Little Fish

The past several Saturdays, Jason and I have climbed into the van with the kids, a bag of swim towels and clothes, and mugs of hot coffee to enjoy an hour at the pool. I like the ritual of starting out the weekend with a family activity - and I especially enjoy that the kids are old enough that we can keep out of the pool ourselves, sitting side by side chatting while we watch them soar.

 Natalie

 Gavin

We've had both kids in swimming lessons since they were babies, and in lakes testing out the water even sooner. Jason's a great swimmer and I'm a horrible one. I was always too panicky in the water, stressing out about drowning, I guess. Today, I can still only float along on my back or dog-paddle where I need to be. I want the kids to do better. (Nothing like living through your children, right?) But honestly, I think it's an important life skill and I don't want them to miss out.

 Natalie at the Barnesville lake at 6 months old

 Gavin swimming in Oar, Minn., at 6 months old

Two little beach babes, ages 7 months and 2 years

Thankfully, they seem to have been born with gills. Gavin was only two when he first started swimming with his head in the water. And Natalie has flung herself off the edge of pools and into our arms as soon as she could stand on her own.

They approach their lessons with the same gusto, although they could spend less time wiggling around under water and more time listening to their teachers.

So as another session of swimming came to an end, we congratulated them on a job well done, saying how proud we were of them trying new things and working hard.

And we signed them up for another session.