As I reviewed this year on my personal blog, graymattersonline.net, I mentioned a few swimming events for the family, but I left out a few. Not earth shattering, I’m sure, but I would like to have record of them, nevertheless.

My oldest daughter spent the most time at the pool this year, continuing her lifeguard job at the Y, and even picking up a private pool gig this summer.

While she spent lots of time at the pool, she didn’t put in the yardage I did, however sporadically this year. I found swimming easier and more fun after losing 30 pounds. Go figure!

My brother has a pool, which I finally got to play in this summer. It was so cold, yet refreshing. I enjoy racing the children, working on my dives, and just getting really playful in the pool more than I like lap swimming, and I love lap swimming, so that tells you something.

I was so relieved and excited to finally enroll three of my younger children in our local Make a Splash program. We made it to the city pool on the last day of lessons this summer. (boo), but I made sure my boy, 6, was there for the first day lessons began in the fall. He advanced to level three before the end of the fall session. It is such a relief to see him acclimated to the pool, ready to advance. He even aspires to compete in swimming some day.

His sisters, 8, and 10, were busy in cheerleading for most of the fall, but were able to join him in the pool in November. I was excited to see them review what they’d learned when they were 3 and 4, and advance to level 7, the level that trains with the swim team.

Now my oldest daughter is the only one who goes to the pool regularly. I hope to return for my lap swimming soon, but for now, I’m working out on dry land.

How was your 2010 in the pool?

I missed the news flash that Cullen Jones was nominated for Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award.

That he lost to Drew Breeze of the New Orleans Saints doesn’t take away the fact that 580,000 children have signed up for swim lessons in 308 Make a Splash local partner programs in 43 states.

I had 3 children in one of those programs, and let me tell you–they were not hurting for students! And Make a Splash is about more than just learning to swim. It is about conquering and capturing fear, turning it around, and making something productive out of it.

My 6 year old, terrified of the water until this fall is not alone in his desire to swim on the swim team. Cullen Jones’ efforts in Make a Splash is partly responsible for that.

I guess I’m being dramatic. The girls were invited to train with the swim team for the month of December, followed by the new swim session, which begins in January.

But, alas, we have basketball season around here, so the swim session is wrapping up just in time for our grueling 3 game a week basketball schedule.

That includes college and work for our oldest, so I won’t be completely spared all the running around like a chicken with her head cut off.

I hope nobody forgets what they’ve learned by the time we get back to the pool after basketball season.

I thought the girls had passed level 6 last week or so. Tonight they swam full lengths much smoother than they had then, and were told they really passed this time.

Now the girls are going to log more yards in the pool, which should translate into stronger academics, according to the coach.

I hope they are able to keep their skill level and academic improvement through the long winter, when they will take a break from swimming.

The pool was so crowded tonight that I to use my video camera to find my kids. The level 7 group was split in half, and the kids worked on breast stroke kick.

I knew my 10 year old had learned the frog kick years ago in swim lessons, but I don’t know where my 8 year old picked it up. She whipped her legs as fast as she could, hanging onto her kick board with both arms. Breast stroke is hard!” She declared in that voice she gets when presented with an exciting athletic challenge. The girls were separated, and the older sister had a harder time dealing with circle swimming. She didn’t get the memo about swimming around slow halting swimmers.

Meanwhile, my 6 year old did bobs. He proudly announced he’d done over 30 bobs during his swim class tonight. He also worked on his front float from time to time. That seems more like level 2 than 3, but he is getting more comfortable in the water, and enjoys every lesson.