Swimming at Grandma's

We went from Rhode Island to Rochester. All the kids could talk about was swimming at Grandma's. Note, the kids see a swimming pool maybe once each summer. Last summer Erin was physically terrified of the pool. Jeffrey enjoyed it but he was so young I'm sure he had no memory of it. So why the kids were so excited about swimming at Grandma's I'm not quite sure.

The first day we got there we went swimming briefly after dinner. Grandma and Mommy got out all the safety equipment (2 flotation bubbles) and everyone ready for the pool. Erin took one look at it and screamed. Jeffrey started down the steps and decided it was a little cold for his liking. Needless to say we spent 5 very long minutes in the pool before Erin's screaming won out. We moved out of the pool and Erin spotted the spa,

"Hey Grandma, can we go in the little pool?"

"Sure honey."

We move over to the little pool where Erin can walk around the whole thing on the bench seat. She's certainly more comfortable here. Jeffrey is also having fun. Grandma and mommy are playing goalie in the middle for anyone who might slip. No one slips, but Jeffrey decides that he thinks it would be fun to JUMP off the step at mommy. 20 minutes later there is much jumping and splashing and swallowing of water but he's having a blast. So much even Erin is ready to try. So all in all our first night in the "little-pool" was a success.

The next day brought a heat wave to Rochester. It was 90ish out and we planned an afternoon in the pool. I certainly didn't want to spend it in the little pool, so I got Erin to try out the big pool. We tried the water wings rather than the bubble. Erin seemed more comfortable with this. We got her to relax herself in the big pool. Grandma got out the flotation noodles and a "boat" (floating mat). Jeffrey and I splashed around and Grandma showed Erin how to tuck the noodle under her arms. Before we knew it, Erin was paddling/running around the shallow end with a noodle and her wings.

Jeffrey had no problems getting into the big pool. Since he had discovered the fun of jumping last night he wanted to continue that trend. He spent much of the day standing on the edge jumping in at mommy or Grandma.

"Ready Mommy,"

he would shout. This was not a question. It meant.....Here I Come. He was to the point of jumping off the edge away from me rather than to me. He'd go under, come up with a little cough and go right back at it. My crazy little man. He drank so much pool water but it didn't slow him down a bit. Wild and crazy goofball. I had to watch him like a hawk. He did end up in time-out a few times when he didn't wait for someone to be ready for his jumping.

The next day was much a repeat weather wise. Good and hot - perfect for the pool. Jeffrey was his crazy old self, and Erin was ready for the next step. We got her to try kicking around without the noodle and holding onto Grandma/Aunt Katie's hands. Next thing she knew, Aunt Katie took her hands away and Erin was kicking around the shallow end of the pool in just her water wings. Next thing I knew she was asking me if she could "swim" to the deep end to get the floating duckie and then to the ladder in the deep end. Two days ago she was terrified and now she's swimming to the ladder in the deep end. I was so proud of her for trying something she was afraid to try. My big girl.....

Now I've got to get some wings for here at the house for both kids for those trips to the lake. Last time they knew their boundaries.....now I'm pretty sure they'll be trying to paddle for the dock. Time for some real swimming lessons I guess.