3 years 9 months 24 days

Day 1392. This morning we left the house just after 9:30 to take the 9:50 train. After a one-month-long break it was time for their swim class again. A month ago the season for outside swimming had just started, but it was still too cold. For today they had announced the first really hot day, so perfect weather to explore the outside at the pool for the first time. As we hadn't seen Sonja in a while and won't see her for a while, I asked her if she wanted to join us, and she said yes. When we got off the train, she was there, and then we took the tram together to get to the pool.

She had never been at that swimming pool before, and we only knew the inside. When we got to the pool where the class was gonna be, the previous class was just finishing up. The water seemed even colder than last time to us, especially to Sammy who has the least tolerance for cold water. I had Sammy the whole time, but half-way through the class Emmy said he needed to go to the bathroom, so I put Sammy into Sonja's care and left with Emmy. When we returned, Randy told me that Sammy had gone under and swallowed water. He seemed a bit traumatized by it. While he had been laughing and giggling and enjoying himself before, that was over now.

The class lasts only half an hour. The kids did lots of swimming with their swim rings, and also did some swimming on their backs. They also jumped into the water and got to slide in at one point. The time went by fast.

After the class we went straight outside. There were quite a few people lying on beds and in the water everywhere. We walked in the direction of the kids pool, and that's where the kids started. They went down the slide a few times and played with the stationary water gone. I then went into the regular pool next to it with Emmy, who then wanted to go down the big slide. It was pretty high, closed, and did a few turns before ending on the ground. I was wondering whether Emmy would really have the courage to do it, and whether I was up for it. Tammy did not want to do it, which is unusual, as she's usually the courageous one, and Emmy is not. I decided to do it for Emmy. And so we walked up the stairs and stood in line. They had a board there that said that kids had to be 7 years old and that they could not sit between the legs of the adult, so I asked the guy from the pool there supervising everything. He said it was okay. And so we sat down, Emmy between my legs, and waited for the guy's signal to get going. It took a while. We went straight into the dark tube, but unexpectedly, we were not moving but sitting still. I simply could not get us sliding and had to pull the two of us down with my legs. Only at the very end there was a steeper part, so we finally slid those last two meters. In spite of it all, Emmy had enjoyed himself. Then the teenager behind us came shooting out of the tube, so I asked him what the secret was. He said that you had to lie on your back. Next time we'll try that.

Tammy had been playing where the water was coming out of the ground and enjoying it. I then went back into the regular pool and took Sammy to go with me, while the other two were back at the little slide in the kids' pool. Sammy was still cold and not happy, so I did my best to cheer him up.

Then I suggested we'd go check out the other pool. They had waves in it every full hour, but when we walked over there, it was not that time. Sonja, Emmy and Tammy and I walked into the water. There was a little waterfall there, then a donut-shaped round thing with a little stream moving you in a circle. Then Randy and Sammy came, and we decided it was time to come back out and go have lunch. They had a little place there outside, more like a concession stand, as well as tables and umbrellas to protect from the sun. It was the perfect place to eat. We found a big table, and everyone sat down, while I left to order food for all of us. Corn on the cob, fries, and a pizza. We were all enjoying the food and the fellowship. Then Randy suggested it was time to go home. We had enjoyed spending that time together with Sonja, who is the most important person to the kids after the two of us, and they miss her, as we don't see her often any more.

We went back inside the building and to the changing rooms, changed, and left to walk back to the tram stop. When we got to the train station, we said good-bye to Sonja, and she took the subway, while we walked to the train platform. At 1:23 we took the train, and just after 1:30 we were back home.

It was high time for their nap. They had some banana, vanilla and strawberry milk and lay down in bed. It was approaching 2 pm, and it did not take long for them to fall asleep. Of course Sammy insisted I sing for them, like he does every time now, when they go to bed, whether in the afternoon or at night.

Not long after 2 pm I left them with the intention to lie down myself. I got sidetracked by some stuff but finally did get to close my eyes as well. However, it was already late, and soon Emmy walked into the room. He left again to go play, and I think I did fall asleep for a little bit. Then Sammy and Tammy woke up as well. It was already after 3:30 pm. After some time they went downstairs with Randy to play, so I could get some work done.

At about 4 pm I sat down by my computer to write a much-needed new email newsletter. I ended up calling Paul to clarify some things to make sure I was accurate, and it was good to talk to him again. They had me talk downstairs and ended up coming upstairs, because Randy had told them I was talking to Paul, and Sammy wanted to talk to Paul. All three ended up saying hello to Paul, which he appreciated. They then went back downstairs, and I was able to get a rough draft done by the time they came upstairs for dinner at 6 pm. After dinner and bathtub, we got them ready for bed, I read a Bible story to them, prayed for them, and flew them into bed. Then I sat down by them, we talked a little, then I started singing upon Sammy's request. By about 8:30 I left them, and Randy took my place. I got myself something to eat, then went back to work. I got the English newsletter sent out, but haven't started the German version yet. It's after midnight, so it won't get done tonight.