If you ever plan to pedal west…
Bug decided she wanted to ride her tricycle all the way to the Farmer’s Market this weekend. I was skeptical. The Farmer’s Market is walkable but it’s several blocks away. I usually put Bug in the stroller when we go just because her way of walking is one step forwards, three steps sideways and it takes foreeeeeeeevver. A tricycle could keep her going forward but I remembered how our last trip to the park went on her small bus. I ended up pushing her the whole way with my butt crack hanging out.
Then I thought, she is FOUR now. It’s not like I was in a hurry. This trip could take all day but maybe I would just use it as an exercise to practice my patience. Of course I should also mention that she wore me down with her whining and cajoling so I made her pinky promise me that she wouldn’t get tired and I wouldn’t end up pushing her all the way home.
She totally surprised me. She pedaled all the way to the Farmer’s Market with no help at all! She did have the advantage that the route is mostly downhill but I was still proud of her. That’s a long way on a little bike with rusty wheels and feet in funny red shoes that might not be the most comfortable.
Her shoes are soooo worn out. She loves them and wears them everywhere. They are her “rock star” shoes. What? They totally look like rock star shoes don’t they? Yeah, I didn’t get the memo either. But now I’ve been schooled. They are shiny and therefore they are rock star. Make a note of it.
Have I told you about the rock star stage she’s going through right now? It’s killing me. I don’t mind the One, Two, Three…Hit it!‘s or the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s or the hip-shaking and attempts to do the splits on our living room floor. That’s all fine and entertaining. I’m having more trouble with the requests for rock star food (i.e. star-shaped food—not Jack Daniel’s, thank God) and shiny clothes. I go along with her as much as I can but I can only be so creative with a star-shaped cookie cutter.
So anyway, the Farmer’s Market was a delightful trip with the tricycle. People looked at us a little funny but it was nice to have her mobile and going at a pace nearer my own. She motored about and did her own thing with me trailing just a few steps behind her. She even bought raspberries and a bag of chips with her own money that she earned from her lemonade stand! (She made $14 by the way! Not bad for two days.)
The trip back was a little more difficult so I did push her a good bit of the way. But I didn’t mind quite as much, mostly because this time I didn’t make the mistake of wearing super low-rise pants. Heh.
19 Comments
isaida
too cute =)
jaynette
We’re looking forward to our Farmers Market opening on Mothers Day. I just read an article in the Food Day that listed a lot of markets in our town and plotted the two closest to our house. They are open on different days, so we should be able to hit one frequently. We will drive though because I am old.
Marilyn
well, she’s always been a rock star to me. ;) the fact that she bought produce with her own hard-earned money…at 4? says a lot. that last photo? remember it…’cause this girl’s going places. :)
OMSH
I LOVE IT! I wish I was there! Walking, strolling, tricycling, and buying raspberries from lemonade stand money! All of it – PERFECTION!
Cc
We all know she has a mind of her own and that when she sets her mind to something there is no changing it.
Tell her I’m proud of her.
a chris
I wonder why people looked at you funny. Don’t kids have wheels in California?
Sounds like a great expedition.
JennyBean
Yay, looks like it was a lovely day! :)
Had to laugh about the rockstar stage! What prompted that, do you think? Some combo of Hannah Montana and High School Musical? (sigh, I weep for Disney) Shall have to try and think up some ideas for rockstar food…the only thing that comes to mind right now are star-shaped sugar cookies with sparkly sprinkles. But somehow I don’t think “sugar” is the road you’re wanting to walk down here…
Anyway, I love that she bought her own raspberries! :)
Christy
So cute!
Kuky
Bwa ha ha! I read that first link as “our ass trip to the park”.
And her shoes are so cute. They’re the first things I noticed when I was looking through your pictures last night.
Kari
It looks like you two had an awesome day!
BeachMama
What a lovely day. I wish I could take a trip to the farmers market with Apple riding her trike, but we could only make it to the grocery store called ‘Farm Boy’, that will have to do one day.
I love the Rockstar shoes.
Natalie
Hi
Read you all the time, for like two years now and have never commented..I just wanted to say I cannot believe how big she is and that she got there all by herself!!!! Good Job BUG!
Leesa
what fun! and it looks like a lovely sunny day for your outing too. The rockstar phase sounds cute- it’s funny how they get hung up on things hey. And does she eat raspberries?
have a nice day :)
Li'l Magoolie
hahan lucky she’s not at the Jack Daniels stage yet! i agree that red + shiny = rockstar! p.s she looks so CUTE on the tricycle!
Mama in the City
Great post! Love those red shoes too!
Katherine
Aw, she looks so sweet on her trike.
chidori
Hello, I found you through Kuky, and I was immediately struck by the fact that you call your daughter Bug. My husband and I also call our son Bug, though when he was really little, he was Cookie. Your pictures of your day out at the farmer’s market and the wonderful words to accompany them caught my eye. I’ll be back for more!
And yes, shiny does apparently equal rock star. It could be the most unflattering color, the most ill-fitting of garments, but as long as it’s shiny, it’s all good. I know this on good authority (from my 5-year old twin nieces).
Kassi
she will probably remember this day forever. freedom and independence is such an impactful thing on a little soul. reminds me that joy can be found in the simplest of measures.
Madge
Rock Star food, it’s killing me!! hahahahahaha Only Bug, man.
That sounds like a lot of fun. I hope you looked funny at the people who were looking funny.