Sunday, February 20, 2011

so much happy, so little time

this weekend i've been visiting my family who live 6 hrs away from me and it's been positively delightful. we brought brooke's bike with us so that my dad could teach her how to ride it without training wheels. one fell off last summer & since she's 8, i decided i wasn't going to be replacing it, but rather taking them both off so that she'll have to learn how to ride for real. last summer she wasn't ready or brave enough to even try, but since we've had a warm few days, she's been sitting on her bike in the driveway & mentally preparing herself to learn how to ride it.


yesterday, she got it out while i was walking out front with my sister & she spent half an hour fuddling around on the bike, trying things out until suddenly, she got it! with no help from anyone, she was out there pedaling around the driveway! my dad took her out & put air in the tires & bought her a helmet & now she's quickly becoming a biking pro & wants to spend all her time riding around the driveway & yard. this is extra exciting to me because i've read several stories by adult aspies recently, saying that they never developed the coordination necessary to be able to ride a bike. so, yay, brooke!

then last night i went with my parents to a surprise party for my middle sister who just turned 25. her boyfriend put the whole thing on & he did a great job, cooking a really nice meal & decorating everything to make it all fancy and fun. sarah seems to have been really surprised to walk in & find about 45 people waiting to yell "SURPRISE!" at her. then, after she blew out the candles, she turned to find her boyfriend down on one knee with a ring in hand, asking her to marry him. apparently several people knew it was coming, but i wasn't on that list, though i'd been tipped by my other sister who was guessing earlier in the day. i managed to catch it all on video, and it's so cute to see them at the biggest decision of their lives so far. i'm really glad i was able to be here this weekend so i could be a part of it with them.


tonight i went to visit a friend who i haven't seen since brooke was a tiny baby. she's got a daughter less than a year younger, and we were looking forward to letting our girls meet. they hugged each other immediately upon meeting & then ran straight upstairs to the new friend's room where we could hear them squealing & giggling for the next few hours. it was fun hearing them up there, sounding all happy, all the while far enough away that the moms got a chance to really chat and catch up on 8 years of life. as we got into the car to go back to my parents house tonight, i asked brooke, "did you have a great time with kylie?" "YEAH!" "you sure laughed a lot. she must be really funny!" " she was SOO funny! she kept doing this!" brooke then made a motion of throwing something up into the air & catching it. i asked what kylie was throwing. she said, "well, not just kylie. i tried it too cuz it was really fun and funny!" i asked again, "what were you guys throwing that was so funny?"

"the hamsters."

"the zhu zhu pets?"

"no, the real ones."

"you threw them? into the air?!"

"yeah, you should have seen how they flailed their legs and kicked their little arms so fast! it was hilarious!"

"brooke, don't you realize that they were kicking and flailing because they were terrified and probably thought they were going to die?"

silence.

silence.
"were you guys also throwing them to each other like balls?"

a tiny little voice from the backseat whispered, "i don't want to talk anymore."


and so ended my wonderful, wacky weekend.

22 comments:

  1. This post had everything. Very enjoyable.

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  2. Sounds like a great weekend to me. Well except for the flying hammies.

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  3. Sounds like a terrific time. Hope nobody got wacked in the head by a flying hamster. I suspect that may have occured...?

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  4. Congrats to the sister!!

    Wow... nothing like celebrating a new friendship than with flying hamsters!

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  5. I'd never heard that about aspergers kids not getting the bike riding thing. My son had it down pat when he was five.
    It's swimming we are having a problem with. He is ten and is so stubborn about not wanting to put his head under water. I find it frustrating because I was born swimming. I love it and want him to enjoy it to. We are actually starting him at lessons again tomorrow.
    Well done to Brooke.
    That was a sweet story about your sister, what a nice guy!
    Poor little hamsters! I suspect that Kylie must go through a few of them eh?

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  6. Kylie seemed so shocked that I knew about the hampsters. She is adamantly denying the entire thing. Somehow I don't believe her.

    So glad I got to see you! This was the best night ever. I can't wait to do it again!!! Love ya!!

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  7. So glad to hear you are having so much fun! Go Brooke!! Yay! She is so cute on her bike!

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  8. I remember when I learned to ride my bike (yes, they were invented back then!)...
    I sat on the bicycle, my father stepped behind me, he gave a great big push, I soared as free as a bird, and smashed into the metal laundry pole.
    Probably should eventually learn...
    Sounds like a great weekend!

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  9. How fun! Congrats to your sister and to Brooke for riding the bike- thats awesome! Poor thing, though- I hope she isn't too bent outta shape about the hamsters:-( Poor thing!

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  10. Oh Man, Sherilin! I was all caught up in the soothing zen of your trip until the hamsters part! Horrifying and hilarious! No hamsters for my kids, after reading this!

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  11. How exciting about the bike. you both must have been so proud. That's wonderful that you got to be there for your sister's special moment. Maybe the hampsters were enjoying it a little bit. That is priceless:)

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  12. i think you better save some money honey and send it to your friend. It sounds like those hamsters are going to need some serious psychotherapy! lol

    YEA FOR BROOKE AND THE BIKE AND YOUR SISTER!!!

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  13. Laughing My Ass Off!! That is the funniest thing I have heard in weeks! THose poor hamsters. You needed Layla there to tell them to sit their asses down! LOL

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  14. Okay, I know it's not politically correct but I can't help it. Picturing those hamsters flying through the air with their little legs flailing is just too funny. At least you didn't have to conduct a mini CPR demo for the girls before you left that evening.

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  15. oh my gosh!

    those poor poor creatures...my husband and I gave our hamster peanut m&m's to eat once...the dye all over the face was really funny...

    this post was great!!!!!! especially the silence in the back seat after....I wonder what she was thinking?

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  16. I really do love the concept of riding a bike. It's one of those things that if you don't throw yourself into it, you'll fail. Good on Brooke for makig it happen.

    I also like how smart she is. I think we should all use the phrase, "I don't want to talk anymore" a little more often. We'd stay out of trouble if we did.

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  17. Great weekend for sure! Just as well your sister didn't decide to say 'No' innit it?

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  18. I can see the little critters now, screaming in terror in that almost nonexistent scream!

    Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend! Thanks for the smile today :D

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  19. Kelsey cannot ride a bike yet! She hasn't tried in so long...but my hubs and I said this summer, it is time. Good for Brooke. Gives us hope!

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  20. oh heck, I signed in with the wrong profile! This is Daniele!

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  21. I am so glad I stopped by your blog because you sure make me laugh.

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don't let me be the only one doing the talking around here. spill your guts!