Category: Family

Sophia received her very first bike for her 3rd birthday nearly two years ago.  It took her all of about five minutes to figure out how to pedal and off she went. 

We took the bike out of the garage last spring and found that she had a flat tire.  She had worn all the way through the tire and the tube was bulging out.  Mike replaced the tire and the tube and she was off again biking like crazy.  Mike pulled her bike out of the garage again this year.  She rode one block…another flat tire.

Mike set out this past weekend to find another tire and another tube.   He came home with two brand new black tires and one tube.  He had no luck in finding a 12″ white bike tire.  It took him quite a while to replace both tires, but he wanted her to have a matching set.  Although her bike doesn’t have the same look as the white tires offered, we are hoping the new tires are durable enough to last until next year when she has outgrown the bike.  A new bike for her 6th birthday next year may be appropriate – sshhh, it’s a secret.

Here’s a couple of photos of the mad biker from last night.  I know it would be more appropriate to show her on her bike, but I haven’t had a chance to get a picture of that yet.  For now, here’s Sophia with her purple nails and Sponge Bob pajamas.

We spent a quiet Mother’s Day at home yesterday.  The kids spent Saturday preparing for Mother’s Day by whispering to each other and Mike about their plans.  I was told “do not look in Sebastian’s closet”.  I wasn’t quite sure what was hidden in there, but I knew I did not want to get caught opening his closet door even if I was only looking for dirty clothes from his laundry hamper.  In the pictures below you can see the giant card that was hiding in his closet.

Before any showering or changing out of pajamas could take place, the kids brought me gifts and cards.  I think they may have been more excited than me. 

We were lucky to have great weather and spent a good deal of time outside working on the yard and gardens.  Mike fixed the flat tire on Sophia’s bike so that we could head down to the Lakewalk.  The kids rode their bikes and Mike and I walked – or “power walked” as Mike calls it.

Although Mike and I were not able to spend the day with our mothers, we each called our Moms in the morning.  I’m amazed that my Mom (Mary Rose) could raise eight kids and still retain her sanity.  We grew our own vegetables in the garden and my Mom made a lot of our clothes when we were young.  I can’t imagine that she ever slept.  Mike’s Mom (Karen) raised two amazing boys.  With some of the crazy childhood stories that Mike has told me over the years, I’m quite amazed by Karen too –  especially her patience. 🙂

If you look closely, you can see the gum still in her mouth.  She doesn’t even take it out when she bathes.  The kids have the same gum addiction as their father – Thanks Mike!  At least it’s sugarless gum. 🙂