Rec basketball, chess club, and scouts help to fill the Fox’s time outside of school. He’s also starting his THIRD year at Goldfish Swim School. He’s been on the #SwimForce team for a year, and he gets faster and better every week.

The hardest part about swimming in the winter is leaving the house when it’s already dark, but once he’s in the water, he’s all in. He always sleeps better on basketball and swimming nights. Added bonuses include him being able to get his swim bag ready now on his own, and (knock on wood) has never forgotten his towel. He’s also learning the benefit of practicing something consistently, and seeing how improvement happens over time.

As a bonus for me or Leilan (we sometimes flip a coin to see who gets to go), going to Goldfish is like going on a mini-vac. I don’t know how they keep it so warm and dry, but it’s dreamy and a total treat on a dark and stormy night. Keep swimming, kid, keep swimming.

Our friends at Goldfish have the same idea – why not give the gift of experience, but also throw in some fun water themed items as well?

This year’s Goldfish Swim School holiday packages are fun to open and filled with goodies like two months of group swim lessons, 4 family swim passes, Goldfish goggles, Bubbles bath toy, Goldfish tote and the new and FIRST-EVER Goldfish story book, “The Fish Who Wouldn’t Swim.” The packages start at $168 for current members ($243 value) and $193 for new members ($268 value), and they can be purchased at Goldfish Swim School Fishers or Goldfish Swim School Carmel — while supplies last and they sell out fast! 

This year I’ve partnered with Goldfish Swim School to giveaway a gift package that’s sure to thrill your little fish or the child who wishes to become a fish!  To win the package of what’s listed above, just enter the giveaway below.

Note: This package is good the local Goldfish Swim Schools in Fishers and Carmel Indiana ONLY; winner may pick up at either location. 

Thanks for reading and keep on swimming!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Thanks to Goldfish Swim School for sponsoring this post

At school his class is finishing up their orientation to their Chrome books, and he’s walked me through a few things he can do with it. “Do you ever get off task and play games on your computer?” He looked at me like I had six heads. “Mom, this laptop is for learning, it’s not for gaming.” Oh. Alrighty then. At parent teach conferences he share his goal of being on the honor roll all year, and I can see no reason as to why that won’t happen.

Last week was IM week at Goldfish Swim School, and they swam the strokes in the order of the event. On the way home he dissected each one, and which stroke he likes the most, and which one he likes the least. After nearly two years at Goldfish, he’s approaching the “sport for life” phase of the program. He’s now a proficient enough swimmer that he’ll be able to swim laps for enjoyment and exercise for as long as he likes.

I can’t even imagine what life will be like when he’s in SIXTH grade (we’re not talking about the fact that M will be in NINTH by then).

Disclosure: Thanks to Goldfish Swim School for partnering with us  to build my school-age swimmers’ confidence in exchange for my honest review of their programs!

First day of school – eighth grade and fifth grade.. MaM’s thirteenth birthday and her first rated PG-13 movie at the theater.  It was the first time I attended the Family of Farmers  State Fair day by myself. Trip one to Chicago to celebrate my sil’s fortieth birthday with our first taste of Korean BBQ and first time at family karaoke. Celebrating my grandma’s ONE-HUNDRED-FIFTH birthday, which was special and incredible and a day we’ll always remember. Our second trip north on for the month was our first visit to family in Wisconsin.

The Fox completed his twentieth month of consecutive swim lessons  at Goldfish Swim School, and held his own when kids challenged him to swim at the Y.  It was our third month of enjoying the neighborhood pool.

It was the first time for me to present at a digital marketing conference. I really enjoyed the experience, even though it was kind of all consuming the week of the conference.

And that was August. You understand if I don’t surface again til October, right?

July 4th was spent swimming and watching fireworks with friends, and many summer nights were spend walking the dog. I snuck away for a weekend with my oldest friends (I met them in 1987. I’m not kidding when I say oldest), MaM got some one on one time with grandparents, and the Fox and Leilan went on their first backpacking campout together.

Friday was the event the Fox has been waiting for – his second Swim Force swim meet. He signed up for two events, and despite having swum 2x that day at day camp (this was swimming week!), he gave it his all and was rewarded with two blue ribbons. And, more importantly to him, PIZZA. It was  fun night to cheer all the kids on and see how much they’ve all progressed. Swim Force continues to be a great way for him to keep developing his technique and build endurance. If your kids have passed out of lessons this summer, consider having them join Swim Force. It’s a great way to insure they’ll retain everything they’ve worked on!

I’m glad we kind of chilled out in July, because August is almost already completely booked. School starts August 2nd. August 3rd MaM will officially be a teenager. August 10th we’ll celebrate Catherine with a “C” turning 105. There’s also the State Fair, the Indy Fringe Festival and other family fun scheduled. And our pool doesn’t close til Labor Day

Disclosure: Thanks to Goldfish Swim School for partnering with us  to build my school-age swimmers’ confidence in exchange for my honest review of their programs! 

There was road tripping, hotel living, swimming, sightseeing, family visits, friends visits, toes in the ocean and more. There’s also been a couple of weeks of summer camp, and some glorious “at home” days where no one goes anywhere.

The Fox turned TEN, which is surreal. He’s made his first major spending decision and purchased an XBox with his own money, He’s completed his first stint at Webelos overnight (!!!) camp, and well, I expect him to start shaving soon. 

Between the both kids, they’ve taken approximately 87 swim tests to swim at assorted pools and I’ve cut off just as many wristbands. As much as they roll their eyes to take yet ANOTHER swim test, I’m so glad that pools do this. No one wants to think about accidents and water rescues, but they happen every year.  Last year in Indiana alone, there were 114 drownings, 29 of which where children. Goldfish Swim School (our go-to place for swim lessons that include water safety) has joined the Indiana Drowning Prevention Coalition .

This coalition exists simply to prevent the unthinkable from happening, and teaching water safety is a huge component of that.

Yes, kids, you’re going to take another swim test before the lifeguards let you in the deep end. Again.

Yes, kids, you’re going to take a swim break as dictated by pool policy to give yourselves a break and for the staff to clear the pool.

No, kids, you can’t swim in the hotel pool unless Dad or I are in the room watching you. Yes, you’ll have to get out if we, even if only to go to the front desk for something.

No, kids, we’re not getting in the water if there’s a double red flag. Or if it’s thundering. Or if there’s anything that makes it unsafe.

Summer is more fun anyway when everyone’s being safe. Here’s to July being just as much fun and waterlogged as June!

(Haven’t signed up for swim lessons yet? It’s not too late to register for a July Jump-Start clinic – 5 lessons in 5 days and you’re done!)

WIth spring bypassing the midwest, we are on about the third week of summer weather. The grass is parched, the pools are the perfect temp and the A/C is on. We headed to our community pool on Saturday, and the guys got their first sunburn of the season. The weather was hot, the pool was inviting and the sunscreen may have rolled under a lounge chair or two, I don’t really know.

What I do know is that I was next to a group of moms and kids who were also taking their first dip of the season in the outdoor pool. As one of the girls jumped in and floundered a bit,I overheard her mom say, “She really does need another round of swim lessons this summer. She knew all the strokes last year, but she’s forgotten.”

I refrained myself from reciting the benefits of swimming year round. I didn’t lean over and give her the number to the metro area’s Goldfish Swim School, but I wanted to.  Jump Start Clinics start next week and kids get five lessons in a row for maximum mastery.  Seriously – don’t drag lessons out for weeks and weeks this summer. Get into a Jump Start clinic and get on with your summer!

Disclosure: Thanks to Goldfish Swim School for partnering with us  to build my school-age swimmers’ confidence in exchange for my honest review of their programs! 

I cannot believe we are down into the single digits when talking about weeks of school. It’s weird to have kids old enough where midterm grades matter, but we do, and the grades do, and they’ve already been sent home. Standardized testing is wrapping up, and someone who shall remain nameless HAS PICKED HER CLASSES FOR EIGTH GRADE. Since she just graduated kindergarten last month I’m not sure how it’s possible, but when she looks down at me and shakes her head, I know it’s true.

Since winter break, I’ve been penciling in our summer. There’s a coding camp for the girl, a Webelo Adventure Camp for the boy, and Art camp for both of them. They might even check out some of the programming at the local game store. The boy’s also going to the local traditional day camp he loved last year. This year, he had to pick between swimming and soccer as his focus for one week. He looked at me like I was new and said, “Swimming, mom, it’s what I do. I want a week of basketball and a week of swimming.” From his mouth to the camp director’s ears. After all, swimming is what he does. I love how he stated that. He’s right – he’s been swimming weekly at Goldfish Swim School for nearly 18 months. Last Friday he took part in his first SwimForce swim meet, and when it was over he asked, “Can I do this again?”  Swimming is absolutely what he does.

Does your camper need to get summer ready? Sign up for a Jump Start Clinic and get a month’s worth of swim lessons done in one week!

The Pathfinder program is designed for groups of 4-8th graders – we had 3 4th grade boys, and 6 6-7th grade girls. It was a PACKED schedule, our only downtime was during meals. The 4th graders slept HARD each night, and it was a little much for them, but for 6-8th graders, I can’t think of a better hands on STEM program.

Our group did a simulated space mission, where each crew member was assigned a job and read the script for that position. I got to conduct an experiment on the International Space Station, which my husband commanded. My son was in Mission Control, and my daughter got to do a space walk.

We experienced simulators, built rockets and learned the history of the US space program. We also learned about what it’s going to take to get to MARS, and how the US is planning on getting there in the next 10-15years.

The Pathfinder program stretched our minds to think outside of our midwestern lives, and to think actually out beyond the stars. My kids haven’t stopped talking about it – about how the Mars teams are working on being earth independent and how long that journey will be.

The Fox is already talking about going for a longer program in a few years, and if we can get him there, we absolutely will.

Huntsville is an easy day’s drive from Indianapolis, and it makes a great long weekend destination. The US Space  & Rocket center is worth a visit, even without attending a Space Camp program. It’s currently a member of the ASTC travel passport program, which means members of the Indiana State Museum receive free admission, which makes it even better!

Who knows, maybe one of the kiddos we attended with will get to Mars one day!!