For Mimi...

For my mom (Mimi to her grandsons) who really wanted to be here for one of Jack's swim meets.

Our new neighborhood has a swim team and we signed Jack up this year.  They have a 6 & under division - it is too cute.  It was awesome to see the progress Jack made with his strokes this summer - he can swim backstroke, freestyle, dive off the side and the diving blocks (ok, he still belly flops a lot of the time but he's got the concept) and he just started learning breast stroke.  People take their swim team pretty serious around here and it can be a big committment.  We took things really slow around here - we went to most of the practices but Jack only participated in one swim meet.  They are super looooonnngg (think several hours in the scorching heat with kids EVERYWHERE) and every week.  That was just way too much for our family, especially with Jack still being 5. 

This is the video from his meet - he swam backstroke and freestyle.  Thats his coach in the pool with him (they do that for the 6 & unders who need a little extra help not running into the side of the pool!!).  At the end of each lane for his age group they have "kid catchers", which are just older swim team members who basically "catch the kids".  He doesnt swim the whole length of the pool in his age group so they get them over the rope and to the edge of the pool.

What I love most about these videos is all of our neighbors who are cheering Jack on. He was not too happy about swimming with all the random people around. His coaches were awesome about getting him in the water and he had a whole cheering section. It was awesome!!!

Backstroke - big kid!!!

Jacob's version of the backstroke - crazy kid!! His legs go straight up in the air and wave all around and he gets this huge, crazy smile on his face. This kid LOVES to swim, though. He never wants to get out of the water and loses it every time we leave the pool.





Getting ready to dive in for freestyle - look at him go!!! His kid catcher thought she really needed to catch him - he popped his head up and gave her a look that said "leave me alone!!" 



We are so proud of you, Jack!!!