Underwater Swimmers

We have spent A LOT of time at the pools this summer. It has been so hot, that being in the pool is the most comfortable place to be outside.

Our summer of swimming started out almost where it left off last year. I was working with Hannah to try and get her to swim under the water and keeping Jacob in his floating swimsuit so that when he was too fast for me and just jumped in that he wouldn't drown.

We went to Cranebrook pool and Jacob couldn't go down the big slide unless he wore a regular swim suit. So I changed him and stood at the bottom of the slide to catch him. I noticed that he was purposely spending a lot of time under the water after he landed. So I took him off to the side and told him if he wanted to stay under the water he had to do it away from to the slide.

i was shocked when he went under the water and took off swimming. He just used the same motions that he did when he was trying to get around in the pool in his floating suit. Off he went. I was so happy. I was worried that I was slowing his progress down making him wear that floating swim suit, but it seems to have been a good thing for him. Hannah came over to see Jacob's cool trick of swimming under the water.

She could see I was so excited and happy for him. She wasn't going to be left out. So off she went going under the water. I worked with her a couple minutes on remembering her strokes and kicking and off she went.

So the rest of the summer has been pretty fun with the kids swimming under the water getting dive sticks and seeing how far they could swim.

Here is Jacob showing off his underwater swimming skills.

Hannah and Jacob are practicing their synchronized swimming routine. Hannah likes to do flips. Jacob hasn't quite mastered the flip but can do some pretty funny twists and shakes under the water.
They both love to do cannonballs off the side of the pool. Hannah likes to yell, "CANNONBALL STINKY SOCKS!!"

By the time Hannah started her swim class in July she was pretty much too advanced for the class I registered her for. But I decided to keep her in it anyway.
Here is Hannah doing her back float with her teacher Lauren.

The front float.

Hannah learned her strokes as ice cream scoops, ice cream bowls, and soldier arms.
Jacob was very patient while Hannah took her lessons. While he waited he liked to eat snacks and feed the turtles old bread.
Here Jake is just chillin' by the pool, counting down the minutes.
Here is with his best convincing smile that he isn't going to put his feet in the water, he is just going to sit next to it.
I like this picture, because of Jake in the background. Look at that form. If he would have just shot a basketball into the hoop, I'm sure he would have made it. Although I think he is preparing to dive under the water, hopefully he'll use the same form for his basketball follow through. =) (ha, ha)

I think he gets cuter everyday!

We are having a fun summer and hope everyone else is too. We are looking forward to seeing our friends and family in Utah in a few weeks!!

Keep cool!!

Chuckie Cheese

Up until a few a weeks ago my kids didn't know that if you put money into the machines that you can ride that they would move. They were perfectly happy just climbing and sitting on them. I am afraid they have been shown the light and they will never look at the machines the same again.

A few weeks ago we went to a friend's birthday party at Chuckie Cheese. Hannah had been there when she was little, but didn't remember it. Jacob had only been there when he was first born. Jacob thought he was in heaven.

Hannah and Anna were on this roller coaster ride a good 20 minutes.
Jacob is already making plans to have his birthday at Chuckie Cheese.
He didn't like Chuckie Cheese, but he loved the games and rides.
This horse ride was one of his favorites.

Happy 4th of July!!

We hope everyone had a great 4th of July. The kids loved doing sparklers and fireworks in the yard, more than they enjoyed the big ones going off in the sky.

One of our family traditions is to go to the 4th of July parade. Here the kids are all ready for the parade.
My kids actually are terrified of clowns, but this one was making balloon animals for them. So they didn't seem to mind her too much.
Uncle Sam on the other hand did terrify them. He towered above them on his tall stilts.
My kids also love to see people in costumes, but they will not get close to them. So here we are visiting Spiderman. (some stranger's kid) This is as close as they would get. (they are hiding behind my back as I take this picture)
Here the family is watching the parade.
Here we are with many of our friends having a 4th of July potluck and waiting for the fireworks. The Forts always save a sweet spot for everyone to meet at and have a fun evening complete with good games, contests, good food, and great friends!
The kids love playing with so many of their friends in one spot. We have become like a big family. We are blessed to have such great friends.

=)

Here is a Jacob and some of the boys I found sprinting away from our group. Comes to find out they weren't trying to escape, they were just trying to rescue their frisbee from the bushes.

Here is Paul hanging with the Delange brothers.
Paul was really pretty tired and wanted to stay home and watch the fireworks on tv. He is a nice guy and gave into me wanting to go watch them in person.
As we were sitting in the long lines of traffic to drive home, I asked the kids if next year if they wanted to come watch the fireworks again or if they wanted to watch them on tv. They said they want to watch them on tv. Oh well, I guess 3-1 Paul wins. We can watch them on tv next year. Hopefully the kids will have forgotten how loud the fireworks are by next year and be back on my side. I still want to go to hang out with friends even if we don't stay for the fireworks. =)

We had a great 4th of July and we are so grateful for the free country that we live in and for those that continue to protect our freedoms.