Bikers in the Family

We've had a population explosion of those who can ride bikes -- at least in our family. Kai and Rowan have both learned how to ride their bicycles and it only took a couple days, a number of bruises, parental hard-heartedness, and complete rejection of the training wheels.

Following a friend's suggestion, I removed the training wheels and lowered the seats of the bicycles until the boys could easily put both feet on the ground. Within a few laps in front of the house, pushing the bike like Flintstones power cars, then wobbily balancing, then pedaling, then ... wow... riding.

It may not seem like a huge milestone, but it has been for us. Balance, height, speed, all that, caused panic attacks. As a parent, I find myself vascillating between knowing that all children are different, learning and growing and being in their own way -- and constantly worrying about what I might need to do for my children that they might reach their highest potential. Something pushed me this week to follow the advice and ignore the protests. I think I must have struck at the right time, because I knew a new trick and they also were competent enough with their balance and age, that it took them very little time to realize that they could do it all by themselves.

I bet they could have done it earlier, but it seems that now was a good time. My pressure for them to succeed was relatively little and they are very aware that the success was completely theirs. After the first signs of progress, both boys became driven (ridden) to master the bike and went out as often as possible to practice. I like that this accomplishment had very little to do with me; my only mean-mommy-moment was telling them that they had to push the bike with their feet past the house a few times. After that, I made no more requests (orders) and it turned out they were unnecessary.

Regarding this picture, it's one of those ones that is either an incredibly lucky shot or one that you do over and over again until it comes out right. The latter is the case. For parents this is a good thing, it wears the kids out. Keep asking the kids to ride/run/ski/whatever past you over and over again, even if you get the shot the first time. They'll sleep good that night. :)

Wind Blown Candor

It's getting harding and harder to sneak up on the kids. I've had a few lucky shots with Rowan lately.

This was another day that a walk was cut short by rain.

Boom Bam Swishhhh Wow

This year like last, we blew stuff; however this year we went to see a professional show. I think it was the first time for the kids to see the large pyrotechnics up close. These photographs are from the Highlands Ranch show held at Town Center.

Jasmine was much less afraid of the explosions' noise, though I can't say she really liked it. No crying or anxiety. I think the bright lights made up for any discomfort.

Kai and Rowan really just wanted to stay home and blow our own stuff up, but I finally convinced them to go. Once the big booms got started they were glad they'd come.

I wish Kai had been sitting close to us, I could have gotten his reaction too. I think he scootched closer to the action. When the show ended he came back breathless and wow'ed.

Working from the Back

We just got back from our epic camping trip, but I'll finish up the events from before we left. Here the kids are joining Dr.Noize on stage at the Lone Tree Independence Day Parade send off. We made sure we were dressed for the event by wearing band shirts. Jasmine wore a specially made (crayoned) banana t-shirt.

Rowan, in particular, appreciates Jasmine's climbing abilities. She's determined to be on stage and says that when she grows up, she's going to play music with Dr. Noize.

During one part of the concert, Dr. Noize asked Kai to deliver a kazoo in the middle of the next song. Kai was sent back to the audience holding the kazoo. Dr. Noize sang for the kazoo -- one long, loud, shrill note going on and on until Kai managed to get it to him.

Mind in the Gutter

If it's been raining, Jasmine's mind is in the gutter. I'm lucky if I can do any clothing preparation before she's out the door. Stomp, splash, jump, run, stop, skip, step, splash.

Airport Security

Somehow these three made it through the security checkpoint.

We went to Indiana for the wedding of the kids' cousin Ashley. We stayed in a hotel by Aunt Julie and Uncle Jeff who know how to entertain kids. Books, balloons and silly string were among the many entertainments. Needless to say, the kids didn't want to go back to boring ol' Colorado.

My Kai

Kai saw the paragraph I wrote about Jasmine for her Anchor Center School graduation. He wondered, in a carefully casual way, how I would describe him. I was a caught off-guard and said that I had had a few minutes to think about it before I'd written that all down. I have some quiet time, so I can organize a paragraph's worth of thoughts. It's impossible of course to write down even a small bit of all the amazing things I think of any of my children, but here's a little bit.



When Kai entered my life, the entire world changed for me. I became acutely aware of the fragility of life and the amazing size and strength of love that I possessed in my heart. These feelings were, sometimes still are, overwhelming and frightening and magnificent. Theo and I found a deep resonance in a quote from Elizabeth Stone, “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” I don't know that my epiphanies since his birth are appropriately grouped with a description of him, but he heralded a more vivid and meaningful life.



Kai can immerse himself into stories and worlds of imagination, traditional romantic sensibilities, humorous and fantastic realities. He has an appreciation of the asthetic elements of pose and figure beyond his age. He's not afraid to pour into these worlds his heart and intelligence without reservation. Kai has an amazing memory and a strong will that, when directed to a task, is truly amazing.

He engages his imagination and intuition toward projects with wonderful results. Writing comic scripts within the Alice environment, he shows off both his great comedic timing as well as the behind-the-scenes technical programming talent. His power of concentration is remarkable. Kai also shows off a natural talent for mathematical and scientific concepts. The ability to both abstract the natural world and predict its workings is a rare quality.

When he engages his enthusiasm it is irresistably contagious. Anyone who has watched him, knows that he is a people person, especially with the ladies. He turns on the charisma, opens his heart and shamelessly flirts, eshews aloofness for earnestness and engenders genuine affection.

Go Ask Your Mother

Kids: Whoa! What's THAT?!

Me: It's a fish head.

Kids: Cool... Wait, woah! AAAAGH!

It's a FISH HEAD! A REAL FISH HEAD! EEEEeew, I touched it! You touched it! That's it's eye! Eeeeeewww! Mom!! You didn't tell me it was real! That's a FISH HEAD! Mom! A real fish head come look! Touch it! It's so gross! Yuck, it's all slimy! Mom! You touch the eye, it's a FISH HEAD!

Amazing how many of our conversations go this way.

Jasmine's Flintstone-Model Automobile

I missed the weirdest part where twenty identical Jasmine's came out of the car doing somersaults.

Interest Fair -- Rowan and the Toads

Kinda like a Science Fair, but not so many measurements. Rowan studied our fire-bellied toads with a happy emphasis on toad mating (more on the toads at Macro). We made recordings!

Jasmine listens to the mating call of the fire-bellied male toad.

Rowan whistles while he waits for student and parental passersby to come and listen to horny toads.

Next Teen Heart Throb?

He's trying.

I love that shade of green on him (looks good on Jae too). That ear though -- it is begging to be photoshopped.

Elf, gelfling, vulcan, imp, fairy prince .... so many possibilities. Mwahahahaha.

Single Critique from the Master

Beautiful pose. You are too cute to be moved, lest you waken. But you significantly dilute the effect by not blocking the whole of the stairway.

Jasmine's Science Experiments

Hypothesis: Kai cannot be distracted from a DVD.
Materials and Methods: 40 lb hyperactive, 5 year-old, Durabrand DVB620 DVD Player, randomly chosen rated-G DVD.
Experimental Method: See documentary photography below.
Results:No signs of consciousness from test subject.
Conclusion: Hypothesis not disproved. More experiments should be conducted. Preferably with a motion camera.

The Princess Bat

The Princess Bat, featuring the images of Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Beauty on its lavendar and pink surface, is actually much more dangerous than you would think.

Dog Day

About once a month guide dogs come to visit the kids at the Anchor Center. Jasmine isn't always keen on dogs, primarily because of the chance that they might bark. She feels a little better with leash in hand.

Easter Kidnapping

Well, the bunnies are at it again. They wanted a significant ransom, directions regarding which way to turn once you get to Albuquerque and baskets that had wheels (like the suitcases). The SWAT team was able to take this one out (why would you kidnap someone when you have such an absurdly large head?), but were worried about the inevitable bad press. Jasmine ended up giving him a good twack in the head with her cane and escaping while the SWAT team was discussing options with the PR team.

Actually, this was part of an Egg Hunt put on by the Mariott for Anchor Center School for Blind Children. You can see some pictures at the Denver Post photo gallery (though you'll have to click on "next screen" to get to the set of pictures).

The Science Fair

When it came time to decide upon a science fair project, Kai happened to be "in a mood". Nothing was fun, nothing was interesting, everything was dumb and why couldn't he just go play a video game, etc. I asked him to write a list of his favorite 10 things so we could get a science project he'd like. To demonstrate he was not going to have any of it, he listed things like TV, Nintendo, reading, ... and then "blowing things up." Now that last item, I could work with.

The project ended up being about pressure (with some sneaky education on the Ideal Gas Law). We blew up plastic bottles with the bike pump. Didja know an exploding bottle Aquafina water bottle with 110 lbs of pressure can blow through a cardboard box? Cool, huh?

Kai learned valuable lessons: explosions can be passed off as educational, mom will show you how to use the power tools if it is part of your homework, blast shields can be repaired with duct tape, and repetition is actually required for scientific experimentation, and you can still ham around for the camera.