Cyclocross

Adam has discovered a new sport, Cyclocross. It is a cross between road biking and mountain biking...basically a good excuse to buy another bike and extend the cycling season into the rainy days of Fall! He has done a few races and really enjoys the challenge. It is really fun to watch because they do several loops and you get to cheer them on the whole time! Anders went with us to Adam's first race a few weeks ago and had a lot of fun watching Daddy. I got to watch Adam without the kids today and walked around the whole course...it was really tough with lots of mud to pedal through, barriers to climb over, and hills to run up! Here are some are some videos from his races...I am so proud of him!

Anders Riding a Two-Wheeler

We bought Anders a running bike a few months ago so he could learn to balance on a bike. Running bikes are super cool...they are just like a regular bike, but without the pedals. That way the kiddos can learn to balance on two wheels without having to think about pedaling at the same time. He loved his running bike and would zoom down the driveway, take quick turns, and balance really well. A few weeks ago he said that he wanted to ride his cousin's two-wheeler (without training wheels). "Just hold on, Mommy!" he said. So, I started him down the drive way and let go...he rode half way around the loop until I told him to watch for cars and he fell. He hopped right back on and hasn't stopped since! So, at 2 3/4 years old, he has learned to ride a two-wheeler, "just like Daddy!" I found a video of him riding on the first day...he is pretty darn cute and so proud of himself!

Here are some shots of him and Adam riding together...he said the phrase "Just like Daddy" at least a hundred times that morning.

Stretching before the big ride! Heading for the puddle...of course! All smiles after the ride. (Can you see Anders' glasses and cycling gloves? "Just like Daddy!")

Lots of videos & pictures to post, but while you are waiting...

I haven't told tons of people yet that I am even pregnant, so...hey, guess what? We are expecting baby #3 at the end of February! So far I have felt tired, sick, sore, freaked-out, and super happy...all in the first 21 weeks. This last week has been a super happy week...we found out that are new little one will be a boy! I was sure it was a girl and even bought an outfit for the baby and Ella to match from Hanna Anderson. Needless to say, I am mailing back the baby version tomorrow. Of course, boy or girl, it really doesn't matter, so we are glad Anders will have a little brother to teach all his tricks (one of which I will post next time, I promise) and Ella will have two big strong brothers to help take care of her. So, the count-down begins...only 39 weeks to go! Have a great day and don't give up on our blog...I will be back soon!

Here's to a Happy Retirement!

My wonderfully talented (teacher, crafter, writer), hard-working (taught English to 8th-graders for 35 years...ouch!), and super-smart (she always knew every answer on Jeopardy when I was a kid) Mom just retired. Adam and I flew down to California for her retirement party and enjoyed a quick weekend with my sister, brother-in-law, aunt, uncle, and Mom. It was a lot of fun to be together and celebrate Mom. Her friends threw her a great party with yummy Mexican food and lots of laughs. It was thrilling to see so many people who love my mom...they all told me how much they would miss having her at the school and that it wouldn't be the same without her. I am so proud of my Mom...she really is amazing. I just hope she will spend some of her extra time with me in Washington...I love you Mom!

Puzzle Man!

So Anders LOVES puzzles. I got him a Cars puzzle a few months ago and he liked doing it with me, but once he really started figuring them out he really loved it. When Adam found out he came home from work with 6 more puzzles! It was so cute that he went to all the trouble to buy them...we are both so excited when Anders does normal stuff that Ella has never been able to do. Anyway, up until yesterday Anders always need help to get the puzzles going, but while I was doing dishes I heard "Mommy! I did it!" I walked into the living room to see that he had done the whole puzzle, start to finish, on his own. He was so proud of himself and wanted to give me "the fives"! What a sweet boy...and so smart!