Golfing with Austin

Austin got to golf an actual hole at his golf class yesterday afternoon. Here are some pictures!

Getting ready to tee off



Practice swings first







Watching the ball once he hit it



Waiting his turn. There were four kids in the class and they played the hole correctly, furthest from the pin.



Next hit







Another turn, this time I got pictures on the other side!







There was a visitor near the green, a deer



Chipping to get on the green



Time to putt







It was hot, Abigail had sweat dripping from her forehead!



Austin did great on golfing his first hole, it just took forever! It took the four kids about 45 minutes to complete the hole. Austin definitely has golfing in his genes, he does awesome. I was so impressed by him!

I hope we'll be able to find something similar once we get to Missouri.

Abigail's pre-school swim class

Abigail started a swimming class yesterday. The class is for 3 & 4 year olds and goes for two weeks. The kids actually get into the pool by themselves with the instructor. There is a platform in the bottom of the pool that the kids stand on and hold on to. I thought she would get right in and be fearless, but it's taken here a couple days to get use to the water. It also helps that we know all the other kids in the class! Here are some pictures!

Monday

A little freaked out from being dunked!







Tuesday

She was excited about wearing "boat jackets" today.











Our little swimmer! She's so excited about swimming like a dolphin!

After Austin's swim experience last year, he didn't want to take swim lessons again. Instead, he's continued on to the advanced golf class. He now gets to use his own golf clubs at class, so I'll have to get more pictures of that! This week and next they both have a class on Thursday night, so I'm glad Michael's home. We can get them both to where they need to be at the same time!

The First Tee

Austin has been going to a golf class every Tuesday night for the past few weeks. He's loving it and learning so much more than the game of golf. Check out The First Tee's website if you get a chance: The First Tee.

Now for your viewing pleasure (because I'm sure that's what you come here for!)

I'm sure his Daddy and both Grandpa's are grinning ear to ear looking at these pictures!

Tumbling

Last Thursday Abigail started her tumbling class. She had a blast, even though her big brother thought he needed to be right by her for everything she did!



This week Austin will be accompanying a friend to the playground so Abigail and I can concentrate on her class more. He was a little bit of a distraction to her, and I'm looking forward to doing something with just her.







Coach Norma has the mats set up in a square and the kids can go around to which ever activity they would like. The pencil in the pictures above is a mini balance beam, and I'm trying to get Abigail to walk on it with her hands out to her side. She had her hands out at last weeks class, but would only walk on it with one foot!



The bar was one of her favorites. She's just tall enough that she can stand on her tippy toes and reach the bar. Once she gets a hold of it, she starts swinging her feet!



Oh, I love her!



Abigail's version of a handstand! They're suppose to turn the other way, but I was a little too preoccupied with the camera to help her!



We're both looking forward to going back this week!

Start Smart

For the past four Saturdays, Austin has been participating in a class called Start Smart. The class is offered to 3 & 4 year olds, or Pre-K students in a couple of our cases. It's an introduction to the fundamentals of sports. Each Saturday the kids (and their parent) rotate stations of throwing, catching, batting and kicking.

They start out by stretching first.



Then we make our way around to the different stations.

(Nice high water pants Mom!)











As you can see, Abigail thinks she's a participant also!







As you can see, they have a blast!





Each week, the stations have gotten a little harder. Instead of hitting off a tee, we're now pitching to the kids. The throwing station has turned into a basketball station. The kicking station has goals set up and the kids are learning how to run and kick the ball at the same time. And the catching station now involves using a glove to catch.

They have also incorporated a game of baseball or soccer into each class. This past Saturday Coach Norma got out her big parachute and the kids got to play the popcorn game. They also had to run under the parachute when Coach Norma called their name. Nine times out of ten, all of the kids ran under it no matter who's name she called out.

At the end of each class they all help clean up, get a sticker and whine (and sometimes cry) that they have to leave the class.

Austin is going to miss the last class because we'll be in Michigan, but I think we're going to sign him up for the next session. The next session will concentrate strictly on soccer. He'll also miss the first class of the session, but he's advanced enough in soccer that he really won't miss anything. It will also be nice because Daddy will be home for most of the classes. It's hard chasing Abigail around and trying to participate with Austin. Plus Daddy really enjoys going to the classes and I enjoy that we all get to do something as a family.