We are the Stingrays...

the mighty mighty Stingrays!

Sam participated in the summer swim team again this year and had a great time. It was so sad to leave behind such a great group of coaches and families. It was really too bad that Kate wasn't old enough to swim-- she would have swam better than most of the little first-timers, if I do say so myself. One of Sam's coaches this year was male, which he responded really well too.

He also continued to take private lessons with Eliot during the summer. Eliot was much more a friend than a coach, but Sam grew a lot in his strength, confidence, and stroke under Eliot's teaching. Many times Eliot would stay and play with Sam and Kate for 15-30 minutes after lessons were over, and even invited Sam to his graduation party. We miss Eliot!



Eliot, Sam and Kate-- lesson time???



Brrr. Swimming started pretty cold this year...

Here are the stingrays! I actually put him in his uniform trunks this year!

Waiting at a swim meet. Lots of waiting...

Spring Swim Lessons...

are about over. One more week. Sam stayed twice for non-competitive this week (don't tell) because tonight someone brought cupcakes! Fun!

Snapped this pic with my cell phone when the kids were waiting for lessons last night. They were walking in one of the lanes like this, both with goggles on, having the best time. It's always nice to find that your kids actually like each other, isn't it? (Note that when I told them I wanted to take a picture, Kate had to take her goggles off. See "Fashionista" for more info...)

Swimming marvel

Kate and Sam started back to swim lessons in February and both kids passed their levels easily (3 and 6, respectively). Sam's "class" ended up being one-on-one sessions with his former private teacher, for group lesson price! We've continued that, and moved Kate up to level 3. She came home after Monday's practice and said, "MOM! In level 3 we have to swim in the deep end! I don't think that's a good idea." But after watching her last night I'm totally amazed! She is swimming, without a jacket, up and down in the deep end, both front and back strokes. She is swimming under the water (granted, with a little nose-holding). She's amazing, and getting even more fearless.

The most hilarious part was her attempt at diving off the side of the pool. She's not at all afraid to try it, but she stands (or kneels) in the proper pose, and then disregarding entirely the examples before her, jumps in with her hands still together and entirely above her head. It's hilarious. I'm probably not doing it justice, but trust me, we have some work to do there.

The other thing she reported to me after Monday night was that she might be in the wrong class, because she's only 4. Having now seen her classmates, I can tell you that one of the girls is at least 10, if not older. The other two look more her age-- probably 5 or 6. I think we'll be in level 3 for a while, but I just keep assuring her that it makes her a very big girl, just like Sam, to be able to swim so well!

Sam's doing very well, as usual, and working hard on his form. Eliot, his teacher, is such a blessing and very good with him always.

First Swim Meet

Sam had his first swim meet (at least the first he actually got to swim in-- the other was rained out) on Saturday. In the boys 8 and Under group, he swam the Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and on a Freestyle relay team. (All swims for 8 and under are 25 m). He placed 2nd in backstroke, 4th in breast, and 8/16 in the freestyle. His relay placed first, though there was only one other team, but they won by a long shot. We were so proud!

It took Sam a swim or two to really figure out how the racing worked. His first race was the freestyle, and he was so concerned about giving the timers his name that he didn't touch the wall, which is when the timing ends. His coach and I are standing there yelling, "Touch the wall, Sam! Touch the wall!" We talked afterwards and his response was, 'Oh, I'll do that first next time." But he had a great time.

One of the surprising things is that Sam started to get competitive about where he placed in his heats. He'd look up and say, "Was I first?" It's the first flash of competitiveness I've seen from Sam, and I like it!

Here's a picture of Sam with his first ribbons. We're so proud.

Michaela Phelps

Sam and Kate finished their swim lessons last night, and it was also the end of Non-Competitive swim team for Sam this year. (So many things are ending right now!) They both passed their levels with flying colors. I would say Sam passed pretty easily, which I guess is bragging, but I'm happy to do it. Plus, that's really what this blog is all about anyway. Bragging.

Passing Level 1 is not much to brag about, and I'm pretty sure Kate passed the first day.  But I am amazed by how much she is willing to do in the water. She's entered that scary stage where she really isn't afraid of the water, but can't swim yet either, so we'll really have to watch her this summer. In addition to jumping in off the edge and off the diving board (in a life jacket), she was also doing a pretty good looking backstroke with the jacket on too. I was amazed. I never know what to expect out of a 3 year old, but this seems pretty good.

When we were leaving, Kate went over to hug her very cute teacher Emily, and Emily told her how proud she was of her. I told she and Nick that Kate thinks that she is ready to do swim team with Sam, and Emily responded, "I wouldn't put it past her. I'm going to start calling her Michaela Phelps." I laughed of course, and removed my child from their teacher-hot-tub-private-time. I know she was joking, but in the back of my head, I'm thinking, "Does that mean she's exceptional? Could she really be an olympic swimmer? Should I force her to swim every day for the rest of her life?" Wow, we suburban moms really need to calm down and stop drinking the juice. I'll settle for water safety for now, I think.

First swim lessons

Kate had her first REAL swim lessons today. She was so excited to have her own class. I had to tell her, because we made two trips to the pool today, that she would just play during the first trip, but have her own lessons during the second. She said to me, "I will swim over here in the little pool now, but later I will be out there in the big pool with my teacher." I warned her that Level 1 involved mostly staying in the little pool, but that she needed to do what her teacher said.

When we got to lessons, she was talking with some girls about her size, and they asked what level she was in. "Level 3," she said definitively. "Me too!" said another little girl. After talking, we found out those girls were 5 and 8, and one really was in level 3. I told Kate that even though she is 3 years old, she would have to start in Level 1, so we got that all straightened out. She looked at me like "Whatever, Mom. I'll be in Level 3 next week."

She was so cute sitting there waiting with all the kids for her class to be called. When they said her name, she waited until the class list was done, raised her hand and declared, "I'm Kate!" She was by far the most eager of her group, though it included no criers, which was nice. She did a great job following directions and looked like such a big girl.

Afterwards, I told her I was so proud of her being big enough to take swim lessons. She said, "Are you proud of me for listening to my teacher and following directions too, Mom?" Yes, now if we could only do so well at home!

Pictures!

This is Sam and his private swim instructor, Nick. They have so much fun!

Kate and Sam before her first lesson

Kate listening to the instructions (and, most likely, giving some of her own)

Kate working on back float