Swimming Swimmers

I didn't have visions of grandeur when it came to my children and swimming this summer.  I've never been confident in the water (thanks to a certain traumatizing experience during my early childhood), but I am quite proficient.  However, much to my surprise...I was underestimating my children!

Because of our spring being a bit chillier than normal and a couple of fantastic trips, our visits to Nana's pool didn't really start until July.

Here's the Piton boys' swimming time line...

Friday, July 2nd- Gabe is swimming but unwilling to jump in from the side.  Will is all over the pool with the aide of his trusty "noodle."  Sam is extremely content to float around in his "boat."

Saturday, July 3rd - Gabe is jumping off the side, yelling "Geronimo!" and doing cannonballs.  Will realizes that he might have grown gills and takes off swimming without his "noodle."  Sam is still happily floating.

Monday, July 5th - Gabe can't stop jumping in but has no interest in the diving board.  Will is all over the pool and has also discovered the joys of jumping in.  Sam is no longer happily floating, he figures if the big boys can swim so can he.  He doesn't want us to hold him in the pool and there is no question about how he feels about floaties.  He's ticked that he can't keep up with his brothers!

Tuesday, July 6th - Gabe has conquered the diving board!  Will has figured out how to take a breath and turn while swimming...he is everywhere!  Sam is happy!  He is wearing his "backpack" (shh - don't tell him it's actually a floatation device!) and holding onto a noodle to discover the freedom of the pool.  Oh, and he's jumping in to us.

Wednesday, July 7th - Gabe teaches himself to float on his back (no small feat when your father sinks like a rock!).  Will has officially graduated from the underwater doggie paddle, to a breast stroke.  He also has now conquered the diving board.  Sam is not happy!  He doesn't want to use the "noodle" anymore, but hasn't quite figured out how to stay upright enough in his "backpack."  Oh, and he also thinks he conquered the diving board.

Friday, July 9th - After a couple of days of fighting us with the "backpack", Sam has decided that he is again in love with it!  I guess sitting watching your brothers swim is not nearly as fun as swimming with them!  He no longer uses the noodle...he just goes.  Mark even got him to jump in (well, belly flop) into the pool several times with no one catching him.

Sam modeling the "backpack" - seriously, the BEST $$ I spent all summer!!

What's the fun of summer, if you don't get a little naked bike riding in?

Congratulations Ryder and Audrey!!

Okay, so how weird is it that I only have 2 cousins?  It's odd, I know.  Some people can't tell you how many they have and I have 2!  I think it's fabulous!  We've always been close.  So, when Ryder announced he was getting married, there was no doubt we'd be there to celebrate with him.  Better yet was the fact that he was getting married in the Catskills of New York.  Aw, darn!  Mark and I had to take a vacation!  The first one without kids (really, it's been nearly 7 years since we've been anywhere without the kids)!

We enjoyed a fabulous day with family and friends.  The grounds were gorgeous and the ceremony was perfect.  We are thrilled to count Audrey among our family!

Here's one for the history books...a picture of Mark and I!  Don't expect too many of these!

Banyan (my cousin Rondi's son) looking like he's been working hard!

My dad and Aunt Vinda

My parents

My sisters...looking their best!