We’re halfway through our first round of swimming lessons. Aidan continues to be very enthusiastic about the experience at home and a little trepidacious at the pool. I can imagine entering a giant pool with seven unfamiliar classmates and three strangers as instructors can make a four-year old with just two previous pool experiences a bit uncertain.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far…
1. The pool at the local middle school is filled with cold water.
2. Cold water has the same impact on children’s bladders as it does on adults.
On Monday Aidan needed to break once during the 30 minute session to visit the locker room with his mother (the lady’s locker room is on the closer side of the pool). Tuesday, once. Wednesday, twice while Rachel was out on business so I walked him to the opposite side of the aquatic center with Kellen in one arm. Slippery tile + shivering boy clutching one hand + hearty child in opposite arm = one super cautious father.
Today brought the epic first launch from the diving board and I’m sorry to say I missed it. Rachel’s away next Monday and Tuesday as well so she flew solo tonight while Kellen and I played at home. From the report I got the first jump went well and the second had him dipping farther into the H-2-O than he was comfortable with. Rachel said he freaked out. Aidan said he freaked out but he was all excited about it once he got home (of course she did console him with ice cream).
Next week is round two. I’m hoping to witness a freak-out-less diving board session. Perhaps I can sneak the camera and/or video camera in next week in case the opportunity for visual documentation presents itself. The kid looks great in his floaties and we’re already talking about him and me making an outing to the pool to swim on our own after he’s passed the Dolphins.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
4th of July Blog-tacular
I imagine Aidan will be buzzing from this past holiday weekend for quite a while. There was a lot of fun to be had over five days in Iowa with two sets of grandparents.
We arrived in Pella on Thursday and kicked things off quickly highlighted by snacking on some s’mores around the fire pit. He also got to play “pool table” which is always on his wish list.
On the Fourth he got to go fishing, ride a pony, catch a frog, splash around in Grammie’s pool, eat Bomb Pops and catch fireflies before watching the town fireworks display.
Saturday was family picture day and a little makeup had Kellen looking like he never kissed the bathtub with his eye. We headed to Sully that afternoon and flew his new kite, swung on the tree swing, roasted some hotdogs over an open fire and ate some more s’mores.
Kellen’s most uttered word of the weekend was “shoes”, as in “put on my shoes and let’s get back outside.” He also circled the yard Saturday following a stray cat, peaking under things saying “I see you.”
Aidan had plenty of homemade ice cream on Sunday (and some for desert after breakfast this morning). We also visited friends in Ames on the way back to Minnesota. Aidan and Kellen got to play on Bella’s monstrous backyard play set and met her new baby brother Cole.
We returned tonight for Aidan’s first session of swimming lessons.
We arrived in Pella on Thursday and kicked things off quickly highlighted by snacking on some s’mores around the fire pit. He also got to play “pool table” which is always on his wish list.
On the Fourth he got to go fishing, ride a pony, catch a frog, splash around in Grammie’s pool, eat Bomb Pops and catch fireflies before watching the town fireworks display.
Saturday was family picture day and a little makeup had Kellen looking like he never kissed the bathtub with his eye. We headed to Sully that afternoon and flew his new kite, swung on the tree swing, roasted some hotdogs over an open fire and ate some more s’mores.
Kellen’s most uttered word of the weekend was “shoes”, as in “put on my shoes and let’s get back outside.” He also circled the yard Saturday following a stray cat, peaking under things saying “I see you.”
Aidan had plenty of homemade ice cream on Sunday (and some for desert after breakfast this morning). We also visited friends in Ames on the way back to Minnesota. Aidan and Kellen got to play on Bella’s monstrous backyard play set and met her new baby brother Cole.
We returned tonight for Aidan’s first session of swimming lessons.
VIDEOS: Fishing, Frogs and Flying a Kite
We spent an hour trying to catch fish on Friday morning. I think the last clip speaks to our success (or lack thereof).
Aidan assumes the frog pose and waits for a web-footed friend to hop his way.
A relaxing afternoon of kite flying...except for the trees.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Tough Guy
We have family pictures scheduled for Friday so I've been especially careful in making sure Kellen does not add more bumps and scratches to his noggin. Yesterday morning he dove off the couch and got a good scratch on his forehead. That's easily treated with a little antibiotic cream. The one from last night might not be so easy...
How fast does he climb? In the time it took me to comb Aidan's hair after his bath (three or four strokes of the comb), Kellen snuck past me, climbed Aidan's teeth brushing/hand washing stool and head butted the bath tub.
The protruding bump above his eye is darker but actually less topographically dramatic than it was last night. He doesn't love having ice on it. Let's hope the swell subsides before Friday morning.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Pillow Free Zone
Kellen now feels pillows are better off on the floor than on the couch. He likes to leave his mark wherever he's been like unloading the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen. Yesterday he emptied his cup drawer and inserted himself when the camera wasn't available.
Comfortable now Kellen?
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