Pool Days on Repeat

Our pool season got off to a late start this year because Amarillo was unseasonably cool for several days at the end of May/beginning of June. In fact, we had days that didn't reach 70° (so weird for Texas) so the pool didn't even open on Memorial Day when it was supposed to. Once it did warm up though, we made sure to visit often. You can't beat swimming as an activity for kids - it both makes them happy and tired at the same time. Win! 

The water was a little chilly on our first visit, but the kids were too excited to care

Davey never got up the courage to try the slow, safe waterslide last year and this year he almost balked again, but decided to go and then loved it

My happy Charlie all snug in his new yellow beach towel

Griffin is always a bit of challenge wherever we go. The pool was no exception because he is now very mobile, but also completely unware of danger and too small still to fit in a puddle jumper. I had to watch him like a hawk at all times. Once he climbed up on a lawn chair and his legs fell through. He was stuck and just kept shuffling from side to side. It was actually nice to have him contained and safe while I packed up all our swim stuff. This chair is hired as my new pool babysitter!

Swim rings would also keep him contained for a short while. For how good he is at climbing, these were tricky for him to escape because he couldn't step over, but they would flip up and make him feel nervous if he tried to crawl out.

Sometimes the fun and the sun wear you out

These girls are the best of friends and are always up to something silly

Enjoying the fountains

It did not take Griffin long to figure out that the drinks with straws were desirable and that he wanted one of his own

This snorkel was too big for Charlie, but he had fun playing with it anyway

We always go through so many snacks during swim season. It makes this kids crazy hungry!

These truly are the best days. Long live summer!!

The Pool is OPEN for the summer!

No public pools in Amarillo are opening this summer due to COVID, but the pool at our gym opened at the end of May! I was worried for a long time that they would also close, which would have made me cry because you really can't survive a Texas summer without a pool. At first they opened at just 25% capacity, which was actually really nice as long as you got in. Now they are operating at 50%, which feels busy, but still not as crowded as a typical summer. We have been swimming 4-5 days a week because it's one of the only things to do right now, and the kids love it!! 

On June 1st we were one of the first in line to swim!

Griffin also had a huge blowout on our first day and spent the rest of the afternoon naked. Now I have a backup onesie in our pool bag :)

We got this fun dragon float at Sam's once I heard the pool was opening.  

Griffin showing off his old man body

We talked our best friends into joining the gym so they could swim with us! Now we meet up with them 3 or 4 days a week. Sophie and Emery could swim together for hours. 

Griffin all bundled up after his first time in the pool! Some days it's just too hot to sit on side with him, even if we are in the shade, so I dug our our baby float and brought him in with me. At first he cried, but once he got used to the water he really liked it and eventually fell asleep!

Some tired boys - another wonderful side effect of swimming

It's Pool Season!

One of the deciding factors in signing up for a gym membership a month ago was that it would give us a place to go swimming during the summer! Amarillo was already heating up towards the end of May, and while we have access to the WT pool at Dave's work, I wanted something closer where I could take the kids to beat the heat on a daily basis. Almost everyone I know in the ward and stake also has a membership, so we had to join up if we were going to be social at all this summer since this is where they hang out every day. 

The Amarillo Town Club has two locations near our home, and both have pools with a large shallow area that is perfect for little kids. There is also a good amount of shade so I have somewhere to sit with Charlie, and put him down for a nap. Sophie has also tried the little water slides and Davey loves the splash pad area. The pool has been open for a little over a week now and we have already been 6 times. These kids love the water!!

Unfortunately there have been a few "code browns" already, which cause them to clear the pool while they clean and retreat the water, but hopefully things smooth out as the summer progresses. Besides being gross, it really kills the kids to have to wait on the side for 20-30 minutes for the pool to reopen.