Big Weekend For Andrew

It was big weekend for Andrew. We bought him his first bike and his first big bed.

We had been waiting for him to show interest in a two wheeler. He had become very comfortable, skilled and daring on his big trike, so we thought it best not to push the issue. We’d talk about it from time to time, and make a few tries at getting him to ride while in a store, but saw no real attraction.

And, since we had just gotten him his first two-wheel scooter, he was already learning something new and had more transportation options, so I had expected it to be a while longer before he was ready to move on.

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But, we tried again as we happened upon the bike aisle and this time, suddenly, it was Cool. He got on and rode it around and around the aisles, maybe a dozen or more times, mostly with Bethany following behind on another bike. He would have ridden it through the checkout and out of the store if I had let him, but instead I carried it. A couple of times people stopped me to ask if I didn’t think the bike was a little small for me. It was a rite of passage for both Andrew and me.

The next morning he took his first ride through the neighborhood. He fell once or twice, but he’s so used to falling that it did not phase him at all. With his need for speed, we will soon have to start riding along, instead of walking; otherwise we’ll never keep up.

Gayle had been trying to find a fun bed for Andrew to graduate from the Elmo toddler bed that was handed down from Bethany. After a lot of searching she ran across an online classified ad for a great loft bed with a slide.

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It is in great shape, owing to it not having great enough appeal to the owner’s daughter to get her to stop sleeping in their bed, so it had hardly been used. We drove over with the kids. The father and I took it apart while the mother and Gayle watched Bethany and Andrew play with their daughter. Got it home and immediately reassembled it in Andrew’s room.

It was a big hit. Like taking them to an amusement park. Later Bethany begged to sleep in it with Andrew that first night. We said OK, but knew from our recent camp out experience, that it was quickly doomed to failure. So an hour later, we escorted her back to her own beautiful bed, vowing to dress up her room in some way to even things out.

First Time Camping…Ever!

For the longest time, I’d been meaning to get out my old two-person nylon tent and camp out in the backyard with the kids. When the neighbor told me that he just did that with this daughter, I kicked it into gear and pulled the tent out that weekend.

The tent was often used while backpacking and camping, so setting it up was once second nature. But that was a long time ago. Still, my memory gradually served me well, hampered only by a missing piece that I vaguely recollected. When I finally found it at the bottom of the bag, it all came together quickly. The kids had fun watching this marvel grow from a small bag.

Bethany announced several times with great excitement, “This is my first time camping…ever.” Uhhh, that’s a pretty short “ever”. And, aren’t most things your first time…ever?

With the tent unfurled in its orange, blue and green splendor, we all got in to try it out.

Brought back many fond memories for me, and was like a ride at an amusement park for them. After a little while, we left and went about with the rest of our day.

Later, at the kids’ bedtime, we grabbed their sleeping bags and mine (Gayle had none, so we shared) and hiked out to the backyard. Packed with us were books, water bottles and flashlights and of course Angie, our dog. Soon it was time to settle in for a peaceful sleep in the wilds of walled suburbia.

And it was very peaceful and quiet…for the cats, who remained safely inside. For us and anyone in a two house radius it was, well…not.

There in lies the stress of two.

I should first say that we are truly blessed with having both a girl and a boy, at a good age separation–greatly broadening the experience of parenthood. Watching how well they play together and in general, cooperate, really makes us appreciate the wealth of two.

Having said that, bad behavior loves company.

When they get started, it’s like a spark bursting into a flame which quickly gets out of control. It’s hard to find enough water (redirects, stern words and of course, our favorite, threats) to extinguish the inferno.

The second we got into the cramped space of the tent, the chaos began–giggling, wriggling, teasing, shouting. It lasted two hours, until we finally hiked back inside to a normal routine and to our separate rooms with comfy beds.

Thus ending our first camping experience…ever!