Flashback Friday!

It was a busy week. Oh, I sound like a broken record. Sorry about that:)

I am thrilled. Beyond thrilled, about the Bobike Jr that was bestowed upon me by Deb over at Loop Frame Love. What a woman, to give a bikey girl like me such a gem after she was done with it.

It's perfect for Dexter. Now I don't have to lug the trailer behind me (heavy) if I just want to drop him off at school and run some errands solo. And it's so quick to just pop him on and the buckle him up. He mimics my hand signals too, which is ADORABLE.

He loves his new seat.

Also this week, our regular breakfast. We are creatures of habit here, with maple syrup oats plus coconut and bananas. One pot feeds all.

A lot of my blogging this week has been taken up with gushing about baby Alice.

It was her birthday! She is 1 and I think that makes her a toddler now.

Not to be forgotten, my first "baby" is still a special gem.

Lots of kids this week - Have a sunny weekend!

Happy Birthday, Alice!

Ask any parent and they will probably tell you that having kids is simultaneously laborious and also, the most rewarding thing. I can't believe it was a year ago that I was first, riding my house-sized self around on the Pashley, then... giving birth to a 8 lb and 7oz baby THREE WEEKS EARLY. 

Around 10 days later, we had a birthday party for Dexter and Don. Looking back, I am amazed by my (now) long-gone cleavage!

This is all to say, so much has happened in the last year and it's also gone by in a blink. Baby Alice is probably no longer going to be referred to as a "baby," on account of her constant jabbering, destruction of things, and exponential increase in mobility. It's hard not to compare your kids to each other, so I'm going to do it. Dexter is logical, methodical, civilized, and really thoughtful. Baby Alice is tenacious, jolly, stubborn, and bossy. 

It's also scary to make comparisons of children and parents... but I think Don and I may have cloned ourselves. SCARY.

Due to busy busy lives and no overwhelming desire to make a big production out of things, we'll celebrate Alice's birthday with a blog post and coffee with our favourite auntie Leisha this morning. 

Alice is the proud recipient of her very first bike bell, and also a perfectly fitting pair of these Salt Water sandals! I think I need to buy a pair, or two. 

I also made some construction paper streamers, so that our house is appropriately festive for the rest of the month (Dexter is May 25th and Don is May 30th).

 

And what perfect timing - Alice was given this delightful balloon at a work function this past weekend, and it's the perfect cheery birthday decor for the bungalow!

See the constant pointing and in the background, an overturned chair? Yeah, that's what my life is like these days. Add in the new addition of siblings fighting over wooden trains and climbing all over the furniture and you've got the idea. 

Chaos and all, I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

That's my girl! Sweet and terrifying at the same time. Happy Birthday!

Family Time!

The first family ride in 2013, and it was glorious! 

I've been biking with both the kids all year, though, riding with Don along with us is a real treat. 

Mostly because HE gets to do the towing. 

Riding with kids is certainly joyous, but I am not going to deny that hauling around two 30 lb children is more work than riding solo. 

It was baby Alice's first ride in the Madsen bucket bike, and she loved it!

The Madsen will remain a fair weather ride, and I'll take the trailer when it's raining. 

Both my kids on a bike together... it's seriously cute and heartwarming! 

Gonna be a good summer. 

Weekender {Baby Alice Goes to Work}

Oh, it was a pretty intense weekend, with lots of work functions... which included baby Alice.

Dexter was having grandpa-time, gardening up a storm with my dad. Since my mom is in Hong Kong with Sable, he wasn't so keen on changing diapers and minding two children on his own.

So baby Alice stayed with me at the bungalow. Making a mess, always putting things in her mouth, and mildly terrorizing the new 12 yr old babysitter from down the street.

On Saturday night I put on a washable outfit and flat shoes, and fed Alice the dinner rolls at the Casa fundraiser.

After dinner, we also went to the AGA for Art on the Block - Always such a fun party! Also, got to see lots of friends that I haven't spied in a long time. Plus, the ladies were ogling Don carrying our epic baby around. Later when I was pushing Alice around (asleep) in the stroller? Chopped liver.

Saturday night was a union dinner, where Alice manhandled helium balloons, and the Edmonton Public Library's unveiling of a specially commissioned piece by Toti, celebrating the library's centenary!

When it came time for her Dad to do the unveiling, she was SUPER EXCITED. I think it was all the clapping. Really gets her in the party mood.

So my weekend was a lot of #workingnightout, but it was sweet to have my wonderful baby with me the whole time. Sweet, and work intensive!

Flashback Friday

Our splendid weather has meant those of my students from the neighbourhood who used to walk, now bike. The roll right up to the front door, book in hand and helmet on head.

Adorable.

It's going to be another beautiful weekend, see you out there!

Lisa's new Linus.

Another Linus babe joins the ranks!

Welcome to the family, Lisa.

Belgravia Bike Fair!

Guess what's awesome about living in Belgravia?

We are hosting a bike fair!

You can read about it here, in the cover article.

Come hang out with me - I'll be hanging out at our bicycle commuter info table. It will be very casual and chit-chat style. Come by and our little troop of volunteers (myself included) can shoot the breeze with you about routes, bikes, and gear.

I'll have the Madsen, the foldy, and the Pashley there for test riding too!

We're also hosting a DIY bike swap. Rides that aren't being used (adults & kids both), trailers, locks, helmets, panniers... bring it over. It will be very informal. You come and tag your things with your asking price (or say that it's free, if you're giving it away), and also put your phone number on it. Then, you can mill around and watch your stock, or wait for somebody to call or text you about it. You guys haggle over the details on your own. Done!

All unclaimed bikes and things will be donated to the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters, who are also manning our tune up tent.

Awesome, right? See you there!

Spring Dress, Spring Riding.

There is nothing so liberating as riding a bike on bare pavement, in the sunshine, without a jacket on.

I got the dress on crazy sale at the end of last summer, from the Anthropologie sale room, and have been waiting a whole year to bring it out to ride properly.

Splendid!

Kate & Hannah

Sunshine means it's finally time for the fair weather riders to come out from hibernation - it's so wonderful to be riding with fine company!

On my way home from the Royal Bison I spied Kate (left), who looked like she was on her way to a show at fashion week and Hannah (right), who looked like she was going to get a baguette from Duchess.

Had to ask for a picture.

YEG Cycle Routes: Malmo to Rio Terrace

Rita rides an Electra Amsterdam (3-speeds) from Malmo to work in Rio Terrace every day! 

Check out her YEG cycle route here.