A Day in the Pool

After a couple of days in the hot Florida beach sun, we decided a day spent at the house playing in the pool was in order.  Can you see the rainbow over the pool?

 

The kids were out swimming bright and early.  You can see that the sun only covers half the pool.

 

All the kids loved the pool, from the youngest to the oldest.

First up, our Luke, who floated through the week in his baby ring.  He splashed and chewed on diving sticks, but never cried once in the water.  The biggest challenge of the week was trying to sneak his adorable bucket hat (a birthday gift from Aunt Cara) on his head without him noticing so that he would keep it on.  Once he felt that hat on his head, he immediately threw it into the water!

 

 

Caroline won the award for most progress in the water this week.  She went from walking around the pool, to swimming in her baby ring, to swimming with Daddy, to swimming all alone with her water wings.  She got so brave that she even tried once or twice to swim to the deep end of the pool.  She absolutely loved the water!

First of all, you have to have all the necessary equipment to be ready to swim!  Aren't these goggles hilarious?

tube swimming

swimming with Daddy

on her own and one other note....the pacifier actually helped her not get water in her mouth.  Without it, she always had her mouth open and was swallowing water.

Really proud of herself and having the time of her life.

 

Kate is always ready to pose for a picture.

 

Andrew was busy all week jumping into the pool.

 

Matt found a new passion in diving and bringing up the sticks Brett bought for them.

He was swimming very well this year and loved being in the deep end.

 

Emily also spent the week jumping and diving for the diving sticks.  She mastered the underwater handstand and worked hard to learn to dive and jump without having to plug her nose.  She almost has it figured out!

Jake and Nick spent the week perfecting their cannon balls, playing ball tag, and racing each other.  Everything at this age turns into a competition!

 

 

One of our favorite activities was night swimming.  After a long walk on the beach, it was a much appreciated reward to relax in the pool water. 

 

"For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.  They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing steams."

Isaiah 44:3-4