Tag Archives: Swimming

Decorah 2017, part 3

Last morning hike

With all the kids in good morning spirits, it was good opportunity for a couple family photos

Great-grandpa Irv and the boys

The original grandchildren crew

The morning adventure was to the Decorah Fish Hatchery

There were indeed tons of fish, eager to eat the pellets tossed their way

Waterfall at nearby Siewers Spring state park

When leaning over a stream, always hold grandma’s hand

After naps, another trip to the pool

Drying off and snuggling with mom

Back at grandpa’s for dinner, the boys read Des’ dinosaur book with great-aunt Molly

The cousins discover the piano

Coloring ensues while the grownups are at the table looking at old photos

Decorah 2017, part 2

With everyone sleeping in the same hotel, mom is kind enough to take the earliest wakers out for a morning hike

It took a while to finally fall asleep the night before, so Des slept in with dad

After American Hot Breakfast at the hotel, everyone makes their way over to grandpa’s house

Des is just happy since Cal brought even more cars and ninja turtles to play with

Grandma reads an opera “adopted for children”

…which puts Eleanor to sleep, so it’s time for naps back at the hotel

After a good rest, everyone is ready for the pool!

Despite the apparent face of apprehension, Ella was all too happy go splashing

Back at grandpa’s house, the boys rediscover the pool table (a prominent fixture in aunt Kellie and dad’s childhood memories of Decorah)

Gathering around the end table for hors d’oeuvre, like the generations before

Des patiently observing as Cal plays with his new car trailer

Eleanor not sure of what to make with dad plinking on the piano and signing

Time for PJs

and some standing with grandma

Des and great-aunt Molly reading Dragon’s Fat Cat

Cousins being silly

Pool II

For a change of pace, everyone went to the pool after work. Des is certainly more confident, at least in the kid pool. Each careful entry initiated with him ironically proclaiming, “jump!”

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Of course 15 minutes before leaving, he was only interested in the vending machines (don’t think he actually saw what was in there, just a big box with buttons)

July 26th, 2016

When it’s only in the upper 80s in the evening, everyone relaxes out front around/in the pool

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Father’s Day 2016

After family brunch and a nap, it was a perfectly hot summer day for the first excursion to the neighborhood pool.

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Memorial Day 2016

It was a good morning for a hike at Fontenelle Forest and Des was all about running through the trees

“Come on son, let’s put those couch climbing skills to use”

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Making it all the way down to the river overlook still awake (unlike last time)

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A new found fascination with turtles

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After nap time, it was time to cool off poolside. This is about as far in as he ventured though (dad needs to preheat it out in the sun for a bit next time)

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“Sharing” an apple with mom

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Running over to greet grandma

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Reading Des’ new copy of The Little Engine That Could from grandma

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Special fin

Dad’s turn to take the plunge again at swim (splash) lessons

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Have to pick out just the right duck from the toy bin

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Big Day Out

Like the last few Saturdays, the day started out with swimming lessons. Doesn’t look much different, but he’s definitely more into splashing now (a fun trick he’s extended to bath time)

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Des stayed awake for most of the zoo!

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Okay, a bit of a nap there towards the middle

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Petting and feeding the stingrays was certainly the highlight of the day

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Down by the petting zoo, we caught several zookeepers taking an 8-month-old cheetah for a walk (not for petting).

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Anne, Des and Calvin running the bases at the Rosenblatt memorial.

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