Good-bye Summer

Summer may not officially end until late on the 22nd of September, but for us, Labor Day means the close of the pool. And in the eyes of our kids, the closing of the pool means the close of summer. This summer didn't prove a fantastic summer for lounging in the pool. Lots of rain and cooler than usual temperatures meant less frequent splashes. Even today, with temps in the mid 80s, it was a bit cold in the water. If you look closely you can see Sam's lips are blue.

Highlights from our time at the pool this summer ...

• Samuel passing his arm floaties on to Alex, no longer needing them to navigate through the differing depths of the water.
  
• Alex going from being a bit fearful of the water last summer, to fearless - dare-devilish - this summer.
  
• Rebecca, Emily and Sam, each tried diligently to learn to dive from the side of the pool rather than plop.
  
• Learning that Anna is part fish, particularly enjoying putting her face in the water and drinking.
  
• Alex mastering arm floaties.
• Discovering that Anna is not rattled in the slightest by falling out of her duck floaty and being suspended below the surface of the water by a foot or so, for a matter of seconds. [Scared her mother to no end. But she never so much as gasped or whimpered - scary!]
• Rebecca and Emily learned to dive down under the water to retrieve things from the bottom of the pool in the deep end. Very helpful in picking up walnuts from the floor of the pool.
  
• Emily learned how to do a handstand underwater, and walk on her hands, while Rebecca perfected both.
• Alex becoming a 3 year old water acrobat. Jump in from the side and going down the slide, in every conceivable way.