Swimming

Tonight Brita and I came out of swim lessons and couldn't get in the car because the doors were locked.  I double-checked that I had hit the unlock button on the key and then started to get embarrassed because we were obviously trying to get into the wrong car.  Then I double-checked the inside of the car and realized it really was Peter's car, but I was using the van key to try to open it.  I felt stupid on so many levels. :)

Brita took a swim test about a month ago for Activity Days camp and couldn't pass it.  We took her to the pool first so she could see what she remembered from last year and it wasn't much.  She could do the backstroke a bit, but she really hated putting her face in the water.  On the test she barely made it to one minute of treading water and she swam half of the distance she needed to before she just couldn't swim any more.  She was really, really disappointed that she couldn't pass the test and said she didn't think she'd be able to move up to swim team at all this year and maybe even next year.  I was so proud of her for trying, though.  I don't think I would have.

We then spent a week in Pennsylvania with the McNabb family and she worked with her grandma on swimming a few times.  Then we went to North Carolina and got to go swimming a few times and Brita pushed herself and pushed herself until she was swimming freestyle with her face in the water and getting close to taking breaths to the side.  We missed the first week of swimming lessons because we were down in NC at a science camp.

After the first day of swim lessons when we got back Coach Brandon said that two of the peer coaches said that Brita was ready and that she could move up to the team!  She's doing so good.  And I'm seriously impressed by  her persistence and hard work.  Her first meet should be this Saturday.

Benton and Mima are both in the first developmental lessons.  They're getting better as well.  Mima no longer tries to climb to her peer coach's shoulders when they take her out in the water.  Most of the time.  And the look of terror is gone.  She always says how much she loves it and how fun it is after it's over.  It just doesn't look like it watching.  She says her favorite part is sitting on the steps holding her arms up in streamline position. Benton's swallowing less water these days and putting his face in the water for a long time.  It's fun to watch them all.