At the end of March, Nicco's swim lessons moved from the indoor pool at the Dive Shop across town to a much closer outdoor pool. We were warned that the first few outdoor lessons can be a little chilly, but it isn't long before the hot days arrive. The first day was lovely, but the second lesson was cloudy and cold. I was tempted to get Soft Blankie out of the car and snuggle up to watch the lesson. Mr. Eric told us not to worry, this would probably be the last "cold" day. Not so. Yesterday it was 48 degrees and POURING RAIN at swim lesson time. I called the program director to ask under what circumstances lessons are cancelled, and she told me that lightning is the only thing that keeps them out of the pool. I didn't want to go, but I made the mistake of asking Nicco what he wanted to do. He said "We can try it." I asked if he was sure he wanted to swim in the rain, and he asked "Will there be thunder?" his little inquiry was so sweet and obviously full of hope that there would be no thunder so that we could indeed go to swim that I just couldn't deny him. His lesson went forward as planned, in the pouring rain. Lucky for me there was shelter, and lucky for him the pool was heated.
Nicco was especially excited to try out the diving board for the first time, even though he was a little apprehensive. When he climbed the steps, he asked me "Mom, are you sure this is safe?" Sufficiently reassured, he took his first jump.
Look at his pointed toes! Silly goose. If you click on the picture, you can see both Nicco's and Mr. Eric's facial expressions. I think Mr. Eric was almost as amused by Nicco's jump as I was.
Swimming to the edge, ready to go again!
With our days (mostly) warming up, we have been spending a lot of time in our pool. It gets up to about 72 in the water, which is actually tolerable and even refreshing on our 85-90 degree days. I bought Nicco some new pool toys, so now he wants to spend about every free minute outside playing squirters.
It was only about 5 minutes before he was soaked from tip to toe. He was surprised that his blue pants turned black.
His squirters alternate between being guns, missiles, submarines, rockets, and even the clock of the tri-state area. (Don't ask, I don't know.)
Sometimes, they just make rain. Last Monday after about five full hours in the pool, he finally came in, shivering and "raisined." I put him in his soft, comfy clothes, bundled him up under three blankets, and Patrice made him some hot cocoa. He kept shivering and shivering. Ironically, I think he was colder after his sunny home day swim than his rainy day swim lesson.
I hate to say it, but I actually look forward to the hot days to be able to play in the pool without having to make hot cocoa afterwards!
Taking a rest at the beehive fireplace.
A charming water feature
The world's biggest horned lizard
Another fountain
chimes in the children's garden
This rattlesnake bench wound all around the children's garden
Owls peeking out of the iron saguaro
My little sunshine
Spiral maze
Nicco waiting for his little wooden boat to catch up to him
Taking a rest, because "my legs are so tired."
I made a mistake of stopping at the gallery before exiting the gardens. Nicco was ready to go, but became reenergized when he saw the gift shop attached to the gallery. He was very angry with me for not buying him a $7 plastic rattlesnake, so on our way out, he made a wish for a snake, "a pretend one," in this fountain. When I asked if he was ready to go, he said no, that he was waiting for his wish to come true. Sorry buddy, not every wishing well wish comes true, particularly immediately upon making the wish. He finally decided to put the pretend snake on his birthday list. I'm pretty sure the wish will go unfulfilled, and unnoticed. 
