Gladdest Hours

Mathilde's Visit

We had a lovely, wonderful, fun, talented and very helpful visitor this August!  Her name was Mathilde, and she traveled across "l'Atlantique" from Rennes, France to spend a month with us---to improve her English, experience a little corner of the United States and help me with the girls.  I was able to focus on some yearly school planning and projects before that slower-third-trimester hits.  It was everything we could have hoped for and more! 

Here we are after Mass on her last Sunday with us~

The girls ADORED her:

They are staying AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE as she checks in her luggage at the airport last Wednesday.  Moments later, they were all just a puddle of tears as we said, "Adieu."   :-(

 

By the way, Mathilde is the oldest of five children.  Her parents had FIVE GIRLS and the SIXTH (Charles) is a BOY, who is 1 year old.  Coincidence???? I think not!  So, we'll have "un petit correspondant" for our little boy too. 

Bike Riding for Pre-Schoolers 101

Somewhere in Seattle, WA is a man who saved our backs.  Literally.  About four years ago Pete took the girls to a park on a Saturday morning so that I could do my 1-hour-whirlwind-house-cleaning.  (I don't do that anymore, btw.  Now, when he leaves the house with them, I do something that doesn't involve being on my feet.)  But, I digress....

While he was at the park, he started talking to another dad who was teaching his 3 yo how to ride a bike. His process was so ingenius that I couldn't believe we had never heard of it.   Surely we were the only parents on the face of the early who hadn't heard of this!  THIS is what should be on the evening news!  THIS is what should go in those crazy-well-baby/child-mailings that I get from our beloved governor that cost tons of tax dollars, that say brilliant things like, "Your child will become more mobile, so pay attention and don't let them touch the stove."    

But, so far, of the people that I've told about this, and I HAVE told lots (I get kind of "excited" and a bit "over-exuberant" about some things :)   NO ONE realizes HOW EASY it actually can be to teach a child how to ride a 2-wheel-bike!  They can basically teach themselves with a few easy changes to the traditional process.

Now, let me preface this by saying, I'm usually not a fan for "pushing to learn things early."  I'm definitely on the "better late than early" spectrum of things.  But this is different....especially for younger children with older siblings who want to do what the olders are doing and keep up and play their games. And, no matter WHEN you teach a child to ride a bike, you are cutting your horrible-bending-over-back-wrenching-time down to about 5 minutes!!!   And for those of us approaching our 40's and 50's who don't have children old enough to take over bike-duty, this is GREAT! 

****************BIKE RIDING FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS 101 *****************

Somewhere between the ages of 2.5 and 4, a child can go from scooter/tricycle/other to a COASTER BIKE.  COASTER BIKES are simply a 2-wheel-bike, in a super-small size (usually a 12" wheel/tire) that: 

• has no pedals 
• is low enough to the ground to feel secure
• has the seat moved very low so feet can touch the ground easily

They sell "real coaster bikes" in all the specialty bike shops for $200-400 dollars...(give me a break)...OR, you can go to KMart and buy a regular 12" bike for $30, remove the pedals, and lower the seat.  OR....our favorite is to keep an eye out for free 12" bikes that people are trying to get rid of at the end of their driveways on the weekends, and remove the pedals.  Here is our COASTER BIKE: 

Pete just took the pedals off and lowered the seat.  The idea is that the child is learning that feeling of BALANCE long before they have to pedal.  One thing at a time.  Balance now.  Pedal later.  Right now they can self-teach themselves to balance by first getting on the bike, touching their feet to the ground and just pushing themselves along.  As they become more confident and their balance gets better, they lift their feet more often and for longer periods of time and basically "ride" their bike....just without the pedals.  It also helps if there is a slight hill for them to ride on, so that they get the feeling of going quicker and gliding.....they just naturally lift their feet.  Voila!  Caroline started riding her COASTER BIKE last spring right before her third birthday.  Here she is cruising around the driveway: 

In the woods: 

Coasting along after going down the slight hill on our neighbor's driveway: 

  

This is highly superior to riding a 2-wheel-bike with training wheels for two reasons: 

• It's WAY MORE FUN!!!!!  Training wheels are boring and slow and tippy!  Yuck!
• Training wheels don't teach them to BALANCE, which is what riding a bike is all about!  

OK, so once they get really good on their COASTER BIKE, there are 2 options: 

1. Put the pedals back on the COASTER BIKE.  Not our preferred option.   What if you put the pedals back on and Johnny isn't ready to ride with pedals on?  Then you have to take them back off!  According to Pete, putting pedals on and off is a pain, so we don't do this. Plus, EVERYONE loves the coaster bike, so it's never NOT being used.  
2. Get another 12" bike, leave the pedals on, no training wheels.   This is what we do.  So, we have two 12" bikes around here at all times.  

When you and/or they think they are ready, you help them learn how to rotate the pedals and walk/run along side them for about FIVE MINUTES!!!!!!  If they're ready, that's all you'll have to do!  

About 2 weeks ago, Pete spent 5 minutes with Caroline who is 3.5 years old, and she HAD IT!  

Dorothy Jo was just shy of age 4 when she rode on her own, and Pete remembers Dorothy Jo doing the same thing.....FIVE MINUTES and she was riding on her own.  

More pics of Caroline a couple weeks ago: 

 

 

Novice Bike-Riders also need to watch out for Mini-Pedestrians!  Where's the Crossing Guard???  Hmmmph...she must be busy taking pictures.

This is such a great way for a child to learn how to ride a bike at their own pace!  They are completely in charge of this process with a bit of gentle help of a parent at the beginning of each stage.  They can practice on their own, gaining more and more confidence.  Balance learned on the COASTER BIKE is key!

And, no back aches for the elderly parents.  :)  

The People That You Meet When You're Walkin' Down the Street

One day in October 2002, after baby #2-Erika was born, we were taking a family walk and passed a house about a block from ours where a VERY pregnant lady was unloading her car.  We waved and said a quick "Hello!"  and my interior monologue went something like "Ooohhhh, another MOM!!!!  with a new BABY!!!!  I wonder if this is her first?  I wonder if she stays at home?  I wonder if she's fun!  She smiled....yes, I'll bet she's fun!  Maybe someday I'll meet her."  

Fast forward 6 months to Spring 2003.  I'm out strolling the neighborhood, trying to ward off nausea (2 months pregnant) with my 2-year-old and 7-month-old, getting some exercise (back in the days when I was actually concerned about getting exercise), wishing Pete would get home so I could throw up in peace and take a nap.  I see the same house with the door wide open.  

With nothing better to do with my time, I enter the yard with my double stroller and knock.  A VERY tall man appears and I say something stupid like, "Oh, hi!  My name is Suzanne and I remember seeing your wife when she was pregnant, and thought we'd have children the same age.  We live up the street, and thought I'd stop in and introduce myself."  He stared.  Now that I know him, it seems very natural that he would stare, but at the time, of course, I wanted to cross my eyes at him and jump up and down in a very immature way and make googly-eyes. LOL!    

He mentioned that his wife wasn't there and he was feeding "Amy."  I peeked in and saw Amy sitting in her high chair with food all over her face.  Yep...that was her.  The baby in utero.  Now out-of-utero.  

I babbled something about the name of my husband and this was Madeleine, she's 2 and Erika, she's Amy's age....2 months older.  I didn't mention that I was due in November.....I was sure he didn't need this piece of information to decipher that I was pretty much a lunatic, and he did NOT want his wife hanging out with me.  I left my name and phone number with him and said good-bye.  Poor guy.   I don't think he was used to strange women showing up on his doorstep leaving their name and phone number.  

Well, lo and behold......"Judy" called a few days later and we met a few days after that.  Which led to my next-door-neighbor-and-practically-sister-Julee to meet Judy.  Which led to our husbands meeting, which led to home improvement project-help and BBQs.  All while our babies were playing together and growing......and so were our families........ which led to neighborhood parties, lots of play time for the kiddos, and lots more pregnancies (on my part), an adoption (on Judy's part) and more neighborhood friends.  

Julee and Judy were a HUGE part of my early-mommy-days.  Hanging out on dreary Seattle afternoons, watching the girls play, and chatting with each other about absolutely everything.  I don't know WHAT I would've done without them.   They kicked it into gear when I was down and out.....little babies galore, pregnant, and with Pete out of town...they fed us, ran errands, cleaned up my kitchen, folded laundry, watched the girls.  Every little bit helped, and for that......I will be eternally grateful.  

Judy and Keith moved to Houston temporarily about a year ago for Keith's job.  But, they come back with their 2 girls to visit his parents, and the neighborhood too!  So, last night we gathered together to celebrate their visit, the beautiful Seattle weather and Keith's birthday!!!  The girls played for HOURS outside and didn't want it to end.  I am so grateful for our amazing neighbors, and for Judy and Julee, who shared those amazing early years of motherhood with me!  

Judy and Keith are on the left.  Then me and Pete.  My mom in the middle.  Julee and John.  Robin and Reiner.  Nope, not a boy in the bunch!  Not only do WE only make one "model"....but so does my neighborhood.  

The girls made all kinds of decorations and signs for the occasion.  Here is the one hanging by the entry way to the deck: 

And, no BBQ would be complete without a "Picture Pole":

Happy Father's Day, Pete!

It takes a BIG MAN to handle all these LITTLE GIRLS~

There are A LOT of kisses to receive~ 

Big muscles are needed to manage all the tickling~

A snuggly lap is a must~

Encouraging words to accompany the kisses from all sides: 

Big shoulders and arms to hug and be hugged~

Sturdy legs to stand against when you can't quite do it on your own~

I think he's handling it quite well, don't you?  

************************************************

The love of my life, sharing the joy of my Gladdest Hours~

Happy Father's Day, Pete!

The Great Thing About Having My Sister Visit.....

......is that I get to cross all the crazy things off my list, such as: Take Picture of Feet.   The last foot picture was a bit outdated.  No one except my sister or my mother would put up with the nonsense needed to accomplish this monumental task: 

So, I have a group foot-picture in the grass, in the leaves, and now in the sand.  If we have another baby and I do this AGAIN with 6 pair of feet, my mother has dared me to do this in the snow!  

Here is Auntie Senta with her beach-going-clan with Mt. Baker in the background: 

 

And, she comes bearing gifts!  Homemade bags for everyone, complete with goodies inside!

 

Caroline's Beach Buddy

 

"Hmmmmm....where's that Auntie of mine?"

 

 

 

 

Julee and John's Wedding Celebration

Our neighbors, Julee and John, got married in a small, private ceremony a month ago.  Then last weekend, they had their wedding reception in OUR BACK YARD!  Whoo-hoo!  

A hundred people whooping it up, complete with delicious food, a bon fire, a huge tent and a live band.  The band was Deadwood Revival and they were great!   My friend, Cathy, says that if she ever wins the lottery, she'd use the money to have a LIVE BAND at EVERY FUNCTION and family get-together.  I'm with her.  

Here is a little clip of the children dancing a modified version of the Virginia Reel at the party:

 

On Sunday during clean-up, John (the groom) was stomping down the garbage can and it fell over and he broke his arm.  He is now known affectionately in our house as "Garbage Can Hibbs."    We can't even claim that it was an alcohol-related accident.  Just plain ol' stupidity.  *wink*

While John was falling out of garbage cans, the girls were eating breakfast with the leftover balloons as guests.

Congratulations John and Julee!