Swimming Lessons!

Today we headed out for our first day at swimming lessons. In case you didn't know or don't remember, I was a swimmer.  Although I never swam on a team, I lifeguarded and taught swimming lessons for years at this very pool.  The Ottawa Street Pool is old but man, the memories....And now I am bringing my kids to the same pool.   Here we are all lined up ready to go!

They were so excited to go to swim lessons today.  I think the waterpark from the Dells helped them be more excited. 

Gracie was up first. She is a big girl now and goes to swim class by herself!  Although she is still in preschool level 1, because last summer she wouldn't put her face in the water, we made progress today!  See that watering can in her hand, well she did dump it on her head and didn't scream or come running for a towel to wipe her eyes.  Yay!

The first part of her class takes place in the little pool because I think it helps them get used to the water in a more comfortable way.

Plus they can sit in a circle in the water and sing songs and have animal races.

Then they get to line up and head over to the big pool to practice some other skills.

So proud of my big girl this year!

Here they are all lined up on the wall.  After this picture was taken, I was that parent that got told to go stand BEHIND the fence. I was sitting a lounge chair snapping pictures.   Whoops!

They got in the water and practiced kicks and blowing bubbles. 

She even got dunked and did great!  There were no tears!  Way to go Gracie!

It won't be long now and she'll be swimming without that kickboard.

After Gracie's class, it was time for Parent/Child swim class with Evie and Presley.  They too, were super excited to get in the water.

We got to sing songs and practice kicking.  Turns out, there were 2 other sets of twins in this same class!

But then it wasn't long before this guy decided he would rather hang with Grandpa, who was behind us playing at the pirate ship with Gracie.  He sat out and pouted.

I dragged him back in but he was not happy with me.  I heard his favorite word, "NO", about 200 times in that next 5 minutes.

But then like Gracie, we got to head to the big pool too.  Evie did awesome!  She is totally gonna be my little swimmer. She went underwater not once, but twice!  I thought she might cry but she didn't and high-fived her swim teachers.

We practiced some floats, blowing bubbles, kicks, arm circles, and jumping in.

Evie's favorite part by far was jumping in.  She did it probably like 10 times!  So proud of both my little ones. 

After class, we hung out at the play area. The girls made a new friend at the water table.  Gracie was bossing this girl around (even after we went to Manners Class today).  Oh well.  The girl didn't understand her because she didn't speak English. 

But the little ones did have fun going down the slide.  And with their wet little bottoms, they slid even faster.

We also had our own little swimming party today too at our house.  Our pool isn't near as exciting as the OSP pool but oh well.  We made our own waterslide.

Jackson came over and wearing Evie's pink crocs, he went down this slide a bunch! 

So did Evie and Presley.

As an after swimming snack, we had some popsicles. Yum!

My kids are obsessed with having everyone check out what color thier tongues turn when eating popsicles.  I tried to get a picture of them sticking out thier tongues but Presley was the only one who kept his out long enough. 

Good thing we had all this swimming fun because it's hot here!  And good thing everyone did love swimming lessons because we are headed back there tomorrow!