Little fishies

The girls have taken to swimming like fish this summer.  During our recent trip to Disney, Vienna sprouted an as-yet-unseen love for water when she finally opened up to wearing goggles, and became no longer petrified of getting water in her eyes during pool excursions.  She instantly began enjoying it as much as Hana, which led to nightly swims during our vacation and 3-4 xs/week swims for the remainder of the summer.  Both girls also tried parentless swim lessons for the first time as well.  It was actually the second time for Ha, but when we tried two summers ago, she was not at all open to instruction in the water; now, thankfully, she adores teachers in general and swim lessons in particular.  While us parents were not in the water with the kids, we got to watch from the bleachers--and capture some great pix/videos.

Here they are, in the backyard pool, reenacting a scene from Winnie the Pooh:

Besties, ready for lessons!

Hana was in an intermediate "Eel" class at the YMCA, and some great firsts for her include: learning rudimentary freestyle ("ice cream scoop") stroke, swimming without goggles, jumping in by herself and swimming back to the edge of the pool, learning front and back floats, jumping off the dive block in the deep end, swimming the width of the pool.  Her instructor recommended one more session of intermediate, and then she thinks Ha will be ready for the advanced "Ray" group.  Hopefully we will find some comparable year round lessons in Enid!!

Before and after the jump!

Hana, in action!  (and seriously hamming it up for the camera!)

Vienna was in the beginner "Pike" class (and was the youngest in the program!).  Some firsts for her include: jumping in and swimming to the wall, using a "noodle" float effectively, jumping off a dive block in the deep end, swimming about 15' without a float belt, and floating on her back.  V's instructor thinks she is ready for intermediate sessions with Hana already!  Two nights ago, she did her first back flip (underwater) in my folks' apartment pool, which was shocking.  Definitely following in big sister's footsteps in terms of love for swimming.

Waiting her turn:

Jumping in!

Heading to the deep end!

Pike class noodle train!

It is so great to see them love swimming and learning so much!  :o)  Ha has tried a number of different sports lessons (soccer, gymnastics, dance), and while she is really into dance as well, loves nothing as she loves the pool.  V loves swimming as well, asking about a dip as soon as she wakes up every morning.  :o)  It is so fun watching their little personalities and passions unfold.