Pedals and Faceplants

Physically, Dexter has been ready for pedals on his bike for a long time.  He's been riding his green bike without pedals for over a year, gliding and balanced.  He's grown over the summer to a ridiculously tall height, so he has no trouble putting his feet flat on the ground and stopping or catching his balance.  Every time we would ask him if he wanted pedals he would say "Not yet."  And somehow John asked him again on Thursday night, and he said "OK."  So this morning the boys checked out the weather.  They decided that Sunday weather looked better for going to the Air Show.  John put the pedals on Dexter's bike while Dex dug a tremendous pond in the mulch under the pine trees, and Erin used the mulchy water to fill up the sink in her play house so she could wash her hands.  John finished up Dexter's bike, came out to tell him it was ready, and he's essentially been riding it ever since.  Except when he went to the new ice cream store with Daddy.  No bikes allowed there.

Click here for a link to the video.

Erin has taken over the Strider bike and is, as of this week, riding around like a mad woman.  "Riding" might be overstating things.  But she happily walks around with a bike between her legs, and is able to steer.  Can she get on and off her bike by herself?  No she cannot.  Is she still pretty damn cute?  Yes.  Yes she is.

Erin came to the playground, too.  She wanted to bring her bike but she is way way too slow.  So she played on the playground, watched Dexter ride by, walked on the bridge, fell off the playground from about five steps up, split her lip open.  Poor kid.  She had kind of a rough day.  Her lip stopped bleeding fairly quickly, and she hopped back up and played plenty more before we went home.  But by the time nap time rolled around I think she was feeling a bit sore.  She was a sad little girl.

After nap and before dinner she was on the driveway running around and chasing Dexter, who was still riding his bike.  And then she tripped over some invisible crack and fell down.  Twice.  Graceful, she is not.  And yet, still cute.

I suspect that bike riding will be the prominent activity in the driveway for the next couple weeks.  Which is fine, because we will be out there more often starting Monday, waiting for the school bus twice a day.  Kindergarten starts Monday morning, and the bus comes at 7:45!  Dexter is ready, and I'm glad that he's got this extra boost of confidence heading in to Monday.  Way to rock the bike riding, Dex.  You are awesome!