pool time = quality time

Confession time- last summer I didn't get in the pool much but instead enjoyed pool time from the sidelines. Thanks to my new found freedom of not having to be in the water within arms reach of a child who wasn't a confident swimmer and the fact that we have a nice mister system to cool me on the sidelines, I spent more time out of the water than in. Despite the constant "Mom, swim with us!" I said "no" a lot more than I said "yes." Are my kids scarred for life because of this? Absolutely not. I don't think they are deprived in the quality time department, I get plenty of time with them on a daily basis but swimming is not one of my top 10 things to do, in fact it's not really on my list of "fun" things to do at all. I guess the fact that I have to get ready all over again after swimming is why. It takes enough time to get ready once a day so why would I want to do it twice? My list could go on but I have made a conscious effort this summer to get in the pool with my kids even if it means I get ready all over again for the second time. I won't be a bum on the sidelines but actually get in on the action. Why this change of heart? I guess it's simply because of the fact that our kids won't always want to play with me in the pool, and as you'll notice my oldest one wasn't even in these pictures because he didn't want to swim (insert sad face here). Time seems to be moving at warp speed lately and I doubt when they are teenagers (or if your name is Jadon and you are 12 going on 16) they will want piggy back rides, to have underwater tea parties, to play made up games, and take turns playing follow the leader around the pool. So why not hang out with them in the water while they are still young enough to enjoy the pool with their mom. And after looking at these pictures that my dear husband took while not complaining once how darn hot it was to be fully clothed on the side of the pool taking orders (I mean directions) from his dear wife to get good pictures, it was all worth it. Please ignore the dark lines under my eyes from my mascara, and my messy wet hair that I had just gotten cut and styled and looking so cute not even two hours before we swam (that's sacrifice people). These pictures were not taken to make a fashion statement, thank goodness!