You know that old cliche statement for learning new skills that goes something like this? "It's just like riding a bike. You never forget!" I promised Hailey a whole new world would open up for her once she mastered riding a bike without training wheels. And it has... My not so little girl can ride a two-wheeler now!!!

Hailey got a bike several years ago.  A cute princess one with a matching helmet and training wheels. It has been loved, crashed and well used. In the springtime of this year, I noticed that Hailey was having trouble riding her bike. Those long legs of her were having trouble making the rounds on her now not so big bike. Hunter was zipping past her and it bugged her. So at the beginning of the summer we went bike shopping. She picked out something I would have not chosen. Brady reminded me that this was her bike and her choice. In fact, I thought it was almost the ugliest thing available in the store. BUT it has grown on me and actually suites her personality very well if you know Hailey in any fashion. She is not a princess girl by any means. I love that she loves it and had to have a basket installed in the front to stash treasures. I haven't caved in yet to the fact that she pointed out her old but perfectly still good princess helmet does not go with it now :)

The very colorful hippie bike!

So armed with a new bike, it has been our summer goal to learn to ride a bike without training wheels. This summer we have been sleeping in and by the time we remember to go out and practice it has been so hot that we can only tolerate a few minutes of practice. I would hold onto the back of her seat as she would peddle up the driveway and stop. We would turn around and do it again. She was almost there but she would wiggle the handlebars back and forth when she got uncomfortable or nervous resulting in unsteadiness and sometimes me getting frustrated. So I decided to dig the old bike out of the garage and take the training wheels off the little thing. I did manage to move the seat up a bit. She looked like one of those clowns riding the little bikes in parades sitting on it! We ventured outside excited to try this out as I knew she needed to feel more secure on something smaller first. I asked her to wait briefly while I moved the water hose. (I think I should really give up trying to water the lawn.) She mentioned something about just trying it out while I did that and I was like sure. No sooner than I had said that she was off like the wind. I yelled out to her to stop. I wanted to film her! She was so cute. The smile on her face and hearing her talk about how she could now ride a two-wheeler was worth it all. She rode around for a bit but we had to call it quits until her daddy came home. Her bike tires were very low on air. I was unable to locate my small pump and the big pump we had was missing the very nozzle I needed. So when Brady came home, he managed to move the handlebars up more so she didn't quite look so much like a circus clown and took her bike out to his truck  to pump the tires up. She went on a brief night ride in the driveway. It was quite different this time - went a lot faster!

The old bike verses the new one... a size 12 or 14 to a 20 inch!

Needless to say, I am excited and proud of my Hailey girl. We can't wait for cooler weather so we can haul our bikes to the park or somewhere else and actually go farther than the driveway! 

Pics are from my cell phone and before the handlebars were moved up a bit. I have more recent ones but these document that very first time.

* Side note: It was also my summer goal to teach Hailey how to ride her bike. Honestly I could have cared less before and I just wasn't ready. If you know me, I had a most unfortunate accident when I was young involving a bike and well one of my fingers. Specifically my index finger on my right hand. I remember wanting to ride a bike someone else was on at the time. I ran after the person in hopes they would let me have a turn. I tripped and my hand fell into the bike spokes. Let's just say that I don't make too many turkey hand prints with my right hand. The 3/4 look is funny looking and it reminds me of a hotdog. Being so young when it happened, I have somehow crafted the art of mostly hiding it and I never, ever volunteer to have my hand traced :)

Here is me YOUNGER than I remembered. I thought I was 5. Apparently it happened right before my 4th birthday. Here is the birthday picture proof :) Thanks for digging and scanning this out for me Tessa and Jennifer!!!