Biker Chick

Look who learned how to ride a two wheeler this summer! Ella and Luke spent a lot of time on balance bikes at the beginning of the summer and every once in a while we'd pull out the bike Ella got for her birthday.....aka, her big girl bike. I am a believer in balance bikes now - she really seemed to get the feel for what it feels like to ride, and before we knew it Ella was pedaling off on her big purple polka-dotted big girl bike. She couldn't get enough!!! The worst parts.... trying to stop and turn. I was a bit of a stress case - just waiting for a crash, but there were none. I know there will be. Who doesn't have a few scars from a bike crash or 2? But for now, its fun watching her enjoy figuring out how to ride....yet another milestone. Before I know it, she'll be borrowing the car. :(

 

Riverfront Park



 I was freaking out a bit before summer ended..... I was doing everything I could to cram as much fun into our last few days before school started as I could. With Ella starting Kindergarten, I knew everything was about to change and I just wanted to prolong summer as long as possible. In these pics you can see the day we had at Riverfront Park downtown. I have to say it was fun seeing the kids enjoy all the rides, but i was forced to realize that I am not the spring chicken I once was. I can't ride rides like that anymore. I took the kids on the Sizzler and not only was I ready to throw up after minute 1 of what seemed like a 10 minute ride, but I also made the dumb move of sitting in the middle which meant I had to use all my strength during the ride to make sure I didn't crush Luke because of the momentum of the *#@^ Sizzler!

I did get over my queasy stomach and we all had a really fun day. Not sure how I will survive the next 10 + years of fairs and amusement parks full of fun rides the kids want me to go on with them.....I need a plan.

Look at these 2 hard at work...... got their tools and their headlamps. What needs fixing?

Paddington

Luke's got a new pillow case.....actually it's pretty old! Grami Margaret and Papa Tim sent Seth's old Paddington Bear pillowcase for Luke to use. Pretty cute picture huh?

Tennis Lessons

This August, we got Ella into a week long tennis camp. 8 o'clock in the morning....thank goodness it was only a week. Seth played when he was a kid, and still likes to play now and then. We'd already bought raquests for the kids so it made sense to get some lessons in. Ella was so excited, and really enjoyed the lessons. It totally built her confidence. Now she says that tennis is her favorite sport because she knows how to play. Luke had a hard time sitting on the side lines. I would play on the other end of the tennis courts with him....throwing balls to him to hit back. He's good! He also would helps shag balls during lessons, and he LOVED that! 

 

After the 1st day of lessons, Ella told me she thought she could beat her Dad now. This one's got confidence!

Rock Lovers

We've got new decorative river rock in our back yard, and the kids (Ella especially) can't get enough. They love sifting through them and finding their favorites. A bunch have made their way into the house too, so new rules are being made all the time! :)

Festival at Sandpoint

In 2006, Seth and I got a chance to see David Gray (one of our favorites) in Sandpoint, ID at their annual Festival at Sandpoint. The concert itself was amazing, and we loved the setting, and the festival in general, so knew we would go back when and if we got the chance. So in May when we saw that The Avett Brothers were coming, we bought our tickets right away. So with Grammy at the house with the kids (everyone's happy!), we headed up to Sandpoint on Aug 10th and made a night of it!