On 2 Wheels

Sanjay's training wheels back home are broken, so I decided that he would learn to ride a 2-wheeler while we were in Maryland. I worked with him a bit in the grass the other day and he got the hang of it, but would only pedal like 2 revolutions after I let go of the seat. Although he figured out quickly how to put his feet down to stop from falling when the bike started tipping, he lacked confidence for some reason and was ready to stop soon after we began.

Today we went back out to show Pappy and this time things just clicked. We went to the pavement which he found easier than the grass. He mastered going down the driveway and coming back in a straight line with me giving him a push start. Then, he threw me to the curb and wanted to start by himself. It took about 3 tries and he mastered that. So, then he added turning to his repertoire. It was like every new trick was coming easily to him. He tried riding on the narrow sidewalk and he even started doing "wheelies". No kidding... they were tiny, but he was indeed getting the front wheel off the ground.

Here's a small video of the action:


Sanjay is a great learner for many reasons... and I love being his teacher. He almost always has a fantastic attitude. He isn't shy about trying new things and doesn't give up easily. Once he picks up a skill he will challenge himself to something a bit harder, to do it a little faster, to be a tad stronger. Whatever it is, he tries to do it better. I'm looking forward to seeing how this plays out as he grows up.

Family Reunion

We try to hook up with the family on our annual trip home. This year I left my camera inside. Can you believe it? I have personally taken no pictures of the event. Fortunately, my cousin Dana had her digital camera and she was snapping shots like crazy because after two years of ownership, she finally learned that the camera has a zoom function. :) Before she left, I snagged all of her pictures and here are the highlights...

She got a really cute picture of Sanjay and Sam (my youngest cousin, starting 9th grade this year). It's rare that you get either one of these boys looking at the camera, much less with a smile on their face.



You're more likely to end up with a photo like this when these two are your subjects.



She also got this lovely one of Priya... can you tell she just loves having her picture taken?



Among all the photos, I found a LOT of blurry ones and some great candids where no one is looking at the camera and some people are even picking their noses. Just kidding, but Dana is kind of known for walking around with the camera and just snapping away. You have to be careful. This has to be the best one from today... I cracked up when I saw it. What the heck is my Dad doing with that bungee cord? :)



Actually, I did have my camera out when our first guests arrived. Here they are: Cuteness Squared.



Let's do it all over again next year!