Talia's very first competition-and they win!

Seems there are always 10 things on the same weekend and nothing for the next month. Sunday was like that. Talia was picked to be in her first gymnastics competition in Sélestat, there was the annual Carnivale parade in Strasbourg and it was Purim. They were supposed to do a Purim play but couldn't. It was a tad frustrating but we had to decide. We played with the idea of splitting up but since it was her very first competition, I didn't have the heart to do that and the other two wanted to see her.

This is the front of the program. It was a huge, all-day competition for all of Alsace.

They did really well. There was only one drop, and only a slight one. Luckily, it wasn't Talia!

The starting position;

These are my photos;

About to do a toss;

Another toss;

Ending position. The first is my picture, taken from the stands and the next is the professional one. Talia is the last one sticking her clubs out to the left.

We then watched the next few performances. There were about 5 groups in their category and by the time we saw them all, we were pretty confident that our girls had won. The group who beat them last time had a lot of drops and ended up not even placing this time.

I tried to get a photo of Talia close up but she screamed and ran away each time. Davina managed to make her point in one attempt...

A few parents tried to get an impromptu group shot from the bleachers. Top row; Oceane, Amalie, Talia and bottom row; Cyrille, Tomaris and Sophie. This time Tomaris and Talia performed while Sophie and Oceane were alternates.

It was ages before the awards ceremony. Talia went on at 2:30 and the awards were handed out at 5:30. Since Sélestat is only 18km from Benfeld, Daniel took Ronnie there to see his grandmother. Davina refused, even with a promise of ice cream but she did manage to behave for all that time. I actually enjoyed watching it, especially after the break when the higher-category competed.

Finally, they all lined on and sat down for the announcements.

Professional picture of the "Palmares" or awards ceremony (ex-Drum Corps person trying hard not to say "retreat")

Up on the podium, holding the trophy.

Getting a hug from Laurance, their coach.

The professional photographer was closer.

Milling around after the ceremony, passing around their trophy.

Posing with their metals and trophy.

This is the professional picture, which appeared on the Strasbourg GRS website;

Talia at home a few weeks later in her costume with the trophy. We happened to have them both at the same time!

Strasbourg Rhythmic Gymnastic Calendar shots

To raise money, Strasbourg GRS (Rhythmic Gymnastic) club produced a calendar for 2011. Here are the lovely May ladies. Talia is second to the right;

I do think they could have picked a pose that all the girls could do. Since the club is so large, and there are only 12 months to a year, they combined some groups. The girls on the left are younger, Talia's old "Filiaire Performance" group. Emilie is still in it and she's very flexible but a few of the younger ones couldn't touch their heads.

Talia's group are the first six girls.

Here are the October "Poussins & Poussines" which are basically, male and female chicks. Doesn't translate well!

Davina is the grumpy one on the lower left corner.

Thank you Katie Perry :/

Has anyone noticed that every song seems to say f**k and a** these days? A bit challenging when trying to teach one's children English and their exposure is limited. Turning on the radio seems to be a dangerous game especially in our situation....

So I bought a CD. The kids like "Firework" so I thought, now I can control what they hear... Buying an album with candy on the front gives one a false sense of security, as I quickly learned...

The second song has been a hit but mom has had to explain;

-what being passed out means

-why pink flamingos are so funny (and that one one would throw real ones in a pool)

-what having a car towed means

-what shots are

-what having a warrant out for an arrest means

-what maxing out a credit card is (they already knew, thanks to Demi Lovato and Disney)

-skinny dipping

-streaking

-being screwed

Luckily so far, they haven't asked about the hickie or themenage à trois is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYo4JOUQnGI&feature=fvst

Disadvantage to being an "older" parent; kids are naturally curious what the heck one did all those years before having them. This song has kind of "outed" me. They could tell I related just a bit too well...

My Budding Model

My girlfriend here in Alsace has taken up photography. She's been quite successful and is now a Getty Image Contributor. This means she takes whatever photos and then Getty takes their choice and adds it to their library. If they sell an image, she gets a proportion. It's a good gig for her because it doesn't involve any time away from home and her four children.

She wanted to feature Talia, partly because she's a good contrast to her own blond children.

So far, this is the only one she's sent me. She has to do something with the file to send it to me (they're high resolution, apparently...)

I was all excited to do another session during the school break but her son is sick so we had to take a rain check.

Yes, this means a photo of Talia might get sold. We'll see...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/freezethemomentphotography/sets/