Outgrowing the buggy (almost)

Today I made another effort at going for a morning walk for exercise. This is no small feat when you have to dress & feed kids first, prepare buggy snacks and drinks and assemble the buggy, all before 9 am if you want it to not be too hot. Oh, and really, they should have on sunscreen too.

Anyway, we went for a 2 mile walk, but the difference this time was that L insisted on riding his bike instead of riding in the buggy. (Known to most people as a double stroller, but I call it a buggy.) (By the way, the Dreamer Design double stroller is completely worth the money if you walk places often with 2 kids.)

The thing is, he was fast enough on his bike (w/training wheels), that it went great. He didn't get tired either. Though he did scrape his toes trying to stop on a hill about 1/2 mile from home and decided to ride in the stroller after that since his toes really hurt, so I got to drag a bike behind me after that (and then put it on the stroller, which was awkward but easier).

So it seems like the end of an era is really approaching. The weight limit on the buggy is 100 lbs, so I knew the end was coming, since we are about 12 pounds short of that between them, but the idea that he will be big enough to consistently get himself around without the buggy soon is astounding. He is my oldest, my baby, but he isn't a baby anymore. Another step of independence.

L grew up in jogging strollers almost. We had a single and he loved to ride in it. Then after H was born, we got the double and they loved to ride in it together. They both love to ride in it, with their water, snacks and toys, touring the neighborhood in style while I puff along behind them. So many memories there.

It seems just a few more years and he'll be riding his bike easily, without training wheels, all over the place, not needing me following him and helping him with crossing streets. I can see it coming and I can't believe how fast time is going. How did he get so big?

Oh and I got the official bound copies of my thesis in the mail this week! So cool and official! :)

Of Jungles & Fish

On Saturday we went to the Festival at Utah Lake. We went because I wanted the boys to get to try fishing, since it was free fishing day in Utah. But we don't have any equipment so while we got to do some cool activities, we didn't do any real fishing. But L got to do the fishing video which involved a real fishing pole, so it was cool. We also made fish hats, saw an owl & hawk, and took a boat tour of the lake. There were several fun booths there as well. It was a cool festival overall.

Later that day, L helped me pull down some of the grapevines that refuse to die. I just don't like grapevines growing inside my garage, or killing my roses or other plants. The irony being grapevines enjoy being cut back. L loved it though. He said we were going through the jungle.



We've been swimming several times in this hot weather. The boys love it. I love summer. So much fun to have outside. It is wonderful.

One week until moving day! I think we'll be ready. And I learned today about some COOL places in Texas to go visit - Fossil Rim and Dinosaur Valley State Park. I'm excited about them!

And the best news of all: I turned in the last of the paperwork for my master's degree, so that I am completely done with my degree now! YEAH!

Passing my Defense

I passed my thesis defense yesterday. It was interesting. My 1st defense two years ago where I was told to revise and resubmit was longer, more intimidating, and more emotional. This time around I was sure I would pass as I was very conservative and made sure things were okay with my chair and committee before scheduling. The questions weren't so much about the content as about extensions of it.

I'm glad to not have any major rewrites ahead of me anymore! But all the little details I will have to pull together to submit it officially to the University for archival and all that will be entertaining probably. Formal editing and all that isn't my idea of fun but at least it shouldn't be too difficult!

My topic was the common traits of the thought processes of those who were successful at creating proof in the proof creation process.

My dear friend passed her defense two days ago as well. We are going to celebrate... as soon as we have a chance. First we are just going to recover I think!