Bikes! Bikes! Bikes!

Look!!! No training wheels!!!
Preslyn riding her new birthday bike...so brave!!!

Broyden wheelin' it up on his pink and purple tricycle (thanks to the hand-me-down from his sisters!)

Love these kids and all their individual accomplishments!

November 11th was a miraculous day in the Harris family! I didn't know I would get so emotional watching Demarie riding a bike all by herself, but I found myself trying so hard to hold back tears of excitement. We have been working with Demarie for awhile to ride her bike all by herself, but to no avail. Something just kept holding her back. She has been SO CLOSE for a long time! Well, on Saturday morning, Demarie's school had a Walk-and-Run morning activity. As part of the events, kids could bring their bikes and learn how to cross the street safely with their bike and participate in a bike rodeo. Demarie did not want to bring her bike and refused to ride another bike that a lady offered to her because it had training wheels. She promised me that she would try to ride her bike at home later that day. So, I made sure to hold her to her word! Later that afternoon, we all went outside and once again Demarie attempted to ride her bike. First, Aaron held onto her seat for a few rounds up and down the street. Then he told me it was my turn. I could tell she was ready, but I just couldn't get myself to let go. After a few rounds, I told Aaron that it was his turn and that she was so close. He put his hand behind Demarie's bike and told her that he was holding on. I turned around and started walking to the sidewalk and when I turned to watch Demarie I almost died!!! She was 10 feet away from Aaron... riding ALL BY HERSELF!!! I couldn't believe it. It was so exciting! I could tell Demarie was so excited and proud of herself too. She could not stop grinning from ear to ear! During the summer when we were staying with Uncle Daren and Aunt Cathy, we had tried to teach her to ride her bike with her cousins. Aunt Cathy had told Demarie that she would buy her a shake if she rode her bike all by herself. So, to celebrate, Aaron took Demarie to Dairy Queen to get her own Blizzard... she chose M&M. She was very excited to call Aunt Cathy and tell her the exciting news!

Preslyn also got a new bike for her birthday. It is absolutely darling and she loves it, but was scared to death to ride it. The first few attempts, she would scream her head off! Slowly but surely, Preslyn overcame her fears and is able to ride her bike all by herself (with training wheels, of course). It is so fun to see her riding around like a big girl!

And then there is Broyden...daredevil, no fear, 100% boy! Happy as can be pedaling around on his hand-me-down pink and purple tricycle with his blue helmet that is three times his size! We love to go in the front yard now and ride our bikes up and down the cul de sac. On Saturdays, we load the bikes up in the van so the kids can ride around on the tennis courts while we hit the ball back and forth. Good times!