Memorial Day-A Last Reminder That Your Days With Kids In School Are Over In About A Month

Its a good thing Memorial Day pops up right before the end of the school year. I'm going to need this month to change my behavior, alter my daily routine, try to add more fun to my day.

Usually, at the end of the weekend, the kids return to school and I get to go about my busy day in my pajamas, drinking my pot of coffee at my leisure. 

 Today, I mentally refused to get out of my jams until I drank my two cups of coffee. With Niamh and Finn constantly asking for food, making messes as I was cleaning up messes, begging to go to the park, refusing to clean their rooms, always under my feet, it took me until noon to drink the last of my second cup. After hair and makeup, I was ready to roll around 2:00!

We had the rest of the afternoon to get out for a bike ride to Greenlake and then to the dirt jumps at Lower Woodland Park.

We took off in single file form through Wallingford and down to the lake.

I have to say that taking up the rear to watch that the kids are paying attention and following Steve in the lead was one of the most frightening things I have experienced since probably the last time we set out in single file for a bike ride.

Finn is constantly trying to do tricks. He pedals hard as we ride DOWN hills. He doesn't ever look for cars as he speeds through intersections. He doesn't slow to brake, he SKIDS to brake. And his front wheel always seems like it is wobbling out of control. 

HE FREAKS ME OUT

Once we were on the trail around Greenlake, I was able to relax my grip on my bike, drop my shoulders, and stop yelling at him to stay in control.

After the playground, we rode to the dirt jumps at Woodland Park. There, watching Finn, my shoulders returned to their position parallel with my ears. The only hope I have to kill Finn's dream of jumping one of the big hills is that he is a total weenie when he gets hurt. I think just a couple of good spills on the small hills, enough to make him bleed but not break a bone, and he will again focus his talents on soccer. At age 6, soccer is pretty safe. The kids rarely make good contact with the ball.