Biker Riders

Our kids don’t get to ride bikes often.  We just don’t have any good places to ride and learning on a gravel driveway can be a challenge.  This past summer Vincent finally mastered the tricycle.  The fact that he is on the shorter side made it difficult because his legs just didn’t reach the pedals that well.  When we go on vacation two things that make the kids really happy are having a place to ride bikes and swimming.

Joel

Over the week we were gone Vincent was able to ride his bike 3 different days.  He started off painfully slow and not knowing how to use his brakes.  After the first day he understood how to use his brakes but I think I saw a snail or two pass him.  By the 3 day we was pedaling at a great speed and not freaking out every time he went down a small hill.  He was starting to be really confident riding his bike and it showed.  Vincent wanted to ride his bike everywhere we went. 

Vincent

We brought a long a little tricycle for Joel to try and I didn’t think he would have any interest in riding on it.  Joel would load up in the stroller for our trip to the park or for a stroll around camp and then he would notice Vincent getting on his bike and Joel would get out of the stroller, put his helmet on and say “My try, my try” as he was getting on his tricycle.  When we started vacation Joel would just sit on the bike and put his feet on the ground and scoot around.  The park was less that 2 blocks away but at that speed it would have taken over 30 minutes to get there.  Brad and I took turns pushing him, but he would just want to put his feet straight out and not even try to pedal.  I decided that wasn’t going to work.  After much practice the first day I got Joel to put his feet on the pedals and keep them there.  By the end of our vacation Joel was doing a pretty good job steering (not perfect, but he was trying), was attempting to pedal on his own, and my back was a little sore from bending over and pushing him around camp.  

Vincent explaining something to Aunt Alyse

Aunt Alyse and Vincent

One morning we took my in-laws’ dog, Tally, with us for a walk.  The boys were both riding their bikes and Cecilia was in her stroller.  The original plan was that Joel was going to be in the stroller too, but he really wanted to ride his bike.  We started our walk to the dog park.  We looked a little crazy!  Brad pushed the stroller, walked Tally, and made sure Vincent was safe.  I pushed Joel.  I was watching over Vincent for a while, but he was going too fast for Joel and I.  Joel and I turned around half way to the dog park and headed back to camp.  The rest of the group made it all the way to the dog park before turning around.  Hopefully next time we go camping Joel is better at pedaling his tricycle because my back does not enjoy pushing him and his tricycle all around.

Aunt Alyse giving Vincent a little push up the hill

Fort Wilderness Campground Fun!

 

We stayed at Fort Wilderness Campground in Disney and it was wonderful!  The first day we were there we set up camp, road bikes, played at the park and went swimming all within a few hours of checking in.  We knew looking ahead at the 10 day weather forecast that it was one of the few nice days we were going to get.

Vincent all ready to go to the pool

Cecilia loving the warm weather!

Joel ready to go!

water playground

We were all excited to check out the pool, but not quite as excited as Vincent.  He was keeping us on task and making sure everyone was getting ready and no one was forgetting about going to the pool and ASAP!  The pool was pretty wonderful.  The water was warm, there was a little kiddie pool that was really shallow, a water playground area for younger kids that was fenced in, a main swimming pool and a big water slide. 

Vincent going down the slide

Joel trying the slide

Joel loved the water playground!  He went down the slides too many times to count, he sat in the water at the end of the slides and watch other kids go down, and he climbed up the slides with the other kids.  Cecilia enjoyed walking in the shallow water, splashing and watching all the big kids play.  Vincent had fun there too but he was anxious to get in the big pool and check out the water slide.  Vincent and I left everyone else at the kid pool and went for the big pool.  It was nice!  The water temperature was perfect and Vincent and I had fun swimming around.  We went to go down the water slide, but Vincent got a little nervous and wouldn’t do it.  I went down the slide and loved it!

Mommy and Cecilia

Joel

Daddy and Cecilia

Joel splashing into the water

  

After a little while Grandma brought Cecilia over to join us in the big pool and she loved floating around in her little raft thing.  Vincent tried playing a game with some of the camp counselors and other kids and then Joel and Brad joined us.  Joel went down the big water slide a couple times by himself.  Brad would send him down and I would catch him.  Both the boys were wearing life jackets so they were safe.  It was hard to tell if Joel liked the water slide or was completely terrified.  He asked to go again after the first time, but after the second time down he wanted nothing to do with it.  I knew Vincent would love it if he just tried it but he was refusing.  Finally I told him I would let him have a sip of pop if he tried the slide.  He went down once and loved it!  He ended up going at least 5 more times that day!  He was very excited to enjoy 5 sips of pop at the end of the day as a reward.

Vincent playing a game by the pool

Cecilia, Mommy and Vincent

Cecilia and Mommy

Vincent doing a great job swimming

Family photo!

  

After a delicious dinner we went to the campfire sing-a-long with Chip and Dale and enjoyed some s’mores!  Then we stayed for a movie outside on a big screen and it was one we all like “Finding Nemo”!  We didn’t stay for all of it because we all needed some sleep so we would be ready for our big day at Magic Kingdom the next day.

The big water slide

Joel and Mommy catching Vincent at the bottom of the water slide

Why am I not in the water?

Grandpa Craig and Cecilia

Brad, Vincent, Joel and Cecilia...ready for bed!

Road Trip to Florida

Our trip to FL went well.  The boys did really well.  We did a lot of musical chairs on the way down.  The boys took turns being the navigator, in their car seats on the couch with Cecilia, and laying in their bunk watching movies.  Cecilia was not happy about spending so much time in her car seat and she doesn’t like watching movies and she can only play peek-a-boo or look at books for so long.  The boys got more screen time than I care for but once we got to Disney they didn’t watch hardly any TV so it should all average out.  At least some of the programs, games and apps were educational.  It made me feel less guilty.  Joel even tried writing the letter “A” several times on my iPhone!

Cecilia and Mommy

My three monkeys ready to go to Florida!

Boys sleeping as we drive

At some point along the way Vincent decided that he wanted to brush my hair, something he has never asked to do before.  I worried a little bit about the brush getting stuck in my hair, but he did a great job and thought it was fun.  He brushed my hair a lot of different ways and many of them were a little crazy looking.  It only lasted about 20 minutes but I enjoyed it.  Vincent now wants to be a barber in addition to a scientist.

Joel navigating...or sleeping

Cecilia learned what donuts were on vacation.  She loved them!

Joel enjoying breakfast

Per the usual we spent one night in a Wal-Mart parking lot and another night in a Target parking lot.  The Target was less than 20 minutes from our campground in Disney so Vince was really excited when he woke up and asked “When are we going to be in Florida?” and I told him we were in Florida!  He was even more excited when I let him wear shorts.  The high the first day we were in Florida was 85!  Vincent kept saying “it is warm just like when it is my birthday.  Is it my birthday?”

Cecilia showing off her cute skirt

Brad our wonderful driver

Joel watching movies in his bed

Vincent navigating

The first two days we were in Florida it was in the 80's and I had a lot of fun dressing the kids in shorts and t-shirts, and not having to put coats, hats, gloves, boots, etc on everyone before we could leave to go somewhere!  That all changed as the week went on but it was really nice for a couple days. 

Our destination

Happy to be on vacation!

Joel and Cecilia ready to get out of their seats

Brad told them we were there to celebrate Cecilia's birthday