Swim Lessons

This past week both the girls began swim lessons. Well, really for Brenna...its still just the waterbabies class. But she loves it. And since I'd have to take her with me to Brooke's lessons, I figure why not just pay the extra $30 and let her enjoy herself too?

Here they are waiting on the lessons to start, just relaxin'. :)

I love that Brooke's class only has 5 kids in it (tops!...usually there's only 4) and there are two teachers, so basically its two kids per teacher.

She has quickly found her 'favorite' teacher. Ms Elizabeth. (shown directly in front of Brooke in the pic below) She does things for Ms Elizabeth she won't do for me or any other teacher. :)

Meanwhile, Brenna is across the pool with Daddy, splashing around, jumping in, going underwater, etc etc... I'm telling you, she LOVES it. But Brooke was the same fearless way when she was 2. Here she is practicing her "scoops and kicks". She does it really good actually!
Brenna also loves to jump in from the side. That's what she constantly asks to do if given an option. She fiddles around some and talks to Brad about it for a while, sometimes labelling all the things in and around the pool first. But she always jumps in on her own free will and always asks for another turn. :)
Meanwhile, Brooke is floating on her own. She's got the swimming aspect down pretty much too.

Here's a short video showing her turn at floating. She only uses the teacher's (Ms Elizabeth here) help to get on her back.

Her only setback is that she refused to put her face in the water/under the water. And specifically her eyes for some reason? She will put her mouth in, blow bubbles, put her nose in (that's the hard one I would think?), everything but her eyes. At least she wouldn't do it for me. Or for her swim teacher last year. Or for the other teacher now. But she has learned to tackle that 'fear' with sweet Ms Elizabeth. She now will go underwater on her own...all the way. Sometimes she holds her nose, but other times not. We are so proud of her! While it may not seem like much to most, this was a HUGE accomplishment for her and the only hurdle in her way of really swimming. Yay Brooke!!! :))

This short video is one of many times she is now showing us how she goes underwater (this one happens to be one where she holds her nose though :)