Easing Into It

The main feature of our trip to the Dells, besides thrilling Duck rides, was swimming and water slides.  It's what the Dells are now known for, unlike the Dells I remember as a kid.

Our hotel had something like 10 outdoor pools and 4 indoor water parks, and the kids couldn't wait to check them all out.

Only Jack's idea of "checking them out" seemed to involve avoiding all water slides and "swimming" seemed to be sitting in the water on the steps.

Eventually we were able to convince him to put on his floating vest and leave the steps, but he still clung to the sides of the pool and refused to believe that he could float in water that he couldn't touch bottom in.

Finally, he was brave enough to let go of the steps, side of the pool and daddy and just let himself float!

By the very end of the second day he was venturing out to the middle of the water with his sisters and playing,

and finally confident enough to get out there on his own.

So proud of what a big guy he is becoming.  Just last summer we could barely get him to run through the sprinklers at the spray park, so I'd say he's come a LONG way!