Summer Fun #4 ~ Evan learns to swim!

First, we want to thank everyone who has been so encouraging to us during the recent sad events. While I will continue to share Mattie's story, including her memorial service, I wanted to share some other fun memories we have been able to experience during this time.  Our time with our boys has been especially precious.  After Mattie's memorial service, we allowed Evan to go with his Aunt and cousins to the beach.  We joined them later the next day after my check up at the doctor. When we arrived, the kids were all enjoying time in the pool.  The pool at the beach house is smaller than the big pool in our neighborhood so Evan already appeared to be more comfortable with jumping in and swimming with a ring float.  Eddie joined them in the pool, and after a little encouragement, he got Evan to remove the ring float.  After only a few minutes, he was swimming unassisted across the pool above and below the water.  He was also jumping off the side of the pool along with his cousins.  It was amazing to watch and amazing what this boy can do when he has enough confidence to try it.

Diving off the little step into the deep end. 

Swimming underwater. 

Swimming with cousin Emma.

Evan thinks he can't "breathe" underwater without his goggles.  Haha!  He and Lanny enjoyed being twins that week wearing identical swim shirts and other shirts.  People did ask them if they were since they are so close in age. 

I think he likes swimming underwater better. 

Brody enjoyed the little baby pool which was nice since Mommy couldn't get in the pool. 

Not sure what this face was about.  It was taken milliseconds from the last picture so it shows how quickly he can go from happy to mad.  

Evan loves shooting anything so beware of being sprayed. 

Cousin Lanny is a fish. 

Brody still enjoying the baby pool.  He and Cate just enjoyed running around the pool and taking one another's toys. 

Cousin Reade enjoyed riding on Uncle Eddie's shoulders. 

Lanny gets a boogie board to protect himself from Evan's shooting rampage. 

Cousins enjoying some summer fun together. 

Cousin Cate looking stylish in the pool. 

Evan practicing his kicking in the pool. 

Brody and Cate would climb into and out of the baby pool and these other buckets filled with water. 

Our little swimmer. 

That one loves the water so we are sure he'll be a little fish soon too. 

Evan getting ready to jump in. 

Here he goes! 

Cannon ball!

Emma prepares to show the boys how to do a proper belly flop.  Haha!

And this was Brody's favorite thing to do...pestering poor Sam! 

Swimming Lessons for cousin Reade!

Uncle Eddie offered his services as swim instructor.  Reade is a lot like Evan and is more cautious than his older siblings. 

Assisting Reade to swim across the pool.  Reade has no trouble going underwater. 

Ready to dive in. 

Just a little more practice, and we know he'll be ready to let go on his own. 

Go Reade!

He did practice swimming a short distance from one step to the other.