Ella Competes at The Freedom Invitational

MLK Ski Day at White Pass

Emmett's Bluey Birthday Party

Ella's 1st Gymnastics Meet of the Season

After months and months of practice, Ella's first gymnastics meet of her Level 4 season arrived yesterday.  Ron was able to join me and we drove her to Lakewood to compete in the Snowball Classic last night.  There is quite a jump in skill level on all four events between Level 3 and Level 4, so it was really exciting to watch Ella and the rest of her teammates try out their routines for the first time.  Ella did a great job in all four of her events!  Cheering her on in gymnastics meets is one of my favorite things to do as a mom.  She managed to land her cartwheel on the balance beam and looked so great on bars, floor, and vault.  She earned a 34.7 overall score which is a great start to the season and also qualified her for state.  I am so proud of how hard she has been working this year and can't wait to cheer her on at the five remaining meets this season!

Ella's Level 4 team lined up after entering the gym at the beginning of the evening.

Ella smiling at me as I took this close-up picture of her.

Ella's first event was vault and she earned an 8.8, her highest score of the night.  This is the first year that the gymnasts do a front handspring over the table instead of a mat.  Here she is running towards the table.

Jumping off the springboard.

Flying towards the table.

And going over it!

Landing and finishing for the judges.

Ella also did a great job on bars.  This is her first year doing a difficult skill called a "kip" and using the high bar in addition to the low bar.  Ella earned a score of 8.5.

Ella jumping to the high bar.

Ella doing a kip.

Ella going around the bar.

And landing for the judges.

Ella and I were both nervous about her landing the cartwheel on the beam which is the big skill of Level 4.  She did a great job and never fell off the beam and earned a score of 8.775.  Here she is starting her routine.

Ella doing her cartwheel.

And landing it.

Ella doing a handstand at the end of the beam.

Doing her dismount off of the beam.

And finishing for the judges!

Ella finished off the evening on the floor and did a great job on her routine, earning a score of 8.625.

Ella doing her beautiful, split jump in the middle of her routine.

Coming out of the splits on the floor.

Ella going into her round off, double back handspring.

An action shot of one of Ella's back handsprings.

Finishing off her tumbling pass with a beautiful pose.

Ella and the rest of her teammates won first place for the overall team score.  Here they all are posing with their team trophy.

Our cute Ella posing for the camera after her meet was over.  Good job, Ella!