Swimming Lessons

This is Cowen, chillin' while he waits for his turn.













This is Cowen learning to float. Sometimes he does great, and sometimes his legs get a little crazy.










This is Cowen--I'm not sure what he was practicing there. His teacher has been awesome.












This is Miriam. She had to sit on the side because she jumped off the platform, or "island" one too many times and her teacher got annoyed. Basically, she got voted off the island.











That big splash in the water was Miriam jumping in. I pushed the button too late to really capture the moment, but hey, it shows how far Miriam will jump. It scares me just how fearless Miriam is, but at least she hasn't almost drowned this go round with lessons--unlike last year.


Mom will say I am making excuses for my daughter, but I'm not. Really. I just want to mention how funny I find watching Miriam during swim lessons. There are 8 kids in her class and one teacher who takes them out individually to practice different things. Unless Miriam is with the teacher, she is left entirely to her own devices. Those of you who know her are already cringing and laughing at the thought of Miriam left to her own devices. First, she always has to go to the bathroom at least once to see what is going on everywhere else. The girl is the biggest busy-body on the planet. Then she spends a lot of her time jumping off the island and half-drowning, half-dogging-paddling back. She also spends some time yelling across the way to Cowen. Oh yeah, and sitting on the side in time out. Miriam doesn't do well when "left to her own devices." And me, as the mom, I mostly think it is funny. It is hard to blame the kid for playing around in a swimming pool. There I go again--making excuses.