Yesterday…
Today…
So, we did what every other Seattleite does when we see sun – we rush outside and stay there until every last bit of sun is gone!
Our vitamin D was soaked up in West Seattle with Kris and Grady.
bike riding
rock throwing
fort building
and park hopping (4 different parks – serious energy burn)
Jack and Owen really wanted to go bike riding today. So, despite the rain, we went to Jack’s school’s parking lot which is big, level, and empty of cars (for the most part).
When we got there, Owen was already tired (he isn’t exactly sick anymore, but is still not eating and is super sensitive to everything. I am really hoping it is just that this week of sickness has been hard on his body!)
Jack got on his bike and I held the seat – and he was off. He balanced from the first few pedals today. After his first go around, he fell over away from me after his bike was stopped. I tried to reach him (and got three smashed fingers and three ripped nails – very short) He was scared, but got back on. After that it was smooth sailing. Check him out!!
The really funny thing is that he has the balance part down pat, but not the steering or speed control. Whichever way he leans to keep is balance is the direction that he heads in. You can see that he mostly leans to the right, so he goes in a clockwise circle. I wasn’t sure if he was going to hit the van that he was heading for…
Before Jack got this bike for Christmas, he had a balance bike (a bike with no pedals, where you just run and then put your feet up when you get going.) So he learned the balance from that, but he couldn’t really go far enough to have to steer much around here. I think that is why he can balance so well, but needs to practice steering.
Owen learned on a typical bike with training wheels, so he started out focusing on steering and control. When Owen got good at those two things, then we added in the balance.
It is really interesting to see the order reversed. I thought I would really like the order that Jack learned, but now I am not so sure. He wants to go fast, but isn’t really ready yet. It seems like he is more likely to get hurt. Of course, that might not be due to the order of learning. It could be due to his little personality that tries first and fixes the mistakes as he goes.
I suppose if Jack does not end up in the ER in the next few weeks needing an ultrasound and an MRI and a new bike helmet( because of a collision with a tree) then he will be ahead of Owen at this age…
Daddy had to work today and Owen spent the day with Mamau, so Jack and I had a day to ourselves.
It was rainy, so we went to a few stores. We needed a birthday present for Katie and Sarah so we went to our favorite toy store. They had just reorganized their store and were having a big event to show off their new products. Jack was in heaven trying out all of their display models. He rode bikes, tried lots of toys, and did a few art projects. He had a great time there.
At another store Jack saw this bed and really wanted it. I was looking it over to see how we could do something like that ourselves. (I can just imagine Eric rolling his eyes right now imagining me actually trying to pull it off…don’t worry honey!) 
We were by THE taco truck so we HAD to stop. 
We ate in the car since it was raining, and Jack though that was the best thing ever.
We were heading home and I remembered the 25 cent rides that they still have a Crossroads Mall. So we stopped, and dug through the car and my purse to find as many quarters as we could. 
Jack was not too keen to go on this ride. I explained that the seat would go around the circle, and he was sure that it was going to go upside down and he would fall out. We finally turned the ride on without him inside and then he hopped on. “That wasn’t even the tinsiest, einsiest bit scary,” he moaned when it was over…
We spent the next hour or two in the Half-Price Book store and read and read. We scored a few French word books and Jack picked out a dinosaur book.
Jack fell asleep on the way home and took a long nap after I transferred him to our bed. Poor little monkey has been cooped up in the house since Owen has been sick and we haven’t gone anywhere. It was good to tire him out.
