Pool

Yet another 90 degree day and the pool is where we all wanted to be. The pool was actually 76 degrees which is the warmest I think it has been in the 6 years that we have lived here. Craig and I immediately jumped in. Whoever put up our pool did a very poor job and with how little we normally get to use it, we have yet to fix it. It is an above ground pool and the deck that is build off of it is about 6 inches above the actual pool, the deck is above the filter area so we can’t put stairs into the pool so we have separate stairs that go over the side of the pool. I will have to take a picture because I don’t know if my description really does it justice. Anyway, normally Gillian sits on the deck because she thinks the water is too cold and watches us swim. So I came up with the idea of her sitting on the stairs that go in the pool so she could touch the water. She thought this was great. She was splashing her feet in the water and actually interacting with us instead of just watching. So I convinced her to start trying to go down the stairs a bit and that the water wasn’t as cold as it normally is. I helped her learn how to turn herself around and go down the steps which she was brave and made it all the way down the 3rd step which went up to her chest. Craig and I saw this as a complete success. But the best was yet to come. So Gillian started playing with our alligator thermometer and felt that it made the perfect magic wand. So after much time spent splashing the alligator in the water, it was magically. When she screamed magic Craig turned into a rock and sank to the bottom of the pool. After numerous times doing this she was really starting to get into it and was waving her arms all over screaming magic. So Craig was under water and I was watching Gillian just amazed at how excited she was and she is waving her arms and waves right off the ladder and to the bottom of the pool she goes. I immediately grab her and bring her out and start laughing. I knew there was no way she was hurt and I knew if I laughed she would calm faster and she did…she started laughing. Poor Craig missed the entire thing and I kicked him so he knew he wasn’t a rock anymore. It is the best thing that could have happened…She now wants to go in the pool; she think s the pool is great. I have some pictures of Gillian finally enjoying the pool…

Enjoying June

Today I had a great day!

My parents had asked me to go to walk with them for the 1st Annual Scleroderma walk/run in memory of Randy Duprey. I don't know Katie or Randy personally. I went to high school with Katie but don't really know her. I recently started reading her blog http://thedupreyfamily.blogspot.com/ and I can't even begin to imagine the pain she is going through. This was definitely a good event for a good cause. It was a beautiful day for it and they had a really good turn out for it. So after walking 3 miles in the heat going home to check on our swimming pool sounded like a good idea.

After mentioning the pool and possibly taking a dip I knew Gillian would not be satisfied unless we got in the pool. So we got our suits on and went out to the pool. The thermometer was not in the pool so I stuck it in for 5 minutes...it showed 68 degrees so I thought,"Not so bad." Gillian and I put our towels on the pool deck and I put my feet in and thought"Okay, maybe this will be good enough." Gillian proceeded to repeatedly asked me,"Mommy when are you getting in?" I know there is no way that Gillian is going to get in this water. I keep wondering when 68 degrees got so cold. So I decided to teach my daughter about pinkie swearing which she thought was funny. Yes, I made my 3 year old pinkie swear that she would go in the pool. So I get in the pool and it is freezing but I try not to show it. Gillian immediately hops up and asks to get in. So I go over to the deck and bring her in...it doesn't even get to her belly button and she wants to get out. I guess half way in counts for the pinkie swear. So 10 minutes later I get out of the pool and I check the temperature again and the water is only 64 degrees. The insane things I do for my daughter. Although the "I love yous" that I heard repeatedly through the experience really made it worth my while...

So close to summer...

It is not quite warm enough to go in the pool just yet in Northern New York. That does not stop Gillian from checking on the progress of opening the pool daily. Normally she is out supervising her Dad working on the pool but Craig had to work today. So I told her after dinner we were going out to turn it on and clean out any bugs that had collected. It was obvious by her immediate smile that this was great news. So we get outside and she starts telling me what I need to do. Plug it in here, empty the bugs (from the thing attached to the pump) and of course she had to show me how to stand properly so I could skim the top of the water. I was stunned by my 3 year olds managing skills, she didn’t think twice about it. And she was polite saying please and thank you. She obviously realized my knowledge of the pool was limited which she is correct. I did teach her (although I knew I probably shouldn’t) that with my assistance she could lean over and feel the water so she now realizes that it is still quite cold. She also discovered that it is fascinating to lay on the deck and watch the water being circulated. I know in 10 years I will miss days like these.