On the first day of 3rd Grade...

Drake started 3rd Grade today at Bernice Young Elementary. His teacher this year is Mrs. Laura Smith. Drake was so excited to get her as his teacher. She is Faye Crowell's pastor's wife. Drake got to know her at Vacation Bible School over the summer and he really hoped he would get her as his teacher.

Today I took him to school and planned on walking him into his classroom and taking the "first day of school" picture that I take every year. Well, this year he has suddenly gotton to big and "too cool" for me to walk him in. Wow, that happened fast. He insisted that I drop him off at the door. I told him that I would, but that I wanted to take a photo of him before he walked in. He was MORTIFIED that I would make him do such a thing. So, I was able to sit in the car, roll the window down and take a photo (so noone could see) of him as he walked into school. He is 9 years old and too cool to have his mom walk him in....next year he will probably want me to drop him off one street over!!

Swimming Lessons

The kids took swimming lessons again this year at The Swim Ranch. They all seem to really enjoy it, although at first Sophie wasn't too sure she wanted to be there. Sophie was in the Water Babies class which means that I have to get in too...UGH! She learned to doggie paddle, float on her back and how to climb out of the pool if she were to fall in. She really liked learning to use the kick board and getting to jump off the side of the pool. She did really well, when she wanted too :)
Sophie is doing the doggie paddle to Mrs. Virginia, her teacher.
Sophie learning to float on her back, with "no wiggles" as Mrs. Virginia would say.
"Daddy, are you watching?"


Cooper was in lane 1 which is the first lane you go into after the Water Babies class which he was in the last 2 years. He did GREAT in his class and really loved it. He earned more "flags" than the other 3 kids in his lane. Once they complete a skill, they get a "flag" on a board. The goal is too complete all the flags and move to the next lane the following year. Cooper will still be in lane 1 next year, but he really learned a lot this year and even got to jump off of the diving board. He was so proud!

There were 4 kids in lane 1 and 2 teachers for this lane...Ms. Heather and Ms. Mary. The little blond girl belongs to a friend of ours. Her name is Audrey Walker. Cooper is ready to get in and start the swimming!
Ms. Mary helps Cooper with floating on his back.
Ms. Heather helps Cooper with the kick board.
Life is GOOD!
Jumping off the diving board was a BIG deal to Cooper. He felt so like such a big boy.

Drake was in lane 4 this year which is the "senior" lane and the last lane at The Swim Ranch. In this lane all the kids are very good swimmers but are learning how to do all the different strokes. Once Drake masters all the strokes and earns a "flag" on the board for each stroke, he will earn his "fish". The "fish" is a wooden fish that signifies that the child has completed all the swimming skills and "graduates" from The Swim Ranch. They ring a bell and everyone watches as the child receives his "fish". It is a big deal and something the kids work hard to achieve. This year was Drake's first year in the "senior" lane and he received 5 of 13 flags. He really hopes that next year he can earn his fish...my bet is it will take 2 more years, but we will see! He is a very good swimmer.

Drake getting "instructions" with the other swimmers in his lane.

Working on the back stroke.
Learning the "elementary back stroke".
Drake also enjoyed jumping off of the diving board.

On the last day of class the kids get a Certificate showing what skills they learned.


This is the board that the "flags" are marked for each students skills Cooper's name is in the red group. Drake's name is the black group.