Tumbling in a Tutu

The start of the summer kicks off with a host of other events in our household: not only is it the end of the school year with attendant class parties, but we gear up for Lauren's dance recital and end of semester gymnastics show. Lauren has been enrolled at The Little Gym since she was 2. It's not hardcore gymnastics, but so much fun for the kids and we feel it's been really good for her coordination and confidence.

This year she moved up to a class where the kids are a bit older and more experienced. Lauren hasn't quite graduated to doing forward rolls and cartwheels by herself, but what she lacks in raw talent, she makes up for in enthusiasm.

This past week was her show. My mom watches her on the day of her gym class so Norm and I just met them at the gym at the designated afternoon time. Even more special was that our pool guy Jim stopped by to support her. To say Lauren was thrilled to have the largest audience of any of the performers was an understatement. She was beaming from ear to ear and couldn't stop doing her pageant wave and blowing kisses to us throughout the show.

She did, however, decide to forego wearing a traditional gymnastics leotard (or even her more usual outfit of t-shirt and legggings). Instead, she proudly marched into the gym in a lavender ballet tutu. Oh yes she did. And why not? We like to see her asserting her own fashion sense. Besides, she's 4, and the moment you try to tell her not to wear something, you had better believe she's going to stand her ground even more firmly and fight you to the death to keep/put that item on her little body.

So . . . . on to the show.

Warming up:


Followed by the opening parade (accompanied by the pageant wave, of course):


Then it was on to the floor routine:



And the balance beam:




Followed by some free play time, where Lauren continued to demonstrate her skills:



Then it was on to the awards ceremony:


We're so proud of you, our little tutu-wearing gymnastics sprite!