Spring bike rides (FINALLY)

In preparation for the sunny weather, I got a new bike! On Tuesday, we went to buy Mia and me new bike helmets. It was an EVENTFUL trip.

First, while I was parallel parking, a crazy e-biker tried to zip around my right-hand side (despite the fact that I was stopped with my signal light on) and she scraped the side of my car. I stopped to survey the damage, and this tiny old man (Greek, probably, based on his accent) ran out and started yelling at her. He shouted: "It was your fault, you no look. Get on your bike and go. Go away. Go. GO." And she did. I was standing there like an idiot, thinking: "this isn't what's supposed to happen". My car is scraped, but not dented. I was shaken up, but fine.

Alexa is a very cautious kid near the road. She always holds onto my leg while I put Mia in her seat, and then I take her around to the driver's side and put her in her own side. But that day, she let go and ran around the car. I screamed at her and she stopped before the edge of the car, but she came so close to running onto Danforth Avenue at rush hour. My heart stopped. I grabbed Alexa and put her in her seat. I told her what she did was dangerous. She looked at me with these huge, scared eyes and said: "I will never do that again."

Damn right you won't, kid.

We played a bit in the back yard on Tuesday, with Mia modelling her new helmet.

So pleased with herself.

"Look: I'm so cute!"

Alexa loves her new umbrella, too. Jevon says I shouldn't
go shopping at lunch hour any more because I am a sucker
for cute things for the girls - like this umbrella.

After such a scary/stressful shopping trip, we only spent about half an hour outside on Tuesday, and we didn't get the bikes out at all.

We DID go out to play after work/daycare on Wednesday and today. Both were glorious days. On Wednesday, dinner was ready, but we let it sit and played outside as long as we could. Jevon joined us once he got home from work. It felt so indulgent to be outside in spring coats right up until dinner.

Alexa showed Mia how to use her "baby bike" (Alexa's term for it).

"This is how you get on your bike."

Big sis showing her the ropes.

 Once Mia sat on the bike, Alexa tried to push her, but that proved to be a bit difficult.

"Here you go, I'll push you.
Mummy, it's not going!"

Frustrated by her inability to give Mia a good ride, Alexa got onto her scooter and told Mia to follow her.

Out for a spin.

But Mia had her own ideas of how this bike ride should go down.  She was actually really good at using it this way, booting up and down the sidewalk. She is surprisingly good at steering, and can go really fast - almost as fast as Alexa on her scooter! The helmet makes her look ridiculously tiny.

Miss independent, doing it her own way.

They looked so freaking cute.

I love that they're getting old enough to actually play together.

 They stopped for a few seconds. Alexa asked me to sit beside her and chat. She was a little upset when Mia wouldn't stay still, but she seemed happy enough to have me sit with her.

I still haven't gotten my own bike all the way set up yet. I am looking forward to getting out and about.