Special Olympics Summer Games 2015

June 6-7 the triplets competed in the SO Summer Games in Gymnastics.  They have spent most Saturdays this past school year out at Gymnastics Learning Center working with their team and coaches on the skills needed for competition.  They also learn skills needed for life...following directions, keeping fit, social skills with their peers, and sticking to a schedule.

Every year they love their weekend of competition!

The girls competed on Saturday.  They are at different levels, and both had a great time.  This past year was the first time that Sunny really took an interest in practices and put in a lot of effort.  The last few years she has at times been unconcerned about following directions, but something really clicked for her this year.

The last 2 years Micah has spent a night in the dorm with the team, last year Amelia did also, but this was the first year that all three stayed with the team Saturday night!  They were so excited!

Sunday morning before competition the athletes spent some down time playing duck duck goose.  Newly 13 years old, Micah seemed to choose the female coach quite frequently.  Ah, another teen boy in the house...

Micah works in spurts during practice throughout the year, but he really comes through at competition.

Another amazing weekend!

A breakdown of their scores, for my own records:

Amelia, Level 2 ages 13-14, 5 athletes:

Vault, 4th

Uneven bars, Silver

Beam, 4th (tie):

Floor, Silver (tie)

All Around, 4th.

ShanLin, Level 1 ages 12-15, 3 athletes:

Vault, Silver

Uneven bars, Bronze

Beam, Silver

Floor, Silver

All Around, Silver

Micah, Level 1 ages 12-14, 4 athletes

Floor, Gold (tie)

Pommel, Gold

Rings, Gold

Vault, Silver

Parallel Bars, Gold

High-Bar, Gold

All Around, Gold

Now we have the Summer off, but I am sure they will be excited to start practicing with the team again in the Fall.

Ten Years of Blessing

Ten years ago today Jamie, the Original Three, and I arrived home with Amelia. (around 2am)  We had met her the night of October 6th, at the JFK Airport in New York City.

Our fourth child, but first adoption. 

Amelia was the cutest, yet most scared, 2 year old little girl.  She adored Jamie, because she never had a daddy.  She did not like me so much and wanted back the Mommy figure's she'd had in her orphanage.  After about seven months she decided I would do as  Mommy, and I was very thankful she finally made that decision!

I have TONS of photos from the first 8 years of Amelia as a Lindsay, but just not on this computer because I am so incredibly organized that they are all safely stored.  Somewhere else.  And maybe one day I will remember where that place is.

Last May I traveled with Amelia and Micah with their Special Olympics Gymnastics team to Atlanta for a National competition, and as always this trip was peppered with comments about Dad, because even now, ten years later, he is first in her heart.

In lieu of adorable little toddler photos spanning the last 8 years, here are some of my lovely Amelia having fun on her big girl trip-- on the plane, out to dinner with the team, with her ribbons, at the banquet, and at World of Coke:

Amelia is a truly amazing girl and we are blessed to have seen her go from toddler to pre-teen, and we look forward to continuing to watch our special girl grow.

Special Olympics 2012

Since September 2011, Amelia, Sunny, and Micah have been training weekly with their gymnastics team.  All those weeks, for this one special weekend.  The Massachusetts Summer Games were last weekend, and the kids had a blast!  Their competition is spread over two days, so as a treat the "triplets" and I stayed at a hotel for one night instead of driving home.

Micah's competition was first.  He takes his gymnastics very seriously, and started stretching as soon as we walked into the indoor track where everything was set up.  I did get him to take his shoes off and move to the mat!

The girls are quite trustworthy, and I was able to leave them on the bleachers while I took photos of  Micah.

 Gold!

 Gold!

 Gold!

(Micah is Lord of the Rings!)

 Silver!

 Gold!

There were three boys in Micah's age group and level.  They all did so well!

They were thrilled to arrive at the hotel.  I love Homewood Suites because they accommodate large families.  It was not our whole family this time, but we went back there anyhow.

I would have more photos of the kids having a blast in the pool, but I was in there with them!!

Sunday morning the girls had their competition.  Unfortunately, Micah is not trustworthy-- he took off twice when I stopped to tie a sneaker for one of the girls!  I was not comfortable leaving him on the bleachers in order to get close-ups of Amelia and Sunny competing.

 

 There were four girls in Sunny's age and level (1), and she scored 4th in every event.  Honestly, I was disappointed in her-- not because of her scores, but because of her effort.  Instead of beginning her floor routine, Sunny chose to lead her coach on a merry chase around the mat, giggling the whole time.  She is 10, and I expect better from her.  Having Down Syndrome does not give her a free pass when it comes to behavior and expectations.  So many athletes gave it their all, and I hope as she grows older Sunny will realize that she should also be doing her best. After all, the Special Olympics motto is:

"Let me win, and if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

 

Amelia was very brave in her attempts!  She was in Level 3, open age, 6 athletes in that level.  She tried her best, and scored 5th in most of the events.  She was so proud of herself!!

The girls are holding their medals as we take the shuttle back to the parking garage.

Look at that yawn!

They have the Summer off, and in September will be right back at their training.  We are very thankful for all the coaches and volunteers that have unlimited patience with the triplets!

Amelia meets Nastia Liukin

Nastia Liukin is in Worcester this weekend for the Tyson Cup, and today she met some of the Special Olympic gymnasts. It was super nice of her to take the time to do this, and watch each gymnast perform a routine. (I love Amelia's pose here, she's a riot.)


She also sat and talked with the gymnasts for a few minutes.



And of course plenty of photo opportunities.


Amelia gave her a bouqet of flowers from the GLC Special Olympics team.

Let the Craziness Begin!

I left the house at 7:30 this morning to take Amelia and Sunny into Boston. It was the first day of their Boston Ballet Adaptive Dance class! They had a good time, followed most of the directions, and never ran to the door deciding class was done. A success! It takes us just over an hour to drive into Boston, and the girls are definitely worth it. I can say that now, we'll see if it gets old fast.

It was also the first day of Special Olympics Gymnastice practice. It was the first time ever for Sunny and Micah and is a 45 minute drive. When I told Micah it was time for gymnastics, he was so excited he went for the door. Unfortunately he did not have shorts on yet, or shoes. When it began, all three of them had some trouble at first focusing, and were very distracted by all the wonderful gym equipment in the huge room. The volunteers have boatloads (cargo ship-loads!) of patience with the gymnasts, and Micah was definitely giving the guys a workout of their own.

Saturdays are clearly going to be very busy this school year, but the kiddos need the structure the classes provide, the self-confidence, and the skills. It will also help us appreciate Sundays as a family day even more.

And actually, the gymnastics center is only 5 minutes from a Panera Bread and a Dunkin Donuts, so if Jamie comes along we can grab a snack on the way, then sit for a coffee-date while the kids get their practice for an hour. Works for us!!

I am thankful for the blessing of the Boston Ballet's special dance class, and for the wonderful team of volunteers at gymnastics. God is good!