Swimming Lessons

Seth loves swimming, but isn't totally comfortable in the water. And by that I mean he HATES getting his face wet. So we figured some swimming lessons would do him good (plus double as his P.E. class for school). We signed up with our good friends so he would have a buddy and crossed our fingers he'd survive without too much trauma!

Three swimmers, ready for class

(Catherine was not thrilled that she wasn't enrolled)

Seth took this picture of the pool.

His favorite part was walking to the deep end (11 feet) and watching people dive

Seems excited about being in the water...for now.

Catherine was stuck in the swings during lessons, which was mostly okay with her.

She also entertained herself by coming up with fashionable outfits to wear to lessons: 

Nothing like rainboots and shorts!

And, displaying her new obsession: 

Lightning McQueen shirt and toys (or, as she calls them, "Diding McGeen").

We had to borrow one of Seth's old shirts--they don't make them for girls!

And, my personal favorite: 

She got a lot of compliments on her Buzz Lightyear outfit 

Seth made great strides during lessons! He loved the kickboards and would happily swim or float as long as his teacher was holding him up. He would put his head underwater once each lesson just to satisfy his teachers (and me), but he wouldn't swim with his face in the water. But I'm very happy with what he did learn! We'll be doing this next year, too.

The last day of swimming lessons (which also happened to be Seth's birthday) was supposed to be a fun day--just diving for rings and playing in the water. But we woke up that morning to rain--heavy, steady rain. It was like a Tucson monsoon out there. We heard one thunder crash at 8:30, but nothing else, so we headed off to lessons in the pouring rain.

The teachers handed out "report cards", then gave the kids a choice: either get in the pool and play in the rain, or just get their free icees and go home. Every single kid in Seth's class chose to play in the pool...except Seth. He sat under the pavilion happily eating his icee and watching his classmates get drenched: