Splash!

Last Sunday was a treat for our whole family. I had to work but got a great break in my day when Darcey called to tell me that she was taking Leah to the Sheppard Swim Center, our city pool, for the afternoon. The pool has this area called the Splash Zone which is essentially a wading pool that has several imaginative ways of dumping water on kids' heads. I go to the pool in the summer to find fun pictures for the newspaper of people playing in the water to stay cool.

Well, the Ipocks visiting the Splash Zone was as good a reason for me to head that way to find just such a picture for the paper. I had a nice one of a girl's goggles ending up in her mouth from the force of the water landing on her head before my girls even arrived.

I planned on staying as far away from Leah as possible so she would just play with Darcey without distraction. I had the longest lens I carry, which is primarily used to shoot football and baseball games, a large-brimmed hat pulled down low over my head, and a shooting position that allowed me to squat down into a ball where I hoped not to be noticed.

Well, Leah found me. Quickly.

Despite my best intentions I became part of the family outing and had a wet toddler pressed against me. Darcey did her best to distract her and led her around the area to play. Taking Leah swimming is a goal Darcey has had for a long time and she actually got the chance some weeks ago when she visited Kate and Ellie in Atlanta for a night. The four of them had a blast in the hotel pool. Since then Darcey and Leah have practiced swimming around our kitchen island by Darcey carrying her parallel to the floor and encouraging Leah to "kick, kick, kick." It is a joy to watch Leah take to the water and I look forward to more outings like this one.

Maybe I will actually get to wear a swimsuit.

-Sefton