Ainsley update

We learned a lot in this first year of trampoline and Ainsley improved quite a bit, moving up a level during the year.  The two routines below were new at state and regionals.  She finished 1st on double mini, 2nd on trampoline and 3rd on tumbling at state.  At regionals, she finished 3rd on tumbling and double mini and 11th on trampoline.  Not too bad for moving up a level and it being her first year.  She has really enjoyed her teammates and challenging herself.  She decided to do a new skill at state and she learned it the week before!  And she has been getting a bit braver which has been fun to watch...her coach is pretty good at knowing when to give her a nudge.

I wish I could say that volleyball was a great year, but it was challenging and political in so many ways.  She played more at the Reno tournament and crushed it with her serves and setting and got some great feedback from another coach and her teammates which was much needed for her self confidence and enjoyment of the weekend.  It was a very humbling experience and she had to force herself to stand up for herself, so lots of life lessons (for us too!).  She was hoping her school season would be better and overall it was because she played the entire time, but the coach was not so appropriate for middle school girls...a little too honest and there were a lot of hurt feelings.  It was so busy with all the tournaments and trampoline competitions and we were so happy to be done!  Here's a couple videos:

School team

Why not?  A fellow gymnast on her team...

Ainsley had a great school year academically, she is right where she should be.  However, there was quite a bit of friend drama and I just don't understand why girls have to be that way.  So mean!  She would say this was the worst year of her life, but I'm hoping she'll look back someday and realize all the things she's learned.  She'll be a better person because of it!
Last school dance

Hanging with her buddy

Summer has not been kind to Ainsley.  Aunt Flow arrived in full force while we were in New York and it did a number on her body.  She got mastitis (which I didn't even know was possible and I still don't quite understand!) and just got over a stomach bug.  Hopefully, she'll be good for the rest of the summer and not have a repeat of last summer where she was sick for weeks with a sore throat.