First DELCO Meet

IGC

Since Bill started coaching gymnastics again, he thought it would be good to jump back into the sport & coach at International Gymnastics Camp for their Thanksgiving Clinic. He contacted hid old friend Brent and asked if we could swap, Bill would coach & the girls would stay overnight in a cabin & do gymnastics for 2 days straight. Now this just isn't any old gym. Foam pits as far as the eye can see. 6 inch wide beams instead of 4, all leading to another pit. Spring floors and even a dance gym! The girls had a fantastic time! They met new friends, learned new skills and even had the chance to learn from Olympic Champion Russian gymnast Svetlana Boginskaya! Wow!!! It was a great trip. Bill, Matthew & I stayed in a large room below the Klaus family home. Matthew enjoyed himself too as did I. I even managed a few flips into the pit myself. Not bad for an almost 40 old lady!

We look forward to going back again this summer!

Matthew and the goats

 These 2 kids were a little rowdy :)

 Matthews mat tower

 Adrienne learning her dance

 Matthew on PBars

 Madison on tumble track

The gymnasts of Cabin #5

Madison's Level 5 Meet

Swimming A!

Swim season has begun!!! The girls are doing well so far. Adrienne's last meet she was so beautiful in the backstroke & won her race! She was built for speed that little one. I am so proud of her!

Philly Mud Run

Proud of my guy for setting a goal & completing the Mud Run! 

10k race with 30 obstacles...most of them in the mud. 

Here are some shots. 

And maybe next year I can drum up enough courage to do it with him!

Foot in the face :)

Adrienne cheering her daddy on...

And the finish!

Carlisle Meet

Here is the latest gym meet video...so proud of our girls!

First Meet

The girls had their very first gymnastics meet. It was a mock meet with no judges or scores. A good starting place for them. They were both excited & nervous & we had many conversations about 'butterflies' the morning of the meet. You'll notice Adrienne does a cartwheel on beam because this is in the level 5 routine & they are hopefully progressing to level 5 next year. Only a couple girls were ready to try the cartwheel on the high beam. I missed filming bars because my flip video needed new batteries. We are so proud of the girls. Hope you enjoy the video.

A Bunch of Gym Rats!

 That's what we all are...daddy, mommy, and all the kids. I loved it and so did Bill. The film of chalk dust floating through the air, the familiar smell of sweaty feet that seems to be the same in every gym you visit, mats, pits, trampolines, bars, beams, ropes hanging from the wall and ceiling. Jumping on the tramp until your head felt like it would bounce off. Landing in the foam pit with your whole body covered in foam and wriggling your way out...ignoring the fact that you left one sock behind.We always knew we would watch our kids do gymnastics...it just seemed natural that they would love the sport too...and they do...for now anyway. Yesterday they received their very first team leotard & team sweatsuit. They were so excited & we were excited for them. The girls are on the 'Devo' team or Developmental Team. They are working on the Level 5 routines and will have 3 mock meets in February & March to prepare them to hopefully compete next year. Bill is able to coach them...which makes this whole experience even better. The girls LOVE having 'coach Bill' there & they have mentioned how safe they feel with him spotting them. We do not know what this sport holds for my girls...and even my son, but for right now...we remain...Gym Rats!

My Soccer Stars

Here are a few shots of the girls doing soccer. They have really enjoyed playing this year since daddy is their coach (for Madison's team) and also because they have scored goals this year. Adrienne's been doing so well. She is very fast and is able to get to the ball alot quicker than the other girls & be able to score. Madison has really improved her ball handling skills & kick. They are both really good in goal. I'm not a huge soccer fan...but I am a huge fan of my soccer stars!!!

Swimming and the Benefits of Sports

This year we have the joy of cheering on both of our girls on the swim team. Let me start with Madison. We debated whether to have her swim over the winter but with school, church & gymnastics, it was hard to fit it all in. We definitely see a talent there with her. She has always been a fish and with her loosey goosey body & flexible shoulders she has really done well this year. He best stroke is butterfly which any swimmer will tell you is the hardest stroke to do. Her dolphin kick is almost faster that her flutter kick (this I think is from pretending to be a mermaid in the water since she was 4). So far she has won 2 varsity swimming meets & we think this qualifies her to Championships. Her next best stroke is Breaststroke. She has a very clean stroke and I believe she won a race and placed second in another & hopefully she will swim breast at Championships as well...we'll see.

Now Adrienne is a completely different swimmer. She was very hesitant to swim on the team but after she realized she could make it all the way across doing freestyle and actually do a better dive than some of the older girls, she was excited to swim. She started out only swimming freestyle, (since that is the only stroke she learned). But last night she swam butterfly & breaststroke! Just by watching others and a couple pointers from Madison , daddy & me...she did so well! She made it all the way across and swam beautifully...like she had been doing it all along!
Words cannot express how amazing this experience has been for not just the girls but for Bill & I. To be able to cheer them on, encourage them & celebrate with them...the talents that God has given them...what an amazing blessing!!

I really believe that kids who participate in sports are better equipped to take on the challenges that life throws them. It helps you learn how to overcome fear, how to deal with failure & how to be humble when you win and do well. It strengthens your body & your mind and teaches you how to be disciplined. Now I have no idea if the girls will continue swimming as they grow, but Bill and I feel strongly that they eventually pick one sport that they LOVE to do and pursue it...whether that is swimming, gymnastics, softball, soccer...whatever (although I am hoping for swimming or gymnastics...and Bill, well you know what sport he's leaning towards :) Sports have also provided so many good opportunities to teach our kids important lessons. Humility is a big one. I am excited to see how God is going to use sports in our kid's lives to grow them and challenge them. But for now....SWIM FAST MY GIRLS....I LOVE YOU!!

She Shoots, She Scores!!!

On Saturday we celebrated Adrienne & Matthew's birthdays & my family visited from NY and Bill's family from Lancaster. We began the day with soccer games for Adrienne & Madison & Adrienne scored her 1st goal!
Congrats AA!
We are so proud of you!
Here are some soccer shots.
More to come from the party.
Have a great week everyone!!

The Trophy

Swim Champs were Saturday and Madison swam her little heart out. The pool was a meter and a half longer (but we didn't tell her that). Butterfly she came in 2nd to last but swam the stroke beautifully...it is not her favorite stroke because it is so difficult but she does it well for an 8 year old. She won her heat and placed 5th or 6th in breastroke. I think it was her best time. It is her favorite stroke & she does it so well. We also had the end of the season party on Sunday. Madison was awarded best attendance and also most improved. Here's a shot of her with the team trophy. We hope she continues to love swimming...it's a great sport!

Championships

Here is Madison's swim picture and team picture...sorry they are blurry but they are pictures of pictures. Madison qualified for Division Championships in Breaststroke and Butterfly and will be swimming tomorrow morning. We are real excited for her.

**Madison is in the front row, all the way on the right.

UPDATE on Bill's Achilles: Bill saw the doctor yesterday & had the cast removed. He is in a walking boot and is walking around the house now, but still uses his crutches out of the house. The stitches will stay in for a couple weeks but overall the ankle looks great. Doc said he is already ahead of schedule & he expects a quick recovery. I would say this is true since when I was working, people who had achilles surgery were typically not walking and in a cast for 6 weeks! In the mean time I am Bill's chauffeur for the next 3 weeks, driving him to work & picking him up. Bill's doing great...but to be honest, I am exhausted!!!

Let the Season Begin!

Swim season has begun with swim practice every morning from 9-10, meets every Wednesday night and every Saturday morning. Madison is really enjoying competing & meeting new friends. She just isn't too thrilled with swimming in freezing cold water however...I wouldn't be either. So far she has swam backstroke, butterfly, and breast stroke & does the freestyle relay. We love watching her cheer on her team members while she is standing on the block ready to dive in. She's placed in the top 3 in all of her races so far, but more exciting than that is watching her learn the technique to all the strokes. She has improved by leaps & bounds...we are so proud of her. Adrienne decided not to swim on the team this year but wants to try it next year when she will be 6. And Matthew, when not playing with the many ants down at the pool, enjoys yelling, I mean cheering for his big sister. One of these days I'll video her swimming for you all to see.

Swim Season Begins

We are all excited for the swim team to start. Madison had her first practices this week at a local middle school. It's fun to see her do really well and take what her coach says and apply it in the pool. Bill & I hope she continues to love the sport. Yesterday she did her first flip turn and completed 2 laps without stopping. We asked her when she learned a flip turn & she said she just saw the older girl ahead of her do it so she just followed her. Here's a funny shot of A & Matthew on the sidelines amusing themselves with Madison's swim caps. They were crackin us up. Our pool opens this weekend...Yipeeee! Have a great weekend everyone!

Temple Gymnastics Reunion

This weekend was the Temple Women's Gymnastics Alumni meet so with the help of Facebook, a bunch of my old teammates planned a get-together Friday night and Saturday. It was so nice to see all my friends from college. We laughed remembering all the fun, crazy, silly & stressful times in our gymnastics career at Temple. Here's a picture of some of us at the meet on Saturday. It was a little hard to chat as much as I wanted because the kids were attempting to fly off the bleachers in McGonigle Hall. We went into the gym to see Bill's picture on the wall...it's in the same shape from when I left it in 1994. Have a great week everyone!

Eat Her Bubbles!

We are all really enjoying Madison's swim meets. We are all together as a family, yelling & cheering Madison on...(and she's so darn cute in her swim suit and cap/goggles). She swam in the Varsity meet last night at a local pool near us.

She asked Bill if he would make a sign for her. I know...it's a pretty lame sign. Madison asked if it could read, "Go Madison Roth. Eat her bubbles!". Too funny! Anyway, it rained before the meet started but cleared up soon after. Madison got 3rd in the backstroke, 4th in freestyle and also swam in the free relay. She does great for the first 15 meters & then poops out and starts lifting her head to see what place she's in. The best part for her is making friends and hanging out with all the other swimmers. Enjoy the pics!

Swim Team

Saturday was Madison's first official swim meet. She competed in the 25 meter backstroke & the Freestyle relay. She did excellent and had a really good time hanging out with her new swim team friends.

We think backstroke will be her stroke due to her excessive shoulder flexibility. After her race she asked Bill, "Daddy did I come in last place?" And Bill said, "Yeah honey, but you were excellent!" She kept movin those little arms and never gave up...(she was also the littlest one racing against kids much older). We were so proud of her. I cried (I know I'm such a sap!)...because my little baby's not so little anymore, and because I now know what it was like for my parents to watch me from the stands all those years...it's not easy all those emotions...your excited for them, scared, nervous and proud...all in one short moment. "GO MAD GO!!!!"