I am really proud of Jasper today. He's worked hard on his swimming skills and was able to go down the big hydrotube water slide today.We finally went to the Black Mountain Recreation Center. Even thought it's only 3 miles down the road from our house on Greenway, we'd never been before. It was an overcast day with raindrops falling here and there. I was really leery of going at all, but I am sure glad we did.
This morning I was lamenting the fact that the one day we FINALLY go to the BMAC pool it is cloudy, rainy and a bit cold. Perfect weather for a bike ride, but not the pool. I guess that's what I get for putting off going until the last day it's open for the summer.
Because of the weather, it was not very busy at all. We got there at 11:15 AM. I went with my friends Cydnee and Nancy and their kids. After Jasper conquered the big water slide I called Mike and told him to throw on some swim trunks and meet us at the pool. We left a little after 2:00 PM when it got chilly and looked like the rain was really going to come down.
Jasper took swimming lessons in June. He did well in lessons and has really improved over the summer. Every time we go swimming he says, "Mom. I'm going to swim to you. I need to practice for my swim test."
One time I told him that he had to take a swim test to go down the big water slides at the rec centers and YMCA's. He took it as a challenge and has been practicing ever since.
When we went to Hermosa Beach in August he told the lifeguard he was ready to take his swim test because he thought if he passed a swim test he could go on a surfboard.
It turns out that the swim tests are at YMCA pools, and the rec centers make you meet the height requirement (which Jasper was a little short for) and you have to be able to swim to the side after the water slide dumps you out at the bottom.
At first we all played in the kiddie zone and Jasper loved the small water slide. Since today was the last day the pool was open for the summer, and all Jasper ever talks about is his swim test and going down the big waterslide, I gave him a little push. Literally.
I climbed the stairs with him the first time and when he was hesitant to let go of the grip bar and slide I gave him a nice firm push, and down he went.
Jasper told the lifegaurd at the bottom of the water slide, "I want to go again." After the first time he went down, and every other time too. They just smiled at his enthusiasm. I would guess he went down 30+ times.
Most of the lifegaurds were super nice to Jasper and gave him a little push out of the strong current at the bottom. The last lifeguard he had for the day told me that he had to swim all by himself to the side with no help. And so he did! I think that lifeguard was surprised that he could really do it.
The second time he went down I went up with him again. He went down, and 2 seconds later a man cut in front of me and jumped down the water slide. He was playing some type of game with a friend who was in the pool. He ran smack into Jasper and kicked him in the head. Luckily Jasper was okay, but it could have ended a lot worse.
Jasper made a quick recovery. I watched him tell his story about how someone ran into his head to everyone in line for the next 5 times he went down.
I was watching from the pool below, because he decided he wanted to climb the stairs and go down the water slide all by himself. He told me, "Mom, I got this. You stay here."
I watched his tiny legs go up and down the stairs no less than 30 times. And every time I just kept thinking...he is going to take a great nap today!
Even though I was sentenced to stay behind, when Mike came he was "allowed" to go down the water slide too, and I even went down a few more times with my boys.
Jasper told Mike, "Dad, if you lay down you go a lot faster." Once he got all twisted up and came out spinning. He kind of scared me, Nancy and the lifegaurd. Jasper was a little shaken up too. The lifeguard told him it was against the rules and he shouldn't do it again. Jasper told him, "I don't want to do that again." Another lifeguard then told me that sometimes the really small kids get spun around because they are so small.It cost $3 for adults and $2 for kids. Best $8 we have spent on a family activity in a while. If you see Jasper, he will be thrilled to tell you about the water slide. He has asked me no less than 10 times this afternoon, "Mom, when is it going to be open again?" We may have to start a countdown calendar.
