Mackay Can Ride!

I've been working with Mackay for a little while trying to help him get the hang of riding a bike without training wheels (is it just me, or is it super tiring bending over holding onto your kid's seat while they're trying to learn to ride?). It appears that the training paid off, because something clicked and he's now got it figured out--funny how that works sometimes. I think this was the first time he's ridden solo and made a U-turn as well. Good times! Go Mackay!!!

Mackay Loves His "New" Bike

My parents came to visit before Thanksgiving and brought a bike we had left at their house back when we didn't have room to keep a bike--nor a place for Mackay to ride for that matter. It was a bike Andrea had scored from someone's throw away pile (my dad and I cleaned it up and fixed the training wheel so it's like new). Mackay loves to ride his "new" big bike instead of his big wheel. He even tried riding into a curb and falling off for fun (it worked well the first time he did it, but the second time he tried he got off course and fell down early, resulting in a few customary tears!). As you can see from the video, he also likes to practice standing up and riding. Perhaps he learned all of he sweet skills from the time we spend together watching the Tour de France. He even asked me if I wanted to watch the Tour de France with him, "Hey daddy, do you want to watch the Tour de France with me." What a proud moment for a father! No pressure for Mackay or Beckett to ever get into cycling of course, but if they ever wanted to ride with their old man, I'm sure I could make time...



Check out the focus on Mackay's face!

A Grande Family Thanksgiving

Now that we are living in the same state with my sisters and Andrea's parents, we decided to do a big Thanksgiving get together at Andrea's parents house (aka "The Property). My parents came to visit as well, so it was quite the shindig. Andrea's brother came down from college to visit. And if that wasn't enough, Amy's in-laws just moved into our great state and they came down with their youngest daughter to join in the festivities. Like I said, it was muy grande!

Unfortunately, a cold front came through right in time for Thanksgiving, so we weren't able to enjoy the warm weather like we usually do this far south, but it was fun nonetheless. We made campfires, roasted marsh mellows, road on the four-wheelers, pulled excess fish from the pond, played in the sandbox, road bikes, etc. It was great to see everyone and fun for the kids to get together. We definitely enjoy living closer to family. It saves us a lot on what we would pay for airfare!

No more city slickers in this household...Beckett's on the tractor and Mackay is picking up dead fish!

Beckett's First Bike Ride

I took Beckett on his first bike ride with Mackay. We rode down the trail by our house to a nearby marina where we could watch the airplane take off and land. Beckett did great on the way out, but it wasn't as much fun coming back...nonetheless, not bad for his first time and being cramped together with his bigger brother.


Mackay looks at least a little excited. Beckett on the other hand...stares of trepidation?