Bathing beauties

Now that it is officially summer, we are spending as much time in the water as we possibly can! The most convenient location is the backyard pool at Dave & Zenia Hunter's (a.k.a. Grandpa & Grandma Hunter). And although I am extremely careful about putting sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 all over my daughters, they have both become brown as nuts in no time flat.

Each girl bagged a few new bathing suits this summer, as last year's models were completely worn out. Abigail has mostly hand-me-downs, and they are pretty darn cute. Frances and I hit some great sales, and she has decided to begin wearing two-piece bathing suits (that are modest enough for my tastes and do not come off when she dives into the pool). After all, Bethany Hamilton of "Soul Surfer" wears a two-piece bathing suit, so Frances is going to wear one.

Abigail has a darling one-piece bathing suit with cherries on it, which makes her look like a child from the 1940s. However, she tends to make frequent trips to the bathroom (is she drinking the pool water?) so a two-piece is usually the wisest choice. Working a wet bathing suit off and on to her little body is not an easy task!

Abigail has learned that by positioning herself on a floating styrofoam noodle, she can "swim" quite well. We stay close by her, but she is quite independent and paddles around the pool like a cheerful little otter. Frances and I are trying to teach Abby some basic swim techniques, but for now, the noodle is working.

Now that Abigail is a little older, she can play more in the pool. She throws all of the toys into the pool, and then swims along, clinging to her noodle, watching Frances and I retrieve the toys from the bottom! The girls are better friends this summer, and enjoy each other more than they ever have.