Tumble Tots

It's official: Andy and I are "those parents" who've enrolled their toddler, infant still?, in "gymnatics class."  Technically, Andy will tell you that he didn't have anything to do with it, and Carter really didn't "gymnastic" all that much.

We started Tumble Tots this evening.  It's a class for 12 - 24 month old toddlers (yes, I know, we're neither "12 - 24" or a "toddler" yet, but they encouraged us to give it a shot!) to practice their coordination, balance, and muscle control in physical activities.  There are about a dozen other toddlers in the class (who are cute!), and we start by sitting in a circle to stretch.  There were other classes, ages 3 to 18, going on in the gymnastics area (tumbling, balance practice, high bar work, really cool stuff!), so the last thing on Carter's mind was stretching or sitting in the circle!  She wanted to crawl and explore!  After a couple minutes of stretching, we moved on to the obstacle course, which was definately an "obstacle" for her.  She couldn't do much of it alone, but we had a ball together!  We started at the beginning: a padded pit kind of thing that toddlers crawl into and out of.  I hoisted her into it (like a cage!), and she attempted to get out, giggling the whole time!  We skipped the rung ladder (we can't crawl, let alone climb a ladder!), and moved on to the balance beam.  With help, Carter was able to walk herself across the beam, which was about 4 inches wide!  Then we went to the single trampoline, which was just okay.  Next came the slide into the foam pit.  Slide and pit = not so cool, pit full of foam blocks = awesome!  Nothing beat those blocks!  The obstacle course finale: three padded steps into a ball pit.  Carter missed the steps, and tried to climb over the side.  On her tippy-toes, she could peer into the pit of wonderfulness.  The instructor and I encouraged her to try the stairs (why not?!  She does at home!), and she got up, then went head-first into the pit.  She laid there, on her tummy, for about five minutes, bumping, pushing, and throwing the balls around!  The ball pit was definately the high-light of the obstacle course!

After the obstacle course, the Tumble Tots moved on to the large trampoline.  This trampoline is a beast - it's huge!  Carter and I jumped, then Carter jumped!  She bounced up and down on her shorty little legs, smiling and giggling the entire time!  She is really a Mexican Jumping Bean!

To wrap up the night, Carter (and the other Tumble Tots) got stamps: one for working so hard and one for being so good!  One on her foot and one on her hand.  And, yes, she did try to eat them!  

Look for Tumble Tots photos next Wednesday.  Carter and I didn't know what to expect, so we didn't take the camera.  But we did try on our Triad Kids Campus/Gymnastics t-shirt.  I guess it's Triad's way of saying, "stick around for a few years!"