Swimming Lessons

Both Parker and Paige took 2 sessions of swimming lessons again this summer. Parker was in level 3 the first session and Paige was in level 2. They both did really well, but needed some things to improve before they were passed onto the next level. So the next 2 weeks they both worked hard in their classes and Parker was able to pass level 3 and move onto level 4. Poor little Paige worked hard, but she is still so small that she had a hard time in the depth of the water. She is able to swim short distances, but has a hard time putting her face in the water and keeping afloat in the deeper water, so she will be repeating level 2 again next summer. I tried not to look at the cost of the lessons and the kids having to repeat the same class over and over. I just want the kids to be good swimmers and to be safe and have fun while they are in the water. They love to go swimming so at least it has given them the confidence to be in the water. They are growing up and turning into such big kids, I can hardly believe where the time has gone!

After Lava

These were the kids on the way home from Lava. Love it when this happens. Swimming sure does the trick!!

More from Lava

My kids were so excited to go swimming and when Parker saw all the slides at Lava, that is pretty much the only thing he wanted to do. He definitely got his money's worth.I think he went down the slide at least 10 times. He loved it. He also thought he was pretty good at swimming and tried to get me to let hi swim in the deeper water. Swim lessons was a good thing for him to feel more independent and I know that he could at least make it to the side after going off the slide or diving board.

Paige was a little fish and just kept swimming and swimming. She did get cold once in a while and would get her towel on to dry off and warm up for a little while before getting back in the pool. There were 2 kiddie slides in the pool and she loved to go down them, she would go down the slide into the water and she could touch the bottom, then she would get out and go down the slide again. Over and over and over again. I think she really had a fun time as well.

I wasn't sure how Paxten would like the water, but he couldn't get enough if it. I put him on the little kiddie slide to see how he would like it and then I was stuck there for about a 1/2 hour putting him on the kiddi slide. He loved falling off of the edge into the water. I could catch him just before he went under and he would have the biggest grin on his face. He loved evey minute of swimming.

Charyn is more of a dare devil than I am and She decided to go on the really fast slide that drops like 50 feet. She said it was fun and somehow talked me in to going on it. The stairs to get up to it were tiring, and made me relize how out of shape I am. As I was going on the slide, I had second thoughts, but by then it was too late and I could see the ligh and the opening where it dropped, I screamed the entire way down!! It was scary! But it was fun and I might do it again. I love spending time with my family!!

Yancey Reunion

My mom decided it was about time we had a Yancey reunion. We haven't had one for like 2 or 3 years. So she planned one the weekend of the fair, Labor Day weekend, hoping that people would be able to come and to enjoy the fair as well. It turns out it was a bad weekend for most everyone and only a few from Carla's family ended up coming. Carla, Rachel, Caleb & Laura and their kids Evelyn & Adam. Charyn, Zander, & Jackson came for the day but she was on call for work and was unable to spend the rest of the weekend with us. Even though there was a small group of us we managed to have a good time. We went to Lava on Friday and spend the majority of the day swimming. We had planned on going to Ross Park and even called ahead to make sure they would be open. They said "yes thru the Labor day" so we packed a picnic lunch and got all ready to go. When we got to Ross park they were CLOSED!!! The didn't tell us they would be closed the Friday before Labor Day. Luckily Lava was open, so we hopped back in the car and drove a few more miles to Lava. The weather looked like it was going to storm, so were were hesitant to have to pay and then have to get out in a few minutes if it rained. But we were lucky and the storm clouds passed and we had a great time. We swam for about 3 1/2 hours and rode the slides a lot!! I didn't put sunscreen on the kids or me because it was so cloudy when we first got there. Boy did I pay for that later. I was burnt to a crisp!! But it was still worth it, having one last hurrah before school started. We were glad some family came and enjoyed the day with us.

Paige's Swim Lessons

Paige was in Level 2 during the second session, and it was difficult for her to touch the bottom of the pool in most of the area. So the teachers had a hard time teaching her it seemed like. They ended up moving to she shallow baby area and having her do some of the lessons there. She only had 3 kids in her class and I felt like she could have learned more because there were 2 teachers for the 3 kids. I felt like the teachers she had didn't know exactly what they were supposed to be teaching, and they seemd to goof off alot and just let the kids play. The exit skills she needed to do to advance to level 3 were: 1. Float independently on front and back for 10 seconds each side. 2. Perform front glide for 3 bodt lengths then swim front crawl for 15 feet. 3. Perform back glide for 3 body lengths then swim back crawl for 15 feet. 4. Perform 10 continuous bob while blowing bubble out of nose. Paige was able to do the 1st and 4th skills well, but need work on the actual swimming part. She too had fun and loved to go off the diving board and off the slides. At least the both had fun right!

Parker Swim Lessons

The kids really enjoyed taking swim lessons. I do have to say that the pool did improve on the second session we were in verses the first. Parker advanced from the first session to level 3 and there were 10 kids in his class. So it was a large class, but the teacher seemed to handle the kids well and had a helper most of the time. Parker did not pass level 3 so he will be repeating it the next time we take lessons. Which is okay. The Exit skills he needed to pass were: 1. Jump into deep water from the side, swim front crawl for 15 yards, maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds, and swimm elementary backstroke for 15 yards. 2. Swim sidestroke for 15 yards. 3. Demonstrate proper breathing motions for 30 seconds. Parker could only do the sidestroked, and I wasn't quite sure he could really do that. I think the were being generous. The thing that Parker could really do well was go off the diving board. He seemed to do that more than any other kid in his class. At least by the end of the week he was able to swim (doggie paddle)to the side without the teacher giving him a push. I think for the most part he had fun and was able to get a little more comforatble in the water. It will be good for him to practice what he has learned and hopefully be able to pass level 3 the next time we take lessons.

Ross Park

We love the swim park that is pretty close to us and unfortunately I haven't taken the kids for a few years, I have been hesitant to take 3 kids by myelf, and the summer is a really busy time for Matt, so it is almost impossible for him to go with us. Well Matt's cousin Summer is here visiting from Texas and we all decided it would be fun to go to Ross park with the kids and swim and play. I decided it would be easier with the help of Grandma Kerry and Aunt Tara. So we went and had such a great time! The kids all absolutely loved it and swam like little fish, the didn't hesitate in the water at all, so I guess the lessons are helping in the that aspect of swimming. We stayed for almost 4 1/2 hours and the time flew by. The kids were worn out by the time we left, but immediately wanted to know when we could go back. It was a great day to spend with the Keller side of the family!

Hotel Swimming

 

The kids were so excited about swimming that they could hardly wait to get their swim suits on (or swimmin soups, as Paige calls them). We happened to be the only ones in the pool for a little while and the kids swam for about a hour. Paxten did suprisingly well, I thought that he wouldn't like it because the water was pretty cool, but he seemed to to enjoy the time he was in the water. We stayed 2 nights at the hotel and had to swim both nights. Parker especailly was eager to swin again on Saturday. He didn't want to go to the temple or the reception, all he could think about was swimming. I better get him in some lessons next year!

I Finally Finished

Well I got the book Breaking Dawn last Tuesday in the mail. I had preordered it from Amazon.com and couldn't wait to get it. I knew I would not be one to stand in line all night to get it at the bookstore so ordering it worked best for me. As soon as I got it I started reading it and was reading it pretty quickly but for some reason my kids and husband thought that they needed fed and clean clothes and they wanted to be entertained. I don't know why that is. So I finally finished it last night after all the distractions it took me a little less than a week. I probably could have read it in a day, but that it the life of a mom. I wish I could sit and read a good book all day while eating bon bons, but any of you that are wives and mothers know that is not how it works. Anyways, back to the book. I LOVED IT!!! I thought it was the best in the series. Probably because it was action packed and tied everything together and it had a great ending. Can I just say Great Job Stephanie Meyer these are the best books I have read in a long time. Any of you out there who have not read or heard of the Twilight series, you need to check them out! You will not be disappointed.
Yesterday the kids and I went to Ross Park swimming with my sister and her fiance and his son. We had a blast. Parker did not want to leave. I lathered on the sunscreen but I got a little too much sun on my shoulders and Parker seemed to get a little on his face beneath his eyes so it looks like he got hit in the face. The weather was really nice, but the wind was blowing so it made it really chilly when you were out of the water. We are going again next week with my friend Anne and her girls so we are already looking forward to that.
I was able to see one of my high school friends Michelle over the weekend and it was fun to visit with her for a little while. Her younger brother just got married and they were having an open house here so all of her family was there. It was pretty busy at her parents house. We will have to get together another time with just us and no kids then we can really enjoy our visit. Thanks Michelle for calling me I had fun seeing you and your family!!
We finally got a primary chorister on Sunday so I am off the hook as a temporary substitute. So now I just have to prepare my monthly sharing time and conduct once a month. So that will lighten the load. My mom got put in as the new chorister and I know she will do a great job. She was just released as the 2nd counselor in Relief Society so it will be a change going from adult women to the primary kids. We are exctied to have someone in there that will be dependable and that knows music. Thanks mom for accepting the call. Well I think that is all for now. I guess I shouldn't put off writing then my posts wouldn't be so long. Happy reading!!!