The story is about McKenna Brooks, a young gymnast with her sites set on the Olympics. The side story has to do with keeping the balance in your life as McKenna struggles in school. An injury seems like the end of the world to McKenna at first, but ends up being the catalyst for taking on other challenges in her life. It will probably have just enough gymnastics in the movie to make gymnastic fans not want to change the channel and the story line will be popular with girls and their parents, too. In a way it reminds me of a Disney-fied version of Stick It- specifically the pretend telephone scene right at the beginning, but I think it will be fun!

Official movie synopsis: Meet McKenna Brooks™, a determined and confident young gymnast, in this all-new modern-day adventure. McKenna™ is on track to make the regional competitive gymnastics team but off-track in school, where she’s suddenly struggling to keep up. When her teacher suggests a tutor, she’s embarrassed and desperate to keep it a secret from her friends. Then a bad fall at the gym sidetracks her from her favorite sport. Will she recover in time to make the team? Can she succeed in school, too? McKenna™ needs to focus on her strengths to overcome her challenges – and, with the help of family and friends, find a way to believe in herself again.

And Olympic legend, Cathy Rigby, stars as McKenna’s coach. Got your DVR set?

For more on American Girl’s McKenna, her collection (much of which is already sold out – so glad we got her bars and beam when we did), and more on the movie, visit DollDiaries.com. You can also get her books – which my daughter loved – McKenna (American Girl) (American Girl Today) and McKenna (American Girl) (American Girl Today).

I love that they show that girls can be girls – purple nail polish and all – and still like to put on their skates, shoulder pads and helmets and skate FAST. I love that it talks about making friends through hockey. I love that it shows little girls doing hockey drills side by side with older girls.

Well done NHL!! This commercial is a great way to show girls that hockey is a fun, challenging and rewarding sport that everyone can play.

WomenTalkSports highlighted the athlete video which is narrated by Natalie Coughlin. There is also one celebrating the PAC-10 fans. Check out all three videos, they really are very powerful.

Fess up Gym Moms & Dads – how many times have you really wanted to get out on that floor and do the routine right along with your gymnast? I know there are quite a few of you

Highlights of the game include:

• Learning the best techniques of gymnastics with the guidance of Shawn Johnson
• Work your way from amateur to champion in “Leaping Hill Academy”
• Use Wiimote, Nunchuk, and Balance Board in events – from the looks of the video, this is going to require some serious coordination
• Train in all gymnastic competitions: uneven bars, balance beam, floor, and vault
• Compete in career mode or take on friends in multiplayer

Below, Shawn Johnson does an interview on why she decided to make the Gymnastics video game:

I will definitely update this post once I get a chance to play the game with my kids – something tells me it might be a focus of some Saturday afternoon video game challenges! You can order Shawn Johnson Gymnastics through Amazon, now.

My absolute favorite salute to Moms commercial is also from P&G and aired during the 2010 Winter Olympics – Thank You Moms commercial.

It truly speaks to the core of my soul as a Mom and a coach. Even though so many of the athletes I coached through the years are all grown up, the memories I have of them as little kids are so precious!

Now where is that box of tissues when I need them?

Personally, my favorite exercise in there is the medicine ball toss she is doing with her trainer while lying on her side. That exercise engages so many of the lesser used, but very important core muscles that Lindsey needs for making split second lateral adjustments as she is racing down the slopes. The other exercise that she has in her workout that looks so hard but perfect for her sport is the skier squats she is doing on the large balance ball towards the end.

It is always fun to get a behind the scenes look at our favorite athletes! Thanks to Lindsey and Under Armour for sharing this with all of us.

In episode 1, game day means everything the family eats must be team colors, in this case, orange and white. Heaven forbid a blueberry make it into the mix!!  Its a slightly over the top take, but one that every Mom can relate to. And and don’t forget to check out the recipe for the oh, so yummy Game Day Guacamole Dip that ends up looking like a football field. Perfect for tailgating or watch the game at home with friends.

Impossible is nothing.

Love it!!