Interlochen (part 2: Swimming!)

With all the excitement and outdoor play, we knew it would be difficult to get Maia down for a nap, regardless of how tired she might be. So we thought maybe we'd take her out on the boat, since the droning of the engine has been known to put a kid or two to sleep (like last year). However, with all the exciting people on board, along with the prospect of going swimming (!!!!) she was amped up for the whole thing!  

So here we are on Papa's boat...

Adrian

Getting a different view with Aunt Kathleen

Adrian and Emily letting the wake splash against their hands... Emily also announced: "Wow! It's WARM!"

And warm it was. See that little device in the lower corner of the pic? The first number: 25.3 is the depth where we anchored for swimming. The second number: 82.8... that's the water temperature. We estimated that was probably the warmest water temp the boat had ever been in. That's a swimming pool temp, not a glacial lake temp!

And Lydia's cute french braids... Emily did those.

Since I couldn't swim yet (too post-partum/post-surgery)... Aunt Kathleen took the first honors. Maia watched as Papa dove into the water off the back of the boat first, then Aunt Kathleen hopped off the swim platform and we got Maia to sit down on the platform next. She was pretty fearless, and I thought maybe she'd be concerned about me not being in the water with her. I think she asked for me once, but she was soooo much more excited about the swimming.

Maia hasn't been swimming since our classes ended at the YMCA... last fall/winter. Since the weather got warm, I think she asks "Maia go swimming?" at least 5-10 times a week. How she remembers all this stuff, I have no idea!

She did great swimming with Aunt Kathleen, and moved on to a brief swim with Emily too.

Then Papa took over. Lydia took her time getting in, but eventually, it was everyone in the water and me on the boat taking pics.

Since we usually prefer to swim in the deeper areas and avoid some of the swimmers itch that lurks near the shore, swimming can be some decent exercise. Particularly when you play catch while treading water (although easier done with a life jacket on).

After a while, it looked to me like Maia's eyes were at half-mast, and I asked if she wanted to come in and cuddle with Mommy. Nope. Keep Swimming!

We even got her to the swim platform and still she balked at getting out of the water. She didn't even want to get out when everyone else was getting out, too!

But eventually she complied and greatly enjoyed the boat ride back to camp as well.