flea: (Default)
flea ([personal profile] flea) wrote2010-05-26 02:36 pm

Biking news

So, we successfully accomplished the first Math Monday (there is $7.09 in Casper's purse right now) and Muuuusic Tuuuuesday (stemless wineglasses with varying levels of water in them - not as tuneful as one might have hoped). Today is Write-a-Postcard Wednesday; Casper plans to write to her 7 year old cousin E in Ohio, and Dillo wants to write to Grandma Debbie. (This will be an exciting exercise in exploring exactly how much Dillo can write - I know he can make a P, and he knows a lot of the letters, but I'm wondering if I write out "Grandma Debbie" for him if he'll be able to copy it.)

In other accomplishments, we got Casper a 20-inch bike with no training wheels, in like-new condition, for $20 on Saturday. (It is a boy's bike, and red, and even has stunt pegs! So far not a peep out of her about its being a boy's bike.) Unfortunately it's just a hair too big for her still, and definitely too big for her to learn how to ride a two-wheeler on, since she can't easily put her feet on the ground and save herself. So mr. flea removed the pedals and chain and training wheels from her current bike, making it into a "coaster" just right for practicing balance. We borrowed the neighbor's tiny 12-inch bike (Spiderman, with training wheels) for Dillo, and he has taken to it, though he has trouble getting started from a stop.

Since Dillo is now experimenting with bikes higher off the ground than a big wheel, a helmet was in order, and he got to pick out a super-cute navy-with-subtle-sparkles-and-cool-green-bugs one at Target. He wore it out of the store, natch, and as I buckled him into his carseat, we had the following exchange:
Dillo: I am never taking off my helmet.
me: Not even in the bath?
Dillo: Okay, I will take my helmet off in the bath.

Later in the restaurant he made up a song about loving his helmet. And he took it to school Monday and Tuesday, and cried and cried when we wouldn't go back inside and get it this morning.
sedge: A drawing of the head of a sedge wren. (Default)

[personal profile] sedge 2010-05-26 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
That all sounds highly successful.

"He's got his helmet on, nothing can do him wrong."
Edited (missing quote. drat.) 2010-05-26 18:58 (UTC)
sara: photo of a bicyclist (bicycle)

[personal profile] sara 2010-05-26 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
*raises an eyebrow* Yeah, I bet that's a bit big -- my touring bike is a 21" frame.
sara: YAY written over a tandem bike (yay tandem)

[personal profile] sara 2010-05-26 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
That's what I figured you probably meant.

Our tandem is actually built on 20" wheels, which is kind of handy because I can buy tubes and tires anywhere BMX bikes are sold.
dxmachina: (Default)

[personal profile] dxmachina 2010-05-26 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay, new bike! I once had a red 20" boys bike, too.
fatoudust: a single condor flying over the grand canyon, wings spread, radio tags visible, in evening sunlight (Default)

[personal profile] fatoudust 2010-05-28 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
Yay! The SO had a student come into his music lesson wearing a brand new helmet. When queried, he replied, "I won it in a contest at school and it`s really comfortable." I bet he would have negotiated not to take it off in the bath.