Growing up too fast!

First - ACK - I missed my post yesterday.  I had it all planned, but did not feel well and just never got to it.  I'll post twice today to make up for that.

My baby girl is growing up way to fast for me!  At just four years old (5 in October!) she hit an important milestone over the Holiday weekend - and both Mike and I missed it! 

Madison learned how to ride her bike without training wheels! 

How do parents, especially Father's, miss this?  Aren't they supposed to run behind, holding the seat until they are ready for you to let go?  And aren't we supposed to be unwilling to let go? 

Madison has two bikes - one at home that is way too small for her and a larger hand-me down at the camper.  We told her that she couldn't get a new bike for home until she learned to ride without training wheels.  She was supposed to practice at the camper this summer while Mike gradually raised the training wheels higher.  After an incident with an exploding rear tire, Madison was a little reluctant to practice.  This weekend, however, was different.  She wanted to practice but was really struggling to keep the bike balanced.  She just wanted those training wheels off and Daddy was just not willing to take that step yet.  (his equivalent to holding on to the seat!)

Madison has never been one to be held back.  Since it was a Holiday weekend, there were a lot of weekenders in the park last weekend.  Madison befriended a little girl.  The two of them were riding their bikes back and forth between the weekender site and our permanent site - checking in with their Mom's every few minutes.  I was sitting around the campfire with friends and Mike was taking care of the boat at the time.  On one trip to the weekender site, Madison spotted the girl's sister's bike that didn't have training wheels on it and asked if she could try out the bike.

Madison jumped on the bike and that was it!  No training wheels, no Daddy holding the seat and running behind, no Mommy snapping pictures and taking flip videos.  None. 

Madison breathlessly ran up to me saying "I can ride a bike with no training wheels, come watch me!"

Daddy returned a few minutes later and he was instructed to remove those training wheels. 

Madison has not stopped smiling since - she is so proud of herself and she can't wait to go shopping for her new bike!

Reactions to Elmo - Compare and Contrast

Although I am probably damaging my kids for life, I LOVE to compare their personalities, reactions, and the things they do.  It must be fun because, while these two looked excatly alike as babies (right down to the crazy hair!), they are complete opposites.

Madison = drama queen
Cameron = Easy going, laid back, go with the flow.

See what I mean? 

Cameron has recently discovered a love for books (more on that in another post!).  Through that love for books, he has come to know Elmo and has become obsessed.  O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D.  He suddenly loves everything Elmo.

So, in an effort to provide him with toys featuring the character he loves, I have been scouring our house for Elmo related stuff.  I spied the tenth anniversary Tickle Me Elmo on a shelf.  You know the one...each time you press his belly,  his giggles get progressively cuter.  You can't help but smile  as you hear him giggle, especially when he turns over on his stomach and pounds the floor with his hand.  

Next time you're in a bad mood?  Drag out the tenth anniversary Tickle Me Elmo.  It will brighten you day for far less money than retail therapy, alcohol therapy, or the real kind of therapy that involves, well therapists.

So, I dusted off the Tickle Me Elmo and raided Mike's battery stash.  I proudly set Tickle Me Elmo down in front of Cameron and eagerly awaited his  reaction.

He pointed to Elmo.  "Mel-Mo," he said.

Oh this is gonna be good, I thought.

I remembered Madison's reaction when she received him for Christmas.  I think she was just over a year old....

We had searched high and low for this Elmo - he was THE toy that Christmas.  A friend finally found him at a Toy's 'R Us in South Dakota.  He was the last present for Madison to open.

As she got the wrapping tore off, she SQUEALED the moment that she saw the first hint of red fur.

SQUEALED.  It was complete and utter delight.

It was the reaction that every parent hopes for when they give their child a gift.

I don't know why I thought it would be the same with Cameron.  Because Cameron is NOTHING like his sister.

Cameron was standing next to me, as I sat on the floor.

I reached across and tickled that adorable fuzzy red belly. 

Elmo started to giggle.  He giggled until he fell to the floor, sat up again, and leaned forward to stand up.

As I am watching Elmo and giggling to myself, Cameron is FREAKING out.  The kid clamored into my lap and proceeded to climb up my chest, grabbing me around my neck and head and trying to climb farther.  All in an effort to escape the crazed furry red Elmo.

"No Mel-Mo," he sobbed as he stuck his finger in his mouth and drooled.  "No Mel-Mo!"

He looked a little like this picture...

So what did I do?  I kept tickling Tickle Me Elmo, of course.  Because we all know it gets funnier each time.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Grandma!  We love you.

Time out!

Time out.

Is no fun.

Until....

It's time for hugs from Daddy.

60 lb dog?

When we adopted Windsor from Small Dog Rescue of MN, they told us he would not be a small dog.  They warned us that he would easily be a 60 lb dog!  Of course, when he was just a puppy, it was hard to tell.  I kept telling everyone that he was so short, I did not see a 60 lb dog in him!   

And it turns out that I was right.  At nine months of age, Windsor stands about calf-high!  He is very short and long.  He is the PERFECT size for a house dog!  He is pretty solid and weighs close to 30 pounds but he is no where near 60 lbs! 

Windsor falls somewhere between sweet pup and gremlin.  One minute, he is cute and cuddly and the next, he is evil.  By evil, I mean he jumps up on people and small children, he eats plants (and trees!), he cannot tell the difference between his chew toys and the kid's toys.  Oh...and he still sometimes poops on my floor.  See what I mean?  Part Gremlin.  

Although I could do without the poop, I'm not sure how we'd get by without Windsor! 

Blog-a-thon Day 2 Summer Checklist

Chase my little brother, run from my big sister.

Check.

Become terrified of the Santa Claus wearing black crocs and duct taped boots.

Check.

Run through the sprinkler.

Check.

Ride side-car with my big sis.

Check.

Finish the summer reading list.

Not quite.

Go on a High Seas Expedition at Bethel's Vacation Bible School.

Check.

Catch some rays.

Check.

Catch some fish. And blow some bubbles.

Check and Check.

Mow the lawn.

Check.

Blog-a-thon Day 1.

Happy birthday to my brother, Tyler! Both of these pictures are of him with sweet Madison. When did she get so big??

I honestly believe that Little Madison has more hair than Tyler does in this picture!

Ty - I hope you have a fabulous day! Happy Birthday.