Swim Lessons

Robbie start swim lessons 3 weeks ago.  He was so excited about going...until we got to the pool.  He said the entire 2 weeks that he was afraid he was going to sink.  Our swim lesson session was during the last 2 weeks of school, so it was just Robbie and one other girl, which was great!  It was almost like getting private swim lessons.  Robbie liked the instructor and she was so patient with him.  There were a few mornings when Robbie said he wasn't going to get in the pool, but she wouldn't let that happen and convinced him to get in and swim.  By the end of the 2 weeks Robbie was getting into the pool by himself!  (He was getting out by himself from day one.)

He's so excited about swim lessons!

Kicking and splashing.

Holding on tight to Kendall!  You can see how unsure he was to get into the pool.

Getting a pep talk!

I'm sure he's wondering when he gets to leave.

I wish I remembered to bring the camera for the last lesson!  He stayed in the water the whole lesson, swam with the noodle and didn't freak out when Kendall let go of the noodle.

Before swim lessons started we told Robbie that when they were over he could swim in Nana's and Grandpa and GiGi's pools.  The YMCA where Robbie was taking the lessons were about 30 minutes away because of traffic.  On the second day Robbie fell asleep on the way and woke up when we were almost there and asked if we were going to Grandpa and GiGi's house.  He did not understand that he had to complete all 8 swim lessons first.  There were tears, but he eventually went inside and did his lesson.  Then it was an argument every day about how many swim lessons he had actually completed and how many he had left.  I told Matthew that we were going to have to take him when the lessons were over and that's what we did.

Matthew took last Friday and Monday off.  I took Robbie to his last swim lesson and when we got home Matthew packed the car while I fed Catie and then we were off.  We drove for a while, stopped for lunch, and then drove the rest of the way to Jim and Jean's house.  Unfortunately there was a thunderstorm passing through so Robbie couldn't jump right into the pool like he wanted to.  Eventually we said Robbie and Alex could put their feet in the pool which turned into them standing on the first step, then the second one, then the third...  I'm not sure what happened, but somehow Robbie fell or stepped of the bottom step and he can't really touch the bottom of the pool, though he did keep his face above the water.  I went in and helped him back onto the steps.  Luckily I had planned to change before dinner!  After dinner the boys and the men went back in the pool and we let the boys wear their Puddle Jumper life vests.  They seem to like them!

After breakfast we headed out to Barbara's house.  We were soon back in our bathing suits and headed out to the beach.  Robbie eventually warmed up to being in the water (we either held him or just sat on the shore in the water), but Alex just wanted to sit in the stroller where he eventually fell asleep.  Catie was in her stroller mostly sleeping, too.  After a while we headed up to the pool and I picked up Chick-fil-a for lunch.  We did let the boys swim after lunch without waiting 30 minutes.  We tried to get them to nap later, but that didn't work.  Monet and Gary had everyone over for dinner that night.  Mimi and Gramps were able to meet Catie and Kim brought Avery over.  The cousins had a good time playing together.

Mimi and Catie

After dinner we went to my parent's house where we would be staying until Monday.  We let the kids play for a while even though we knew they were tired.  We had already given them a bath at Barbara's, so that was one less thing to worry about when getting them to bed.  Sunday morning Jonathan, Chat and the kids came over.  The kids played together all day without any fights or hurt feelings (though Nathan did ask for some quiet time).  Barbara, Jack, Jill and Ryan came over for a few hours in the afternoon.  Our trips down are usually pretty rushed so it was nice to spend some time with them.

Alex jumping off the couch.  I made him stop after I got a few action shots! :)

Abuelo and Alex

 All that blue and blue eyes too!

There's no doubt he's a Villacampa! :)

Monday Jim met us at the aquarium.  The kids love it!  The bonnet head sharks were off exhibit that day, so when we saw sharks in another tank Robbie kept asking if I was kidding that they weren't going to see sharks.  Obviously Robbie was excited about seeing the sharks.  We stayed for a few hours and then headed home.

It was a fun weekend and a great way to celebrate Robbie's swim lessons.  I'm really impressed with how well Robbie did with the lessons.  I knew he wasn't going to be swimming like a fish after 2 weeks, but he's a lot more comfortable in the water.