The Pool

Another catch-up post.  No, it's not still that nice here in IA.

This summer I bought a pool pass for the kids and I.  It worked out to be that I had to go 14 times to make it worth the money based on what I'd pay for just a visit.  I went ahead and bought the pass, before remembering that last year Lucy was TERRIFIED of the water.  We got her in and swimming once, and it was a stunning victory.  Fingers crossed at the start of the summer, we donned our suits and went.  Huge success.  

The pool is new multi-million dollar facility with three separate areas: the zero-depth entry kiddie pool, the traditional pool, and a lazy river.  It also has three adult water slides, two diving boards, an numerous fun spots for the kids.  The structure below was at the center of the kiddie pool.  That big red bucket at the top, probably eighteen feet high, filled with water and tipped every five minutes or so, dumping water all over whoever was standing below.  There was a warning mechanism that clanked when it was getting close that some engineer probably got paid a lot of money to design and that prevented kids (Lucy) from the unwanted onslaught.  Lucy did, once, feel brave enough to stand under the bucket.  Once.  Also included is the red pwisty slide (Lu still has a hard time with those Ts).  At the very start of the season she was going down this twisty slide like a champ, but then was standing too close to the slide part, slipped, banged her head as she tumbled over, slid down and ended up face-first in the water at the bottom.  And never again.

 This is the beaver slide, which took half the summer to work up to courage to do.  I wonder if that has more to do with the ferocity of the obstacle or the fact that upon approach it looks as though you are about to be eaten by a massive, overly excited beaver.

 

 We spent lots of time on the lazy river this summer.  Lucy and Eric are in one of the coveted "blue tubes" which were reserved for kids at least 48" tall and who could ride the water slides that empty into the river, but on the last day I asked nicely and they said Lucy could ride the blue tube.  It also looks easier when you're not trying to balance a non-sitter and make sure a non-swimmer doesn't fall in the drink.

 Me and baby J.  A friend recommended this protective sun suit which was fantastic.  Plop a hat on this kid and he was good to go in the blazing sun all summer long.  He's such an agreeable baby, willing to be propped in a tube or just hauled around.  A great pool participant.

And our whole family.