Here's a question for you today: when you go swimming, do you step into the pool, lake or ocean gradually, or do you just jump on in and get all wet at once? 
I'm like the guy in the picture on the right. If you even got me up the ladder to the high dive, there's no chance I'd be willing to jump off it.
Meanwhile, my first-grader is eagerly awaiting his swim test at the pool, because he wants his first chance ever at the high dive.
I'm not a swimmer--never have been. When I was in college, my parents pressured me to take a swim class. That was my lowest grade in all my classes, all four years of college. Fortunately for the kids, my husband is a good swimmer and enjoys the water--and all of them do too.
Basically, my role at the pool is to be the Chauffeur, Pack Mule, Snack Lady, and Equipment Manager. I know for a fact that at least one of my children will lose a pair of goggles in the first week that school's out and we start going to the pool. Actually, the first-grader already lost his--on the way to the neighbor's to swim in their pool last weekend. He hadn't even gotten wet yet! (Fortunately, my neighbor found them behind the recycle bin and knew whose they must be, so we've gotten them back. THIS time.) So before I toss anything into the pool bag this year, I'm going to mark all our stuff with Sharpies.
With a twelve-letter last name, I'll have writer's cramp before I get all the towels, goggles and water guns labeled. This way we won't lose anything to the Mildewed Stack of Lost and Found at the pool, because there's no way I'm looking for anything in there without a hazmat suit.
COUPON TIME
Everybody in the pool!
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TODAY ONLY!
10% off orders of $100 or more at SierraTradingPost.com 
Enter keycode ALMAY9 in your shopping basket.
Valid through: June 3, 2009
Valid online only. Excludes current BarnBurner offers, clearance items, bikes, bike accessories, boats, and sporting optics.
20% off gift cards at Eastbay.com 
Use source code IPEB9YGC in the box during checkout.
Valid through: June 12, 2009
This offer is valid on any GiftCard amount up to $500.
$10 off online orders over $50 at InTheSwim.com 
Enter claim code 90138 in Step #3 during checkout.
Valid through: Unknown
15% off your order at The Sports Authority 
Eligible items will have the following note on their product page: "Ultimate Coupons - 15% OFF Your Entire Order"
Valid online only. Use the link above to activate the coupon. If there's a problem, enter promotion/discount code ULTIMATE15 in your cart.
Valid through: June 30, 2009 11:59pm ET
