Spring Hopes with Bikes!

Yesterday, the sunny, mild weather got us all thinking about bike rides!

Went in for old bike tune-ups and ended up with a new bike for Nora! She was much too tall for her old bike and this was just so cute. The frustrating, sad, and funny part of the story is that she cried the whole time we waited for the installation. Why? Because I said they could donate her old bike. Upset because "You gave me that bike for my birthday, it's mine, I just haven't pictured life without it." So, what did I do after an unconvincing conversation about donating things we will no longer use? Haul the dumb thing back to our house and put it in the garage. *sigh*  I figure that we will keep talking and she will make the decision to donate and actually it will be a better lesson and empower her to donate things herself. By the time we got home, she was all smiles again.

And here is Jack, with a great bike which belonged to his (now 16-year old!) Skyler. It is in great shape and we simply added Nora's old training wheels. Yesterday was his FIRST TIME EVER on a big boy bike and he took off! Sad part of his story is that the wheel, despite being professionally installed, fell off in mid-ride, causing a skinned knee and some tears. He ended up running along side his sister while I drug the disabled bike home. It's fixed again, but I might go get some more hearty training wheels. *sidebar* Can you believe how expensive training wheels are???? $25 - 30!!!!

At any rate, we are READY for Spring and certainly for Summer! We will be going to Oregon for a visit, up North to our family in Lyons, and starting soccer (for Jack) and dance classes (for Nora). Other activities have already started, with Science Scouts and Daisy Scouts; and of course, bike rides, dog walks, and yard work now that the deep freeze seems to be waning.