Getting Wet at the Arboretum

Earlier this week, on a perfectly sunny, warm, and breezy day, Dexter and Ben made use of our newly acquired family passes to the arboretum. Dexter got to enjoy a variety of ways of getting wet...

A fountain where a marble ball is elevated by water making it possible to turn the ball around and around.

 Crossing a stream on stepping stones.

 Building a dam with rocks in a stream.

 Working a red water pump.

And working another red water pump.

First Swimming Lesson: Moving Through the Water

Towards the end of the lesson, the instructor took each child around on a floating barbell and wrapped in a noodle. Dexy worked on kicking behind him but wasn't quite ready to work on arm movements.

At the end of the lesson, he eagerly waited his turn to jump off the side of the pool into the instructor's arms. Despite a very disengaged instructor, Dexter did a wonderful job in his first swimming lesson - thanks Grandmama and Grampy for subsidizing this activity!

First Swimming Lesson: Moving In the Water

Dexter was an enthusiastic participant in his first swimming lesson. He got right in and followed all of the instructor's directions:

 Blowing bubbles.

 Putting his ear in the water.

Kicking (it took him a while to get the feel of kicking his legs behind him - he kept kicking each leg to the side).

 Moving each arm.

He was so happy until the bigger kid next to him started splashing water into his face and he began begging and pleading and crying to get out of the water. We managed to help him calm down without getting him out of the pool.

Getting to His First Swimming Lesson

We should have realized that asking Dexter to walk one block to the Y in his flip flops would be a problem.  Next time, he's wearing crocs!

On the other hand, we thought the required "shower before entering the pool" would be a problem but Dexy enjoyed it and came out of the locker room ready to get into the pool!

Sticking Close to Elissa

When it was announced that the first 8 rows at the Dolphin Show needed to be prepared to get splashed, Ian headed up a few rows on his own to get a "splash-likely" spot. Dexter didn't even think about moving away from Elissa.

Giving claps to the dolphins when they do tricks.

Cup and Cone

Dexy and Ian have some sort of ying yang thing going on. You can even see it in their choice of ice cream treat.

Ian preferred a vanilla/chocolate swirl in a cup while Dex preferred straight chocolate in a cone. What a couple of cuties!

Dinosaur Exhibit

Dexy, Ian, and family enjoyed exploring the special dinosaur exhibit. Say "Dinosaur"!

 The boys got to "dig up fossils" together.

Dexter will take ANY opportunity to hold Elissa's hand.  He LOVES holding her hand (he loves her!).