Second week of BIG GIRL swim lessons

After the successful completion of her first swim lessons this year, she moved up to the next level of classes this week with a new teacher and all new kids.  She is the youngest this time again (class is for ages 3-6.5) but that doesn't stop her from trying to swim just like everyone else.

They start each class by singing "Ring around the otter - pockets full of water - splashes - splashes - we all go under..."

She LOVES being in the water and usually never looks back.  But daddy came to watch one day and she was a total ham for him.

Each kid gets time to practice their starfish float while the other kids sing "Twinkle twinkle little star"

And finally, this class is working on getting her to put her face in the water while she swims so she is starting to look a little less like Gus (in the water) and a little more like a person swimming.

Pre-dinner ritual

Natalie has recently starting insisting that we say a prayer before we eat, but only before we eat dinner because "breakfast is just cereal, mom."

Here's the prayer she learned at school...

Modern-day Bubble Wrap

So many things don't come with actual bubble wrap anymore but rather with the plastic bags full of varying amounts of air.  I support this, because you can recycle the bags but couldn't recycle bubble wrap, but there was something pretty fun about bubble wrap.  Turns out, Nat discovered that there's something pretty fun about these bags of air too...

This one is mostly for you, Auntie "Bubble Wrap" Adrienne.

Camping: West Clear Creek

In honor of Father's Day, we took a quick family camping trip the weekend before Father's Day up near West Clear Creek (just outside Strawberry, AZ).  The weather was spectacular and we found a great site.  The kids and Gus had a fantastic time and everyone came home tired.

Katie, daddy and Gus did some hiking down the steep trail to the creek while Natalie and mommy setup the camp kitchen and then went on an adventure walk around camp.

Now THAT is one happy dog.

Hey look everyone -- Gus is in the water!!!

 

Our campsite is somewhere up on the ridge in background.

Happy Father's Day, Scott.  We got you a camping hammock!

A little more exploring after dinner...

Someone is pooped.

First week of BIG GIRL swim lessons

We signed Natalie up for BIG GIRL swim lessons this summer, not knowing how they would go.  The kids in her class range from age 3 to 5.  And while she love love love loves the water -- after the disaster that was her ballet lessons -- we just didn't know if she'd willingly go in the water without mommy or daddy.  But we told her that only the babies get to have their mommies or daddies in the water with them.

Low and behold, after mommy walked her over to the pool and introduced her to her lifeguard teacher ("swimguard"), Miss Libby, Natalie never looked back.  Not even once.

Nat has not been shy about volunteering to try things first.  She's like a different kid when she's in the water.

Swim lessons are EXHAUSTING.

She LOVES Miss Libby.

 

She is learning to float on her front (blowing bubbles) and on her back.  This video shows her learning to flip back and forth between the two while singing "I'm a little pancake on my back..."

Come on lil dude....SWIM!

Found this old gem from June 2012.  How did we get another dog who refuses to swim or get anywhere near the water, sprinklers or garden hose?