Ha. I’m totally joking with that title because the past two weeks have been anything but that.
We did it, though. Once again, we survived swim camp.
It wouldn’t be that big of a deal—getting five kids and a mom out the door for four days in a row, or making sure that they all had sandals, suits & towels on their person, or packing snacks to keep the littles happy while they waited for the big kids—none of this would have been a big deal if I were a normal person and took them to swim lessons down the street.
No, instead I have to be this big picky thing and go with the swim school across town (a thirty minute drive each way) because that’s where my friends go and because I like the facility and because there’s a Panera bakery in the same building where I can get a really good cup of hazelnut coffee.
What?
You’re thinking, perhaps, my priorities are skewed?
Well, I’ll tell you. I could not have gotten through the past two weeks without my coffee. Coffee, prayer and Stevie Wonder—that’s how we did it. And really, who wouldn’t want to spend an extra hour in the van each day when you’ve got this song coming out of the speakers?
My kids are totally hooked and I’m like the coolest mom ever while this is playing. And then the song ends and I go back to being dorky me.
Anyway.
Back to my post on swim camp.
All five kids took lessons this year:
Teacher Eric taught Big II (Ages 7-13);
Teacher Elia, Middle II (Ages 5-7);
And brave Teacher Allison taught my two littles Little I (Ages 3-5).They all did well and no one drowned, for which I’m thankful. Even my spirited, spunky three-year-old learned to go with the flow and follow instructions…most of the time.
She did occasionally squirt out of the pool and had to be brought back by an instructor;
And she did get one (or two) stern talking-tos;
But all in all she did well for such a free spirit and I’m very proud of her.
So is her sister.
God is so good in that we always seem to get just the right instructor for my kids’ temperaments. Teacher Allison, for example, was as firm as she was patient–which is exactly what Angela requires. Plus I discovered on the first day of class that a dear friend from church had signed up for the same camp! This meant a coffee buddy for me (What?!) and a good group of kids for my children to hang out with.
“Is this going on the Internet?” my friend’s son wanted to know.
“Not if you don’t want it to,” I answered.
“Oh, I do! I do!” came the reply. No stranger to extroversion, that one.
Or any one of them, for that matter.
When all was said & done & swum, we celebrated the kids’ aquatic accomplishments with a trip to…hmm…how ‘bout the Panera across the hall?
The kids were amenable to that suggestion and Mom was more than happy to oblige them.
What? Stop looking at me like that!
And then we slammed our coffee and shook the crumbs from our laps and said goodbye to swim camp for another year.
I plan all of my trips around the nearest Panera. I really do. It looks like swim camp was a success for you and your cute little children. Congratulations!
We finished our swim lessons yesterday. They passed! And that is our favorite Stevie song. Maybe that’s why the speakers in the van are blown…
As someone who’s father practiced the “sink or swim” method of education, I am totally with you on going where you feel comfortable even if it is the furthest option!!! And if it happens to be close in proximity to really good coffee can anyone really say that you planned that?
Now, that song?!? I’m sorry… you get no love from me for Stevie! : )
Great post! You’re still a dork, I think the song makes you a dork, even more!! haha!
You know I’m kidding!
I wish our city had swim lessons like that, swim camp, how cool? I did not get them in swim lessons this year…bad mom, I know…but we will swim a lot!
Good job Angela! Maybe there’s hope for my Mary!
Great pictures of the kids!!
No pictures of the coffee mamas though? Glad you made it through the week, are you exhausted now? Rest up today!
And CVBS all next week??? You’d better get your naps in this weekend!!! 🙂 Here’s praying July will bring some lazy summer days for us all.
Glad you made it through! And, several things about this most make me smile. One, your kids are beyond beautiful. How can you not smile at that? 🙂 Two, I love me some Panera. Not the coffee so much, but the salads. I, too, am always looking for an excuse…er, a reason to go there. Three, I feel your pain on getting through swim lessons. We did ours for two seperate sessions during the school year as they had a special time for homeschoolers. And it always feel during David’s naptime. Needless to say we’ll be going with the rest of the general public. I’d rather deal with them than the cranky man without his nap for six weeks.
Yeah Summer to you sweet Mags :))) Great photos!!
Coffee at Panera? You are clearly a woman with the same priorities as me.
And, oh my, those children are BEAUTIFUL!
OH YES!
That is one of my all-time favorite childhood songs!
My Dad used to let me sit up in the front seat of his VW bug (in the days before car seats) and he’d crank that song up as loud as it would go. I would raise both hands in the air and he would car dance through our neighborhood.
And yeah, I thought he was pretty cool too… so I bet you scored big points with your kids!
Congratulations on making it through swim classes again this year! It is NOT easy!
(I’d choose the nicer pool with the coffee next door too!)
Ok, you’re having way too much fun waiting around for your kids in swim lessons. Our Foss location has no Panera Bread attached. There’s free hot cofee, but oh what a sauna it is in there already! It’s all I can do to entertain a screechy 13mo old for the 90 minutes it takes to get in and out. You’ve inspired me to pick up an iced coffee on the way for next time!
Um, that is the coolest pool EVER!
Love the pic of the boys…hehe.