Who needs parents?

. . . when you can wake up on Saturday morning, take off your bike's training wheels all by yourself, and then start riding it without any help?  Yes, this is what transpired a few days ago.  The boys were playing out back, still in their 'jamas at eight-something a.m., and apparently decided they were done with training wheels once and for all, so they used their bare hands to remove the training wheels from Eli's bike.  (I'm assuming those on Bennett's bike were too rusty to even attempt sans tools.) 

Bennnett came in the house to inform us of his proud handiwork, only to be followed by Eli's news that he could ride his bike like a big boy.  "Sure you can, Eli," I said, thinking he's got his legs down riding Fred Flinstone style or something.  He asked me to come watch and I figured I'd humor him--since it was early in the day and all--only to find him riding around the backyard like a pro.  No help needed.  Love it.  Seriously.     

Benito caught one glimpse of Eli's bike-riding and used his characteristically competitive spirit to prove he would not be outshone by his little brother.  There's nothing like a challenge to make Bennett Andrew rise to the occasion.  So it turns out both our boys can ride bikes.  Who knew?  Certainly not us, the parents who've been putting off our oldest child's "take off my training wheels" requests for months now.




A little unhappy that she doesn't get a turn riding the bike with only two wheels