Hauling the Trio, or "my, what a muscle-y husband I have!"

We decided to dust off the ol' bicycles and go for a family ride a couple of weeks ago. Seriously, we've not ridden bikes the WHOLE time we've been here. I just had it in my mind that our street was a cruddy bike-riding street... Maeve had been too little for the bike seat... it was wintertime... etc., etc. But, now she's plenty big enough, the road's fine, and, best of all, both the attachments for connecting seats/trailers were already on Z's bike! Score! HE got to ride all the kids around while I just tooled along, solo, on my bike. (Now, in fairness to me, my bike HAD had an attachment for the other green bike seat, since we had two for N and B, but we lent one to our friends and Z happened to pick the one on my bike to remove. Score! did I already say that?)

Bran and Nuala each weigh 46lbs., and Maeve is almost 22. That's 114lbs. of little people to haul... UPhill. But not the whole way, because that whole "uphill both ways" thing? Myth. I will admit to laughing at his situation as I flitted, carefree and graceful and light (but less furry) as a baby unicorn, back and forth. Good thing Z is so super strong. Like a big tough male unicorn. Swift Wind. (If you're saying to yourself, "that sounds sooo familiar..." I'll just help you out. He's She-Ra's noble, flying steed.)

I'm pretty sure we've only used the bike trailer once... maybe twice? We got it when we moved to lovely Uruguay, when Bran and Nuala were babies. We didn't really like how you buckled them in, or how we felt like a car was totally going to run over the trailer, or how they slumped in it (even when they were old enough to not really slump). In Uruguay we were riding along streets that were fairly well-trafficked, hence my car nervousness (Uruguayan drivers are not the best... not the worst, either, but not the best). Nuala and Bran didn't even really like the trailer. They (and we) much preferred the green seats. This time, though, they really enjoyed it. Now they're huge, have a better view, and are old enough to really appreciate taking advantage of getting a ride without having to do any work.

Maeve was bossy, as usual. "Dis way, Dada!"

Despite Zachariah's major toughness, small breaks were necessary. We rode on some pretty trails near our house. Even out to the Boyana movie studio (where Z "starred" in Spiders 3D... something I still need to post about).

Bran and Nuala were so grateful for the fun ride that they really went out of their way to make it as easy as possible on Z. Haha... (See the back tire? See the foot ON the back tire?)

Rascals! These rascals actually have their very own bikes on the way. It finally sunk in that they're going to be five (five!) in three months and have most definitely outgrown their little wooden balance bikes. I just wish there was Craigslist, or good garage sales or thrift stores here. At least we found them on sale.