Bikes!

The kids rode their bikes (sort of) to the playground tonight after dinner. The baby 'rode' for about three feet. Then Eric and I carried her bike and helmet the rest of the way. On the way home, I carried her bike, her helmet, and her for a little bit. I don't think that's how this is supposed to work.

The little dude did a great job! I'm so glad we put the training wheels on his bike-- I think he's getting a lot more comfortable with hills and with pedaling.

Bike!

We put training wheels on the little guy's bike: best. decision. ever. He's happily figuring out pedaling.

This means the baby is now the proud rider of the balance bike!

She's getting to be so big!

Sunny Days

We went for a walk on a trail around a local lake today (it was almost 60 degrees and it was SUNNY!!). The little guy worked on riding his bike. Here are the kids taking their bikes to the car:

Here's the little guy getting started with his daddy:

And here's me, taking my turn destroying my back by jogging hunched over (please know that the little guy has a helmet on underneath his hood):

I wish there was a "how to teach your kid to ride a bike" class that we could take-- I have no idea what I'm doing. He's getting better, though, and I think if we get a few more sunny weekend days under our belts he'll really go!

To the Park!

We went to the park tonight. The baby LOVES riding in the stroller (the little guy hated the stroller). As long as there are cheerios in the tray, she's happy. Even when she's not in the stroller, she always heads to it for a snack or drink.

Anyway, the little dude is getting to be pretty fast on his bike. After spending one too many evenings running behind him in work clothes and flip flops, I'm wearing tennis shoes on our 'walks' now so that I can keep up with him!

California Dreaming?

It was a gorgeous evening, which was a nice change after the last couple of rainy ones. Yesterday the little guy asked if it was going to rain. When I said yes, he started to cry and said he wanted to live in California where it doesn't rain. Here's my question: How did California get its propaganda to him at such a tender age? Yikes! We took a short walk/bike ride this evening, and he is cruising on his balance bike now.

The baby and I got to snuggle a bit while she had a bottle tonight. She's teething, so she's a bit grumpy. Look at that face!

Balance

The little guy is getting pretty good at riding his balance bike-- except he holds his legs out absurdly far.

We went around the entire block tonight, and eventually it was just too much for him. What a ham! Don't you love how completely unconcerned Beau is?

Outside Weather!

It didn't rain this afternoon (yay!) so we went on a walk to the playground. The little one is over eight pounds now, so I can use the front carrier. It's *so* much easier than the stroller when we have the dog with us.

When we got back from the playground, the little guy rode his bike almost to the end of our street and all the way back.

In other news, Santa came to our neighborhood on a fire truck this evening! Last year I thought our row of townhouses was burning down, but I remembered that it was probably Santa when we heard the sirens this year. We made it outside in time to get a wave and a very jolly "Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" from the man himself.

Big Saturday

We had a big day today. We went hiking in the local arboretum-- the little stinker double-checked all of my map reading.

"Let me see what the picture says!"

He also took a self portrait,

"Cheese!"

a photograph of me,

The little guy kept telling me to back up.

and one of his daddy.

Eric's back there, I promise...

Then we bought a bike and a bike helmet!

Whee!

What a day! He should sleep like a rock tonight... we all will.