Swim Soups and Crazy Lizards

The best decision we made this summer was to buy pool passes.  I originally thought I wouldn't be able to take care of all four kids by myself, but Leah and Adam have turned into fish since last year, and Emma and Noah are confident but not crazy, so I manage just fine with all of them.  We try to go both of the pools in Ankeny each week- they are both so fun!  

The smaller pool is perfect to enjoy in the late afternoons by myself with the kids, and the bigger pool is perfect for after-dinner family fun.  Whenever Noah hears the words "swim suit" he repeats it over and over until we're at the pool.  

Swim soup! Swim soup! Swim soup!  

 The bigger pool has more to do- a flow rider that simulates surfing, diving boards, several slides, a bigger kids area and a lazy river (or, as Emma calls it, the crazy lizard!).  

This pool requires passing a length-of-the-pool swim test to go down the slides, and last week Adam decided he was ready to pass the test.  And he did!  Jason watched him and said he was as proud as he's ever been for Adam's determination and success.  Adam was quite proud of himself, as well. 

The pool leaves us plenty cooled off, happy, and worn out.  And because we have passes, it doesn't matter if we're there for hours or minutes.  We just go as often as we can.  

Because the very best part about the pool is that it demands attention.  There are no computers, TVs, or phones, no housework or books or Legos or neighbors knocking.  When we're at the pool, we're just together, laughing and snuggling and swimming and being together in the summer.  I get to hold my babies close when we're in the deep end and zip down the slide together (Emma giggles "Don't forget to lift me up Mama!" the whole way down every time) and I listen to them chatter and experience new things (Adam is tall enough to go down the slides by himself this year and just today Leah got the green light to do the lilly pads) and I get to be totally present.  Sometimes we meet friends there, sometimes we are alone, but no matter how we do it, we're together.  And that makes the pool my favorite part of summer.