Swimming Lessons

How it started:

How it’s going:

Photos by Jaclyn

Hooray for Donovan, who, after a week, still doesn’t really want to move away from the safety of the stairs, but is now willing to put his head all the way under water and dog-paddle with the instructor’s help. (Instructor is doing this with all the kids.)

Standing on the sidelines, cheering for Donovan.

And Jac… not willing to do anything the first week but sit on the stairs and say “no”. We didn’t even try getting her in the water today. Disappointing but not unexpected.

We have 2 lessons left for Donovan. I got him a Lego set, that he really really wants, and the deal is if he floats on his back around the class area (with the teacher’s help, like the rest of the class is doing), he really really gets it. Crossing fingers…Added: He did it!! So proud of himself and immediately asked when he was getting his Legos. 😂 Legos - the great motivator!

Walkway Genius

The walkway between pool and house is finished and it’s genius. (Ok, I might be biased but it’s pretty darn clever.)

Hubby designed this himself,

wanting something that looked nice ✅,

covered the filter hoses ✅, 

and opened for easy maintenance ✅. 

Plus, each section has a locking mechanism to keep curious little fingers from exploring or getting smushed. Genius. 

Big Guns, Round 2

One of hubby’s goals for the weekend was getting the new stairs installed since the ones that came with the pool kit are too flimsy and unstable to be of much use. 

Leanne did a great job getting the mat into place

but when the pulley system hubby rigged up failed to move the steps even an inch, 

it was time to call for more help. 

Up, 

over 

and centered. 

So much easier with a little extra muscle.

 My job was installing the clamps. Nailed it!

Next up - 

attaching the wooden steps and waiting for the handrails to be delivered. 

And hiding the dinosaur fossils before our big dig gets shut down. 😂😂 

Pool Progress

The pool project is at the stage where there’s a lot going on, 

tons of progress being made, 

but you really can’t tell by looking at it. 

The block retaining wall around the base of the pool is done; 

balance beams are cemented in place (not what they’re called but points for Olympics reference, right??);

and the beginnings of the wood walkway

and the steps up to the pool are in place. 

Today’s milestone was delivery of the decorative “stone” facing for the pool end closest to my craft room.

Looks good, doesn’t it?? (It’s foam) (Amazon really does carry everything).

First Time

Took Donovan in the pool for the first time today

 Those funky sunglasses were all I could find in the house today

and he loved it, as long as I was holding him. 

Not Papa. Not Leanne. Just Grandma.

While he was a bit hesitant to get in at first, he was *mad* when it was time to get out. Kid’s going to be a fish by the time summer’s over. 

Now we just need to get Jac in the water . . . 

Summertime

Celebrating summer with a trip to the zoo,

pool time

and playdoh flowers.

I could happily do this year-round.

Making Progress

The pool is full and in use,

the retaining wall is about three-quarters done 

and the new windows for the back of the house - the only original windows we have left to replace - are at the contractors and ready for install in about 2 weeks. 

Also, Jac planted some garlic to go with her “cabbage”. So much progress!

Cover Up

Leanne ended up with a slight sunburn from yesterday’s *hours* in the pool,

so today we added hats - whoohoo for 1-day delivery! -

t-shirts and a time limit. 

The new salt filter should be here tomorrow, which means a full pool and real swimming by Monday-ish. 

So exciting!

All In

Today was warm enough that we all decided to take a dip,

even me, in my ‘not used in 15 years but still fits’ bathing suit. Ahh, the miracle of modern stretchy fabrics! 

Leanne is three-quarters dolphin, 

flipping and diving for hours, not wanting to ever leave the water.

And Jac? 

After an hour of hanging out on the top rungs of the ladder - staying well above the waterline - 

she voluntarily went down another step and actually touched that wet stuff.

And with 15 minutes of pool-time left, she allowed us to bribe her into stepping onto the bottom rung. Hooray! (You’ll notice the water is still well below her bathing suit . . .)

Photobomb!

Will she take that last step tomorrow? Or on Friday when Donovan gets his first turn in the pool? If anybody can get Jac in the water, it’s her best buddy, Donvee.