Xander Rides his Pedal Bike

Xander got a new pedal bike for his 3rd birthday, and with training wheels on has been learning to pedal, which he didn't learn on his strider bike.  After 4 rides in 4 weeks the training wheels came off.  Is he enjoying the new pedal bike?  I think the picture speaks for itself.

Graduation.....

When I was 23, I felt like like I was finally joining the world of adults.  I'd been working as an engineer for years, but I was now going to start a career.  And of course, now that the degree was out of the way I could get married to my best friend!
When I was 26, I felt like I had accomplished something really challenging, but more than that I was focused on having played the game to get two more years of experience so I would finally have the pay and the title I deserved for the work I was already doing.

Now again I graduate, a second masters at 34... days away from 35....

I hope that I have been and will be a role model for my children, even though the last 20 months had been really hard on them.  Schooling is really important and you are never too old to work hard and focus on learning something new.  Originally I'd sought the MBA as an investment in our family's desire to continue to have me be a working mom in Colorado.  It was also a way for me to fill in gaps that I thought I had to move forward with my career.  Little  did I realize how much the degree would take out of me, or how much I would have to sacrifice to get it, and how proud I'd be of the accomplishment. 

• Sitting through classes in the first trimester trying to keep food down. 
• Studying late at night, again, even though I'd been active with Xander all day and was almost too tired to keep my eyes open. 
• Sitting through classes with my pelvis out of joint. 
• Nursing 2 week old Maya in the middle of a timed final exam (at  home!). 
• Traveling with Maya in tow (and Jake too of course!) for the first 2 months, and then with bags and bags of frozen milk for months afterwards. 
• Having to listen to Xander cry and beg me to come out and play and having to say no
• Spending almost 20 months with hardly any exercise, and flat tires on my bike.
• Spending almost 20 months with my husband and my marriage coming last among my many competing priorities....

This is a degree that is not like the others... it has been a life changing event and one that allowed me to grow and see myself as a very different person than when I started.

I graduate not with the original plan to enter back into the corporate world, but with a new business venture: another big risk and another big time commitment, but one that I hope will soon allow my flexibility in my work hours in the years to come.  Fashion Forward Maternity is up and running and I'm using everything I was taught in class and more.  It would be nice to get a paycheck again though.

Thank you to my husband most of all, but also to my kids, my family, my friends.  To my mother, who set the example for me to follow, and who came all the way to MI to see me graduate.  To those that have guided my learning, and those that have journeyed with me, my EMBA16's, Thank you.

Spring Play Day

With longer days and warmer spring weather here Xander is getting a chance to play outside with his friends Kelsie and Kylie a lot more.  The girls love to push Maya in her stroller and ride bikes and play with Xander.

Easter

Xander had his first easter morning that he could really understand and be excited about.  Xander had been talking about the easter bunny for weeks, and wanted to save up his money so he could buy a carrot for the easter bunny.  When easter morning came he was so excited to run around and find easter eggs.  Searching for easter eggs was hard work, and after a while dad had to be drafted to help find all of them.  Xander even got a chocolate bunny from the easter bunny, which was really exciting.  After a successfuly easter egg hunt it was time for easter breakfast, which Maya was much more excited about than looking for easter eggs.

Xander's 3rd Birthday

Xander absolutely loves his bicycle, so we thought we should have his birthday party at the Valmont Bike Park.  Xander was so excited to be able to ride his bicycle with all his friends, and cupcakes were popular too!

 

 All the kids had a great time riding their Strider bikes at the bike park.

Aiden and Xander "race" at the Bike Park.

For Xander's birthday, Jake and I have been planning on giving him a new pedal bike.  I was thinking along the lines of something used off Craig's list, given to Xander on his birthday.  Jake had other plans though, and while I was away for my last EMBA residency before graduation, Jake took Xander to the local bike shop and bought him his very own brand new bike.  Xander is incredibly excited about his new pedal bike and can talk about nothing else- but he still prefers his trusty steed, his Strider, at least for now. 

Jake tries tempting him into more pedaling time by taking the kids to the bike park in Boulder with our friends, Aiden and "Aiden's Dad," Mike.  Well, Xander did have a great time, but it was the Strider that still got his time.  That's okay with me.... there is lots of time!

I hope you all enjoy these photos as much as I did.  I love seeing the joy on my boy's face.  I also love that he didn't take to the new bike immediately.  Selfishly, I really wanted to be part of teaching him to ride.  Jake just got carried away and jumped the gun!

Happy Third Birthday Xander!

When you have a kid this stinking cute, it's hard enough asking a mom to limit herself to 30 photos.  I did make them small on the page for those that want to enjoy in less detail than I'm bound to do as I look at this post for the next many years with pride and joy for my boy. 

Celebrating Xander's Third Birthday!  I love you, my Sunshine!