Swim, jump, dive!
Friends, we only have eight more days left of school.
EIGHT!
I am putting my head down and powering through right now. Anyone else? Today, is our last MONDAY of the school year!!!! I.am.so.excited!!! I had a whole list of things I wanted to get done this month before the kids got out of school and guess what? I haven’t done a single one. At this point, I couldn’t care less. I will worry about cleaning out their closets, my office, purging the play room and all of that other stuff in September. (Let’s be real, I will be too busy walking the aisles of Hobby Lobby in September buying pumpkins to do it then, but maybe January?)
How should I celebrate this LAST MONDAY OF SCHOOL? By showing you a bunch of cute pics of Miss Madeley at swim lessons last week 🙂 . It’s so bittersweet because after 8 years in a row with Ms. Sally, I’m pretty sure this is our last. Our goal is that she be an independent swimmer this year, and right now, I think she’s going to be able to do it. She went into this year’s lessons determined to “swim like the big kids”. I’ve blogged about Ms. Sally every single year, as she really has become “a member of the family”. When we showed up last Monday, she told us it was her birthday, and Erika and I were like “Ms. Sally, you do not age!”. Sally is timeless. Madeley even asked me why she had a car because she stays in the pool all the time. Hahahaha! Just look…
…Ms. Sally with Kensington eight years ago, and then…
…Ms. Sally with Madeley on Friday. I love it!
Here’s a little look back at our week…
…on Monday, she was ready to go! I’m so thankful that the weather cooperated last week because honestly, it’s been a very wet May.
My littlest swimmer 🙂 .
Our friends Britt and Hadley swam with us this year!
Madeley super pumped on the first day…Britt, not quite. #weveallbeenthere!
Day 2 and the girls were excited to go back!!
Go Madeley go!
Those goggles kill me every time!
Day 3 and we were feeling…
…the sunglasses 🙂 .
Day four and guess what? She jumped off the diving board!!
Here we are on our fifth and final day! These three girls just make me SMILE!!!
At this point, Madeley feels like Michael Phelps. In her head, she was DOMINATING swim this week. She was basically like “sign me up for the Olympics, Mom!”. Ha!
No fear this year!
And then perhaps my favorite dive EVER…
We have watched that like 100 times! My big three think it’s hysterical! There is a cannon ball contest every afternoon at the pool we visit, and Madeley has already told us that she’s signing up every time. Hahaha!
We love you, Ms. Sally!! Thank you so much for teaching all four Shull kids how to swim!!
She was super proud of her medal 🙂 .
That wraps up 8 years of “my kids at Ms. Sally’s” posts. I’m going to go cry now. If you’re at home in the trenches with babies and toddlers and think “this will never end”, trust me, it will. Hug those babies so super tight! xo
So cute, looks like the kids really enjoyed the pool! 🙂
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Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I’m so jealous! We still have 26 days!
I saw her Michael Phelps’ skills! That girl is going places! Wonder where the summer Olympics will be held in 2036? I’ll start working on the Madeley buttons now!
Those girls are SO CUTE and SO PROUD! I love it!
I want all of Madeley’s swim suits in my size! She is the cutest!!
How awesome! Go Madeley go!!! I am so excited to see her swimming this summer!
How sweet! It’s amazing how people become like family to us! The countdown is on for the end of school. Almost there!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Go Madeley jumping off the diving board like that!! What a bittersweet moment for you as a mom Shay. Ms Sally seems like she has been a great swim teacher!
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
I love Madeley’s flamingo rash guard suit! Where did you get it?
rufflebutts.com 🙂
Precious! Little Miss Determined.
LOVE it! I was a lifeguard and taught so many kiddos swim lessons. And definitely, yes, enjoy those moments and hug the littles. It goes so fast. My oldest boy just graduated and is leaving for college the first of August. It’s hard on a momma’s heart!
Awesome job Madeley!!🏊♀️🧜♀️ Have a great summer!!
Somewhat off topic – but how do you store your outdoor furniture, cushions and swim toys/gear over the winter? We do not have a covered porch area and so my husband throws stuff under the deck (which is not weather proof of course) and it’s all nasty when we go to pull them out again (I don’t pull them out and pretty much refuse to use them they’re so nasty). Your organization skills are so helpful for those of us not so organized! Thanks Shay!
Ah! Thank you, Dana! Okay, we have a big bin with a lid that stores all of the stuff besides the cushions. The cushions, we stack in the garage…nothing fancy, just stack them on a big shelf until the next year.
I think you mean “I couldn’t care less” about that list!
Oh gosh, now I need to go see what I wrote…
Miss Madeley is just simply precious! Do you share Ms. Sally’s information?
Of course!! Email me!!
That video is good stuff right there! Lol! Her tummy probably hurt after that move. 😉
I just shocked myself. I was reading along and looking at all the adorable pictures. When I got to the picture of Madeley with her goggles above her eyes, I instantly had a thought that she might be in the Olympics one day. I don’t know if I saw her confidence or maybe just the way she was wearing her goggles. Then, I scrolled up and read your comment and got chills because you mentioned Michael Phelps and the Olympics! Wow! You just never know what the future holds for that cutie!
Ah!!!! That made me SMILE! We swam at home yesterday, and she was still going strong!!
So adorable!! We are local and were wondering if you could possibly share Ms. Sally’s info. Wanted to get my two youngest swimming! Thank you.
Yes! Email me!!
Ms Sally looks identical to our swim lessons teacher, Miss Cindy! So funny! She taught me swim lessons 30 years ago and is still teaching my kids today!
Adorable pics and I love Madeley’s joy and enthusiasm!❤️
I love it! Go, Madeley!
I have a couple of swim lesson questions for you…
What age do you start your kiddos with lessons? I have a 16-month-old and I’m thinking of putting her in lessons next month, I was just curious if you thought this would be too young/worth it at this age?
What type of swim lessons do your kids have? I have so many friends who have done the ISR and I’ve been back and forth if I should do a traditional swim lesson or ISR.
This is random but how did you find out about Ms. Sally? I would love to find someone in my area who I can have my daughter go back to each year.
Thanks so much Shay for all that you share!
Oh gosh, I probably started too early. I believe everyone was two when we started them. They weren’t swimming at that age independently, but I do think it made them more aware of kicking legs, blowing bubbles and things like that. A girlfriend of mine recommended Ms. Sally to us. I’m a big fan of recommendations from people you know. These are not ISR, just your basic lessons.
Thanks so much! 🙂 I was hoping by putting Caroline in lessons around this age it would get her used to the water since we live in Florida and are in the pool/Gulf often.
ISR lessons are worth every penny! I highly recommend doing it! You can go to the ISR website to find a certified instructor in your area.
I love when you’re able to do the exact same things with the first kid all the way down to the 4th kid- so special! And I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t finish her list of “things to get done before the weather is nice and school is out”. 🤦🏽♀️ Thankfully there’s always next winter. 😉
There always is, Jill! You’re exactly right!!
Hahaha!! The way she hugs her pal Britt is hilarious!
Shay- Madeley is a doll. I love how she puts her little arms around her friends in every picture. Just pure joy from this girl!
This made my Monday! Thanks for sharing, Shay. Love it!
Thank you for your periodic reminders to cherish the chaos of the tough days, too. I’m a grateful mama of a 26m old ivf miracle babe and a 5m old iui miracle babe. Some days/nights are tough and they leave me feeling so weary, but at the same time know how quickly they grow and change. It’s nice to acknowledge that it is hard but also beautiful at the same time. 🙂
Enjoy it, Erika! I know that it’s hard, but those miracle babies are going to be big, independent and away at school before you know it, so snuggle them tight and enjoy it right now.
Cutest little swimmers I know!!
That Inspired Chick
You know you’re from the northwest when.. you kid owns one swimsuit and you hope they wear it once! Lol! Oh my gosh all three of these girls have the cutest suits! Sometimes I wish we lived somewhere warmer than Seattle!
Go Madeley!! She looks like a pro 🙂 Where did you get her adorable floral 2 piece?!