The Bike Ride

One of my summer memories growing up is bike rides with my parents around our neighborhood. Usually late afternoon or early evening, we would all go for a family bike ride. We have many pictures of both my sister and I as toddlers on the back of a bike sitting in the little yellow seat. After my sister and I got older, I'm pretty sure I remember a few bike rides to Friendly's to get ice cream on nice nights. I have always liked biking and I'm sure that's because it was something we all did.

Before becoming pregnant with Heather, Bill and I used to bike. We'd ride the path next to the George Washington Memorial Parkway up to Mount Vernon or down to Gravely Point to watch the airplanes land at National Airport. A few times we took our mountain bikes and rode around Great Falls Park and took bike trails up and down hills.

Over the past few weeks, Heather has demonstrated her growing ability to ride her little bike confidently. So, this week we put Kailey in the little bike trailer behind Bill, Heather on her bike, and me on my bike. (Last year we took both girls in the trailer, but Bill found it to be pretty hard dragging two girls up and down the hills in our development, much less anywhere else!). Heather pedaled her little bike on the side of the road (instead of on the sidewalk with me walking), learned some rules of the road and biked about 2 miles! With the little wheels, she pedaled hard the whole way, while Bill and I barely coasted... didn't quite seem fair to Heather. But, she did very well. Kailey was also thrilled to get a bike ride. (I'll post pictures tomorrow of Kailey in her bike jersey going for a ride.)

As soon as Kailey can touch the pedals of her bike, I'm sure she won't be far behind Heather. We'll be starting our own family bike rides!