1st bikes for the big kids!

I've been wanting to get the kids balance bikes for quite a while. We talked about bikes or scooters for their B-day but the weather was still crummy and Tom didn't want to clutter up the garage any more while we were showing the house.  Tom was also NOT on board with the balance bikes vs. traditional bikes.  I'd love to say he saw the error of his ways but really it was just because "Lila really likes it."  Up until he saw her try it I was getting the "you are crazy" look from him when I brought it up.  Such a sucker for his little girl.

Our friends Alysa and Paul sell the Strider bikes and their little adorable girl Presley who is two and a half rides one.  I wish I had a picture of her riding it.  It's really amazing.  She gets her little feet going so fast and then just puts her feet up on the bike and cruises along.  Such amazing balance for that age.  That might have convinced Tom a little, but I'm sure most of it was the smile on Lila's face and the fact that she said "they are taking my bike" when they left.  Logan wouldn't try it...maybe because it was pink?

Lila of course wanted pink but we let Logan look at all the colors online to pick his.  He thought it was going to appear immediately so I had to explain that they had to build it first.  In preschool land that takes about 15 minutes.  I know this because that's how often he asked me if it was built yet.

We got them Friday night after the kids were in bed.  They are supposed to stay in their rooms until 7:00 (maybe more on how this actually is achieved in a later post) but I had left my water bottle in Logan's room.  He can't stand stray things in his room so he brought it in to me.  I can't tell you how many things he has squeezed out under the door when he is supposed to be napping or sleeping.  He of course saw the bike downstairs and that was the end of that!  Lila miraculously slept for another hour and a half through all the commotion.  A little boy with a new bike does not know the meaning of the word whisper.

I think he looks a little excited.

New Spiderman helmet

I love the hands on his face because he just can't stand how excited he is.

Lila woke up about 7:30 and I think she saw her bike and had run back upstairs to find clothes because when I found her and brought her down she looked like she already knew.

Lila looks like trouble already and she isn't even on the bike yet.

I have to say so far these things are all they are cracked up to be.  There is almost no learning curve.  Lila was trying to put her feet up and balance as she went the first morning.  She just didn't know how to get going quite fast enough to make balance for long.  She did balance a couple of times for a couple seconds.  Doesn't hurt that the monkey is fearless.  She had her first crash and got right back up and on.

 Logan is a little more cautious but he has already started to glide his feet along versus the flat footed walk.  They are so much easier to steer than those dang trikes!  I should get a comfortable chair for the front of our house because I'm going to be spending a lot of time there.  So much fun for them!  I love getting the kids outside to play more.  I think this house and neighborhood is going to be really good for that.  They love to eat out on the deck in the morning and that usually leads to wandering off to play.  Yay!  I'm warming up to the new house.  I love the floor plan, the neighborhood, the view and the yard.  I'm just still holding a little of a grudge about all the packing and moving and boxes, etc.  I'll get over it I'm sure.  Seems pretty weighted on the positive side. :)