Today was the big bike ride day!! We left for Peninsula State Park at 9:30 a.m. We rented 2 ride alongs and 1 bike for Grandpa plus one trailer. Isak rode behind Grandpa. Kira rode behind me and Nels had the babies in the trailer behind him. I think overall the bike ride went much better than last year. Especially for Noah. He didn't scream nearly as much as last year! And this year we actually did the full ten miles.
Here's our lovely before picture:
Yes, I bribed Sofie and Noah with a sucker. Totally worked!
There's Grandpa and Isak.
At the beginning Kira was not happy about the biking arrangements. She thought she would be in a trailer. Kira was super scared of being on the ride along bike. We practiced a bit in the parking lot, but she was still not happy. I reminded her of how scared she was of going down the fire pole at the park, but she learned how and now she loves it! That helped a little, but oh the trepidation!
I almost gave in, but I'm glad I didn't. Five minute into the bike ride, Kira said, "This is great! I don't know why I was so scared!" 😂
Kira was so fun and awesome to have as a partner. Once we got going she didn't whine the whole rest of the bike ride! She talked and sang a lot. We notice the flowers and nature along the trail. We came up with a team name too. Team Daisy. 😀 I just loved our time together and her great attitude.
Nels rocked it with the babies. He had to pull over a couple of times to settle some fights and give them snacks, but I think overall he enjoyed them.
We biked the first 5 miles in about an hour. Usually on the trail, Isak and Grandpa rode first, then Nels, then grandma and then me and Kira. I liked being last.
Isak and Grandpa were super fast. No stopping them! Grandma checked on everyone.
After the first 5 miles we stopped at a park and enjoyed a snack and some play time. That's when we took these next few pictures.
The second 5 miles were quite an adventure for me and Kira. I accidentally turned left instead of right to stay on Sunset Trail. Oh dear! We became very lost. But I told myself, "I'm smart and we can figure this out." So we looked at maps along the trail, asked other riders for help, directions and we asked to borrow their phones to call Nels. I never remember Nels's phone number. But Heavenly Father helped me know it. So I left two voicemail messages letting Nels know we were ok and we would meet him at the bike rental place. It was probably an extra two miles that I biked. I was tired.
We stopped and prayed too. We asked for strength to keep going and to find our way.
We found Sunset trail and finished up our ride. Everyone had probably waited 30-45 minutes. They were worried. Nels hadn't got the message until later. We were all glad to be together again! I was thirsty, my legs burned but I knew Heavenly Father helped us all along the way. I think and hope Kira remembers that we prayed, we worked hard and asked others for help to get through our problem.
We ate at Not Licked Yet. The kids played and played on the yellow playground in the sand. Even Noah! Last year he wouldn't play on it because of the sand. This year he found a stuffed Mickey Mouse and he loved playing with it. He put it down the slide and then Sofie would get it and carry it up the ladder and give it back to Noah. Sometimes Kira would help too. So fun to watch!
Fun tire swing.
Isak and Kira in the face holes.
Sofie in the face hole.
Treats for everyone!
I got my El Nino (chocolate custard with raspberries).
We went to Piggly Wiggly to get some sandwich making food. Then we went back to the cottage.
A fun and big deal for Isak and Kira...Grandma and Grandpa picked them up in the Jeep and they got to spend the night in the camper. So fun. They learned a new game called Camp. They did puzzles. Kira drew a picture. They ate dinner together. Slept. And ate eggs and toast for breakfast. They were so happy with the special attention.
Since we just had the babies, Nels and I went to La Puerta for some fajitas. Yum. The babies were wild and silly. They spilled their water and were loud!! So much for a quiet dinner.
While Nels paid-- Sofie, Noah and I walked around the docks and looked at the boats as the sun was setting.
On our way home from La Puerta's, we stopped by the camper and Nels roared like a bear. (His dad is always doing that to us.) We scared his parents and the kids. So funny!!
Then we put these little babies to bed. Here's Sofie sleeping in the pink room.
And that was the end of our Big Bike Riding Day! We slept well.
