Swimming update for Jude

Camping at Sleeping Giant

We went camping this past weekend... just overnight.  We weren't sure how camping with 3 kids and a puppy would work out!  Overall it was a fun night.  We went on a couple family hikes and Abby, Jon & Jordy participated in some of the campground activities.  Jude hung out with me and Shasta.  We cuddled at the campfire and shared a beautiful sunset.  I love that we live in this beautifully rugged area.  As we hiked I thought about how amazing it will be in years to come as the kids are able to do longer hikes and even camp in the interior (instead of car camping).  Maybe next time we'll try 2 nights :)

In the new pool...

Jude is getting much more confident already! He goes in with or without his water wings as the water only reaches below his chin. He hums while he's in the pool. According to Jude, it helps him "swim better" :)

Abby is working on her floats with and without her lifejacket. She's still not fond of putting her face in the water. Truthfully, neither am I. I vividly remember the swimming lesson when I was 6-years old and the teacher instructed us to do a "bob". I was frightened and so didn't want to do it. Instead of helping me get over my fear she made me leave the pool...

I don't want Abby to have any pressure to quickly get over her fear. She's doing just fine :)

She's also lost another tooth with another 2 loose!

Bestest jam ever...

...according to Jude :)

Gentleness

In the hands of this sweet and sensitive 4-year old boy,

this little inchworm

is completely safe.

Cooling off...

...in our backyard :)

We visited friends last week who had a pool. Abby was in it for the entire 3 hours we were there. Jude is still trying to get into the pool at swimming lessons. We thought that having a pool in our backyard would be fun and help the kids learn to swim more easily.
Practicing will help solidify their lessons.

Pools were on sale this past weekend so we bought one in which everything but the chemicals was included. Jon spent 2 days levelling the yard behind our deck. It only rained one day...it wasn't even the whole day, just 3 separate thunder storms with sudden drenching downpours :)

It wasn't exactly "hot" tonight after supper, but Abby was VERY excited to try out the pool. Jordy and Jon joined her. Jude just put on his bathing trunks and watched... pretty much like swimming lessons.

I'm relearning math (volume) and chemistry to keep the chemical levels in a good range. It's really not that hard, but I think we may convert to a salt-water pump/filter system next year :)

"Swimming" lessons

In the summer at our local pool, swimming lessons are every day for 2 weeks. I got Abby and Jude's classes at the same time, but it's at 9 am. It's a good thing the pool is close-by! This is the first time in swimming lessons for both of them. Of the 4 30 minute classes, Jude has been in the water for 15 minutes (on one day).... he's apprehensive about the water. He thinks it's too deep even though they stand on a table in the water. We don't want to traumatize him by forcing him in the water (his teacher agreed). I'm trying (really hard) to be patient and understanding. I just want him to try, but something in his 4-year old mind tells him that he's not quite ready. I know he'll get in again when he's ready. I chatted with his teacher today. Our plan for tomorrow is for me to accompany Jude around the outside of the pool with his class so his teacher can interact easily with him and encourage him to join them (there are only 2 other little girls in the class). This would have been a little tricky since Jordy is with us as well, but a very kind mother who also brings along her 2 year old to her daughters' classes offered to watch him for me. Such a blessing!

Jude is quite enjoying the lockers while Abby rinses off after her lesson. I turned around after turning on the shower for Abby and didn't see Jordan. I called for him and out he popped from a closed locker with a "I'm in HERE, Mom!"

Abby is doing great! She really doesn't like to put her face in the water, but is slowly getting more confident in doing so. She was so proud of herself today for dunking her head down to her eyebrows :) I'm really proud of her too. It may take her a couple times at this level to master everything, but she loves the water and is doing her very best to get over her fears.

Picking berries...another adventure in parenting

Most of these top pictures were taken shortly after we arrived at Belluz farm to pick strawberries. Although the kids had eaten on the way to the farm, had hats and had peed before leaving, within minutes of picking in a section with particularly small berries I heard... "But I need to go pee again", "My toes are burning", "I don't like picking strawberries anymore", "My stomach hurts", "The tractor's never going to come back to get us", etc.... The 12L we had planned to pick quickly got downsized to 4L. I mentally decided to come back another day, by myself. A lady picking the row beside me commended me for my patience and parenting skills. She kindly suggested that playing "I spy" might keep the kids' minds occupied while we picked. They didn't go for it. It was hot as it neared mid-day and it did take awhile to fill a 4L container with little berries. Overall, the kids could have been much more uncooperative. Regardless, I'll go without the little Gomers next week :)

We returned to the farm's market store to pay for our berries and cool off with some ice cream. Our friends Soph & Mrs. Linda met us there and the kids ate and played happily until it was time to go! Nothing like a little ice cream and friends :)

Although small, the berries are sweet. We finished one bottle of jam shortly after we made it :)

When your peanut butter is missing, check behind the kitchen door...

I love the "you weren't supposed to find me" look!