Poolside

They may not realise it, but my parents’ home is a full-blown holiday resort in the kids’ eyes. Inside there is wii, Netflix, a VCR in the bedroom and a pantry full of snacks that only grandparents stock. Outside there’s the courtyard path for scootering and skating, the pool, the proximity to shops (and 7-11). Seriously – a holiday park! I’m so thankful that they ‘downsized’ all those years ago because we are really benefiting from their communal living environment. Especially the pool.

If there were prizes given out for pool usage, we’d have won!!! I think the kids only skipped one other day besides the five days we were camping.

 

 

 

Overall, the pool was the gathering point.

Mom and Dad would join us after work most days. Amber would bring the kids over when she got off as well, or she and Jason would come for dinner and a dip. A couple of times Matt’s family came over for dinner and we all landed in the pool for an evening splash (who am I kidding? Half of the family splashed while the other half watched under long sleeves). We even had friends come to meet us at the pool – Kevin & Aretha came for an hour in between kid’s activities; Nikki & Tawnya brought their tribes one morning for some pre-nap fun.

 

 

Besides the general refreshment and merriment the pool provided in the afternoons, Helena and Tony joined a swim squad for about four workouts. Joe, the neighbour, ran a training squad for his 8-year-old son – he had to run and swim a mile every day before using technology… brilliant! Helena loved the idea of the squad, so the first morning of training she was in our room at 7:30am ready for the 9:30am start!

We would run around the courtyard (supposedly 5 laps = 1 mile), then make our way to the pool for the training sessions. Helena’s perseverance and determination to keep up was incredibly impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

Besides the fact that both of their swimming skills sky-rocketed over the month: they were holding their breath to swim the width of the pool, they could do ½ a mile at a go; they learned a couple pool classics: the “color game” and “Marco Polo” and had an absolute blast with their rellies.

I think it’s safe to say that their expectation of pool time was absolutely satisfied! And they’ve got the tan lines to show for it!