Wheels

This has been the spring/summer of two wheels.  #1 got up on his bike early this spring and hasn't stopped since.  Weekends have turned into family outings - lots of trips along the river.  Before I got too big to hold on comfortably to the handle bars, I went too.  Brought back lots of memories from my own childhood and family outings to Underwoods Farm.  I don't think I'll ever forget riding up the super steep hill that seemed to go on forever ... to get to the top and see the farm.  Inside the farm store smelled like pumpkin doughnuts and apple cider, and they had the best candy selection ever.  Underwoods Farm is now condos, I think.  But I hope to take the kids to Traverse one summer and we'll do something similar along the Peninsula ... or ride to Bardon's Wonder Freeze - at least it is still there. 

After several weekend trips along the same path, #1 wanted longer and longer rides ... and #2 didn't complain (he pretty much gets a free ride without much peddling, so why would he).  So Mr. Right would clock their trips and he was taking the boys on 8-10 mile rides - which we thought would be enough to tire #1 out!  As if anyone is surprised - the kid is clearly an endorphin junky.


A few weeks ago after the heat finally came down to a reasonable 90 degrees (ha!), the boys took a long ride to Mount Vernon.  I dropped them off and planned to meet them for lunch at the end.  They were off and riding - I went and got lunch, had an uninterrupted phone call with my parents, hopped back in the car and passed them with just about a mile to go until the end.  Everyone looked happy and great!  I pulled in the lot and waited for them to ride in when I noticed something weird with #1's face.  I couldn't tell what it was, but something wasn't quite right.  Seems the rites of passage continue this year ... he had his first crash at mile 3 (of 10) and in the true form of his father's kind of crash.  Although, thank goodness, it wasn't hospital worthy.  

If you ask #1 today, he'll tell you he was "trying to do a triple flip and only did a double."  If you ask his father, he turned around and then lost control, flipping over his bike then rolling twice across the bike path and down a little hill.  Yes he was wearing his helmet.  No broken nose, no broken collar bone ... just road rash across the right side of his face.  A week later he was almost totally healed and seemed to enjoy retelling the story.  The kid has my ability for exaggeration!  

The good news is that this accident hasn't changed his love for riding, although he makes sure we have the first aid kit with us.

Summer Trippin

Summer vacation has brought our much anticipated annual pilgrimage to visit all things grand!

We started in Florida to visit with G&GM and got a quick and brutal introduction to the heat that is defining summer 2010. We had LOTS of fun and LOTS of pool time. Our daily schedule went something like ... wake up, swim ... snack, swim ... swim ... lunch, swim ...watch a movie inside while the daily Thunderstorm rolls through ... swim ... dinner, swim ... sleep. We diverted from that schedule only once when we headed to the sandy, yummy beach where the Gulf water temperature was 89 degrees! It was crazy warm, but still - somehow - refreshing. Who knows what the Florida beach will be like on our next visit, so we enjoyed it enough to last a long time.

We returned home for two weeks to start summer camps for both of the boys and practice breathing in 90 degree temperatures. #1 is turning into a little fish - swimming every day and working on his "real swimming". True to form he is all about the uniform and insists on having swim goggles with him at all times ... sometimes with a back up pair just in case. He is more experienced in the water than most of his camp-mates which has given him some special one-on-one instruction with one of the junior counselors. We hope this gives him an opportunity to enjoy learning strokes instead of the turbo speed dog paddle he's got going now.

#2 started "Kindercamp" and starts each day around the indoor (electric) campfire. He sings songs and plays games that are exactly what you would expect for summer camp. The groups of kids are mixed up in ages so there are 2-5 year olds working together on projects and such. He's been working on his big brother skills with the littlest guys and learning very little that his brother hasn't already taught him from the older guys.

In July, #2 got his special "big boy trip" to visit with his Grandma & Pops in Atlanta - ALL BY HIMSELF. Grandma flew up to DC to pick him up, then the two of them flew back together. Mr. Right and I have not had #1 to ourselves, as an "only child" since #2 was born three years ago. We had a fabulous time, as did he ... and we didn't spoil him rotten. #2, on the other hand was spoiled ROTTEN. He's been looking forward to this trip for a long time and has known that he had to be three years old before he could do it. So his birthday came and went in May and he said in his own way ... WTF? Where's the trip? I've never seen such a quick exchange of parent to grandparent at the airport when his Grandma flew up to get him. His bag was packed, shoes on, ready to go! I barely got a kiss good-bye.

After a few days alone we all flew to Atlanta and joined up with #2. He was happy to see us for about 10 minutes ... he then remembered that sharing was part of the deal that came with having a brother, as well as compromise and all kinds of other things that are not necessary when your brother and parents aren't around. I'll leave it at - there was an adjustment period.

After a day at the pool in Atlanta, we all drove up to the NC mountains and enjoyed some much cooler temperatures (thank goodness says Shamu - with child), family time with cousins, lots of golf cart rides, fishing, more pool time, a hike or two in the woods, a cruise on the boat and even a trip to the ER for a super bad cough. We had a wonderful and restful trip and did not want to come home. But, by the time our trip ended, I think we got everyone sick (love 3 and 5 year old germs) ... so I think we were not welcome anymore.

We've settled back into daily routines and 90+ degree days. There is still a lot of pool time to help everyone cool down and get some energy out while not turning into a sweaty, red faced mess. Some days #1 is too hot and tired for Tae Kwon Do - which is shocking to me. I get it, but he's usually so ready for anything ... especially punching and kicking. It makes me feel a little better about the pity party I throw my up 25 lb. self these days. It's freaking HOT here!

Thank you family for being such generous hosts ... and putting up with our chaos. I hope these fun boys remind you that it will be worth the additional *pink* chaos that comes with our next visit. All signs in the belly point to a female form of #1 ... I suggest you all rest up now.