Matthew Moves Up

After dinner last night, Daniel showed the K'nex Ferris wheel he'd made to Jake and Al. With the motor plugged in, the Ferris wheel moves pretty quickly; Jake suggested using a larger gear up top to make it go slower. Daniel tried it out and was intrigued to discover the change did make the Ferris wheel spin more slowly.

"What happens if I put the larger gear below and the smaller one above?" he asked Jake.

"Then it will go really fast."

Daniel, of course, had to see for himself so he switched the gears. Sure enough, the Ferris wheel spun around at an alarming rate.

"You just learned about gear ratios, Dans," Tab said.

Today was the boys' fourth swimming lesson of the first session this year. Daniel started the session in Level 4, thrilled to be back in the pool. It's hard to believe that this is the same boy who was afraid even to get in the water just a year ago. He is now practicing his breathing and the overhead motions of the crawl.

Stephen and Matthew were both far more eager to begin their swimming lessons than Daniel was when he started. Matthew, especially, has taken to the water like a little fish. Today, I was watching him practice blowing bubbles and bobbing under water. Then suddenly he was being lifted out of the pool by Lauri, the director of the program. She led him to the desk, gave him a Level 1 sticker for his certificate, and then brought him over to the Level 2 section of the pool. Matthew had graduated from Level 1, the first of all the Level 1 kids to do so.

"Mama, look at me! I'm in Level 2!" he called out gleefully. His excitement was adorable.

Stephen was jealous of his twin's progress. He alternately sulked and glowered. Actually, he's pretty close to moving up to Level 2, himself. All he needs to do is to stop holding his nose when doing his bobs.

"But I'll get water up my nose!" he protested when I said so.

"Matthew doesn't hold his nose. Daniel doesn't either," I countered.

"Hmmph!"

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