swimming

i don't have pictures of my crazy kids in the pool, because i can't bear the thought of my camera getting wet. if you had seen rachel in water, you would understand. i have to put a swim diaper on her, then her bathing suit (i got her a super cute new one), then immediately the arm floaties. i made the mistake of opening the gate without putting the floaties on once, and she jumped right in the water, thinking she had them on. i won't do that again. this crazy girl jumps straight in the water, head goes under, and she bobs back up. no crying or spluttering. just a happy, kicking, swimming girl. she will jump off the diving board, jump off the side into someone's arms, be dragged around, and sometimes under by an enthusiastic sister, play catch with a ball, climb into her "lotie" as she calls it. she loves the water. everything having to do with the water. when she gets cold, she will lay on the deck on her tummy for a while, then get back in the water. she is the funniest little thing. and the way she splashes and plays, i can't bring my camera out there!!

then there's caleb. he started the swimming season the same way he ended last year, wearing a life jacket, happily swimming and jumping off the side, going underwater. well, a couple weeks ago, nathan thought i was torturing him, but i was in fact teaching him to swim. and it worked. after a few days of blood curdling screaming "I CAN'T DO IT!!!!", he actually DID IT!!! he is now a pro, swimming all over the pool. he doesn't have a stroke down yet, but i am happy he is swimming without a flotation device.

colby and rebekah joined the local swim team, and are working hard on their strokes every day. they are doing better every day at practice, and i drill them at home too. all the kiddos are doing really well this year. yay for swimming!!