Today is Independence Day, and fortunately daddy is free from working today. We did morning shopping and then went to Northampton Swim Club, where we happened upon a 50 year tradition of July 4 water events. The first event was the "bubble race", which is one sideways pool lap for children that normally use floatation devices when swimming. The winner was . . . Temu! Actually, he was the only entrant for 2012, but he still swam like a champion. Over 100 people lined the pool and cheered him on, and he loved it, especially once he figured out they were clapping for him. He was great, completed his lap in a timely manner, and several times put his face in the water to blow bubbles. He won the following certificate, which we did not read out loud to him so he did not know he could exchange it for ice cream. Instead, it goes in his scrap book. Since we had no idea this was coming, there is no picture/video of this event.
The last event of the day was the money dive, where hundreds of coins are thrown into the pool and the kids jump in and race to collect it. There is a staggered start, with youngest going first. Contestant #1 was Temu, and because he requires a floatation device and cannot go to the bottom of the pool they put a dollar bill in a balloon for him to collect. Here's how that went down. The other kids all have their backs to the pool because they are not allowed to scout out the location of the best coins.
Here's how the pool looked about 3 minutes later, with total pandemonium.
Finally, here's a little bonus video of Temu and papa driving the mowie last week in Hartland.
