Labor Day - back from beach and off to pool...and off the Diving Board!

We enjoyed one last day at the pool on Labor Day. This year Derek and I opted to join the nearby Country Club pool for the summer with the lake being so low and muddy. It was a great opportunity for us to really get the kids swimming. Both of them were officially without ear tubes and could be completely under water without the use of plugs - which they both HATE. So, we joined and got the boys swimming this year. It all kind of started with a visit to Marma's house this spring. She had bought both boys their own inflatable rings. It seemed that was much less "life-vest" like and more a floaty. So off they went. Once they had their rings on - they felt they could go anywhere - do anything in the pool. It was good and bad - we are definitely more aware of their actions, but also super proud that they can get in and swim around. So fast forward to Labor Day...and both boys were ready to jump in. After we enjoyed the cookout - poolside - we decided to get in the water for a while and see if the boys were ready to try "diving and jumping in the water" again.

The obsession for jumping came after a pool visit with Grandma and Grandpa Tom - where they kept jumping into the pool in the shallow end to "swim to" Tom. And so the jump-fest began. But to jump from the big diving board at the club...a huge feat. Hatcher had seen Madison do it several times - The Rileys were members at the club last year too - so Maddie had a bit more time to prepare. But - Labor Day was the day...he did it, and did it and did it until Derek was super tired from treading water. Aidan "walked the plank" several times - but always turned around. Although he would jump from the side of the pool just fine. Congrats Hatcher - we are super proud of our brave diver, swimmer and big boy!