Let's see if I can get this updated once a week or so!

  So Lily decided that she finally wants to learn how to ride a bike.  We have had a bike for her since she was 2 (with training wheels) and every Spring/Summer she is so determined to get on and ride.  So, we buy her a new helmet (sometimes a new bike) and get her out on the sidewalk.  Every year, she gets so excited and does so good for about 2 feet or so and then... she tips.  It's kind of similar to cow tipping.  Just falls right over.  No reflexes... no trying to catch herself.  Just falls.  After that... we get to wait a whole year until she is ready again.  Well, she turned 8 this year and decided it's finally time to ride. Her neighbor friend is 4 and is learning to ride a two wheeler.  Kinda hits low on the self esteem.
  Well, last week we decided to get out the old bike... just knowing that she would have the "cow tipping experience", come in crying... swear she hates bikes and will never do it again... and then we'll hang the trusty bike back up in the garage for next years attempt.
  This year was different though.  She had no fear (at least she didn't show any).  She took off!!!  Now... I  know she has training wheels on but it was so cool to see her go so fast!  She scraped her ankle but other than that did great.
  Well... little brother Bridger saw how she was riding and wanted in on the fun.  My first thought was, "Why can't we just wait until you are 8... seems like the right time considering your sibling..."  But Dan had other plans in mind.  He pulled out a bike he had been saving for Bridger for when he got older (He actually found it at the "give and take" pile at the dump!)  It looked like it was for an 8 year old!  Dan hurry and fastened some training wheels on it, lowered the seat a little and he was just a smidgen to small... Darn.  But we walked with him as it looked like he was teetering back and forth to even stay on board.  His tippy toes barely touched the pedals.  It was so sad because he wanted to ride just like sis.  We gave him a high five for effort and headed home.
  Tonight after dinner,  the kids wanted to show their Grandpa Greg and Grandma Monica how they could ride their bike.  Again... my negative side kicked in and I thought, "Man... now I have to push/pull Bridger around the block so he could feel like he was riding his bike while sister made every attempt not to crash on the way to the park.  Shoot me now."  However, the most incredible thing happened!
  Dan lowered the seat more than we thought we could, then he tipped it forward to he would stop sliding off the back and WABAM!  He fit!  I thought, "Super!  He fits!  He is 3 years old and he is on a two wheeler bike way to big for him and he has no sense of steering.  And he's 3 (which means he has so much stubborn independence he will flip if we even try to help him)"  Dan said one sentence that made me giggle.  He said, "He has a helmet.  He'll be fine."  And he did! (Remember all those helmets we kept buying Lily??  Came in pretty handy!)  Then this happened...

Really???  Yes.  Really.  First time ever riding a bike.  First time ever steering... and the boy was off!!  It is so bitter sweet...  Bitter part?  So sad that he is getting so big so fast.  Sweet part?  Hello bike rides on the trail this summer... WITHOUT pulling a trailer.  And Lily?  Lily is doing so well that she was so far ahead of us I could never catch a video!  My kids are %100 awesome!