No Training Wheels by Ryan

Well, it finally happened!

Both Caleb & Levi are riding their bikes without training wheels! Levi was first, believe it or not. He has been cruising for a bit over a week now and can get started on his own. He has tried to encourage Caleb to join him and take his training wheels off, but Caleb is not easily persuaded and the competition of his younger brother doing something he can't doesn't seem to faze him either.

After dinner last night we went out to ride bikes with our head lamps on. Levi was off and running, Caleb is riding around on one Training wheel and every time he passed I asked him if he wanted me to remove it. "NO! Dad, leave me alone, I want it on!" The next time he rode by it was the same response. Finally I said, "I'll give you a dollar, if you take your training wheel off and ride to the gate. He hit the brakes and skidded to a stop. He says,"You'll give me a dollar, really?!" I said yes. Caleb says to me, "Where is your wrench Dad, go get the wrench to take the wheel off!" The training wheel came off and he got ready and said, "Are you going to help me and hold my seat?" I said, "NO. You can do it all by yourself, to the gate!"

To make it even worse Levi got on his bike and yelled at Caleb to do it like this and off he went pedaling to the gate. Caleb asked me one more time, "You're going to give me a dollar Dad, right?!" I say, "Yes, as soon as you get to the gate." I give him a shove from under the seat and off he went pedaling to the gate, Seth and I are left standing in the driveway just laughing in the darkness. Caleb made it to the gate, made a big turn and came right back to the house, pulled up on his bike grinning from ear to ear with his headlamp shining and made a perfect stop and said to me, "OK Dad, I did it let's go inside now and get my dollar!" Well, I said, "You need to show Mom how you can ride."Caleb said, "Well OK, but you'll have to give me another dollar for that!"He's a tricky one!

Dawn came out and Caleb and Levi showed us that they are both professional bike riders now and then we went in for the night. In the kitchenI got out my wallet and gave them each 100 shillings, and congratulated them on their BIG accomplishment, and then Seth put his hand out, so I gave him 50 shillings. Dawn says I've started something!! That's the big news at our house, Caleb almost 6 yrs. Levi almost 4 yrs and the training wheels are on the shelf until Seth & Chloe need them!!

They are growing up too fast!

Love Ryan