Monday, June 30, 2008

Aqua Benefit AKA "Are we having fun yet?"

I have been taking water aerobics for a few months through my county parks and rec department. And on Saturday, the aqua society had a benefit for The American Cancer Society. They told me that everyone was invited. That there would be a short work out, food, and play time in the outside pool. Like my children, I can sometimes have selective hearing. Kinda like how you all read my post about our visit to the Alamo. You read "blah, blah, blah...Johnny Depp...blah, blah, blah."Did we really need to go there again? Come on...back to the benefit...

So, I heard..."blah, blah, blah...bring kids...blah, blah, blah...food...blah, blah, blah...play." I even convinced the girls to give up their monthly American Girl meeting at Borders. We'd have fun at the pool. We'd donate to the American Cancer Society. We'd all be happy. Famous last words.

So, we get there...make our donation and go down to the smaller of the two indoor pools. First step is to get partners to keep track of your laps. The girls and I decide to be a team. Half of the team is supposed to get into the pool...do a little water aerobics to warm up...and then jog back and forth across the pool for ten minutes. I tell the girls to go first. And they freeze. They stand there on the steps to the pool and look at me. That deer in the head lights look. And Madalyn says "this is not fun." Katie refuses to get in the water.

What? They don't want to participate? They don't want to give of their time? Their effort? My money? So, in my best mommy fashion, I give them my own look. The look I have perfected over these 10 years of being a mommy. I smile while all the seniors "glance" at us during their warm ups at the scene we are creating on the steps. And through my fake smile and clenched teeth, I inform the girls that they will participate...and that they will do it gladly...and that they will like it.

I went to put my camera back in my bag...and got into the water with the girls. I'd missed the warm up...and now we had to keep track of our own laps...but Katie seemed to relish the idea that it was now a competition. We started to walk across the pool...just a shade over 3 feet deep...but really too deep for Madalyn to jog across. She sort of tried to swim over. And then informed me again that it was "too hard" and "not fun." So, I carried her. And now, this she thought was great fun. And great fun to let her legs drag along...off to the left. Imagine trying to row a canoe. And someone else in the canoe is rowing in the other direction. This is not great fun.

I had a friend tell me today that jogging for one minute in water was the same thing as jogging for three miles. I don't know if it's true or not...but I like it. I ran a marathon. I kept going after I crossed the finish line. Dragging my 7 year old anchor along with me.

And Hallelujah, the ten minutes was over. The girls and I follow all the seniors over to the bigger pool for the cycling portion of our "ironman" benefit. We are all issued noodles...and we have to cycle back and forth, the length of the pool. And remember, no hands allowed. And for some strange reason, someone else decided to join us in our lane. I can't believe they didn't see the girls and just know they needed a wide berth. So the four of us and our noodles begin making our way down the length of the pool. Madalyn immediately declares it too hard and starts using her hands. Even with my cries of cheater pants encouragement, she does not relent and keeps telling me it's too hard. So, I abandon her put her in charge of keeping track of how many laps Katie and I do.

(wait...Katie got bucked by her noodle...)

The final leg was swimming. For 10 minutes. Madalyn was estatic. Finally something that she liked to do. And our senior friend abandoned our lane rather quickly after the cycling was done. So, it was just the three of us. On your mark. Get set. Go! And we were off. Until we go to the half way point. When Madalyn stopped. And informed me that this really wasn't fun. And that the deep water made her "uncomfortable." Huh?! I guess because there wasn't a dolphin there to save her, she was done. So, I appointed her to be the lap counter again while Katie and I continued our swim. And we were done.

Well, we were done...but everyone else had to start over and switch places with their partners. So, while all the seniors moved to the other pool for jogging, we stayed in the big pool to play until they all arrived for the cycling portion. And apparently swimming without rules, is great fun.

After everyone had finished their parts...we all headed to the outside pool playground for some fruit...and then playing in the water. First thing the girls had to do was to go down the slide.And somehow they managed to get some of the other ladies to join them.

And then they did it all again.

And again.I managed to drag the girls off the slides to the kids splash area so that we could channel our inner Jennifer Beals.

Just seeing if you were paying attention...

And while we are here...let's have a lesson in physics. What happens when you stand under a tipsy bucket of water?And just a few more pictures from our playing at the pool (and yes - that is Madalyn holding her sister's foot):

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37 comments:

Rhea said...

This post was hidden under your other one! Darn blogger. You can go back to edit the post and change the post options to today's date and time to move it, btw. I found that out through several mistakes.

LOVE the water picks. The girls are ADORABLE in the water. They are just too cute for words. I want to take them home for a while. hehe

What a cool place to swim. Is this the county pool you were talking about? I love it! Great water slides and buckets and such. And, doesn't look too crowded. I like it a lot!

Great post. :o)

Anonymous said...

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. Didn't seem to be too many at your pool.
Our pools are packed all the time.
We haven't even had time to go yet.

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

You are too fast! I tend to publish and then go back and fix things...like spelling...and add hyper links...and music. So, now it's all updated.

It was not crowded because the outdoor pool was just open to the people that participated in the benefit. At one point it was just the three of us and 10 life guards! Normally it is a total zoo.

And yes, this is our county pool. All the pools in our county are like this. And there are two that are just like this...but indoors...

Brian and Staci said...

What a GREAT place! Looks like they were able to enjoy themselves after all :) That is a day that they'll remember for a very long time I bet :)

Unknown said...

Ummm...I'm having a little trouble getting past Johnny Depp. Mind if I just sit here and drool over him for awhile??

The photos of the girls are really lovely. You can see how much they are enjoying themselves. So natural.

Now ... if you could just photoshop Johnny Depp into a few of the scenes..... sliding down the slide .... standing under the bucket ....

Unknown said...

I'm with Karen, you lost me at Johnny Depp - talk about a tall glass of water on a hot day! Oh, and the pix of the kids were good too. :)

Rhea said...

Oh, man, I forgot to comment on Johnny Depp. That picture was HOT, and you almost lost me with the rest of the post. BUT, your girls have such sweet smiles that I was distracted from him for a while. :o)

Rosemary Q said...

Hugh, LOL! I am sooo paying attention:-)

You have adorable girls... and that pool is so cool. I joined a Parks and Rec fitness class and it was nothing like your place at all.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and commenting. It gets kind of lonely over there:-) Please keep coming back for more. I really appreciate it.

Debbie said...

Kat Kat Kat...what a great great post. I laughed so hard at all your commentary to the girls...and you took some great pictures! So much fun! I am still giggling...

Anonymous said...

where to begin? this was a fabulous post. see how many people tune in and write back whenyou use creative photographs?
hugh jackman is my boyfriend. don't tell.
the pictures are just getting better all the time-ad now i'm really talking about the pictures that you are taking of the girls. seriously, we need to start looking for contests. the katie under the pouring water is meant to be entered. and there are many more as well--such talent!
cindysue

KimmyJ said...

You had me at, Hubba Hubba Hugh!
Looks like so much fun!

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Staci--When we finally headed home, Madalyn exclaimed "I love water aerobics!" Thank goodness I have an internal Madalyn translator that lets me know know she like the end of water aerobics...

Karen--You are welcome to hang out drooling over Johnny for as long as you like. And if I had photoshop skills like you want...I'd use 'em. But my skills are limited to owning photoshop, but not knowing how to use it.

Bobbi--love the addendum. Come on by whenever you are parched :-)

Rhea--my girlies distracted you from JD? Shocking...

Romi--HALLELUJAH! Someone finally noticed Hugh. While Johnny is okay (I have a feeling I have just spoken a blasphemy), Hugh is much more my style. I could stay there and gaze for a while...

And I love coming over to your blog. There is no telling what sort of wackiness I might find :-)

Debbie--Oh, my commentary to the girls is a running type commentary. I say so much through clenched teeth these days...

CindySue--Ummm...Hugh is all mine. OH, and I was showing Michael my comments last night. How people mentioned JD and not Hugh. He says "maybe they think it's me!" *snort*

And contests for my photos? What I really need is a class. Because I use my camera like a point and shoot. I want the osmosis type class to learn how to use it and how to use photoshop...

But thanks...I was really pleased with the pictures. And I think that one of Katie in the tunnel is great - she looks beautiful...

KimmyJ--Yippee...another stopped by Hugh. Just remember he's mine :-)

The Joye of Teaching said...

I was laughing each time your daughter tried and then announced "this is not really fun and I feel uncomfortable"! Kids are hilarious. They'll say what we are all thinking. hahaha
Great pools!

-Bridget said...

Looks like the day was redeemed at the end with the slide and water park. I loved following the story and looking at all of the great pics!

Elena said...

How fun to have that pool almost to yourselves. I have to say I am very envious of your swimming abilities. And even more envious of your dolphin encounter. How cool is that!!

Anonymous said...

Seriously - I think you set an awesome example for your girls by participating in such a great charity event, even carrying your younger one and perservering to the end! And how cool is it that you ended the day with tons of fun? I'm sure this will be a great memory for them.

Not So Seriously - These Johnny pics are killin' me. Did anyone notice that his shirt is a little torn? Because I could stitch that up, he'd just take it off for a few minutes...That's right. I could be his personal seamstress. His naughty, naughty little seamstress...

Anonymous said...

just to clarify--even though i agree wholeheartedly about Katie int he tunnel picture...what about the one of me in the tunnel at Chuck E Cheese back in '99? anyway...I mean the head shot of Katie with head tilted back as water pours over her face. i like the color, composition, subject, and spontaneity.
cindysue

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Joye--My girls have never let a thing called manners keep them from saying what they are thinking. Sometimes I think they have a slight case of tourettes.

Bridget--Yes, for the girls...it was redeemed...and the "not fun" part was quickly forgotten.

Elena--We are all good swimmers. And those slides in the pictures - well they are the entire reason that Madalyn learned to swim. When she was four she desperately wanted to go down them like her sister. But they wouldn't let you go down if you needed a life vest. So, that winter, she took lessons and learned.

And yes...that Dolphin swim was AMAZING. I am so glad that we decided to ignore how much it cost and just signed up. Unforgetable!

Lauren--You are cracking me up! Looks like JD needs quite a bit of mending...

CindySue--Do I need to get out the scanner and do a side by side tunnel post?

Thanks so much for the compliments, though. Can ya tell that Katie was the willing subject and Madalyn was off elsewhere...having fun I'm sure...

Acrimony said...

LOL @ "Just seeing if you were paying attention." HAHA! I was like "WTH?" LOL!

So, did they decide it was "fun" after all? I mean, going down the water slide 100000 times HAS to be fun!

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Tali--I am so glad that you were paying attention :-) - that picture surely gets my attention.

Yes, water aerobic has been crowned most fun ever!

Angie's Spot said...

My word, I apparently need to move to your town. Hugh Jackman never visits my pool! What a cutie! And I swear, between the pools that you & Rhea have to enjoy, I'm having serious pool envy. How many more times can I say pool before it starts to look weird? Pool. :-)

Angie's Spot said...

And BTW, I love the new buttons! I'm working on getting someone to overhaul my site. These blogger templates aren't cutting it anymore.

Merrie said...

Yeah, totally love the quick Hugh Jackman picture insertion. Very refreshing in the midst of the fabulous pool/park pictures. Can you imagine actually seeing him walk out of the ocean like that? Er, I mean, great post! :)

Merrie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Beth@Pages of Our Life said...

Ha Ha Ha!!! Loved the insert picture. That was funny! Congrats on your blog. It is so organized.

Darcy @ m3b said...

blah blah blah hot guy... blah blah another hot guy.

;)

Lula! said...

I'm going to write this as my stream of consciousness mind works:

Oh wow, hilarious...
Great pictures...
Johnny...yeah, he's got...
Great action shots...
Those girls are adorable
Kat is hilarious...
That is SOME impressive pool...
Hugh...

HOLD UP! Hugh Jackman! Oh yes, I am paying attention. He and Nicole are gonna be in Baz Luhrmann's epic masterpiece, "Australia," and I will be at the front of the line for tickets. Yes ma'am, I will.

Good stuff, Kat...good stuff.

John Deere Mom said...

Those are absolutely wonderful pictures! It looks like you had a great time. Oh, and Hugh Jackman? I was already payinig attention. I read every word...he was just icing on the cake. And I thank you for that. :)

Skeller said...

My goodness, my bloggie Friend! Where do you find the time???? 30+ fantastic pictures AND words, too. Your girls crack me up!!! As does your commentary.

Firefly Mom said...

Don't you just love it when you're in public trying to not only get you kids to not make a scene, but not make one of your very own??? Oh yeah - been there, done that ;D

And "the look" - our son has made mine famous in our homeschool group. He described it for all the moms as a look that could "burn flesh and melt stone." They *still* bring it up (amongst much snickering) at mom's meetings!

Teri said...

Oh, this post is great. Love, love, love the pix. I'm a sucker for water shots. And hunky guy shots, too. Holy Cow!

Tam said...

GREAT GREAT PICTURES! ESP of the MEN!! just joking! LOL LOL Funny post and O I have a question HOW do you work on the MOMMY LOOK...see I need pointers as I have a 2 and 4 year old and my MOMMY work has not started to work yet. Is it a process? TIPS please! Have a great 4th!

Jennifer P. said...

Whoa....everything I read and saw just went pouring out of my head when I saw Hugh without a shirt. Thanks. I needed that.

Mama Dawg said...

Sorry, did you post some pictures of a pool or something? My eyes stopped at Johnny Depp. That was very nice.

(the other pics were nice as well!).

Unknown said...

I knw you had another Johnny Depp photo in there somewhere...

Rhea said...

I'm back in your archives again. I love the girls expressions in this swimming photos and with the noodles.

Rhea said...

And thank god I ran into Johnny Depp. Man he is sexy.