Mountain Climbing

A few weekends ago we were in Wausau.  On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, we headed up to Rib Mountain, the 2nd highest peak in Wisconsin.  Ava got the climbing gene from her dad.

Reese

Checking in at 3 years, 3 months...

Reese is almost potty trained...In January I claimed that she was 90% there, but then she took a steep nose dive in February and abandoned all of the hard work she (I) had done.  She was back in pullups all day and she had no interest in using the potty at daycare or at home.  That lasted about a month...and then in March she flipped a switch and started using the potty again.  So, now that's it April, we're finally back where we were in January.  It's been frustrating...but I guess she'll get there sooner or later!

Reese is very verbal and enunciates her words very well for her age.  But there are still some things she messes up, which are endearing...

wheelcart = cartwheel
binastics = gymnastics
paintnails = nails that are painted
paper toilet = toilet paper
chaplicks = chapstick
nessick = necklace
sak-ed = naked

And she's still a stinker.  On Easter "Eve", I coached Ava and asked her to come in our room the next morning before she went downstairs to look for eggs.  She complied.  Reese was still sleeping so we let Ava watch some cartoons in our bedroom while we waited.  In the meantime, Reese got up without us hearing her and promptly went downstairs and began her own private egg hunt.

After awhile, I finally heard her and we all jumped into action.  Ava started crying when she realized Reese had started collecting eggs - half of the eggs in Reese's basket had "A"s on them.  So, we had to take a little time out, Mom rehid the "A" eggs, and the egg hunt commenced again.

Goodbye Training Wheels

Scot has taken off Ava's training wheels...and then put them back on more times than I think he'd like to remember.  Ava has generally proven to be a bit ahead of the game when it comes to physical activities, but bike riding has been the exception to that rule. 

Faced with another season of warm weather, my hopes were not high that the balance fairy would pay Ava a visit.  We have friends who swear by strider bikes, so I was looking at those online as a possibility for Reese (let's start early with #2), when I came across a product called The Balance Buddy.  Review after review was positive, the only con mentioned that it was a shame to spend the money on it when you only needed it for a few hours.  It worked that well, according to the giddy review writers.

Really?  I was still skeptical but figured it was worth a shot.

Scot played along and attached it to Ava's bike yesterday.  And, just like everyone said, it worked like magic.  She literally went from zero to bike riding all by herself in about 30 minutes.  Hooray!

This is what our neighbors got to watch for a half hour.  I'm especially grateful for all of the video Scot took, which stars me running.  Awesome.  (No, you don't get to see that, this picture is enough)

Reese ran up and down the street as much as I did with Ava.  That's a lot of mileage for a 12 inch inseam.  And I can't help that she wears leggings as pants.  Try explaining this fashion faux pas to your 3 year old and see where it gets you.

Another Little Fish

Reese started swimming lessons this session too.  She likes being in the water just as much as her big sister does.