water babies

on monday night, madelyn and mason started swimming lessons.  it is very important they they learn how to swim so that i can take all four kids to the pool this summer.  given how terrified of the water mason was last summer, i didn't want to just do the once a week classes so they are doing the classes twice a week.  i was able to schedule them back to back, but that doesn't really leave any time to eat dinner.  on monday matt and maddux came too but without being able to bring the stroller inside it was just wrestlemania for matt the whole two hours.  not to mention that madelyn's class ends about 15 minutes before bedtime so we have to hustle home, shower and get them in bed as quickly as possible.

the thought with evening classes is so that matt could be there to watch madelyn while i swim with mason (mason's class requires an adult but madelyn's does not allow adults at all - not even to watch).  we only have one set of carseats, so it isn't possible for matt to take the boys home for madelyn's class.  we talked about some variations of dropping off and picking up before i decided that madelyn would be fine sitting and watching mason and i swim (his class is in an enclosed room away from the big pool) and then mason and i could just shower and get cleaned up during her class so he would be ready for bed when we got home.

last night we gave that a try and madelyn was perfect!  i set her up with color pencils and a coloring book during mason's class and she sat still the whole time.  i wasn't really all that worried about her listening, but it was nice to know that my trust was correct.  she and mason were waving to each other as mason and i made our way around the pool.

and then we went to wait for madelyn's class to start.  she is really excited about getting to swim.

don't let mason's expression fool you.  he is like a totally different kid than last summer.  he absolutely beams the entire class and does excellent!  he was even putting his face in the water and blowing bubbles and full on free-style stroking/kicking even though those weren't yet skills being worked on.  i am so proud of him and glad that he seems to be off to a really great start.

the classes run through april, but our neighborhood pool won't open until after memorial day so we will see how they retain their 'swimming' skills.  so far it has been a good experience.  love.