Emma cruisin'

Here's a video of Little Miss Independent to go with what I wrote 2 posts ago. She's riding a friend's bike at Abby's soccer game.

SPF zero

No training wheels for Emma

I remember where my first born learned to ride his bike without training wheels. We'd been contemplating for weeks when to take them off. We picked the least hilly spot in the neighborhood. It was in a cul-de-sac of small town Kentucky. Mike unscrewed the training wheels, and we headed out. I carefully held onto the handlebars to stabilize the bike as David pedaled. Then, I'd let go and run alongside him for a few feet, and then I'd grab the handlebars when the bike looked too wobbly. We repeated this numerous times until he was steady and secure.

It was pretty much the same story with Abby and Annie, and then came Emma.

Emma has asked me for 2 weeks to please get the training wheels off her bike (that has an un-inflatable flat tire that hasn't made it to the bike shop). Since the bike is unable to be ridden due to the un-inflatable flat tire, I haven't bothered to take off the training wheels.

Now I know she's been a little bothered about the training wheels thing. She has 3 siblings who don't need training wheels. And, gasp, she has a friend a year younger who does not need training wheels. And she has good-for-nothing parents who won't get her blasted bike repaired!

Today I was at a friend's house visiting in the kitchen. Emma was outside playing. After a few rounds of tea, I looked off the balcony to check on Emma. I saw this cute little child riding a bicycle. I did a double take. It was EMMA on a bike without training wheels. Riding like a pro. Not even wobbly. First time ever to try a bike without training wheels. I nearly jumped off the balcony to congratulate her!

Hopefully my first 3 kids have fond memories of hearing mommy's voice from behind yelling, "You can do it! You're riding! Keep pedaling! Keep pedaling! I'm not holding on. Oh no, I'm coming, honey!" Not Emma. That little independent, determined kindergarten kid took matters into her own hands (or feet). She will remember a voice calling from a balcony above, "Oh my WORD, Emma, you're riding a bike! You taught yourself!" Sometimes you just gotta "do it". I'm proud of that little kid. I like her style.

P.S. We'll post pictures once the good-for-nothing parents get the bike functioning (with good tires and NO training wheels).

Just To Make You Think

Because we all need to stretch our minds and think a little more each day, here are some quotes from the man who explains the complicated in a simple and understandable way, Yogi Berra. BTW - these are great to ask a kid to explain to you as well! Enjoy!

A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.

Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.

Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.

Even Napoleon had his Watergate.

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.

He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious.

How can you think and hit at the same time?

I always thought that record would stand until it was broken.

I never blame myself when I'm not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?

I never said most of the things I said.

I wish I had an answer to that because I'm tired of answering that question.

I'm a lucky guy and I'm happy to be with the Yankees. And I want to thank everyone for making this night necessary.

I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did.

If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be.

If you ask me anything I don't know, I'm not going to answer.

Kimbob

Going to an international school has given us opportunities to enjoy international foods. One of our favorites has become kimbob (sushi minus raw fish). A while back a Korean friend taught me how to make them and gave me the bamboo mat and essentials. It is one of Annie's favorite foods, so we made them one night. We had kimbob and tomato soup. Here are some pictures of our Korean masterpieces complete with chopsticks. There are also pictures of everyone (well, almost everyone) enjoying the kimbob.

The Shoe or The Boy?

David had these shoes for 2 weeks...















They now have a nice ope-air element for summer, but that's not the look he was going for.
So, we got him a new pair.

2 weeks later...















How can the "heel" just fall off a shoe?

So I wonder what the problem is - the shoe or the boy?