swimming in the rain

Even though it has rained more days this summer than it hasn't, we still had not checked swimming in the rain off of our summer fun list.  The first Sunday in July offered up a tremendous rain storm without any thunder or lightning so we all literally dropped what we were doing and headed outside for a summer rain swim.  

They absolutely loved it and I loved watching them!

last days of summer

Our last couple weeks of summer were spent soaking up as much pool times as we could and knocking off as many things as possible from our Summer Fun list.  As much as I LOVE a routine and love for my house to have the occasional quiet moment, I was yet again not ready for summer to end.  Summer just seems to go faster and faster each year as our days become less about being in the trenches of that exhaustive early parenting and more about exhaustion that comes from enjoying and spending time in play and setting examples for our boys.

On the very last day of summer I let them each pick one special activity to do.  This year Connor chose to go to Game Time, Micah chose to eat Sushi for lunch, and we somehow convinced Logan to choose making a homemade slip and slide.  While the third thing on the list went nowhere close to how I envisioned it going, we had a great last day of summer and said a fond farewell until next year.

 

swimming lessons

It really felt like the summer didn't start until the end of June.  Preparing for our move and planning and taking our trip took up lots of time and energy no matter how much I vowed it would not.  Apparently I am not in control of such things, or anything.  I had even originally planned to host swimming lessons the week after our move but Jess's daughter had caught a virus that was going around the camp that she and her husband work with so after pushing it back a couple days we had to reschedule.

Moving into a house with a pool has been a blessing I never planned for.  Initially I was expecting constant feelings of anxiety of drowning fears but they were quickly replaced with lots of fun and an escape from the hot and humid Georgia summers with only mild feelings of anxiety and drowning fears.  Which is why swimming lessons are a must!  Especially for Logan whose daredevilness makes him think he is invincible.  He wears his puddle jumpers when he's in the water because he's not tall enough to touch but starting actual swimming skills is a must for him.  Micah and Connor can both 'swim' technically but I really want them to learn proper strokes, treading water skills so they also took lessons.

The really fun thing was that since the lessons were in my backyard and the teacher was a friend we opened it up to other friends and their kids which meant every day for a week my boys got a playdate and I got adult interaction, a definite must for long summer days!

swim lessons

We got another year of swimming lessons in the books last week.  Micah was in the level 3 class, Connor was in the level 2 class with Isabella and William, and Logan got his first experience with water babies.  For me it is not just enough that they learn not to drown.  I really want our boys to know how to really swim with the correct strokes, breathing, etc.  It's just a great life skill to have and is amazing exercise!

My parents had to handle swimming lessons the first two days while we were in Charleston and did a fabulous job.  My mom did the water babies class with Logan and endured his constant screaming on day 1.  By day 2 they made a toy frog "pee" and he decided it was ok and by day 3 with me he was awesome and perfect and the on the go mad man he usually is.

Micah did a fabulous job in his first year in level 3.  He wasn't confident in his elementary back stroke so he didn't get to pass on but he's been practicing every time we get in the pool.  This was Connor's first year in level 2 which means it was his first year in the "deep end".  He was a rockstar and so brave.  He mastered his finning and kicking on his back but still needs to get a little more confident when his face is in the water.

Can't wait to try out all the new skills at the beach next week!