At least once a year Cliff has a conference in St. George. So we try and pack up the kids and go see my sister. Cliff was away at the conference and I decided I would take the kids for a bike ride. My parents are fortunate to have a condo near the Green Valley Loop. One of my very favorite mountain bike rides. So all I should have to do it ride to the top of the mountain, 25-30 min of awesome downhill single track and Marta lives at the bottom. I pack up the kids and we are on the way. I load up
Bode's bike in hope he can ride some of the downhill and know why I love biking so much.
I pump to the top of the hill, now exhausted from the heavy trailer with two kids I lift it over a fence and we are headed down. The mud becomes thick, and very dangerous. Lets try walking the bike down this steep hill. It is so slippery I cannot stop the bike. I cannot turn around the 1st hill was to steep, I will never get the bike back up it. Me and the boys slid down the hill, end at the bottom in a pile and the trailer tips. Now, 20 min into the downhill the trailer has tipped 2 or 3 times, Ryder screaming. I get off the bike to come down the next hill and Bode says, No Mom stay on the bike.. Chances are higher of rolling trailer when I walk it down the slippery slope. The downhill, is not downhill it is treacherous pedaling, If I don't get speed on the downhill, I simply cannot make it up the next slope, due to, too much mud in the tires, and slippery thick mud, I cannot..SIMPLY CANNOT get off and push the bike up the next 5 foot rise. The trailer is to heavy with the kids in it and Bode's bike, pushing doesn't work. It raises the seat and then the boys slip backwards, while I push on the handlebars and slide backward in the muck. Now 3 hours in, Bode is now singing to Ryder in the trailer.. I am a child of God, and Sleep Little Bunny Sleep, and SHH, SHHH Ryder continues Screaming, Bode continues singing. We are coming down what usually would be not big deal, I lightly break hoping to not tip the trailer again.. and somehow where the trailer hooks onto the bikes raps itself around the rear hub and flips. The Bike will not longer move. I pull the boys out of the trailer, we sit down in the mud, we hug, we cry, we have a drink of water... we consider calling search and rescue and we pray. I cannot carry the boys, it is to far, and slippery we would all fall over and over again. So, Bode and Ryder start to play in the mud and I start to do surgery on the bike. After only 10 and many many miracles the bike, I think is nigarigd and ready to roll forward. Bode cries when I ask him to get back in. We all sit back down and have another family hug, talk about what I good boy Bode is to take care of Ryder.. Bode still will not get back into trailer, he says he will walk. So I put Ryder in screaming and Bode starts walking, 2 steps later, Bode is happy to get into the trailer and off we go. Ryder screaming, and my brave Bode singing to his brother that they will be okay. Now I look back Ryder is laying on Bode, Bode is still singing, I continue to pedal. 4 hours in I can tell we are getting closer. My phone rings.. It was God, I smile knowing that if I need search and rescue, I have reception.. Later to learn that I don't.. So it was God. I start to consider who I should call 1st, 911, Cliff, Marta, Dad.. So many who care and would hurry to my rescue. The screaming stops, the singing stops.. The boys are asleep. I am learning how to slid the trailer down the hills without tipping it, and getting up the hills. I look over, God must of showed it to me, the landscape goes up and down, in order to get off the trail at the end I have to lift the trailer over a fence and is simply to heavy with the kids in it, they are now alseep and I would perfer not to wake them. But right here I have a hill then a dip and a hill and fence post on top of each hill, and the trailer would fit under it. We squeeze under and push for another 10 min to the paved road.. We made it 4 and 1/2 hours later.. Thank You God for watching out for my Boys, I could not of done it without out you pushing the trailer up each hill. Thank You!!!
Ryder is 18 months this week. He loves playing with his brother outside. He loves his wiggle car, and is getting really good at it quickly. He can now glide forward on it. His favorite thing to do outside is the sand box. I didn't know how many places you can get sand. He can't say mama, but he can clearly say BOBO. He loves his brother, and his brother loves him. They have issues sharing but they are continually looking out for each other. Bode says mom, change Ryder diaper, or mom bring Ryder in he is sad, or Ryder is giving Bode a hug or giving him his toy. When Bode is taking a nap Ryder pounds on his door wanting a friend to come and play. Ryder will no longer sit in the high car, he demands sitting at the big boy table. He thinks he can do everything his big brother can. He is really good at hugs, when he is ready to give hugs.. take them they are really good. Books are calming to him, if he is mad try a book, immediately he will point and babble.
