Ginger Flippers
As y’all may know, my little Addy is a gymnast. Our competition season is in full swing and we have had zero home meets. We travel for our entire season.
We headed to Atlanta for Addy’s meet last Thursday night (Yes. the night after Claires birthday and the same week as I got back from Miami. Oof.)
We started out with an awesome breakfast at the Hilton Inn by Gwinett Arena.
McKenna went and cheer Addy on.. where she informed me that I was McKenna’s grandma. Seriously?
Addy and her team were ready to start stretching…
Addy competed against 13 girls in her Age Group.. normally it’s just 2 or 3. There were also 97 girls who competed on her level.
During my down time, I spent 30 minutes brushing McKenna’s hair. I wish I had a dollar for every McKenna doll I saw at the gymnastics meet. I could have bought a new McKenna doll!
At this point, I can’t remember what she placed in. I know she got a 6th place, a 4th place and a 3rd place. She didn’t place in Vault. And she got 4th overall in her age group.
Supe proud of my little ginger flipper… it was the best competition that we have seen her do. She stayed focused through the whole thing and was by far her best beam routine. She has improved so much since last season.
Did I mention that she got her medals handed to her by a 3 time World Champion and Gold Medal gymnast? Yep. Svetlana Boginskaya.. a Russian gymnast from the 1996 team.
I think she loves gymnastics even more this year, if that is possible. And I love watching her do something that she loves!
My mini Shawn Johnson…
After my race, we had to book it to Huntsville for Addy’s first gymnastics meet of the season…
I really dug the set up.. you could see all events going on.
Too bad I had to encounter these bad boys to make it to my seat. They almost had me in tears.
But, Addy completely dominated her events.
She places 1st on Bars, 2nd on Floor, 4th on beam and 2nd All Around for her Age Division.
She informed me that she got more medals than I did… modest, that one.
We went out to dinner afterwards to celebrate GiGi’s birthday, and Claire fell asleep in the booth.
And I got the world’s perfect fortune.
I mean, Duh, fortune cookie!
Have you ever gotten the perfect fortune? Or what was the worst fortune you’ve ever gotten?
The Gymnast turns 6.
Sweet little Addy turned 6 a couple of weeks ago. We celebrated with dinner at Carlton’s.
Yep.. about right for pictures. PS Chances are photographers have terrible pictures of their own kids. No patience left.
Getting her American Girl doll.. McKenna.
We celebrated her party the following Sunday at the gymnastics place.
Splits… Can’t everyone do this?!
There may or may not be video of me doing this…
I’m sure this isn’t why Pa Bill’s knee hurts…
Honey Badger don’t care that her underwear is showing.
Family pic.. Imagine. Claire wasn’t feeling it.
So, we all made pouty faces. Except for J. He is making a 13 year old girls duck face.
Happy Birthday to my sweet and sassy 6 year old!!
Birthday Prep
I totally forgot to post yesterday… sorry.
I went to B’ham with Brooke and Alison and we had a Girls Night Out.. so fun.
I got up early to head back this morning, in time to eat breakfast with the fam and take Addy for some special Mommy/Daughter time in the form of pedicures.
This was my first time coming to this place.. they have ipads to browse on while you get your toes done!
Addy’s finished product… too cute, right?!
I went with OPI’s “You don’t know Jacques.” I know Brooke will be proud… 
Cleaning, cooking, laundry, and of course, watching football for the rest of the day. Addy’s birthday party tomorrow!
Happy Birthday, Addy.
Dear my sweet and sassy Addy,
You are 6 today. SIX. Where did the time go?!
You are well on your way to being a little lady.
I can still remember when it was just you, and you would wake up around 5 am and we would watch The Wiggles and Mickey Mouse Club House…
You are and have always been, curious. You question everything. I love that about you, and yet, it’s also maddening at times.
You are just girly enough.. You love a good dress and an awesome lip gloss, but forget a hair bow or a purse.
You are an amazing athlete… no matter what it is that you do, you are flexible, graceful, and poised.
The mischievous sparkle in your eye makes my heart stop. It makes you constantly push your limits and test your boundaries.
I know we do and we will continue, to butt heads. You are too much like me for us not too. Which works, since you are a Daddy’s Girl and he listens to what I say. 
At 6, I can tell you are an extremely passionate person… some would call it dramatic, though.
Addy, I want so much for you out of life. Your personality alone, demands that the world be at your finger tips and I want that for you.
I have no doubt in my mind that if you can dream it up, you will make it happen for yourself.
I look at you, and see so much of myself at that age. Your initial shyness in new situations, your inability to express yourself with words when upset, and just your general gigglyness.
But sometimes, you just need to curl up with your Mama and that’s okay too.
You’re in Kindergarten now.. I am not sure where the time has gone, but I am ready to sit on you to make you stop growing.
I wish I could freeze time. I know every year I say that… but it’s true. You are no longer a toddler, you are a little lady.
One, with a fire and spirit that is untouchable. If I can leave you with one quote that I want you to remember always, it’s “Don’t let anyone ever dull your Sparkle.”
Addy wee, you sparkle and shine. I want that for you always.
Happy Birthday, sweet girl! I hope being SIX rocks your face off.
My little cheerleader…
Some things you just aren’t ready for.
Like my daughter starting to cheer.
I was hoping to make it until she was at least in middle school but somehow I found myself giving in to her pleas.
And isn’t she just the cutest flipping thing?!
For those that know Addy in real life… this won’t come as a shock that she is a natural head cheerleader.
Whatever she does, others follow suit.
What shocked me was how stage mom I felt inside watching her.
She was goofing around too much, she wasn’t holding proper position or staying in line, she wasn’t enunciating from her diaphragm….
All I could think was “Let me get out there!! I’ll coach these girls!!”
no worries though, all of these thoughts were in my head and I never spoke them to anyone… other than my mom. She understood though.
For reals.. how adorable is she?!?!
That Time of the Year Again…
Time for another school year.
To be fair, Claire started her pre-school at the beginning of the month..
Big Sis Addy patiently waited her turn.. until yesterday.
She is going to a private Christian school, and it requires a uniform. Which makes getting ready for school a breeze!
We made it with minimal crying on my part.. I was a brave girl! Addy did fantastic informing me that “It was better than Alabama Football.”
When I asked about her day she said, “I was very good. I kicked Emily in the chin and I said I was sorry.” Umm… alright then.
Claire wants new friends because hers, “Talk too much.” Distracting, that socializing.
Addy Talks…. Winning.
With Addy doing competition gymnastics, I have always stressed the importance of doing your best and having fun. It’s not always about winning.
(We have a problem with competitiveness with our little red head.)
Since my half marathons always give medals at the finish line, it was a legitimate question for her to ask if I was going to receive a medal after completing my Tri.
I told her I didn’t know if I would. She informed me that if I didn’t get a medal, she would give me one of hers, because “she didn’t need them all.”
On Saturday morning, we were headed to the race, and she told me this little gem:
“Mommy. I don’t care if you lose. All that is important is that you have fun.”
Right. I guess she WAS listening to all of my pep talks about it.
After I crossed the finish line, she walked with me back to the transition area to get all my stuff and started a conversation that went like this:
“Mommy. Why didn’t you get a medal?”
Me: “Well, they didn’t give finisher medals.”
“Well, THOSE people got them!”
Me: “Yes, they placed in their age group so they got a medal.”
“What does that mean?”
Me: “Well, it means they did their very best so they got a medal. Like what you do in gymnastics. If you didn’t do your best, then you wouldn’t get a medal.” (Very satisfied with my answer.)
“Mommy? Did you not do YOUR very best?” (touche, kid)
Me: “Well…. yes. But their best was better than my best.”
“But WHY didn’t you get a medal?! If you did your best, you should get a medal!”
I feel certain that conversation could have gone round and round for hours, luckily we were interrupted by someone.
I may butt heads with this kid all day long, but man, I love her sassiness!
Gymnastics… It’s a commitment.
Gymnastics.. what can I say about it?
It’s been two practices a week totally 4.5 hours every week.
It’s been entertaining myself as well as a 3 year old during those practice times.
It’s been early morning Saturday meets, in sometimes, far away places.
It’s been hundreds upon hundreds of dollars spent.
It’s been trying not to turn into a Toddler and Tiara mom when your child half ass does a competition that you have driven 2 hours one way to compete.
You know what else it’s been? It’s been a complete joy to watch my child do something that she loves and has a real natural talent for.
I know, she’s 5. But Addison’s athleticism has been present since she could walk.
We have watched her competition scores and attitude steadily decline over this Spring. It’s been hard to watch.
We had numerous talks about making sure that we do our best.
But. We resorted to bribery to get the kid to take her competition seriously. We told her if she got one blue ribbon, she could get her ears pierced. (She’s been asking me to do it for a while.)
We talked about staying focused on our event, and remembering what we were supposed to be doing. Having straight legs and pointed toes. Showing those judges our “muscles”.
What Philly does at gymnastics meets…
Her bar routine has come a long way…
She is totally in her element here.
Maybe now is where I tell you it paid off. I have never seen her so focused. I am SO SO SO SO proud of her. She ROCKED her floor routine– it’s her best one. 8.80 got her a blue ribbon!!
Chatting with Daddy about her first place in the floor routine.
Talking to Nana.. “You’re taking me to Five Guys, right? And then Yogurt Mountain?”
Now that competition season is over, they have already started working on more tricks.. She came home tonight and can do a handstand roll.. Yep. Craziness.
If they had a rotation for spunk and personality… she’d get a perfect 10 every time.
This needs to be addressed.
It has been brought to my attention that several people think that this little girl look like Addison.
Maggie Elizabeth Jones.
The little girl in that new Matt Damon movie, “We bought a Zoo”. I totally see it.
But, I’m going to be honest… I can’t be a fan of someone who looks so much like my daughter and is famous. I should get copyright infringement on my DNA or something. I mean, someone obviously took mine and J’s DNA when we were sleeping and made an Addison clone. It’s irrelevant that she is two years older. She is probably lying about her age anyway. You know that’s how they roll in Hollywood.
I mean, for real. Stop looking like my kid. She should be the famous one in movies with Matt Damon.
