my bike

In recent months, I have put countless miles on my bike, participated in a bike Roadeo, and I have grown to be almost six feet tall. (Maybe not.) But I am definitely long overdue for a new bike. After school yesterday, my mom took me to the bike shop to get fitted properly and to do some test drives. 

I tested each bike in the store, including every color of every model that was available in my size - because color and graphics matter, you know. Each test drive was an ordeal. Pull it out of the display, adjust the seat and training wheels, walk the bike outside to the dedicated test drive space, ride for an hour, discuss the merits of each bike, walk the bike back inside, return it to the display, and start the process over. Not only was it fun, but it was a great way to kill a few hours. I even got some lessons about bike maintenance.

I was devastated to leave empty handed. While this Trek bike, with its flowery pink ribbons and XOXOXOXOXO treads, was the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life, I may have to opt for something a bit more suitable for trail riding; this would be a sweet bike if I lived near a pastry shop and could ride over, with a bouquet in the basket, to get some macarons and a chai. I have now decided on the exact bike I want.

Easter bunny

As soon as I woke up very early yesterday morning, I was so intent on checking my calendar to see if it really was Easter that I completely overlooked what the Easter bunny delivered. He left me a basket overflowing with peanut butter cups, a creme egg, a Hello Kitty activity book, a swim toy, and, my favorite: a large box of wildflower seeds with 100 square feet of coverage!

I spent most of the day cleaning, making more messes, cleaning, eating nothing but too many carbs and sweets, and being overexcited about my friend Lisa coming for dinner. I did settle in for a while in the afternoon just long enough to sow my wildflower seeds. Next spring, my yard will be spectacular.

I am told that dinner was delicious, though I didn't eat anything except one bite of sweet potatoes. I have recently decided that I don't even like quiche anymore. What?

We finished the evening by playing Canadian version of Trivial Pursuit. Suddenly, I know everything about Saskatchewan and VIA Rail and the Trans-Canada Highway (aka Route Transcanadienne) and that Vancouver used to be called Granville and that there is a Harrods in the Toronto airport. Who knew Canada was so exciting? As a youngster, I thought it was nothing more that just a "different store with boats in it."

But, sadly, this morning I had my Trivial Pursuit privileges revoked for an entire week because I intentionally broke the lid and I threw the cards all over the living room. I was just mad that we had to pause to eat breakfast.

still spring

While we've seen some hot days already, the miserable temperatures seem to be arriving a bit later than usual. I haven't been keeping careful track but I do believe our hottest day this year has been 88. not bad. I am never bothered by the weather, no matter how blazing hot or freezing cold. The afternoons have been perfect for playing in the yard and making horses out of logs. My sport of the week is badminton.

I have a new favorite park that has an expansive playground and a one-mile paved loop around it. My mom has been keeping my bike in her trunk and we often stop there on the way home from school. I ride while she walks/runs. We go at least once around the loop. sometimes twice. or more.

One day last week, I met my friend at the park after he finished school. We climbed trees, rode his scooters, and played. Atop the tree, we had a conversation about how high we will climb once we are 10. Yesterday my mom surprised me with my very own scooter and I rode it at the park for two, maybe three, hours.

The wildflowers are in full bloom right now. That has made my long commute to school more interesting, maybe even exciting. A million thanks are owed to Lady Bird. 

Sitting in a patch of bluebonnets in my favorite park wasn't a bad way to end the week.