Bicycling for two

Eli is an official two-wheel riding maniac! We've been telling him for a couple weeks that when he rides, his training wheels don't even touch the ground. Yesterday, he finally told Roger he wanted those training wheels off. Now he looks like he's an old pro. It's very entertaining for Jude, too. He just chases Eli up and down the sidewalk. Go Eli, go! That way they are both tired. Enjoy video!

Throwing in the towel...for now

It's official and kind of a relief. Our house is no longer for sale. We called the realtor and said it's time to cancel the listing. I've been trying to keep the house clean for 4 months. I'm tired and stressed. Ironically, the sign came down from the yard yesterday, the same day the "SOLD" sign in the neighbor's yard (across the street) went up. They had their's on the market for less than 1 month before it sold. It looks like they're already moving stuff out on the same day that we are moving stuff back from storage. Roger and I were both pretty grumpy about that business yesterday.

However, I keep telling myself it's the best choice for my family. With the current state of the economy, could we really afford a bigger mortgage and a more expensive commute? (My car gets about 1/2 the gas mileage as Roger's. Either that, or I learn how to drive a stick with confidence. Who needs more stress?) Instead, I think we are going to invest in putting vinyl siding on this Fall and making other improvements inside. Maybe we'll try again next year or wait 2 years. Who knows when the housing market will improve.

Hurray for little victories

How Eli might have felt earlier this week...



When he learned to tie his shoes! Yes, the shoes in this picture were indeed tied by Eli. All by himself! He wasn't a happy camper a few weeks ago when his mother insisted his new shoes be tie-shoes and not velcro. He hadn't worn them much. Practice was not making perfect. Last Thursday, I scrapped that whole "rabbit goes around the tree and through the hole" business and and just said, "you catch the lace between your two fingers and pull it through." It was like a light bulb clicked on. Sometimes you just have to state the obvious and not involve rabbits to get your point across.

Oh yeah, and Jude went poopy in the potty, but I didn't take a picture of that. He just wanted to go potty, the poopy was as much of a surprise to him as it was to us. What great boys we've been blessed with.

Another zoo trip