New Wheels

A month ago KB decided it was time to get AB a bike. He debated on getting her a bike that fits her now or a bike she could grow into...meaning her feet do not reach the pedals yet. Ultimately our desire to not buy another bike for her in a year or two won, and we bought her a bike she can grow into. Unfortunately this bike will not be a hand-me-down for DB. The only bike available was a very girlie pink bike.

The sales people told KB he should pay someone to put it together. However, we felt like it was a rite (or is right?) of passage to spend countless hours putting your kid's bikes together. Therefore KB spent quite a while working on this thing only to find out...

It was missing some important pieces. We could not attach the cute little trunk thing to the back, but more importantly the brakes did not work. The next day KB's teacher called the store to tell them they sold KB a bum bike. They said they did not have any more. KB's teacher told them, in the way that only a native of this country could, that they needed to have a new bike for KB that afternoon and they needed to put it together for KB since he already spent too much time working on the other bike. They agreed. Although it is not really the same bike, and although instead of cute Disney princesses there are weird-o bears on her bike, AB looooves it.

It does have some cute elements, like this "rear view" mirror...

and this cute little bike bell that says exactly what AB feels about her bike.

KB is probably only 1 of 10 people in this city of millions that wears a bike helmet, so you can bet he made sure AB had one as well. He called this is blue steel face, whatever that means.
We bought the bike in the middle of a rainy week. It killed AB that we had to wait to take it out for a spin, but at last we made the inaugural trip. AB was so excited about riding and proud of her helmet. This is just outside of our apartment door and in front of the elevator.

That is real bike ridding seriousness.

And this is what they did for about 10 minutes. Super daddy pulled her around this circle in our courtyard. She did not quite get the concept of how to move the bike herself, and it did not matter anyways since her feet cannot even reach the pedals. This is the same circle she runs around when we take her outside.

This is the lady who mercilessly stares at us every single time we go outside. We go outside at random times, so we do not know how she knows we are outside, but knows... she does. Also, she refuses to talk to us. Some of the people we meet can only speak the local dialect, but with some effort they can usually understand us since we speak the common language. I know this lady has the ability to speak since I have seen her talking to others. Anyways, I figure she either does not understand the common language or has closed her ears to us because talking to her is like talking to a wall. I think I might just start saying silly things to her. If she laughs, then I know she can understand me : )

This is how DB and I spent the time watching AB.

After AB got tired of being rolled around on her bike, she decided to get a good look of herself in the reflective door. She does this routinely when we go outside. Vanity does not have to be taught.

This is DB's favorite pastime, not playing with daddy but sticking things in his mouth. Makes him happy.