Trying To Beat The Heat

Summers growing up were spent at our pool. I had tan lines well into the winter months. I remember riding home after swim lessons with all the windows down in our station wagon. We would sing along to ABBA as the wind dried our hair.

Our family was well known for its pool parties. They were big and frequent. My parents would spend all morning vacuuming the pool in preparation, then my little brother would drop poop pellets all over the stairs. The days were full of games like Shark, Rock the Pool, Ring Dive, Underwater Tea Parties, and Handstand contests. Night swims were just as fun. The pool had one light at the deep end. It attracted bugs which attracted bats from the surrounding trees. We would duck under the water as they swooped by. These are just a few of my favorite memories of country living.

Alaska didn't provide many opportunities to swim unless hypothermia was on your agenda. There were a few community pools but we really didn't use them. Swimming is a life skill that I feel is essential. So, I am excited to share with you what has transpired here over the last two weeks.

Our pool is a block away so we use it almost daily. It is cooled in the summer and if there is a breeze at all it can be very chilly. Even with outside temps in the 100s the boys like to warm up in the hot tub after playing in the pool.

Two weeks ago the boys were restricted to the baby pool. Then we went with some friends in Dhahran to their pool that has a slide. With borrowed tubes, the boys experienced their first moments of aqua freedom. I loved not having to juggle all three in the water. Since I was staying in town that night for doctor's appointments, I went out and bought them their own tubes.

The next week we moved on to goggles and water wings.

I was amazed at the difference in the boys' swimming techniques with the goggles on. They had no reservations about keeping their faces in the water.

Once they had tubes, the restricted deep end and diving board became the new play area.

After about five false starts Ethan finally took the plunge.

Ethan knows he does not need both the tube and water wings he just likes them both.

A Kiwi named Liam came to town this week to teach the boys to swim... and by golly he did. Here is a lung capacity demonstration.

He had them blast off the steps like rockets the first day and by day four they were crossing almost two swim lanes.

Here's Ethan giving it a go.

On the last day he had them jumping in without floats.

Liam really knows his stuff and did a stellar job with the boys.

Today we had to say goodbye to our new friend. Next week the boys will pick up where they left off with a local teacher.

Graham loves the water too. After observing the mother and baby class one afternoon, I had him learning swimming skills today too.