::adventures::

My Max likes adventures.

For the first week of school his new teacher sent home a brown paper lunch sack and asked the kids to bring it back the next day containing five things that they felt defined them as people. They were supposed to share and explain these things to the class.
When I saw this assignment I started to brainstorm of course, so I could give Max some good ideas. I started to talk about it and he told me he already knew what he was going to put in there.
"I love adventures," he said "so I'm going to put my geodes in there and a Matchbox Land Rover. I'm also going to put a little yellow bike that looks like my Scott Bike and my stick that I found in the desert that looks like a gun."

I thought it was very very interesting that he defined himself that way. I hadn't realized that about him up to that point--in fact I don't think it was true up to very recently.

I'm happy to have a boy that defines himself as an adventurous outdoors guy. There are so much worse and more boring things to want to be at this age.

And what it really comes down to is that I thought it was awfully cute.
I suggested he include a family picture in his bag and off he went to school. I think it went well for him.

(No, I don't know why Max is wearing a bike jersey backwards.)
When my parents were here last week Max invited my dad into his special club--the club I didn't know existed. It's called the "Explorers Bike Club" they had a secret handshake, a secret meeting location and they went on all sorts of cool bike rides. Adventurous and fun. And active.
Pretty cool, right?

::first ride::

Last week Kris took Max on his inaugural "real" bike ride. They went four whole miles down the rail trail.

This is impressive because in the past you could hardly get Max to walk, run or ride seriously for much more than a couple of minutes without a meltdown.
Maybe things have changed--at least a bit. But that's the whole reason why we hadn't gotten him a bigger bike before that bike race. He just wasn't that interested, and certainly not dedicated to going fast or long.

So we'll see how it goes from here. No pushing, just gentle encouragement.
I think it was fun for Kris to get Max into watching the Tour de France this year--the bit he watched seemed to rivet him. We'll see if any interest continues!

(storm light--monsoon season!)

::new bike::

If you think he's pretty proud and excited about this bike you'd be right. And who wouldn't be proud of this blazing yellow fancy thing?

::bike race video::

More reporting to come later.