Swimming Lessons

Way back in May I registered the girls for two sessions of swimming lessons, back-to-back.  So for 4 weeks we have been getting up and going to the pool by 9am.  I thought it would be good practice in getting us up and ready for school . . . anyway, I put the girls in the level 1 class for their age group for both sessions because I know Ellie has some fears to overcome and I didn't know what to expect with Lila.  We did the first session and all went well.  Ellie was doing some bobs and was having fun, but was still not really comfortable in the water.  Lila did great in her class and since it is the younger age group the requirements are not as difficult and she advanced. So I called the pool after the first session and asked if Lila could be bumped up to the level 2 and they did that and then I asked if they offered private lessons because I felt like Ellie needed some one-on-one time to help get her over the hump and they said yes. So I withdrew her for the second session and told them I wanted to do private lessons--well to make a long story short, it's been almost two weeks and nothing has been scheduled, I even tried 2 other private instructors.  What's a mom to do? I didn't want her to feel bad that she wasn't in lessons, which she does and asks me every day about the private lessons. So tonight we went swimming as a family so the girls could show off their skills to Daddy and I could spend some time with Ellie. To be honest I didn't think she would listen to me--you know that whole your my parent and you already tell me what to do too much, but she did great and after adjusting her goggles a bit she would bob in-and-out of the water comfortably, would stay under water and watch my fingers until they got to 10--that's right she stayed under water for 10 seconds with her eyes open!!!!  This is huge for a girl who was scared to get her face wet.  As for Lila, she was bobbing in-and-out 10 times and would jump in and put her face in the water while front floating. Here's my little swimmers in action:


Lila's first session:

Second session--she was fortunate enough to have the same teacher (and a picture of her floating in a life jacket on safety instruction day):

Ellie's swim lessons (on the last day they let them play on the equipment for the last 10 minutes and give them a popsicle) and the last picture is her under water from tonight:

I'm so proud of each of them and what they are accomplishing!

Lila's Owie

On Tuesday we got stuck behind a tractor for almost 1/2 of our drive to swim lessons which made us a few minutes late. So after we had safely crossed the parking lot and were on the sidewalk I told the girls to run. I had a quick thought that Lila might fall (her coordination is still in question while running sometimes), but I ignored the thought, a decision I have regretted all week. She did indeed fall scraping her knee--nothing new, so I thought. She acted like she couldn't walk all day making me set her on the potty when she needed to go and crying all day about her owie and didn't even want to go to gym class that evening. Wednesday morning came and she said she felt better and then all of the sudden she couldn't walk again. I made blueberry pancakes and that gave her strength, somehow, she did fine in swim lessons and played all morning with Ellie until after lunch she screamed at me to come quickly--her scab opened in one spot and was bleeding ever so slightly, she once again could not walk. We were getting ready to go somewhere and she once again couldn't move her leg so she peed all over--I have to admit, I lost it, not one of my finer moments. I told her I was putting some neosporin and a bandaid on she went hysterical, but I did it anyways and guess what she managed through the two days just fine. Thursday evening she had an hour gym class she did great running, jumping etc. We stayed for free play and about 45 minutes in her bandaid fell off while jumping on the trampoline and she instantly could not move again. Another parent there saw the whole thing and was laughing. He asked if it was her first owie and I said no, but the most dramatic so much so that at one point I actually thought she may have broken something. Well this morning her second bandaid was starting to fall off so I recorded a little in an attempt to capture the drama (seriously this video is not nearly as dramatic as our week has been with the owie, but at least I have proof ;)

It was bound to happen . . .

Wednesday evening while Mimi and Grandpa were visiting, Ellie was showing off her new bike riding skills. She was doing pretty good, but Mimi's car in our drive way was throwing off her turn and next thing we knew she was in the tree. I took these pictures with my cell phone to text to Daddy who was in Texas (sad I didn't take pictures with my real camera):

It caused a nice big scab, but she quickly heals (oh to be young). I was afraid she would be traumatized and not want to ride her bike again, but after a couple pieces of pizza I asked if she wanted to go back out and she said, "yes." And once she got going again she didn't want to stop.

Another thing that was bound to happen was the passing of time since our move--yes it has been a year since I tearfully drove out of our driveway in Tucson leaving my husband behind to finish his degree (whew--the memories still bring tears to my eyes. I don't remember if I shared this story, but Steve said he was pretty emotional that day too. He said he went into the house after we drove off to finish packing some things to take over to our Bishop's guest house where he would be staying and he said he could hear the girls laughing and playing and he just had to leave because it was too much.) Steve joined us a couple of months later although it felt like forever in that apartment with my two little ones and all of the sickness we endured acclimating to a new area and now here we are . . . Steve loves his job and the guys he gets to work with, we have a beautiful new home with wonderful neighbors, and the girls are getting bigger which I guess is what they are supposed to do, but the one thing that hasn't changed is the fact that Tucson and the many wonderful people we had the opportunity to associate with there will always hold a special place in our hearts. 

I guess we each conquer our own fears of the unknown as we traverse through life--from riding a bike to moving and new jobs. Occassionally we may get bumped and bruised, but I think overall our hearts and minds expand as we grow and learn.

2 Summer Goals Completed

Amidst all of our activities and projects there were two goals, one with each of my girls, I wanted to accomplish this summer; Ellie riding a bike without training wheels and Lila completely potty trained.  This week has been a culmination and completion (for the most part) of these goals.  Lila is determined to wear panties all the time now and has gone three full days without accidents including night time which is taking it to a whole new level.  Then tonight Ellie got the confidence to get on the big bike and go for a ride and she did it. We'll get out there a few more times and practice turning and stopping and going, and continue to encourage Lila, but overall I am so proud of what they have accomplished amid our summer chaos!

Training wheels passed onto the next one:

 Although after 5 minutes she went back to riding the trike. ;)