Cliff Hanger
So, now that it is warm and staying light later in the day, we have so much time in the evening to just hang out.

Josh loves the trampoline. We've actually had our trampoline longer than we've had our kids, and even before we bought a dining room table! He always wanted one...so we got one, whether it seems logical or not! (c'mon we were only 19 when we got married so we really didn't even know what a dining room table was for!) Inevitably, when we go to play outside as a family, Josh takes his spot on the trampoline. It's really like most men are with their recliners. He gets on the trampoline and will not even let the kids jump and if he does branch out and let them actually stand, all of the kids know exactly where the imaginary line that they are not allowed to cross, is! So, tonight when Kayela decided she was ready to take her training wheels off her bike guess who had the privilege of running behind the bike?....oh, you think me? oh, no it was Emma, I'm not breaking my back, I could really care less if she can ride her bike without training wheels or not! Actually, Emma DID start the bike training but a little "incident" quickly got her demoted to training Mikael how to turn his bike (it's a little problem when you can get on the bike, you can balance the bike, you can pedal the bike, BUT....YOU. CAN'T.STOP. OR. TURN. THE. BIKE.). Yes, the "incident" is a real cliff hanger, let me tell you!

On our land we have 2 acres. I don't know how much, but a lot of our land consists of two ponds, although they are dry! The neighbors kept telling us "oh, just one good snow storm and the ponds will be filled up"...um...they are dry! No mud even! I don't know if you've heard but we've had some SNOW lately! So, we don't live on the beach, these are ponds, no zero entry just complete drop offs! and one just happens to be about 3 feet off of one of our driveways. Emma thinking "let's get this over with quickly" took Kayela and her little bike, without training wheels, to the very top of the driveway. It isn't a straight slope down but for a kid who's never even attempted riding her bike without training wheels, it would be a bit intimidating. Kayela's the youngest of six kids, just remember, so she's a trooper and she follows her big sister up the driveway with her bike. Emma being so loving and caring puts Kayela on her bike and gives her a great big PUSH!....Seriously, JUST PUSHES HER DOWN THE DRIVEWAY ON HER BIKE! I am at the bottom of the driveway watching Mikael attempt his turning, Josh is on the other side of the yard jumping on the trampoline and throwing the football with Kaidon who is on the ground and both of us see our little girl flying down the driveway! Emma is shouting "don't put your feet down, just keep pedaling!" I yell "Emma!" just in time to see Kayela veering way to far to the left, hit the grass, and fly over her handle bars right off the cliff of the pond, head first! I don't know how he did it, but Josh was first on the "scene" of our wailing Kayela! I laugh at EVERYTHING (unfortunately for hurting kids....but really it was such a hysterical sight!), so I am half pissed at Emma, and half laughing as though I've had just one too many drinks and am watching a comedy show (which may explain why Josh got to her first)! In order to get Kayela out of the shrubs, dirt and weeds Josh pulled her out by a leg! I keep saying (between fits of laughter) "you're OK" as Josh is seriously considering his choice in mother's for his children and saying "how can she be OK? She is NOT OK". What a sight for the neighbors, you know they are thinking what in the hell?!?

All in all, Kayela was fine! So fine that she jumped back up on that two-wheeler and pedaled her heart out for another hour( Under my strict supervision of-course). I left the "turn training" to Emma as I built up Kayelas confidence on a bike...their are just some things that are best left up to a "mommy".