Thursday, August 11, 2011

...and away we go...

What good is a brand new bike, given to you by your grandparents for your birthday, when the weather continually sucks so bad?  

I don't like to take Samantha out in super-humid, hot temperatures.  Actually, I don't like to take me out in those temperatures, either, but I have less of a choice in the matter.  Finally, we have some beautiful, low-humidity days upon us, and I remember thinking last year that August, while it sounds daunting, is actually so much better than July.  No wonder my memories of the first day of school were always of crisp, cool(er) days, just perfect for modeling the new back-to-school clothes your grandmother had taken you shopping to Rovner's (anyone remember that one?) for.  August marks the winding down of summer, the last gasp, the final carefree moments.  Oh, I'm talking about kids, by the way.  I think summer is pretty much the same as any other season for us working parents outside of the occasional vacation to the beach.

So.  I took Sammi out yesterday afternoon to have a ride.  I know she can pedal a bike - she had been riding a tricycle from time to time, both at home and at school.  But she was bored and frustrated with it, and she had outgrown it, both in size and in skill level.  This is a big girl bike.  I think I was more excited than she was when it was given to her.  

And she blew my mind.  Funny how just a few months ago the attention she paid to the bike was minimal.  Short and sweet, a few feet advanced, then a request to remove the helmet and go back inside.  And now, suddenly, she was pedaling up and down the block, looking up and steering when reminded to do so.  And she picked up a decent amount of speed there, too!  

Now I just have to teach her how to stop...

I just realized that you can't see the training wheels in any of these pics.  Yes, of course, she is riding with those!  And yes, that is a Barbie helmet you see there.  I have decided, with age and wisdom, that Barbie really isn't so bad.

She let out a massive yawn just after this photo was taken.  Bedtime fast approaching, smiles not very forthcoming...

A most regal passenger.

18 comments:

Education: Exploring Online Learning said...

I'm kind of in love with the second photo.

Cathleen said...

Ok tell me where you got that precious bike. Because if Sammi has mastered riding it, then Lilly is, what, a month behind? I'm getting excited... :)

And by the way - I totally wrote out a response to your post yesterday but Jon was logged in and I was too lazy to unlog him and do it as myself so I just clicked out of it. :) But I was saying, the whole time we were on vacation, Lilly didn't have a single accident at night. But now that we're back home... Oh well. I think the issue is she doesn't want to get out of bed in the AM here, whereas in Europe she was so excited every morning that she'd hop on the toilet immediately and then get on with her day.

Rochelle said...

Awesome, thanks for my Sammi fix. I was starting to go into withdrawl! Hee hee!

Anna said...

Im smiling that you have these photos to share......been waiting for photos..... such proud moments.

Carol N. said...

Go Sammi! That is so awesome!

JC said...

Love the pictures!!!

evrfwd said...

Go Sammi Go! You are so awesome! So very cool you have a place for your dolly. =)

Kelli said...

LOL...i giggled at the passenger in the back to the bike.

my family said...

we had the same helmet (for the girls)yes the humidity does suck and it will be like that for a while longer here unfortunately

Michelle said...

Great job Sammi! What an accomplishment!

Lacey said...

Oh look at that beautiful bike! And of course its beautiful rider! Summer has been pretty perfect here. Not terribly hot, but hot enough to do fun summer stuff like swim nonstop!

Pallavi said...

How exciting :)

Renee said...

Way to go Samantha!

Karrie said...

I'm in love with the 2nd picture, too!!! :)

alicia said...

love the pictures!

Meriah said...

woo-HOOO!!!!!! love it!

Rob Monroe said...

Still jealous about the Pinkalicious bike, by the way!

Our weather has been crap until the day that Anny and Abby went back to school! Abby rode her bike in the spring once or twice, but the heat was relentless here too. Ugh. Glad for fall to come this year!

Lori said...

I love seeing Sammi on the bike! We are always outside playing in our circle, riding bikes and scooters...and I am dying for Anna to ride her trike or bike. Right now she just has no interest. But this gives me hope!
Love the Pinkalicious bike, BTW =)