Callen the Jumping Bean!

A few months ago I purchased a Living Social deal for a month of gymnastics classes. Anyone who knows Callen knows he loves to be on the move. Doug and I had already talked about enrolling him in gymnastics in January, but I wanted to make sure he liked it before committing to 18 weeks! After taking the class for month, I can safely say that HE LOVED IT! He looked forward to class each Tuesday, and wanted to know when he was going back. It is the perfect activity for him...structure but also the ability to move around and be active.
I was very surprised at how well Callen did in his class. He followed directions and obeyed the teachers each time. He remembered week to week what he was supposed to do...although he never wanted to 'practice' anything at home. He showed great coordination and did things on the trampoline I'm sure I would fall trying to do!!
During the class, they asked the parents to sit in the waiting area and watch on the TV screens or go upstairs and watch through the glass. I realized that many of the parents stayed in the gym and watched from there. Well, I tried to go in and snap a few pictures, but I was quickly told I needed to watch him on the TV! Not sure if he was just following directions or thought he needed to be a TV star...

Warming up

Working on his cartwheel

Handstand

Jumping on the trampoline

                                                                 from his first class

I have more videos, but can't seem to upload them. Stinker! My favorite is the video of Cal doing his gymnastics, but telling me to leave and go watch him on TV or upstairs!!

Our plan is to start Callen in gymnastics in January at Greenville Gymnastics. This four week trial was a big hit, so I'm sure he will enjoy going for an entire semester.

Sky Top Orchard

We enjoy heading to the mountains each fall to pick apples and enjoy the beautiful scenery and often cooler temps! Doug and I have always gone to Sky Top, and started taking Callen there after he was born. It seems like everyone enjoys Sky Top as much as we do, evidenced by the masses of people that show up there each weekend during the fall months. Because of the large crowds and wanting to do so many other things on the weekends, I have started taking Callen up there on my own during the week. We pack a picnic lunch, head out into the orchard to pick some apples, and then enjoy the playground for a while before heading back to Greenville.

Because of our schedule this fall, the first chance we had to get up to Sky Top was last Tuesday. The weather was perfect that day...cooler temps in the morning with a bright shining sun to warm us up by the afternoon. The man at the orchard said there were plenty of pink lady apples (our favorite and the reason we wait so long in the season to go up there) on the trees. Off we went. Cal running ahead and I pushing the stroller (I brought the stroller thinking it would be easier to carry the apples back). Poor Graham went on a bumpy ride to make it to the farthest point in the orchard from the 'store,' and it was all for nothing. There was not a single apple (that had not rotted) on the tree. Cal was running down every isle looking for something to pick. We finally picked an apple off the ground that was in good shape to take a bite and then act like we were picking a rotten one off the tree...you have to have the obligatory photo pics of apple picking!!

Cal dropped the bucket and it went rolling forever away. Making his way back to me!

Enjoying the apple we picked off the GROUND! Not the tree!

Picking the rotten apple off the tree

Graham's first trip...obviously not impressed with the number of apples on the tree

"I just being silly"

I think we may have to try another orchard next year. Sky Top is so convenient but I want Doug to enjoy the day with us but don't want to be there with a million other people. Any suggestions?