Like learning to ride a bike

It was less than 18 months ago when Noah traded in his trike for a real, two-wheel bike.

He took to it right away, and even though it was a little big for a two-year old, he did great on it. Every once in a while, one of the infamous Brookside sidewalks would jut up and cause his training wheel to launch him off the bike.

A couple of months later that bike was stolen, so we got him a new one, more appropriate for his size:

He did even better on this one, eventually riding it all the way to Loose Park with us. After riding it so much that he wore the training wheels down to metal a couple of times, the local bike shop owner told me that training wheels actually inhibited learning to ride, rather than enhancing it, and convinced me to buy a pedal-less bike:

His first week on this thing, I was nearly convinced that I'd been scammed, but pretty soon he was riding like a pro, flying down hills, doing 90 degree turns at high speed and getting the hang of balancing and maneuvering on a bike. After spending most of the summer on this bike, we decided to give the pedal bike another try, sans training wheels.

Although Mandy's been trying to work with him in the 10 feet of grass we have in our tiny back yard, he's been resisting the idea of riding it on the sidewalk or concrete. So yesterday I took him to a nearby high school parking lot, told him that I had a surprise for him and that if he did well, I would take him to Sonic for the treat of his choice. He was a little nervous when I pulled his bike and helmet out of the trunk of my car, but he gamely climbed on.

After a little help on how to get the pedals going, he took off pedaling furiously, like he'd been riding forever. And then 20 feet later he slammed on the brakes. He repeated this most of the way across the first half of the parking lot, but then slipped into a longer ride. He can easily do it, but he's still a little timid without pedals for some reason. It doesn't help that pedal brakes are different than what he's been using all summer - he actually bumped into the dumpster below because he forgot how to stop - but he's getting the hang of it.

"I'm going to ride to the blue recycle bin." Which he did - to and into.

After he got here, he told me he just wanted to walk back to the car, but eventually I convinced him to ride back. He did really well, and even practiced a couple of circles, but one lap around the large school lot was enough for one morning apparently. He was happy when I told him I was proud of him, but he was interested in concluding the morning training, and getting on with the treat.

His special treat: A corndog and a cherry lime-aid. At 10:00 in the morning.

And it wasn't even noon

The boys get dirty everyday. I consider how dirty they are to be a good indicator of a good day's play. But, to get this dirty, this early, is noteworthy. I had to get E bathed before lunch and nap today. We'll see how dirty he gets this afternoon. I'm sure he'll need another bath before bed tonight.

Random pics

Elliot came in from the backyard with dirt on his face and it was before 9am. That's my boy.

Why, thank you "Uh- Suh" for leaving these awesome "gaga"

Noah, King of Forts! Boy have we got our money's worth out of these things. I used to pad the tiled playroom when Noah was an itty bitty baby, and then stored in the attic until last winter when they were rediscovered. Noah used to just carpet the floor with them. Now he makes forts. They've gotten quite elaborate. The one taking up the living room now has tunnels and secret passageways. I don't have the heart to take it down, but it's getting hard to get around.

He usually wants signs to mark all the "caves" he made for different members of the family

Walk in the Woods, part deux

Paul & I had so much fun hiking with the boys around Sprague Lake, we brought back mom, Sam & Keith with us later in the week. This time we went farther down the path, into different parts of the woods and just explored more than rock climbed. We saw a woodpecker up close and a HUGE elk. It was so massive and so up close. Mom & I even examined some scat trying to figure out if it was from a bear. It was too big to be deer, but it might have been elk. We all enjoyed the relaxing walk in the woods.

This picture I took to show a real estate agent what I want my backyard to look like someday. It's going to be in Colorado. It's going to have plenty of land that looks like this

Brave Noah crossing the stream on a log

Jumping on rocks. I warned him he might get wet. He told me he wouldn't. He was right.
Never underestimate Noah. He can do whatever he puts his mind to.

Nice jump, buddy.

Mom walking on a fallen tree to cross a stream

Playing with sticks

Balancing on logs is fun

Paul & Elliot joined us late. Elliot fell asleep in the car and took an hour and a half nap. They were just coming back in time to see the big Elk!

Hey there, big guy

Keith said "I've only seen those stuffed at Bass Pro" and wanted a pic with it - haha!

I love this pic of Paul & the boys having a picnic

Sam & Keith

Paul & Elliot - Hallet's Peak & Flattop Mountain in the clouds behind them

Walk in the woods

After Noah's successful hike to Alberta Falls we wanted to find a place he could just explore, climb rocks, etc and also let Elliot wander around and get out of the backpack. We decided to go to Sprague Lake which is just a flat walk around a lake (wheelchair/stroller accessible). It wasn't really Elliot friendly we found quickly when he walked right up to the lake ready to go into it. He was crying as we tried to hold his hands and keep him back from it, and it just wasn't a smooth start. We put him in the backpack as we walked around the lake, letting Noah jump and climb on rocks and then went off on a path towards a campground. That is where the real fun began!

It was just what we needed for both boys. A forest with lots of trees and rocks and things to explore. It was a fun family hike and we have decided it is the PERFECT place to camp.

Our little Elliot so bad tries to keep up with Noah. He had more than his fair share of bruises and scrapes. He climbs really well actually, but he would lose his balance at top and fall.

"Well Noah did it. Surely I can too!"

Noah made it his mission to climb every rock in his path

Checking out some ducks on the path around Sprague Lake

Good job, Elliot! This is a little more 1 year old friendly climbing material!

My sweet Noah

Oh yeah, no biggie. Just scaling a steep rock with a buck in the background. You know, just another day in Rocky Mountain National Park.

This is that steep rock he was climbing. I thought it was too steep and he INSISTED he could do it. Paul followed behind him in case he fell. He totally did it by himself.




Noah always makes it his mission to find the "perfect picnic spot".

At one with nature

Sprague Lake

That is SO my boy. Walking off the beaten path.

Boulder jumping

The start of Fall

I realize we're still officially in the throes of summer, but Saturday was such a Fall-like day, we couldn't help but be reminded that our favorite season is upon us. Even better, it was one of those days that is just enjoyable from start to finish.

The morning was crisp, cool and perfect. The kids were up at around 7:00. We started with a little breakfast, and after a quick trip to the farmer's market for some fresh eggs, we decided to go on a run with the kids to Loose Park. As Mandy pulled out the double jogging stroller, Noah quickly declared that he was going to run with us. Mandy and I rolled our eyes at each other, thinking that our opportunity for quality morning exercise was over before it began.

Noah started running with me while Mandy started jogging with Elliot in the double stroller. After less than half a block, Noah said he was thirsty. This is a standard excuse of his when he gets tired of riding his bike with us and wants us to stop for him, while he gets a drink from one of our water bottles. This time I told him he'd have to wait until we at least got to the end of the first block. We did a quick stop, and then he surprised us both by taking off and not really stopping for almost a quarter-mile, and then only because he "needed to catch his exercise" (his breath). After, literally, about five seconds, he jumped back up and took off again. We repeated this four or five times until we ran the entire 1.5 mile route to the park, and even then he wasn't quite finished, as we ran another quarter mile or so to the duck pond. At 3 years old.

We explored the park a little, and visited the Rose Garden, then headed down to the Plaza for a treat of chocolate milk at Starbucks for the boys, and to pick up my car that I'd left there overnight.

Loose Park Rose Garden

Afterwards, we drove home, got a bag packed, and went to the Zoo. We weren't the only people with that idea, as the weather was perfect and there was a new Polar Bear exhibit to see. Given the crowd at the exhibit, we skipped it and went on to see some of the other stuff. We took the train to "Australia", poked around there a bit, and had lunch on a nice big rock that Noah picked out. Elliot was winding down and getting ready for a nap, so we decided to walk back to the entrance and ran into Mandy's sister, who decided to visit the zoo with Charlie and Jason & his boys. We invited them over afterwards for a cookout, and left. Along the way we walked into what we thought was some kind of underwater exhibit and instead found that we'd walked into the below-water viewing area of the 140,000 gallon pool, and got to watch the bear swimming laps (ahead of all the people waiting in line, apparently). He'd swim underwater right up to the glass, put all four paws on the glass and push off again.

That afternoon, most of Mandy's family came over for a grill-out of hot dogs, fish tacos and salmon. The five older boys - Charlie, Noah, Cole, Elijah and Luke all played tag and hide-and-seek and other games outside while the adults chatted inside.

Kid table

Cole chasing Noah

Elijah giving Charlie a ride

Cole giving Luke a ride

Having 4 boys over to run wild with makes Noah a happy boy!

They were hiding here

Elliot riding his favorite little bike (hand-me-down from our neighbors) excited about Grandpa Rick's truck

Happy Charlie

Noah & Elijah

Elliot generously sharing his drumstick with "uh-suh" (Aunt Sam)

Yummy!

Poor Cole hurt his ankle

Trying to get every last drop of ice cream

Grandma Anita was singing "Wheels on the Bus" and E was cracking up

As if the boys weren't dirty and tired enough, around 7:00 several of us headed down to Edgevale Park to let Charlie, Noah and Elliot play in the dirt and sand.

We finally got back to the house after 8:00, and after a tub-blackening bath and a few bedtime stories (where both boys actually sat quietly and listened), Noah and Elliot slipped off to dreamland quickly.