Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Resident Fish

We have been enjoying a summer membership at a pool near us. Since Luke wanted to take lessons, I calculated the cost and decided it was a worthwhile investment. I've been keeping track of when we go just to make sure we get our money's worth out of it, but since we still have 7 weeks left of the membership and we're already halfway to the cost of it, I think we're doing OK. It has an indoor pool with a "training pool" where they have lessons for kids Luke's age - it ranges from 2-3 feet with the majority at 2.5 feet. There is also an outdoor pool with an attached "training" pool that is a little deeper and has a mushroom/umbrella fountain thingy, and also a hot tub (or "hydrotherapy pool" as they call it) inside.

The hot tub came in handy last week when Alec hurt his back and was in a lot of pain for a few days. He came with us in the afternoon once and went back a few times at night after the kids were in bed.

Erin is a real daredevil and I really have to keep my eye on her. The pool for the kids outside has a gradual slope and she has already learned the importance of walking, not running. The first few feet of it are slippery tiles and she has landed on her bottom several times, which she of course thinks is funny but I don't need a teen-aged lifeguard blowing his whistle at me because I can' t get my kid to walk at the pool. When she jumps off the side of the pool I let her head go under a little and she doesn't mind at all, unlike Luke who hates it.

Luke started his lessons yesterday. He has a half hour 4 times a week for 2 weeks. So far he has enjoyed it. There are only 5 kids in his class and the teacher does a good job of giving them individual attention.

He really liked these floats - called them weights because they look like barbells.

The little guy with goggles is his best friend, Mateo, who is in the same class.



The teacher had all of the kids jump in to her in the deeper pool by themselves at least once (not Luke's favorite thing to do). I watched him go first, very tentatively - practically sitting down first.

Stupid chair was in the way, but this is him in the air on the way down.

After she boosted them out she gave them the option of doing it again or going to get their towel since it was the end of the class. I didn't see any of them go again, but it may have been that they were all shivering by then and ready to go.

2 comments:

Brooke said...

I am jealous. We aren't close enough to a pool to go. Lessons are the same schedule as yours and I have to drive 1/2 hour each way. But Ryan needs it so we may start Monday. Hope Rachael in the same class will encourage him to try.

Anne said...

Gus hated putting his head under at that age. FINALLY one of his teachers suggested goggles. Duh. Why didn't I think of that? And why didn't all the teachers before think of it? Goggles helped immensely. He's a wonderful swimmer now and is to the level where he's learning the butterfly.

Gabe, like Erin, is a total daredevil. He's only had two swim sessions and is doing backward and forward somersaults underwater, swims underwater, cannonballs ... he's crazy. Wait until Erin starts to out-do Luke. Then he might pick up the pace!