And a new bike...

We are just back from vacation and school started yesterday, but I'll get to that soon, I promise!

As M3 began mastering the bicycle, we realized the blue bike was just too small for him! He looked like a hamster on its wheel. So to the local bike shop we went and lo and behold...the perfect used bike!

Taste of Freedom!

Yay!! M4 has finally conquered his fears and started riding his bike without training wheels!! He has gone round the block several times without stopping and has gotten only a few scrapes. He is very determined. Not only is it freedom for him, but it is freedom for me!! He was getting darn heavy on the Trail-A-Bike!

Fun weekend...

On Saturday while Grandma and Grandpa were here, we went to the Raccoon River Valley Bike Trail and met some of the extended Hale clan for a bike ride. It was a cool and lovely day. M3 rode her bike twelve miles! M4 was on the trail-a-bike, which I don't think was very comfortable, especially because the part of the trail we were on was kind of bumpy. But he hung in there!
Clearly, I am not too good with the photography. No flash needed here. But it's the only pic I got of the action! Much of the trail had nice shade.

Here is a good portion of the clan at PJ's in Panora. The trail was much nicer and smoother south of Panora. After lunch, Grandpa took the kids to a carnival and playground in Grimes. Thanks, Grandpa!!
The kids and I stopped at a playground in a cute little town called Yale. We met a cool woman who has been teaching abroad for years but came back to her hometown, bought an old, decrepit hotel, and is fixing it up as a B & B. Future overnight ride?
More playground time in between riding time...Mark took a major spill and is sporting some nice road rash on his arm and hip. Wouldn't be a bike ride unless someone fell! I'm still sporting a scar from my RAGBRAI fall...

New bike

We got M3 a new (used) bike from our local bike shop. She had no trouble at all switching to a much bigger bike. She's so excited, she wants me to wake her up early to go on a bike ride BEFORE school!

Still needs the seat up a bit higher, I think.

The open road (or bike path)

Finally! I went for a ride on the sweet road bike my mom lent me! Thanks, Mama! It was an absolutely glorious weekend, and Sunday morning I decided to ditch the responsibilities of an extra child at our house and all the things that "need to be done" and just go for a ride. I took our local bike path out to the Rock Creek Lake beach and back. It was so much fun, I felt great, I didn't fall over and the time flew by. Yay! I hope I can join my parents for at least part of one day during RAGBRAI (they are riding the whole week!). Maybe it will be the day Lance rides.