Bramell, Party of Five: June 2015

Friday, June 19, 2015

Holy Bike Riders, Batman!

I just need to take a minute to brag on my kids. Over the past few months, they have all upgraded a size on their bikes and really gotten good at handling them.

Back in the fall, when we knew Boy Twin was ready, I found a used 12" bike at the Goodwill store for $5.00. This was his first move to a real bike with pedals and he mastered it in no time at all...at just over age 4. That little red bike was the best five bucks I've spent ever. Girl Twin was still using her balance bike but didn't like it at all that brother had one-upped her. It didn't take her long to catch up, when he would give her a chance to practice on his bike.



Also in the fall, Big Sis decided she wanted to move up a size. I found a used 20" bike for $15 at the Rhea Lana sale and she was all set! By spring time, Boy Twin was ready to move up to Big Sister's old 16" princess bike and Girl Twin was riding the Goodwill bike.



I'm so proud of the little ones riding big bikes before age 5; it took Big Sis until almost age seven to ride without her training wheels. With the little ones, we skipped training wheels altogether. And I'm so glad we did!




At Lee's insistence, we bought both little kids a Strider balance bike when they turned two. He did a lot of research that led us to the purchase. The bikes have no pedals--kids just push with their feet. The concept is that they learn to balance quicker and not rely on training wheels. Thus, we were able to skip training wheels and just go to a big kid bike. Now, I'm not getting anything from Strider for this post. I just want my friends to know that the price tag of a balance bike is WELL WORTH IT! I was hesitant mostly because of the cost (of course, we were buying two), but we found a great closeout sale on them and saved a few bucks. The bikes are durable and they rode them for over two years. Overall, it was a great investment for our family and a great learning tool for the kids. I never dreamed they would be riding bikes in preschool with such ease!
  
Now we are at another crossroads. We are shopping for Boy Twin his own 16" bike so Girl Twin can have the princess bike. We have to get something "for boys" he says. 



I got my first bike for Mother's Day and I'm ready to hit the trails with my family this summer!




Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Birthday Happiness!

Today is the day--these kids are FIVE!

I love these kids with all my heart. They challenge me, frustrate me and make me yell. They run, giggle, fight and make the biggest messes.

They love each other and they love me. Our house would be lonely without them.





Tuesday, June 9, 2015

What's Old Is New Again...or something like that

A couple of weeks ago my sister and I took a trip to Oklahoma City to spend the evening with the New Kids on the Block. We took a night off from kid duty and enjoyed our view from the lower level seats. We had a great time, saw a great show and did a lot of reminiscing and a little booty shaking.



Let's just get one thing out of the way, because I know what you are thinking. YES---the median age at the show was likely 37 and it was very obvious. It was a middle-aged, cool mom party. And I'm not (very) embarrassed.

Let me share some thoughts with you about the experience.  You see, this isn't the first time we've seen The Kids.

1. The first time I saw NKOTB, I was 14. My mom drove us and some friends to the show in her minivan. This time, I'm (almost) 40 and I took two days off work and drove myself. However, I did leave my own minivan behind. But from the looks of the parking lot, the minivan club is thriving.

2. This will make you think--when my mom took us to see NKOTB, she was THIRTY-FOUR. Yes, she was younger than the age I am now. She and my dad also took a group of about 6 of us and slept with us on a cold, hard sidewalk overnight in a less than cool part of Memphis to score those tickets.  You know, back before you could just get them online.
 
3. We drank some beer at the show. Because we could.
 
4. The New Kids guys are roughly my age. They don't look as old as I feel, let's just say that. I'd take off my shirt, too, if I looked that good. Wowza.





5.  I can't help it, I'll be loving them forever.
 
6.  Nelly was supposed to open the show, but he couldn't make it. Seems 'ol Nelly is doing most of his rapping in jail these days. We were pretty bummed.
 
7. However, TLC did a fantastic job opening the show. As you know, it was only T and C but they both looked and sounded great, though a bit tired at times. Hip hop is hard work when you're 40, y'all! I loved hearing so many of their songs from my teen years that I'd already forgotten about.






8. Glad to have shared the fun with my best sister! I'm sure my mom would have gone with us but she was home taking care of all the grandkids....haha.


 
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