Two Wheels

We purchased a balance bike for Laney not long ago. It's a little bike that has no pedals and the idea behind it is that the child naturally learns to balance as she pushes herself around and gets more and more comfortable coasting along. They aren't afraid because they are lower to the ground and can easily catch themselves with their feet if they feel nervous. It's pretty ingenious.

Once Laney mastered the balance bike, I figured we would move on to her regular bike sans the training wheels. 

I figured wrong. 

She was NOT excited about the idea. 

I had to bribe her and challenge her to get her to even do a couple laps around the cul de sac.  

I bartered for extra time on the computer and even promised to make her treats if she would give me just one more lap. 

She would usually say, "I am NOT doing that."

And if by some miracle I managed to get her on the bike an down the street, invariably she would dissolve into tears midway and refuse to ride home.

Finally I ended up bringing her bike to the school and showed up with my bike to pick her up. She had no choice. There was only one way to get home and by the time we made it there, she had worked out most of the kinks and had gained her confidence.

Now she's a two-wheeler!

Laney turns six!

Strangely...my tiny baby Laney has turned six. 

She is a BIG KID.

And she values a large light-up birthday button and an even larger birthday crown.

Birthday spaghetti!

Dad pulls a face for the camera.....TRADITION!

This year she went for a simple, feminine design. I like to call it "The Laverne".

One of the best things about siblings is that they fill in all the gaps where parents fall short. I admit I never once thought of playing "Happy Birthday" for her on the trombone.

I love the happiness that is shining right out of that smile. It's a great day to be the center of attention!

One of her favorite gifts this year....when she opened it, she was so sweet and happily took a tissue and blew her nose with it. I'm sure she was thinking, "A box of tissues? I don't remember double starring that on my list."

We encouraged her to take a couple more tissues...

And the fun began.

Twenty bucks is really long when taped end to end.

Mathew assisted her in the counting.

She also kept up her eternal promise to promote the "As Seen on TV" industry with yet another soft cuddly version of the pillow pet. This one is for the seatbelt.....a Seat Pet.

She is a true and loyal customer as well as a fantastic, lively, imaginative, animated, engaged, energetic and compassionate soul.

I love you dearly, Laneybug.

And we bowl

There's always that day in the late winter/early spring when staying home for the evening seems like the most depressing thing on earth.

That's when we head to the bowling alley.

Ethan bowls quite well in the beginning and you can see it on his face. If this were a video, you'd be watching him strut back to his seat after his second strike.

Meg was feeling anxiety over aging out of the bumper set. But after a few lessons on the granny technique and enjoying a hot bowling alley pretzel with an unidentified cheese dipping sauce, she's feeling a little better.

How can a sauce be clear and orange at the same time?

Anna would roll that ball and it would ever so slowly make its way towards the pins.

Often, when you were sure it was about to hit one of the bumpers, it would just magically change direction and start heading over to the other side. Perhaps it was feeling the pull of the tides.

Mark wore his best bowling alley attire. He felt many kindred spirits nearby.

We decided against revealing its status as a joke shirt. It isn't smart to anger the locals.

The rank of Webelo

Mathew is a Webelo!  (Technically not a word. Webelos is the word and it has no singular version....little fact for ya). 

Mathew seems pretty excited about it.

We rounded out this important night with a game of forehead to mouth oreos.

The bishop was on standby.

Congrats, Mat!

Band homework

Yes, Ethan. 

Next time you wonder if I love you. 

The answer is unequivocally.....yes. 

You can tell because allowing you to practice your trumpet in my car is a pure act of love.

And someday you will do it for your child and I will laugh and remember.....

Valentine hair

There's the valentines and the candy and the candlelight dinners and maybe some flowers or a card or a dinner out.

And then there's making your pigtails into hearts.

Happy Valentines!

Maren turns 38...and we multitask

I love having little kids. They are sweet and snuggly and fairly obedient. 

But big kids decide to right your name out of snow. 

And then they do it!

Mark is great and throwing a party.

Take that, Pinterest!  They made that banner without even having to search your databases!

I decided to combine the birthday dinner with some of the things I had made for Valentines day. I am positive there was a good reason, but it escapes me at this time. You have to be prepared for this when you are born the day before a holiday. I am at peace with it.

When you are born on February 13th, you better not get mad when your birthday decor and gifts have a lovey theme. It's just part of the deal.

I made these little scratch off cards for the kids. Too bad the scratch off stuff required a steak knife to remove.  Curse you, Pinterest!

That's a cake for a 38 year old, right there.