deal with failure, how to deal with victory, how to dream, and how to overcome fears. It even kept me out of trouble. So do I regret it? Yes and no. I wish I would've started diving sooner!
Griffen hung out with us for a few days. At his request we went to the Buffalo Zoo. We also went blueberry picking (no pics) and had a great time. Chloe realized that she wants an older brother. If only it worked that way!
We got to see my favorite: elephant painting! So inspiring!
I got to help run the games at our Ward's Pioneer Picnic. This is the battle of the Jasons. This picture was snapped just before my Jason went flying across the lawn. Stick pull is fun but he doesn't like it anymore. Funny how that happens. He loses a game and then decides he doesn't like it anymore. (And I wonder where Chloe gets it from)! I beat him at mini golf a few years ago and now he hates that game too! But in all fairness, I used to pout whenever I didn't win at something. So I'm sure that between both of our genetic make-ups....Chloe was doomed to hate losing too!
This is the "candy man" of our church! He is so popular with the kids! (and adults too)!
Next we went to the Pocono Mountains with my family. First on the agenda: popcycles. Or as Lily would say, "hopcycles"!
Second item: Catching frogs!
Baby frogs! Well, okay just tiny frogs!
"Come on guys, we're ready to go to the pool"! -My brother and Lily
The water was quite cold at first. But the kids had no problems with that after awhile. Before we knew it they all wanted to swim down the river instead of float down it.
