Charlie Bikes!!!!

 Little Char learned how to ride a bike without training wheels! He is tickled pink over his accomplishments and is thrilled to be able to join the ranks of big-boy bikers. Way to go, Chip! He is incredibly adorable on his bite-sized bike and I just can't get over his grit and physical abilities!

Several months ago Mason informed Char that his real full name was Charles Rodney Sieg instead of just Char or Charlie (or any of the bajillion nick-names we have for him). This was news to our middle child and he did not like it! "NO! I not like Charles Rodney! I Charie!" Poor Char. To remedy his displeasure, I told him that he was named after both of his grandfathers and that they were both hard working, intelligent, and brave and that he couldn't have been named after two finer men. I told him that he has a little curly-Q cowlick right in the middle of his forehead like his grandpa Charlie and is as determined (and stubborn) as his grandpa Rod (we also believe he will someday perfect the "ha-chaaaaa!!!! ladder" technique as well). I told him that his grandpa Charles is a self-starter and hard worker; that he got his Eagle scout award at the age of thirteen, served a mission in Italy, and put himself through college and graduate programs all without hardly any help or encouragement from anyone.   I also told how he is incredibly loving and kind. I next told him that his grandpa Rodney joined the Navy during the war to serve our country and protect our freedom. And because he was so smart, dependable and brave, he became a Navy seal and did hard things. I also explained that grandpa Rodney was so versatile and hard working, that he also was a LAPD police officer, a chef (I could tell if a steak was done just by touching it-a technique my husband now understands) a pig farmer and an electrician.  In short, I told him why he should like his name and that both of his namesake's were wonderful fathers and providers and both loved to joke and sing. 

The evening that he learned how to ride, he was trucking along on his training wheels trying to master the pedals and was getting incredibly frustrated and started squoaning (the sounds that Char makes when he whines-a combination of a moan and a squeal). I said, "Charlie! Don't squoan! Your name is Charles Rodney! You are smart and you are brave, and I know that if you work hard enough, you can do anything!" Luckily, Charlie listened and worked hard enough to not only get a hang of his peddles, but also successfully started riding his bike without any training wheels all in one night!

Later, while I watched Charlie zip along, I heard him say proudly, "My name is Charie Rodney and I can do ANYFING!"

And we know that he can.

 What a great dad, James is! What would we do without him!

Biking is even more fun with a brother

 Mason takes his role as the oldest brother very seriously. Moments later we had to ask him to stay at least 20 feet away from Char because he kept accidentally making him crash. Woops. It is the thought that counts, right?

 Coobie was busting out his own moves by FINALLY using his own pedles. 

Way to go, Char!!!!!