First Pool Swim of the Season

Six years ago, I purchased an Intex "pool in a box" kit from Wal*Mart.  It was a 48 inch deep pool shaped in a big 18 foot circle.  The air inflated ring around the top would pull the walls up when water was added, leaving us with a big blue bowl in the backyard.  It cost us almost as much to get a delivery of pool water from a truck as the actual pool kit itself.  Fast forward, and the pool is still holding water.  We have had to replace the pump, the ladder, the vacuum hose and the skimmer over the years, but I still can't complain.

Tonight was our first family swim of the season.  I did a hasty vacuum and then we all piled in for some relief from the 90 degree weather.  Garrett is very confident in his puddle jumper pool float.  He was able to swim around for several minutes independently with us just hanging close to make sure his face stays above water.  Very impressive for a 21 month old.  Gabriel chose to sit on top of the large sea turtle float and paddle around instead of getting into the water.  We definitely love our Puddle Jumper Life Jackets.  We have the green crab and the blue turtle.  The boys seem so proud when they can swim around on their own.  And all the kicking and splashing tires them right out!  The boys went to bed without much protest tonight after swimming.  And Garrett even peed on the potty!

Garrett and Gabriel love their Puddle Jumper

Gabriel was excited by the new covering of snow from the past two days of stormy weather. He talked about sledding on the way to school and wanted to know if we could go sliding on a "stay home day." We haven't had a chance to play as a family in the yard since our last big snow event on Halloween weekend. Considering the freezing rain and sleet predicted for overnight and tomorrow, I suspect we will have no snow left this weekend. So when we got home from work/school tonight, we made a quick dinner of leftovers, and then went outside for some night sledding before the rain comes. Michael dragged his work light from the basement and lighted the little slope on the far side of the yard. Gabriel used the new Christmas sled from Nana and Papa, and Garrett used the purple hand-me-down purple sled from cousin Maya. Both boys enjoyed cruising down the slope. Garrett had no hesitation getting into a sled with Daddy and Gabriel, or by himself. He would shriek delightedly going down the hill. The cold air and the walking up the hill worked wonders at bedtime. Both boys never made a peep after we put them in their beds.