Perseverance

Perseverance
noun
1. steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success

Saturday evening we decided to go on a biking adventure.

We've done this before - it's fun, really. Ella rides, Devon rides, (training wheels for both of course) and Leah sits her fluffy self in the stroller while David or I push.

The Jenk's pedestrian bridge was our starting point. The goal - about a mile away, thus making our trek there and back a little over 2 miles. This is doable.

Push, push, pedal, pedal... we were on our way.

We were almost to our goal point when Ella's pedals started spinning; we'd had a "de-chainment." No problem, just put the chain back on. (This is easier said than done.) The chain was totally enclosed by plastic. I suppose they do this to ensure the chain doesn't fall off. (Mr. Huffy - this does not work.)
So, David sat down along the trail to pry the plastic apart and re-chain the bicycle. About 10 minutes into the delicate procedure..."POP!" Nope, it wasn't Ella's bike wheel. It was the stroller wheel. Yes, the poor thing had busted.. with Leah sitting in it. -insert fat baby joke here-.













Video: This was Ella's idea of how she could hitch a ride home w/o her bicycle.




Broken bike. Broken stroller. Van a mile away.

"This dilema calls for a perfect photo opportunity!" So, I quickly pulled my camera out of my pocket and snapped a beautiful picture of Ella's behind.

All the while, I began to hear cars honking along Riverside Drive. "Hmmm, are they honking and waving at my sweet Ella? Let me put down my camera and take a look."
OH MY LORD!!! DEVON IS ON THE STREET!
Devon had wandered up to the shoulder of the road to "look" at the cars going 50 mph. -insert thoughts of what a terrible mother I am-

After a long talk with Devon about how cars can kill little boys, David finally got the chain back on and we headed back toward Jenks. Ella and Devon pedaled their bikes back with a little assistance from Daddy and a stick while I pushed Pudge Pop in the flat-wheeled stroller - metal against asphalt.