Swim training: week 1 complete

For 10 years, I've wanted to become an infant swim instructor. Both my children went through an infant swim program and watching them gain the skills to save themselves in the water was amazing. But the certification fee was always just out of my reach for years but I never lost sight that it was the only thing I wanted to do. I just had to figure out how to get the fee together to do it. Lucky me, my divorce got me the fee to start a new life.
Monday felt a bit surreal. Here I was about to start training to do something I've wanted to do for 10 years. A little daunting, very exciting, a little shake of the head that I was finally here. And, as I said to my instructor this week, had I stayed married, I still would be floating around the house and wishing I could train. It would have stayed that way, and stayed that way, and stayed that way.
As I said: new life.
The downside is I had to move from the kids to do this, but my 10-year-old very smart daughter, during our discussion about why I needed to move, said,"I want you to save lives."
Sure, you can sit at a desk every day and contribute to the economy. I'm saving lives - she said it. It's why I wanted to do this.
I'm to be in the pool for six weeks with 100 hours of in-water instruction with a variety of ages from six months to four years. Just this week, I've done over 26 hours but that's neither here nor there. It's six weeks, regardless.
All of last week, was spent time reading and making notes from the books my instructor gave me on child development. Found out that I've forgotten how to study. Drat.
Every day I've been in the water for at least 6 1/2 hours. Learning the techniques is a lot to take in. The pool isn't as warm as I'd like it. It's going to wreak havoc on my skin (my friend Phyllis told me to bathe in olive oil).
I told my grandmother on my first day I let a kid sink. Thirty kids a day, four days a week - I let one kid sink three of four days (each time a different kid). A bit overwhelming. Wednesday night I felt exhausted.
My instructor, Nadyne, asked me at the end of my first day if I really wanted to do this. She said she was going to ask me about 100 more times.
Today she asked if I was happy I was doing this.
Oh yes, absolutely. I'm finally where I'm supposed to be.

Unitsi Day weekend

The kids and I went to the Kentucky Horse Park over Mother's Day weekend.

I had put off going because I figured it was nothing more than like hanging out in my backyard, but everyone said to go so we did.
Wish I'd just saved my money. It was like hanging out in my backyard.

But the kids seemed to enjoy it, as much as they could, given they had found out their dad had given away their ponies without telling them and after promising he was going to keep the ponies at the farm. Nice going, putz. So they stood here at the mini pen and cried.

The Boo loved these flowers and wanted a picture next to them. He's so sweet. I love him.

Forego was a horse trained by the late Frank Whiteley Jr., who graciously allowed me to hang around his barn at the Camden Training Center even though he hated reporters. My friend, Bob Witham, used to ride Forego for Mr. Whiteley and the picture everyone wanted after Bob died in a riding accident was that one of him with "Forego" burned into his belt and carrying his tack to take another set out.

And now we get to the goof ball portion of our program:

These are great kids. Every day is Mother's Day with them.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone, especially my grandmother who took on the thankless job of raising me.
Pictured, from left, my mother Sharon, me, my grandmother Betty and her mother Willa.

Two kids, two ponies, a minute of sun and a self-timer

The title says it all.
I wanted a family picture and the weather just would not cooperate. My friend Holly agreed to come whenever we wanted but it rained for days.
On the very last available day, the sun peeked out and I hollered for everyone to get ready.
Now, the ponies were not ready. The kids had been brushing them for weeks, trying to get their winter coats off. Tara Jean takes on the appearance of a miniature woolly mammoth. But the rain kept us from being able to attend to the ponies and they were rain-soaked and pitiful looking.
Never the mind ... we had a chance and took it.
And we were lucky to get a couple of really good shots, but this is our Family Picture:

Here the cats want in on the action:

Oops, we're missing the mom in this one.

Ok, over and done and The Daisy takes Hank for a little ride.