Bikes

So recently I got on this new kick and decided Nick and I needed bikes, pronto. Paying $60/day for us to rent bikes when we went camping was just ridiculous. And besides, doesn't everyone have a bike? I decided I wanted a beach cruiser and, after much research, narrowed it down to Electra or Trek. After visiting our local bike store that sells the Electra's, I wasn't real impressed. Then we hit another bike store that sells Treks, and there it was....the Trek Wasabi. They said they'd had it for a while and gave me a fantastic deal. I love it! Nick calls it my hippie bike. Love the flip-flop friendly pedals:

Nick refused to even look at the bikes while we were there, said he wanted time to research on his own, but after coming home and riding mine a little, with catalog in hand, he picked out the bike he wanted. Back to the bike store we went and he ordered his, the boy version of mine, the Trek Drift:

Next, we decided Lexi really needed some new wheels. She fell in love with the Trek Wasabi 20" in the catalog, so off the bike store we went AGAIN and ordered her one, it just came in yesterday. I love it because she'll be able to use it for a long time, and it's not covered in barbies or hannah montana or something she will grow out of soon:

Look at the cute seat!

Don't they make a good pair?

Now Spencer, not needing a new bike, couldn't be left out of the big bike craze so....he lost his training wheels!

More pics here

I'm not sure how much longer I'll actually be able to ride a bike, once the belly gets bigger, but it's fun for now! I think we'll be taking a family ride to the park later, then maybe to the book store, out to lunch.....

Parties!

Lexi chose to have her party at Snip-its this year, a kids hair salon that she loves. They do awesome parties, and they are so easy. All I had to do was show up with a cake! They have 2 party planners that do everything, so I just hung out and took pictures, a totally stress-free experience (which was great because I just happened to have a really bad migraine that day, doing a party with 8 first grade girls on my own would have been hard). They do everyone's hair, then they each get a makeup kit, dress up in costumes, and do a cute red carpet walk (where they each received oscars). After the show, they go back, eat cake, watch their runway show on the tv, then open presents. Fun!

Spencer chose to have his usual party at the park after the last day of school before break. That seems to be his favorite type of party, I gave him lots of different choices and all he wanted was that, so hey! - it's cheap, easy, and everyone seems to have fun. The big addition this year was the pinata, I've never had one at a party before but he really wanted it. AND we had to be able to hit it with a bat, none of this silly string pulling for him. In the end, we did have to pull the strings, but at least everyone got a turn whacking it once!



Did I mention both of these parties were in the same week? It was busy but lots of fun! Next I'll do a Christmas update, then I'll finally be caught up!

Spencer is 5!

Oh Spencer, I cannot believe you are 5 already! I swear I just had you yesterday, I have no idea where the time went.

This year you became a big 5 day kid, which means you now go to school 5 days a week. Since you are the oldest and one of the only boys in your school, you took on the role of big brother and you are so kind and helpful to everyone. You love to sing and dance, play any kind of board or card game, kick everyone's butt on the Wii (you own Mario Kart), family movie night, put on shows with your animals, go to gymnastics, help mommy cook, playdates with your friends, and hang out with your family. You are so excited about the baby, you love talking to my belly and seeing if you can wake the baby up with different animal noises. You have a HUGE imagination and will make a game out of any and every inanimate object you can find. You're math skills are incredible (you help Lexi with her math homework), and you even started reading!

You are such a joy to be around and so hilariously funny, I am constantly getting reports from your teacher about what funny things you said or did that day. You always have something to say about everything, whether it's the fact that you don't like what I made for dinner (again!) to how much you love the baby. I love to see the world through your eyes, and I can't wait to see all the changes the coming year will bring in you. This next year will be a big one for you, not only will you be starting kindergarten but you will be a BIG brother! I LOVE YOU!

Happy Birthday Spencer!

Alexis is 7!

Ok, so a little late but not too bad right? Having 2 kids with birthdays right around the holidays is rough...at least, that's my excuse.

So, what can I say about my baby girl? I can't believe how much you've grown in the last year, from innocent kindergartner to, dare I say it?, wise first grader, who is just growing up waaaaaayyy too fast! This year you lost 4 teeth, went to a Hannah Montana concert, learned to do a backbend from a stand and then a back walkover, made more new friends (as if that's even possible), learned to rollerskate, and were granted the freedom to play outside in the neighborhood without parental supervision!

You love to read (you now read at a 3.5 grade level), draw, make books, sing, dance, show off your gymnastic talent, ride your bike, fix hair, hog the mirror in the morning, try all sorts of crazy outfit combinations (you want to be a fashion designer when you grow up), sew (important for that future career, thanks for all the scarves!), go on special ice cream dates with mommy, roll your eyes, and hang with your family and friends. You are excited about the new baby, you enjoy giving me the daily update on how big my belly is getting, and you are having fun helping mommy and daddy pick out names (you've come up with some good ones!).

I look forward to witnessing everything you will learn and accomplish in the coming year, and I can't wait to see how you grow and change with the addition of a new little brother or sister. I LOVE YOU!

Stay Beautiful, by Taylor Swift
You're beautiful

Every little piece love, and don't you know

You're really gonna be someone, ask anyone

And when you find everything you looked for

I hope your life leads you back to my door

Oh but if it don't, stay beautiful

Happy Birthday Lexi!