Wordless Wednesday...Mirror, Mirror

Evil Knievel, Jr.

As you may remember, last year (for Alex's 3rd birthday), we bought him his very own Power Wheel ATV.  He started out a little slow at first, but since his birthday one short year ago. he's been a riding, zooming, exploring fool.  

He's practically ridden a path across the majority of our 5 acres riding that thing around as often as he's allowed.

Well, with all that practice he's definitely become quite, er, comfortable on his ATV.

And by comfortable, I, of course, mean adventurous.

A smidge wild, perhaps.

Maybe more accurately, CRAZY.

Ok, so there's been talk of him joining the circus.

You know...to be one of those daredevils that ride their motorcycles around a tiny metal cage within mere inches of 6 other motorcyclists going 60+ mph.  

Yep, that's our Alex.  Crazy boy.  Our wild child.  Our daredevil.

Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure he's a descendant of Evil Knieval's.  

Another First...Gymnastics!

I found a gymnastics program through SUNY Brockport for 3 & 4-year-olds.  I was so excited to have found it, I emailed the college on Friday and asked if it was too late to sign Alex up for the class that started that following Monday.  

I'm so glad I didn't wait until the Winter session (January) because Alex loves it!

It's so good for Alex to have something of his own.  Nate had a hard time coming to terms with the realization that he couldn't participate, but he's much better at just watching now.  He brings his homework and something to play with or do (that he earns once his homework is done) and hangs while his brother plays.

Alex listens very well and follows the instructor's instructions better than a lot of the kids in his class!

And I love that he has an outlet to burn off some energy after school!

He's a natural at a lot of things - balance beam, monkey (parallel) bars, and flipping and jumping.  

The "worst" part is that the big kids practice in the gym at the same time as he does and Alex gets mesmerized watching them flip and twirl and back flip.  He could sit and watch the girls on the uneven bars for HOURS!  

Alex watching the girl on the bars above...not paying attention in class :)

Each class is an hour long and after warm ups they break the group into three smaller groups and they rotate around (each group with two instructor girls) to different stations. 

Alex's favorite part by far is the foam pit!  But who can blame him?!?!  Look at this awesome thing!

For about 20 minutes each day he gets to jump in the pit, throw the foam squares around, and flip till his heart's content.

This week he started learning cart wheels, walking backwards on the balance beams and doing somersaults on (a pad on) the balance beam.

My little monkey is in his glory!  I'm sad that it's only a 10-week course but it's a start and there's other classes to explore after this.  2024 Olympics, here Alex comes

Monkey Boy

In case there is any question as to why it is I call Alex my "Monkey Boy".  Not only can he grab a hold of my hand and climb up me to flip, sit on my shoulders, or take a piggy back ride, but he's always climbing and swinging and flipping and somersaulting.  He's a tiny little limber and agile gymnast child.  Or something.

Here's his latest little trick and proof that I'm not crazy:

He's a monkey alright.