Rock Angels and a New Bike

Travis took the girls on a daddy-daughter date last week. The purpose of this date was to go bike shopping for Megan. She really had outgrown her tricycle, and we figured it was time for her to ride a bicycle. She was VERY excited. As she tells people now, "Dad and Zoë bought me a new bicycle. It's white, purple, pink and blue."


I tried to convince her we should ride to Notre Dame, but I guess she had so much fun going to the park on her tricycle that she wanted to try out her new bike on the trek. It was a much faster trip (Thankfully!) and I didn't have to push her the whole way. Still, the uneven sidewalks made for slow going. When she got on smooth sidewalks I was nearly jogging to keep up with her! She tipped over a few times, and was scared, but she handled that well, too.

My personal feeling is that kids should learn how to fall off a bike- makes it safer in the long run. Zoë became a champ since her chain used to pop off every time she went over a bump (while training wheels were on).

Miranda was excited to be outside and to be going/doing something. Every time I take out my camera, she shouts "CHEESE!" I guess she's grown up with the contraption in her face quite a bit...
The girls were not as interested in the slide this time. We ate our picnic lunch (hence the orange soda stains all over Miranda- note to self, straws are not enough, need a sippy cup. The girls then played on the swings.

Miranda loves the rocks. She loves sweeping them with her hands, picking them up and putting them on things (swing seats, benches, my hands). But I really laughed when she decided to make rock angels. She'd fallen over (the swing she pushed bumped her just right) and she laid there for a few minutes looking up at the overcast sky and the trees, then she started moving her arms & legs back and forth, making a "Rock Angel".

Megan joined her, and she had fun making a rock angel, too.
Miranda was a mess by the time we were finished with the picnic and park and started on our ride home. Twigs and dirt in her hair, smashed into her sticky face (from soda and a runny nose). But she was happy!

Have I mentioned that she loves to swing? She also enjoys company swinging, and indicates she wants me to swing next to her. Why does swinging as an adult make me feel so sick? It's not surprising Megan doesn't enjoy swinging- I'm not fond of the way my gut feels going back and forth!

Here are a couple of videos of the Megan riding her bike, and the last moments of making Rock Angels (I couldn't get the camera out fast enough to get a video of the process of making them).

Megan on her New Bike

Rock Angels