My Fishies

The boys had a chance to do swimming lessons at the YMCA in Lakewood. I don't know why I didn't think to sign them up sooner, because right after their first session we moved to New Mexico! They love the water and the water loves them. They were the first kids in the pool and I had to threaten them with their lives to get them out.

Roman had an amazing teacher. I don't remember his name...Mark? Eric? Anyway, he was really good with the kids, and for the first time Roman wasn't clinging to his teacher like a monkey. Roman became fearless in the water, learning to float on his first try and loving to swim with a kickboard. His teacher laughed once, saying Roman could drown with a smile on his face, which is totally true because Roman smiles throughout the whole class, even if he's struggling.

Aubrey went with me for most of the classes. There was a daycare there but I was too cheap and she was too shy. Instead she kept herself entertained by trying on the boys' shoes (and sometimes other people's shoes), reading books that I brought, and cheering on her brothers.

Hayden was in the next level up and he didn't enjoy it as much. His teacher was more focused on learning to swim instead of letting them play games (like Roman's teacher). And he's also developed a slight fear of the water and had to have his teacher by his side before he'd swim, even with a kickboard or pool noodle. He got better as the session went on, but I'm hoping that more swim lessons will help him feel more confident in his class.

So after their last class, we were walking back to the car and this lady stopped us and told me that she was so impressed that Aubrey knew to look both ways before crossing the street. She said that she teaches at a driving school and knows a lot of kids much older than Aubrey that don't look. So she proceeded to give Aubrey a huge bouquet of flowers she'd picked up at the farmer's market earlier that day. Aubrey was so excited! She didn't understand why she was getting flowers, just that she was getting them. She's girly like that and loved holding them.