I can already feel the change in the air.
Fall is settling in. Even the leaves are starting to change and drop from the trees.
[Funny side note. The other day when I was pointing out to the kids how the leaves were changing color and starting to fall off the trees, 4 year old Eli got nervous because he kept thinking I was implying that in Autumn the trees fall, not the leaves. I think he still is a tad concerned.]
The morning air has been crisp and cool, and in the evening after the sun sets, the temperature is quick to drop. When Randy and I were out on the lake this past Saturday enjoying one last social BBQ and boat outing, I was caught off guard when I started shivering as dusk hit.
Here’s the gorgeous sunset captured by my friend Lauren.
Surprisingly, though, I am welcoming the change of seasons … though I do love me some glorious sunshine! I love to bask in its warm rays and I readily enjoy taking my kids out in the warm and dry weather to let them play and burn off energy. Poor Ari is in for a rude awakening. Lately he likes to spend all his waking hours outside playing.
But enough about the weather in September. It’s time to document a bit of our summer.
Even though it made life a bit hectic, we did twice-a-week swim lessons all summer long with the three older kids – their lessons were all at different times. A friend in our neighborhood decided to host swim lessons at her house for about 35 kids. She hired an instructor, we all figured out about what level our kids were on, and then they had classes twice a week. You only paid for the ones you went to. It was a wonderful set up and we hope she does it again next year.
Up until this summer, my kids weren’t super water safe. In fact we had a couple of scary experiences involving water, one with Cory when he was 18 months and one with Eli when he had just turned 3. Needless to say, teaching my kids to swim has been on my radar for a long time. Yet for one reason or another, it just hasn’t happened. (I suppose growing up in Southern California, the land of beautiful year round weather and where warm beaches are plentiful, learning to swim is an easier feat to accomplish.) But since we now live in an area with loads of lakes and large bodies of water, I want to feel comfortable allowing my kids to swim with friends and at other activities.
As the summer progressed, it became apparent that my kids are like fish in the water. They LOVE it! Pools and lakes, with a pair of goggles on hand, are where they like to be. This doesn’t completely surprise me because I, too, love the water. I grew up with the warm Pacific Ocean 10 minutes from my home. I especially can’t get enough of being out on a boat. I love the thrill you feel when you are racing through the water, soaking up the sun as the water spray keeps you cool. It’s incredibly peaceful and rejuvenating, like a little slice of heaven! Tubing behind a boat, river rafting and water skiing are also high on my list of water things I enjoy.
Eli is now comfortable enough to swim by himself in the water with his “purple elephant floatie” on, though he still doesn’t care to be splashed in the face.
Cory will now willingly dive under the water to retrieve things and he is getting more confident with learning to tread water. He also loves practicing the basic swim strokes he is learning.
Keri took off with swimming this summer and I think she has discovered a new passion. Her teacher taught her all the swim strokes, including the butterfly. The class she was in even had some Olympics-inspired races. Keri was so excited when she beat all the boys in the backstroke race! She also loved being a swim assistant to the teacher during the younger classes.
Swim lessons this summer were definitely a success!
P.S. Happy Birthday to my late Grandma! She would have turned 91 today!
Wears me out reading about your very busy summer. I love the fall. Loved it back in Virginia where all the trees weere so many many bright beautiful colors. Thanks for the up date.
So much fun!!!!