Love

Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.
That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody's business.
What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy if anything can.

Thomas Merton (1915 - 1968)
Showing posts with label bicycle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bicycle. Show all posts

Friday, September 23, 2011

A Perfect Saturday

Daddy and Chloe made muffins this morning.

She's a good helper.

Later in the morning, we drove over a couple of towns in search of a bike trail.  The guys ended up deciding to play catch in the gravel parking lot while the girls went biking/rollerblading.  Chloe played opossum when we had gone less than five minutes from the parking lot.

But then she wanted to show off for the camera.

Because she's good at making faces.

I am so impressed with how my baby can ride a bike now.

She is growing up too fast.

I had so much fun rollerblading right next to her while she pedaled as fast as she could to see if she could go faster (she could not).  I love how she decorated her helmet after the plastic casing fell off.  Mommy and Daddy love you, too, Chloe.

Yes, she was riding full speed here on her bike when she turned to look at me and my camera.

On our way back, we stopped on the trail under a bridge.  There was sunlight coming through a grate into this little alcove.  She had fun sliding down the slope.

After biking and playing catch, we surprised the kids with a trip to the movie theatre to see the Lion King in 3D.  This is Todd's favorite Disney movie.  :)

The tickets were $50 for the 3D showing.  Popcorn and waters were another $20.  Chloe squirming on my lap most of the matinee movie.  Priceless.

On another note, this was our 11th wedding anniversary.  The years have flown and so much has changed.  We have spent just as many years working together at phone companies and sometimes on the same team as we have spent working at different companies since we met.  The years we worked together were hands down the best.  And now I am no longer working, but spending as much time as possible with the two best kids ever.  I couldn't be more appreciative and thankful for all this man has given me.  

He is my best friend, my husband and a wonderful father.  I don't think I will ever understand his fervor for the Minnesota Vikings or how he can drink a Mountain Dew at 10pm and then go straight to sleep, but that's okay.  I don't need to.  Neither of us have the need to fill the air with idle chatter as we are comfortable in silence.  We don't like crowds and almost always agree on paint colors and furniture.  No matter what fire has been lit under me, he has supported me 100% in trying what has inspired me (from buying a sewing machine that sat unused for years, to a stint of selling cosmetics to playing with fire and hiding behind a camera).  He has my back and I have his.  I know he loves me and that is enough.  Well, it is more than enough.  

I feel so undeserving, yet incredibly thankful for this man in my life who puts family first.

Happy Anniversary, my love.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

No More Training Wheels!

Starting out down the driveway, shortly after removing the training wheels. Fully equipped with helmet, knee pads and elbow pads.




Chloe wanted to take the training wheels off her bike, too. But that would have been a little too difficult for us to teach both kids to ride bikes at the same time.




So Chloe and Daddy were sillers instead.




Of course any time with Daddy or on the bike is going to make this girl smile.




Look! The boy child is riding a bike all by himself!




He was biking FAST!



And a nice, smooth stop.



No better way to finish the lessons than with some cold, red gatorade!



I have never seen such a determined child. Or perhaps even an adult. Owen was extremely frustrated through many attempts as he felt I was causing the bike to lean or fall out from underneath him. It was such a totally different experience having to balance on his own and not having training wheels. But through all the tears and frustration, he refused to go back into the house or give up. Every time he got right back up on the bike to try again. It did not take more than 30 minutes before he was riding on his own.

Owen practiced coming to a stop using the foot brakes and did very well at this without falling. Still need more practice on taking off on his own without one of us holding the bike steady by the seat. And more practice turning/steering the bike. But overall, EXCELLENT first time riding the bike without training wheels.

So. Proud. Of. Owen.

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