Swimming Lessons!

We've completed a successful swimming lesson session! The kids made great progress and loved their experience. Morley's Swim School is a private pool in Woodland where Mr. Morley has either taught or trained people to teach swimming to children for 40 years! The buzz from all the moms at Abby's pre-school and was that this is the place to do lessons in Woodland, so we decided to give it a try. I was a little reluctant because of the price, but having taught swimming lessons for six years myself, I know that springing for private or semi-private is worth every penny.

Aaron was a trooper. During most of the lessons, we hung out in the shade reading book after book after book. Aaron loved exploring the lush green grounds around the Morley's property. For the most part, the weather wasn't too bad (around mid 90's) but we had a heat wave for a few days with temperatures as high as 105. Luckily the wave didn't last too long. It made me feel sorry for our friends and family in St. George, Arizona, and Las Vegas.

Brynn has a beautiful freestyle, and her side breathing has become so smooth. She looks very natural and graceful as she swims. She's mastered the backstroke, elementary backstroke, learned and made great progress with the breaststroke and even started learning the butterfly stroke the last few days. (I still can't do that one!) She has the kick down and the rhythm down, it's just getting her shoulders strong enough to actually get her head out of the water. It is so cute to see her doing it. We're thinking about swim team for her next year. The only thing that makes me hesitate is thinking about how much I dreaded waking up early in the morning for summer swim team when I was little. I tried to think of every excuse to get out of it. Here in Woodland, they practice at 4:00 in the afternoon, so I guess we wouldn't have that battle.

We've made great use of our summer swim pass. We go nearly everyday, and somedays twice a day so Dad can join us at night. A few weeks ago, we were at the Brooks Community Pool and she decided she wanted to go off the high-high dive. I told her she could, but I thought for sure she would get up there, see how high it really was, and climb right down the ladder. She surprised me, she climbed to the top, walked to the edge, jumped right off and swam to the side, and then did it over and over and over again.

Pregnant old me even jumped off the diving board. I know it must have been quite a sight, but it was fun. I love swimming!
We went to "The Cookie Company" to get their teachers a special treat, and we coudn't resist snagging a few cookies for ourselves as well.
Abby loved swimming lessons too! However, she's the type that you just need to throw in the deep end and make her swim to the side. She's not afraid of the water, but LOVES to be in control of the situation. She can do more than she's willing to let on, and she will if she feels like it. She cracks me up, because she tries to talk the swim teacher's ear off. She did start to do better with her "high arms," as she calls them. We go swimming nearly everyday together, so she gets plenty of practice in the water. She puts on her goggles and is underwater exploring most of the time.
I am so happy that my children love the water! I LOVE to swim, spending our summer days at the pool is as much a treat for me as it is for them.

And.....I had to include this picture of Abby and Aaron. Abby had just returned from her friend, Annette's "Building" party. Oh my goodness, what a cute idea. The kids had lots of fun, painting, constructing, hammering...she loved it! We've been painting up a storm here all day since returning! I thought she looked so cute in her hard hat and home depot apron. When I went to pick her up, she was very serious about the painting she was doing, and the shingles she was putting on the roof of the cardboard house. Clever idea...I'll have to remember that one!
Oh, and notice that we are getting some of our blue skies back. We've had quite a few "sepia" days with all of the fires blazing in Northern California.