Saturday Bike Ride

We went on a bike ride this morning. The kids enjoy stopping to look at turtles and alligators. 

Just Saturday

8 Mile Ride

We went on an 8 mile bike ride today. It gave Lexi a chance to really test out her bike. Poor Jordan doesn't have gears, so his legs peddled non-stop.

New Bike

I wanted to wait until Christmas to get the kids new bikes, but Lexi's tires are shredded on her old one. We have had such a good time on our bike rides lately. I decided to see what was for sale and thought we'd check out thrift stores too. Our first stop was Academy (which is headquartered in Katy). They had this amazing bike on sale for less than $40. It has gears and everything!!! I couldn't pass up the deal.

Bike Trails and Alligators

We went on a bike ride today. There are a few trails near us. The best one goes along the swamps and bayous. We went about 4 miles round trip. 

Christmas Break

Since today was the last day of the school Christmas break, I decided that we needed to have a little extra fun.  It is also the first day that it wasn't freezing cold here since right after Christmas.  I've been wanting to hibernate.  Overall, this has been a great break for the kids.  Of course, they have been squabbling, but they have also been playing really well together.  They have grown even closer and seem to be enjoying each other's company.  I love it.  

We started the day off with lettered pancakes.  The kids pulled out their mini-laptops and played around.  Then mid-morning, I loaded up the bikes and we headed over to George Bush, Sr Park.  We went a little ways on the bike trail, had a picnic in a pavilion  and then played on the playground.  Great day to get fresh air, move around, and laugh a little too.  

Class Hat Day & Bike Injury

Lexi's teacher decided to reward their good behavior by letting the whole class have a hat day today.  As you can see, Lexi went with her cowgirl hat.   

The other interesting thing about these pictures is the big band aid on her neck.  Sometimes band aids are an indication of an interesting story.  This one happens to be hiding/healing her first bike injury.  Yesterday evening, I took the kids out to the water park parking lot so Lexi could practice riding her bike.  At one point, Jordan for some unknown reason got off of his bike and darted right in front of her.  She swerved to miss him and even recovered only to turn her head back to yell at him, which caused her to crash into a little rock wall.  As she was going down, her handle bar flipped up and jabbed her neck. 

Perhaps, this is a little lesson for her in letting things go or handling things calmly.  Of course, this incident upset her and through tears she declared that riding a bike was dangerous.  I made her get right back on and ride until the complaining was over.  Maybe that sounds harsh with her neck all swore, but I kept thinking about all those years of hearing that when you get bucked off of a horse, you climb right back on.   Fortunately, she doesn't seem at all traumatized by yesterday's event or my few moments of tough love.  

Bike Rider

Lexi officially became a bike rider today.  I asked Steve to take her training wheels off at the end June.  She didn't even get to try it once before we headed off to California.  When we got back, it was WAY too hot for bike riding.  All of my friends told me that in Texas, bike riding is a fall/winter/spring activity.  Summer is only for swimming.  The first time she finally got to try it was 4 weeks ago when my brother was here.  He helped her with a few of the basics.  She loved to complain that it was too difficult and dangerous (sounds just like I did).  I took her last weekend too.  Only a few times was I able to let go of her for a few seconds. It was kind of a pain running along side of her.  It was also hot, so we didn't last long.  

I knew we had to go this morning, despite her complaints.  I decided to find a parking lot rather than a trail like we'd been doing.  I figured that would make it easier to help her & watch Jordan.  I was astonished how quickly she went from being completely dependent and grabbing onto me for dear life to riding by herself - maybe 10 minutes.  After she realized that I wasn't really holding on, she wanted to try it herself.  That was it...away she went.  Now, she tells everyone it is EASY.  She still needs to practice starting by herself.  She managed a few times, but got frustrated by it many times.  Hopefully, soon he'll be saying that starting is easy.

Bike Practice

I have been promising Lexi that I would start teaching her to ride her bike without the training wheels.  She is ready for it and is a little frustrated that she hasn't had the chance yet.  I tried to take the training wheels off this morning and couldn't do it.  The bolts are pretty tight.  I ended up taking the kids to the high school down the street anyway.  At least they got some time practicing.   

Biking

We have started spending a lot of time along our favorite trail for biking. Lexi has been gaining confidence and wanting to ride down the underpass by herself, which is about a mile and a quarter from where we start and usually our turning around point. Jordan got in a little wreck last time he went down it, so he wanted to avoid it this time. I decided to let Lexi go to the bottom and back up alone. I told her that she could get off and walk back up if her legs got tired, but she made it the whole way. She did a great job.

Morning Bike Ride

We met our friends at the park for a morning bike ride today. We went around one lake. Lexi's bike had a flat tire and Jordan needed too much help, so we walked around the other. After that, we had cinnamon rolls, fruit and milk at a picnic bench. It was quite hot outside, but good to get out and be with friends.