Biking to School

In an effort to get more exercise and save on gas for the car, the kids and I decided that we could ride our bikes to school every day. The school is only a 2-3 miles from our house, and the way is pretty easy (only one minor hill). So last night the whole family went on a bike ride to see how much time it would take to ride to school. Shane took the two little ones in the trailer on his bike, and I led the way at an easy pace so that we could see how long it would take. We made it to the school in 13 minutes. So the kids and I decided to do it for real today. We got up a little earlier, I had their lunches made early, and breakfast, too. Then we hopped on and headed to school. Josh doesn't have very strong legs so we went nice and easy. The hill wasn't too bad - they love zooming down it, it's the little kick back up that kills ya. We got to school and the decided that the ride wasn't too bad. I told them I'd meet them by the bike racks right after school and said goodbye. About this time I could feel a little burn in my legs, but not bad. Anyway, I get to the hill, which as it turns out has the steeper side to go back up on the way home. By the time I got to the top, I thought I would die. My legs were killing me! Keep in mind, I have been exercising on the treadmill so I thought I'd be OK, but I was carting two little boys in a trailer and the extra weight about did me in.

I'm almost to the turn off to go to our house, and a lady I met when we first moved here comes riding behind me. She and her family moved from Idaho a little over a year ago. Anyway, she rides with me for a while and says that she does about 10 miles every day as she rides with her kids to school, and would I like to join her? I'm thinking, you know, that would be nice. I'd have someone to talk to, get some good exercise; I think I'll do it. I told her to let me talk to the kids and I'd get back to her. I get home, and go to put Parker back to bed, and my legs are shaking so bad I can barely carry him up the stairs. Then I turn around to go down two flights of stairs with the dirty laundry, and I almost fall down. I'm not making this up. So much for exercising on the treadmill. I'm being to think it's not doing me any good. So, as I clutch the banister, trying not to fall down, I'm starting to think that maybe I'm not quite ready for a 10 mile bike ride, pulling two boys, every morning. I think I'll call her tomorrow and tell her I need a couple of days first to condition this poor body to some real exercise so that I can keep up with her.

On to the cute stuff. Parker has been trying to talk like crazy lately. He starts babbling up a storm and looks at you like he expects you to know what he's talking about. He's also learned how to climb up and down stairs, with support so he doesn't tip over backward, dance, and climb onto Tanner's bed. Tanner likes to jump on it, and Parker doesn't want to be left out of the fun. So he hauls himself up. He thinks he is so neat when he does that. Check this out.



Parker is also packing on the weight lately. He eats like a horse! I was trying to get a picture of his sumo belly, but he wanted to help, so you get his sumo face instead. I've also included the boys showing their muscles and sweet Kaitlin, who didn't show hers.