Ready for his first day of Little Nippers. He was a big 8-year-old this year so WAY more confident, knew what to expect (he was dreading a few things like that first buoy swim) but in exchange for a Lego set, he was game. It also helps that the entire neighborhood began to appear in their red shorts on bikes ready to head to the beach.
Off to a good start that morning because we couldn't find his backpack. I mean, who loses a backpack days after school gets out. Did he just leave it at school on the last day? Second grade done. Backpack done too? 🤔
So off with Sam's backpack he went.
Little Nippers starts before Junior Guards does so the larger neighborhood bike crew wasn't making the 4-mile round trip trek so I got to get in a little exercise.
I actually LOVE this part of guards! I get made fun of by the other parents who see me riding along all the time. They call me the "oldest Junior Guard in the program" and "helicopter mom" but they are always quick to ask me to send them a picture or video of their kid. 😂 🚁🚁🚁
Year two of Nippers for these two.
First day rules.
The part Thatcher was dreading. That first swim.
It's cold. It's long. Mostly cold. There's always a handful of kids who don't make it past their ankles. New parents to the program (and of course me! 🚁) stay and watch in case they need to take their kid home and enroll them in another camp.
And then this!
Total stud coming out of the water.
All smiles! Exact opposite of last year.
More studs!
Future lifeguard instructors one day for sure!
So confidence overload on the first day had me already bribing him to make it through Little Nippers (the two-week program) and to test into Junior Guards. You are supposed to be nine but they will let a Little Nipper join early if they can do an even longer swim.
I have a love/hate relationship with this place. I love it in the summer during guards because I think they all deserve it for how hard they work and we try to limit it to about three times a week. My hate is the rest of the year when the kids are riding their bike down to the harbor and while they for the most part grab lunch at one of the restaurants nearby, they are also making a stop here. Cream soda, hot Cheetos and caramel apple suckers. I find candy wrappers in the laundry from them hiding it but it's a dead giveaway when I see their orange Cheeto fingers—the worst is when they touch the walls or furniture with them! 😩
But for the summer, it's all part of the drill.
A hole digging competition in the sand turned up a bee sting for Thatcher early on in the program.
His finger kept getting bigger and bigger.
We skipped camp the next day because it began to get really painful and constricted.
And we were right in the middle of baseball All Stars and he couldn't bend his finger.
Smiling, sort of.
We left with being told to ice, elevate, take Tylenol and watch out for the next time when he gets stung because they get progressively worse. I was hoping for some sort of shot to relieve all the pressure immediately but no dice.
Time for the big kids to start Junior Guards!
And the Little Nippers finish out their final week.
C-Group Girls (except Jasmine, old enough for the B-Group this year)
First day rules.
And everybody's favorite part, that first swim. But at age 10, and Sam's second year, it's not as big of a deal.
The kids were all getting into their summer groove.
They sleep in until 9:30 and don't have to leave on their bikes until about 10. Lazy in the morning, work hard during the day, followed by beach days, outdoor dinners and daylight until 8pm. Can you tell which season I like best?
The bee sting was followed by a good shiner.
A buddy's knee to the eye.
When the kids didn't get home by 3pm, I'd track them (I can trace them on their watches) at Leadbetter where they'd jump in the water and hang with friends. Rough life.
The only way to get warm, lay in the sand.
Little Nippers graduation!
Perhaps a swim cap would help this kid continue on to Junior Guards? 🤔🏊♂️
There were lots of variations of getting home and we had a group text string going on with all the neighborhood parents and you were alerted when your kid was seen not following bike rules (no helmet, not in the bike lane, on handlebars, riding no hands in the parking lot with an ice cream (that one was texted to me about Sam 😬.)
These two were pretty smart.
Thatcher's FIRST day of REAL Junior Guards!
There were a few conditions. Another Lego set (totally worth it because the price of 7 weeks of JGs is the price of other camps for ONE week!) AND he got to take off days when he didn't want to go. Deal!
This is a nervous smile for sure.
Welcoming in the handful of Little Nippers who were ready to join the Cs!
He came home like this with his latest injury. Broken blood vessel that took a while to stop bleeding. I love his cute sun-kissed, sandy face though.
I lessened my visits because I didn't want to give Thatcher the option to come home with me but I did check in on him during what is called the "Box of Pain"
Samantha was actually in tears doing this last year. It's a crazy amount of buoy swims followed by army crawls in the sand and a whole other routine of boot camp style exercises. I'd cry too.
The girls said it was much better than last year.
While the water is so cold, the sand is so hot. Some days they have to wear socks!
Vela and Mia will move up to the B-group this year because they are older than Sam. 😢
The kids got super tan, super fit and were having a lot of fun!
This friendships and freedom are one of the best parts.
I love that these two get to do a camp together. I think they like to too although they'd never admit it.
Carp Competition and filling the van!
In East Beach guards, everyone has to do the R-S-R (run-swim-run), long swim and long run. The other events you have to be chosen for based on ability.
Sam was picked to do the run relay, taplin (they pick a top swimmer, paddler and runner which was Sam) and beach flags. I've always said that Sam would have a hard to saving someone in the water, but running in the sand, she'd have no problem.
While excited for Samantha, I was a little nervous for Thatcher because the competitions aren't a walk in the park. I was most nervous for him to do the R-S-R and Long Swim.
He looked ready though!
There are lots of spectators at each of the races.
Joey!
Joey was a lifesaver during guards for Thatcher. Joey used to go to the kids' school and is Samantha's age. He was so supportive of Thatcher giving him pep talks and being a kind friend. I so appreciated it!
Another kind friend was Thatcher's buddy Chase. They hadn't really hung out much until this past summer. Chase is in the same grade as Thatcher and a little order but had no fear at all during the program and he was also doing it for the first time at just 8. His confidence helped Thatcher for sure!
Joey was always offering up goggles to Thatcher and then I realized he was just taking them from other people's bags. 😂😬 He always put them back but I told him not to do that anymore.
Thatcher was dreading this long swim.
It was overcast, cold and he was so nervous. I was fine if he didn't do it and just sat back and watched and all his buddies encouraged him and off he went.
He didn't break any records, but he did it!
How wiped does he look?!
I love that I caught this moment of Chase and Joey encouraging Thatcher again. It was time for the R-S-R and Thatcher wanted no part of it.
With all that encouragement, how can you not do it!?
He did it!
Sam was a rockstar this year. Because she was selected for specific teams, you get to choose one race not to do and it didn't surprise me at all that Sam didn't choose to sit any of them out. She loves to compete!
Taplin
👬
Lunch time!
You can tell he still wasn't warm.
Sam's game face. Imagining that finish line.
Sam and Sam.
Run Relay
R-S-R
Sam actually leads this entire group of girls in the running until they hit the water.
Thatcher got so comfortable that by the end of the day, he was volunteering for unofficial races like the paddle race.
5th place long run!
Flags.
A well deserved treat after a long day!
I lost a kid on the way home!
Up early to boat out to the Channel Islands. Side note: We pile on the sunscreen SPF 80 on Sam's face. She had a permanent Casper look all summer.
Ready for the Fiesta Competition which is hosted by East Beach. Sam was chosen again for beach flags and the run relay however the taplin spot went to another girl who is a tad bit faster than Sam and was absent during the Carp Comp.
Always fun seeing friends from other guard programs at the events.
Thatcher had gotten into his groove by now.
Even picked for the unofficial (second string) flags team. I'd be surprised if he wasn't on the team next year.
Proud of these little guys!
Sam REALLY wants to win the top spot in flags.
Unfortunately at the Fiesta comp, she tripped on one of the heats and well, that was the end of that.
It's tough watching the one race that you had a good shot at. She came in third last year.
These boys thought they could hide and make sand castles and get out of the run-swim-run.
No such luck!
He finished!
Girl's long run.
Fourth place!
Run relay.
And her team got first place! And a first place win earns you an exclusive Fiesta hat!
More spying from me down at Leds.
Rincon surfing day!
Just a wee bit crowded.
I'd actually never been to back side Rincon before.
I didn't drop them off that morning so when I agreed to pick up a group of kids (and their boards!), I was in a bit of a pickle.
We somehow made it work.
Not the most comfortable ride home.
Stud Ironman! It takes over an hour to complete the challenge. It's a ridiculous amount of buoy swims and running and not everyone finishes.
Last year she finished #121 and this year #61!
And Thatcher was #83! Thatcher had gotten in really good shape by the end of the program.
Pier run.
79th!
21st!
Instructor Appreciation Day!
Not a bad way to get on their instructor's good sides.
Every once in a while I'd give them a ride.
Headed out for the pier swim.
I got this text from Grandma Marilyn who came to watch the kids do the pier swim which I'd say is the hardest challenge and neither kid has made the whole swim. There can be a lot of yelling from the Sargent guards. 😬😂
LAST DAY!
It's always funny riding through the Fiesta parade.
Such contrasts: lifeguards and flamenco dancers. 💃
This is us returning to get Thatcher's helmet from East Beach. So yes, he biked all the way home with no helmet on the last day. 🤷♀️🤔
And finally, the Jr. Lifeguard Banquet where they give out awards and everyone says their goodbyes.
Sam's the tallest but the youngest.
Taking a picture with their favorite instructor.
I love that they took buddy pictures this year. 😊
And these cute boys too!
And all the highlights from the summer.
