Just Keep Swimming

Welcome to the Oakley Pool!  After our adventure at the City of Rocks we were all really hot and agreed it was time to go swimming. The camera was already in the car so we even got pictures. This is one of our favorite places during the summer. We bought a family pass for the first time this year and our goal was to make it worth it. We came several times a week and we never got tired of swimming.

Josh loves walking around the baby pool in his little tube. I have to stay nearby because he can flip it over if he gets too excited. Maybe one of these days he'll get his land legs too.

The older kids love playing by Josh. They blow bubbles on his legs and push him around and give him toys.

We had the kids take public swimming lessons this summer and they enjoyed them. But they learned even more skills from their grandma. She used to teach swimming lessons here (so did I) and she met us at the pool a bunch of times this summer to do one-on-one private lessons. It's amazing how much they learned! I really appreciate the time she took for us, even though I know she enjoyed it too. Here's how far they got by the end:

Greg can hold his face in the water for several seconds and does alligator walks and will float on his back with her help.  I got video of him doing it but forgot to take photos.  

Nicole became a little fish and likes going down under the water. She swam halfway across the pool using the front crawl. She floats really well on her back.

Zach improved a lot this summer! First he passed the "swimming test," which is done by swimming a full lap so that he's allowed to swim in the deep end from now on.  He was so excited because now he could go off the diving board too. He said on the way home, "This is the best day ever!"  Then less than a week later I taught him to dive.  He's such a quick, brave learner!  Zach even held his breath all the way across the pool to earn a dollar from Grandma.

Jonathan is a strong swimmer too. He is so happy at the pool. This summer he learned the elementary backstroke, the sidestroke (perfectly!), and he even learned to do the full butterfly - which is hard to figure out and requires a lot of strength. Grandma was super impressed. We got that on video too.

And let's not forget Joshie.  I have lots of fun pretending that he can swim. (He can!)

Of course we also take time at the pool to just play. Dad throws the kids way high in the air.

I'm almost strong enough to throw one of them in the air.

Dad gives rides all over the pool, even in the deep end. This summer the older boys spent a lot of time down there with him, diving and racing and going off the board. The boys are growing up!

Jonathan gives rides too. He wants to be like his dad.

This is pure happiness.

Zach always gets cold first, and then Greg. I think Josh was trying to convince them to come back in. He was talking to them and then finally gave up and walked away.

Nicole and Jonathan never get tired of swimming.  Ever.  They keep finding new things to do. Their favorites are diving for rings (that I throw out for them) and doing tricks for each other.  I have yet to recognize the tricks they're doing, but at least they can impress each other.

And that's about it.  I could show you a couple hundred more pictures from the swimming pool this summer but I think you get the idea. It's been refreshing and fun for all of us!  I practically grew up at this swimming pool so I love having my little tadpoles play here too. Life is good!