The family that rides bikes together

Mason didn't want a bike for his birthday. Remember that? Well, we got him one anyway and then it was too big for him. So closer to the end of summer I ran to Walmart and got him a smaller bike. It was really a little too small, but he could put his feet on the ground while sitting on the seat and that made a huge difference. I took him out one afternoon and forced that kid around the block on the new bike. Pretty soon he got the hang of the peddling. Then before long he figured out how to start going without a push from me. And then he was off!

It was so satisfying to teach him this new thing that gives him a huge new element of freedom and independence. He fought us the whole way, but once he got the hang of it he was so proud of himself. And I was so proud of him.

We decided to take all the kids to the skate park so that he could ride his bike and Brielle could ride her scooter. It has become our new weekend activity and we have visited a few different parks. Brigham City is the best. Roy wasn't too bad, either.

Brielle decided right away that she wanted to ride a bike instead of a scooter. She pretty much just hopped on and rode away. She has been fearless. She rides that bike around like it is second nature. Luckily, once Mason got the hang of his small bike, he was willing to move up to the larger one, so they both have something to ride. And he has been much more daring since we've been going to the skate parks instead of just around the block. I could watch them cruise around on those things all day.

Allison's Cabana Boogie

There is a popular blogger here in Utah that puts on a giant dance party every year. I had seen pictures from other years and thought it looked fun, but also like something I would never do.

This year, Emily started doing social media marketing for a couple of local companies. One of them decided to be a sponsor for the party and got a couple of free tickets in return. Emily got the tickets since she set it all up, and asked me to go. I am so glad I said yes.

I haven't had that much fun in a long time. It was so great hanging out with Emily all night. And we danced our butts off. When we first got there, people were just kind of milling around, not sure what to do. But as soon as it started getting a little darker they turned up the music and everyone made it onto the dance floor. It was cool being around all the other 20-30-something-year-old moms that needed a night out to let loose. Because let loose they did.

Another end of summer post, because I forgot too much

I can't leave summer behind without mentioning the Dinosaur Park! We have been there a handful of times before and the kids love it. But this year, when we were visiting the train station, we got a year pass to the Dino Park. We took full advantage. And we don't plan to stop anytime soon!

So Summer Ends

The kids have started school, and I can feel that change in the air that means winter will soon be upon us. Maybe it's because we didn't have much of a winter last year (we were still going to the park in December and my bulbs came up in February) but I am not dreading it. There is just a hint of anticipation. But I will miss being able to just load up the kids and find the nearest park. We did a lot of hiking this summer, at Mason's request. We also found some new hangouts, like the park that has chickens next to it, Beus' Pond Park, and the Ogden Nature Center North, which is just a cool, slightly creepy trail along the mountain. My kids are so fun. We had a good summer. Here are our cellphone pictures to prove it.

First Day of School

Mason started Kindergarten this year. He was not excited about going back to school. Preschool wasn't great and summer was great, so...

We went to his Kindergarten assessment a week or so before school started and he got to color a picture and meet his teacher and show how smart he his. He thought his teacher seemed very nice and he liked that she was young and sweet. So he got a tiny bit OK with going to school. The first couple of days he seemed to have a good time. Tim came with us to drop him off and it was pretty exciting. Then after two days of school I realized that he can ride the bus, and it was a game changer.

When you ride the bus, you get to be around the bigger kids. You get to ride a bus. And! You get to ride with your friends, which means when you get to school, you are already with your friends. He has really been enjoying his time since then. I may have cried a little when I dropped him off that first day. But man, he is growing up so fast. It is such a big school and a big change and he took the whole thing in stride.

Brielle started a three-day preschool the same week. She was VERY excited. Could not wait. Preschool is like the grand prize. When I took her to the back to school night so she could meet her teachers and see the classroom she was got suddenly nervous. She wouldn't talk to anyone and wanted me to hold her. But it didn't quell her excitement.

The first day, she kept telling me the whole way there, "I am so excited! This is the best day!" She jumped out of the car and waited in the driveway with the other kids and parents. Then the garage door opened and her teacher bounded out in a superhero outfit and hollered, "I'm looking for some superheros! Can anyone here help me?!" Brielle turned right around and announced, "I am not going in there."

I talked her into staying and even though she was a little hesitant about whether or not she liked the first day, she has loved it ever since. She looks forward to it every time and gets so excited about learning and playing. It is so incredibly sweet.