The Hair Cut

Thanks baby for finally growing it for me. I don't miss it too much, though, now that it's gone.

Goodbye Tandems, Hello Tandem

At 8 o'clock in the morning on Saturday, December 6, 2003 I emailed a guy that I had been corresponding with through JDate to ask if he would be interested in test riding a tandem with me (I had always wanted a tandem and decided I would buy one for myself for my recent birthday). I didn't expect him to respond in time, since I doubted that he was awake, or checking email at 8am, but shortly after I wrote to him, he called me.

Steve said he'd be happy to check out the tandem with me, but was taken aback when I asked him what kind of car he drove. He decided he would meet me after all, when I explained that I was only asking to see if his car was big enough to transport the bike home should I choose to buy it. The answer was obviously no, since his Toyota Corolla was barely bigger than my Toyota Tercel.

When we arrived at the house of the gentleman who owned the Schwinn Twinn we were about to ride, I informed Steve that he would need to captain it (ride in front and steer) since I am much smaller than him. This was news to Steve, but he got huge points for still being willing to try it, on a first date, with the date being an experienced cyclist. What guy is confident enough to do that?

The tandem ride lasted only minutes, but the date lasted 5 more hours. I bought the tandem. This December will mark the eighth anniversary of that tandem ride, and though I just sold the tandem (it was a tank and Steve hated riding it), I can't imagine anyone I'd rather ride our new tandem with.

I also said goodbye to our Trek. Now that we have kids, we never get a chance to ride either of these tandems.

And the purchase that made these two sales necessary: I finally found a tandem that I can captain. In order to warrant purchasing a new tandem, I had to clear out the old ones. Samuel and I have a blast riding this together, and within the next year, Shira will be hooked up behind us on the trail a bike.

It was easy to sell the Trek.

But selling the Schwinn that Steve and I rode and I purchased on our first date, was hard to come to terms with.

Trains

Have been very popular recently. I finally feel like buying all that Brio was worthwhile. Samuel and Shira built this entire track on their own.

Preschool with Shira

Shira's favorite station - handwashing after the painting project.

And her second favorite - the painting itself.

Loves the lawn mowers and doll strollers.

And snack time.

And after preschool for Shira, we head over to Samuel's preschool for storytime and the goodbye song.

And whew, preschool is tiring work. Face plant in art project.

Pumpkin Carving

Finally did it. Managed to host my pumpkin carving. Thanks everyone for coming. We had a great time. Next year I'll make sure to have it closer to Halloween - our pumpkins all got moldy too fast.

Halloween Candy

I have much blogging to do and pictures to post, but I wanted to record this morning's experience with Halloween Candy.

First thing in the morning Samuel wanted to pick his piece of candy for the day. Which of course means Shira also wanted to pick her candy for the day.

First up Skittles for both kids. Ate one each, decided they didn't like them. Two packs of Skittles in the garbage.

Second up, Starburst for Samuel, Sweet Tarts for Shira. Likewise in the garbage (though Shira had to try a second Sweet Tart to make sure she really didn't like them.)

Third, Shira went for Nerds and said she liked them, but abandoned them for her homemade yogurt, strawberry, banana popsicle after a couple of "rocks".

Samuel had already given up on candy because I was making honey whole wheat bread, and negotiated for some honey instead of a piece of candy. Which was subsequently negotiated into one and a half teaspoons of maple syrup drunk from his favorite glass.

My kids' health may just yet stand a chance against the corporate capitalist machine.

HALLOWEEN!!!!

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. Why? Other than the fact that my mom found the costumes at one of her estate sales and anything Bubbie comes up with is THE COOLEST THING EVER?

In Shira's words "Brudder Pooh - he like honey. Me, Tigger, I like bounce."

But I think Steve may have stolen the show this year with his 70's roller skater with afro.

I didn't dress up. Sorry, not going to be Eeyore.

Samuel's preschool parade. Shira and I showed up at the end, Samuel refused to keep marching, so Shira jumped in and held Teacher Rachel's hand.

The Microsoft party.