It's Like Riding A Bike!

On Sunday, I did something I haven't done in probably 15 years.  I rode a bike!  Considering that Duncan is a big cyclist and considering that we live in a place that has many wonderful bike trails, it's about time I got my butt on one.  Now, I didn't actually buy a bike.  Duncan discovered that one of the stops on the trail rents out bikes so we decided to give it a trial run...to see how things would work out with the whole family riding.  Duncan actually had to rent a bike too because his bike isn't conducive to towing a trailer.  The set up was the girls on their own bikes and then Brady and Colby in the trailer.  Brady, of course, does ride a 2-wheeler but we didn't think he would last for as far as we were going to go.

We drove to Winter Garden Station which is about an eight minute drive from our house.  Right as we pulled in, I realized I had forgotten the bag back at the house that had the sunblock and cars to entertain Colby so I had to go all the way back to get it.  That stunk but Duncan got us all ready to go while I was gone.  Then off we went.  When I got on the bike, the kids were all worried, "Mom, what if you don't remember how to ride it?  Do you know what you're supposed to do?" I said "Kids, don't worry.  It's like riding a bike!" Naturally, they didn't get the joke but I made myself laugh.  We were only riding for about ten minutes when it started to rain which is kind of odd because it rains pretty much every afternoon in the summer but we aren't used to it in the mornings.  Fortunately, there was a little rest stop area with covering and we were able to pull in to wait it out.  About two minutes later, a couple in probably their sixties, roll in to seek shelter as well.  I smile at them thinking how lovely it was to see this nice couple biking together.  Then the lady says something like "Well, sh**, glad we got out of the rain." Umm, do you not see the kids all standing here?!

Not the best picture but this was us waiting for the rain to stop.

The rain didn't last long and off we went again.  We were actually wishing it would rain again.  Have I ever mentioned that it's hot in Florida in the summer?  But everyone was doing great.  Poor little Aubree, though.  She has just the one speed bike and her legs were pumping about five times to our one.  She was so good natured about it all, I must say.  Duncan was bound and determined that we would make it to Killarney Station which is a 5.5 mile trek one way.  I thought it was too far, considering Aubree, and we needed to get back by 11:30 but we pushed on.  When we were a few miles from our beginning point, Aubree started to fade and I had to take some small breaks with her.  But she made it!  In all, it was a little more than 11 miles round trip.  The boys did great too except for the very end.  Colby fell asleep and then when Duncan went over a bump, he woke up and started screaming.  So we pulled into our destination with him crying his head off.  Oh, and Aubree's peddle fell off too!  Thank goodness we were at the end.  All and all, it was a REALLY great family activity and I can't wait to have my own bike...hopefully in the near future.

We rushed home from the ride because Calleigh had a knitting class at 1:00 pm at Jo-Ann's.  I had signed her up for a class a few months ago but it had gotten cancelled.  I think I was even more excited than she was about going!  My mother had attempted to teach me to knit when I was a kid but because she knits right handed (even though she is left handed) she had a hard time teaching me and it never amounted to anything.  In retrospect, it probably was just that I didn't get it.  I saw this as my chance to finally learn it (yes, the class was for Calleigh but I was hoping to tag along).  There were six girls in the class, including Calleigh, and one of the girl's moms had signed up as well (guess I should have but didn't think of it).  There was a nice older lady teaching and I marveled at her patience.  It's got to be tough explaining and showing the same thing over and over again and a kid still doesn't get it.  I will say that it took a little bit of time for me too.  But Calleigh and I both finally got it and we shared the needles and the yarn back and forth.  We weren't actually making anything...just practicing the stitches.  We were pleased with ourselves when we left.

The teacher

Trying to teach Aubree afterwards.

So we had the bike ride and we had the knitting and after the knitting we went to Ron and Elaine's for a final farewell meal before Derek and Tyler left the next morning.  But all that wasn't even the biggest thing of the day.  The biggest thing was when Calleigh came downstairs on Sunday morning and she was carrying a book, a chapter book to be exact.  Now, as you know quite well, Calleigh does NOT like to read.  She loves books...being read to and looking at pictures.  She just doesn't like to actually read it herself.  When I saw her with the book, I figured she was just doing her usual - - looking at the pictures.  She sat down at the table for breakfast, opened her book, and as I looked at her, I was like "Can it be?  Is she actually READING the book?" So I said "Calleigh, are you looking at the pictures?" She says "No, I'm reading it and I only have two chapters left." You could have knocked me over with a feather.  I didn't want to make a big deal out of it though so I said nothing.  How did this all happen?  Simple.  She got in trouble the day before and as her punishment she had to go to bed promptly at 8:30...which means actually getting into bed and not getting out and not being able to listen to any CD's.  That's tough, right there since she's my night owl.  I told her the only thing she could take was a book if she wanted.  At first she refused but then relented and well, I guess we see what happened.  This whole thing would be the headline of this blog but alas, she has not read a book since.  Was this a one hit wonder?  Time will tell.  Perhaps she needs to be punished again.

Russ and Saray also joined us at Ron and Elaine's.  This is NOT Russ and Saray.

Saying good-bye to the cousins.

Colby trying out Grandma's (Grandpa's?) kayak.

Last week we were on the go quite a bit but this week was much quieter.  Honestly, it's amazing how much more you can accomplish when you don't have school.  I was doing laundry in the middle of the day, paying bills, etc.  It was really, really nice.  The big project for the week was to completely clean out the school room and get it all set up for next year.  The kids and I will be gone for a month and when we return, it will be almost time to start school so I want to get it all done before we leave.  On Tuesday, our big chunk of curriculum, My Father's World, arrived and it is so exciting to open the box and look at all the new books.  I think Aubree and I were ready to start school right then and there!  We made a trip to US Toy so we could get some items to decorate the classroom for our theme this year - - Exploring Countries and Cultures.  I had some some coupons that I had been saving up and it was time to use them.  The kids had gotten a 25% one item coupon in the mail and since I hadn't used them from the year before, I had had six coupons to use (apparently I never signed Colby up for the program).  When I went to pay, the lady (manager?) first tried to tell me that I couldn't use the old ones because the newer one replaced them.  I politely told her that the first set didn't have an expiration date so I didn't see how they COULDN'T accept them.  She relented but then said the only way we could use the six coupons is if we did it in six different transactions.  I said "Do what you have to do." Then, as it turned out, to use your credit/debit card, they had to type in the number off the card rather than swiping it.  I say to the cashier "Wow, it looks like you need to update your technology here." She says "Oh no.  They just updated it.  We've only had this for a week." I don't think she got what I was talking about.  So yes, I had to wait there while they did six transactions, typing in the debit card number each time.  Meanwhile, the kids each got a free balloon because of their coupon.  This seemed like a nice idea until Colby got his and then the other three kids started freaking out that he was going to let it go.  Colby got all upset that I was holding on to the ribbon but if I didn't, Calaubra started basically crying.  That was a really fun 15 minutes checking out.  But I did save $11! Incidentally when we were at Publix yesterday, Brady saw Colby looking at the balloons and Brady says to me "PLEASE can we NOT get a balloon?"

School room is a mess.  This is the before.  There is no after yet.

Got some "goggles" with their own money.

Trying on the hats.

Box day!

Things are much calmer once the helium is out of the balloons and the strings are cut off.

Duncan had the day off today for the holiday which presented me with the chance to go to yard sales without kids.  I suggested to Duncan that we go to yard sales as a family but his eyes glazed over so I said forget it.  Ah well.  I tried.  It worked out very nicely anyway because I went alone and then went to a consignment store that was having a 70% off sale on their clearance items.  Got some good stuff.  Afterwards, I met Duncan and the kids at Winter Garden Village where we ate at First Watch and then went over to a mattress store, Mattress Firm.  We have had our mattress for going on 11 years and it's probably time for a new one.  It's a pillowtop which means you can't flip it over and now there are some significant divots, particularly for Duncan.  As I'm sure you know, you can pay some pretty significant money for a mattress and it does seem like the most comfortable ones are the most expensive!  Naturally, Duncan and I couldn't agree (in a friendly way!) which one to get so I told him "Let's hold off and in the meantime, we will to to Mattress Giant and try out our current mattress." Our current one is a Spring Air and it says "Made especially for Mattress Giant." Since we had two cars, Duncan took the kids home via the ice cream store (we had gotten coupons for free cones when we rented the bikes) while I went on a mission to try our mattress.  When I typed in Mattress Giant in Google, it kept changing it to Mattress Firm.  That's weird, I thought.  I give the Mattress Firm a call and find out, low and behold, they bought out Mattress Giant.  So there went that idea!  Back to the drawing board.  But man, it is TOUGH to mattress shop.  Such an important decision.

Duncan took the kids to Bass Pro while I was out and about.

A few conversations with the kids...

Aubree is taking her sweet time in getting dressed.
Me:"Aubree, hurry up.  Get dressed.  What's the holdup?"
Aubree: "I don't know what to wear. Is it going to be hot today?"
Me:"Aubs, it is the summer.  We live in Florida.  It is hot EVERY.SINGLE.DAY."

The kids get plastic cups at First Watch that they're able to take home with them.  As we are leaving the restaurant...
Brady: "Mom, can you carry this cup for me?" (It still had water in it)
Me:"No, you carry it.  I don't want to have to carry this the whole time."
Brady: "Don't worry.  You can put it down when you get home."

When the kids were eating ice cream, Duncan noticed that Brady was having a big challenge.  They are used to having soft frozen yogurt and aren't accustomed to eating the hard ice cream.  Brady was stabbing his with a spoon but wasn't actually getting much on the spoon.
Duncan:"Brady, you seem to be having some problems.  You need to hurry up and eat that."
Brady:"I know, I know.  I'm in a process.  It's complicated.

A few more pictures.

We ran into three little girls (4, 7, and 7) at the pool during swimming lessons and they asked Calleigh and Aubree if they wanted to play "Monster High" with them.

This is Monster High.  Pretty, ain't she??

The Isidros were out of town for awhile and when Brady heard they were coming over to visit, he was SO excited to show Kohlden all his stuff, he lined it all up at the door.

Putting on a show.

The kids split this new Lego set three ways, using their own money.  I didn't think it was going to end well with everyone arguing over who got to do what thing but it actually went perfectly.

Have a great 4th of July!!