the bike

so we gave elena her first real bike for her 3rd birthday! she loved her trike so much and was kinda outgrowing it.

elena took about 1/2 hour to realize she couldn't pedal backwards (on her trike she could). she also would go so fast that she'd take her feet off the pedals and put her legs straight out when she got going, but now knows there are brakes. she can ride like a super star, doesn't complain about wearing her helmet and LOVES every minute of it...

e ride bike from Molly Leone on Vimeo.

"The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine." ~John Howard

the park

we have been living at parks this summer. many times during the week we bike it to a nearby park and let'em loose. they love it so much, i'm pretty sure our girls would be just fine with literally living.at.the.park.


thumb suck and ear pull....even while on the swings.
e's been a big swinger this summer. she can get herself on, push off and pump to where she goes really high - all by herself. the first time she did it (about a month ago) i seriously thought there were ghosts in my backyard.

she really gets herself high though...
obviously that's what happens when she controls herself with pumping. makes the momma nervous...
and she's such a ham for the camera...hee hee.
happy girl on the swings though....she'd spend hours there if we let her.

our little ad would much rather dig in the sand/dirt, collect rocks/sticks and NOT look at the camera...
she doesn't mind getting dirty at all...

and has such focus...
she likes the swings too though...

and other equipment...especially that she can climb on. she's looking for big sissy to join her here...
our two park lovers...
the park bus...

e's a climber too. she's gotten awful brave this summer and she's coordinated enough, but i can't seem to get used to it yet....even though the summer's almost over. ha.
i'm thinking every summer there will be lots of moments at parks i'll be biting my bottom lip no matter how old and coordinated...
i do like watching them on the slide though...
again and again and again and again...
and how much longer will i be able to get away with going down myself? hopefully quite a while.

oh yes, we love the parks!!! we (me and the baby daddy) also love the after parks....
when turning in for a nap or for the night is smooth sailing...

"You can fall in love at first sight with a place as with a person." ~Alec Waugh

e's 3rd bday party II

last weekend, we had yet another birthday party for our 3 year old elena with our families...
meaning the adults had wine. a very special wine...
served by "eric the red" himself...my bro
and a lot of apps and pizza...

ad rode around like she owned the place...with pizza hanging out of her mouth...
next up - cake. e's making a big wish...


e got a yummy ice cream cake cuz the cake i baked did NOT turn out good... (i told ya i should stop the baking thing, but i'm not a quitter)

next up - presents. ad had a front row seat...
e of course loved opening up all her gifts...
dress up clothes...
adelyn started noticing and wanted an even better seat...

the 2010 american girl doll of the year.....LANIE!!!!
a real camera....


clothes...
movies and toys...
and a new big girl bike.....
that we immediately started riding in the driveway and when we told elena she couldn't go on a bike ride until everyone left she went around and said bye to everyone as fast as she could. haha. within an hour she was riding around town....


"Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again." ~Menachem Mendel Schneerson