Look who arrived

Stanley arrived at the house yesterday for a visit until next Tuesday. So far Stanley has only gotten to hang out with C and check out his new room. Tomorrow Stanley will go to C’s school for lunch with him.

Stanley from Joe:

C wanted to know why Joe hadn't colored Stanley's face and hands. He thinks everyone should be a "color". He is always brown when he colors himself and he usually makes me red or yellow. Wonder if the yellow is for normal and maybe the red is sunburn. I thought it was cute though.

Stanley Visiting C’s new room:

Stanley got to check out C’s new room that we just got done with. C wanted a BMX theme. Who knew how hard that would be??? They really don’t have any BMX bedding currently in stores or a lot of decorations. I wanted to get him some X Games sheets from Pottery Barn Teen, but they were sold out. I lucked up and found two Pottery Barn kids duvets on eBay. They don’t match, but it was the best we could do. The best one is for the bottom bunk and is BMX theme, it is super cool. The top bunk is skater boy. C wanted a red room and we compromised a bit and painted the bottom half red and the top half a light blue. Originally we were going to do an Extreme Games border, but haven’t decided if maybe it looks good just as it is. He picked out some X Games wallies at Target and voila we have a BMX room. He is pretty happy, loves the red in his room. He has a window seat that my Mother-in-Law is going to sew a cushion for, it will either be jean material or some cool Tony Hawk Fabric I got. We still need a curtain, too, but we will get it soon. Hmm, red or light blue, I am thinking if C gets to vote, it will be red. What do you think?

Here are some pics of his new room:

BMX Bedding:

Skater Bedding:

BMXer

I took C out to the BMX Park this weekend for the first time and he LOVED it! Of course he would, he is a little daredevil that loves action! It was pretty cool, a huge dirt track for bikes. He got a loaner bike and a BMX helmet (which he told me later that if I would just buy him one, he would not need to borrow one), and was off. He started at the halfway point down the first hill with Mama holding the bike, but then he did the whole track on the first run by himself. He kept going and going and rode his bike from 6:30-9:30 when the lights went out with very few breaks. He was afraid of the starting gates, understandably, they are very loud. He got offered an opportunity to race, but declined saying “I am just a little kid!” because he did not want to do the starting gate. Of course, the little kid argument only comes up when it is something he doesn’t want to do. I think he will within a week or two. We shall see. I won’t buy a bike just yet because we can use the loaner bike/helmet until we see if this is his sport. It can get expensive, but if he likes it he can get a BMX bike and helmet for birthday or Christmas. It was fun to be out there, the other moms were so friendly and the kids were so cool riding and jumping and racing.

Movie - X Games

Hubby, C, and I went to go see X Games 3D: The Movie today and C loved it. It is only playing for one week and it is in 3D. It was really good. The stunts were awesome! C was a bit bummed there really wasn't any BMX stuff in it. It was mostly Skateboarding, Rally Car, Moto Cross stunts, and a little snow boarding. It starred Ricky "the GOAT" Carmichael, Danny Way, Travis Pastrana, cutie Bob Burquist, Shawn White, and more. I was on the edge of my seat sometimes and C asked me why. I told him the stunts make me nervous and he said is it because I am going to do them one day? Yikes! He is totally in a BMX phase and says he will be a BMXer when he grows up and he will be in the X games. There is a show on TV that showcases kids called "The Next X Special" We only have one episode on DVR and he has probably watched it two dozen times. At the beach he kept saying, "Look mom, I am doing a tuck no hander on my board". He can't wait until he is ten and wants to be the first ten year old to do a 360 tail whip. He loved, loved, loved the movie. He really hopes it comes out on video to buy.

*GOAT = Greatest Of All Time

BMX Day

I took C to the BMX Park today for a session. He had a lot of fun. He is still a little hesitant on the ramps and spends a lot of time riding up to talk to me, getting a drink, or just taking a break to watch, but he really likes going there and seems to have a great time. I enjoy watching him. He can’t wait to “catch air”.
I caught a little video of him doing his tricks. He loves to stand and ride, he loves to take his feet off the bike like he sees the X Games riders do (yes, it is scary), and he loves the ramps.

He doesn’t do it in this video, but the other day he took his feet off the pedals and stood on the bar between the seat and the handle bars. And yes, it game me a few grey hairs watching him.

Here he is doing a ta-da on his bike:

All sweaty from the ride:

So after the BMX Park we headed to get him a toy. He had his wallet and his money and there was nothing he wanted more that he wanted to buy himself than a small BMX bike toy. He loves to play with the new X games line of toys and has ramps, skateboards complete with interchangeable wheels and stickers, and now a BMX bike. These toys are super cool. The skate boards come with little shoes you stick on your fingers to do tricks on the skateboard and the BMX bike comes with little rubber finger gloves you stick on the handlebars to do tricks.

Next I had to run through my favorite coffee shop Caribou Coffee for an iced coffee and the girl even gave C a little cup of his own special coffee. Nothing better than a new bike and some special coffee, he proudly held them up for a picture.

New Toy and Coffee:

Disclaimer: No one was hurt

Right before we went on vacation, I made the mistake of showing Christopher a picture of the local Skate Park where they allow bikes during certain times of the day. He begged and begged and begged some more to go. We didn't have time, but promised when we got back we would hit up the Skate Park. So, we got back yesterday and I decided to take him to the Skate Park before the evening festivities of July 4th. He hadn't understood when I said when we get back didn't mean the moment we got back from vacation. It just loosely meant one day after we get back from vacation. Still not sure which parent he gets his persistence from.

Here are the pictures I showed him:

He was beyond excited and couldn't wait to get there. The look of joy on his face was amazing. He couldn't wait to do stunts. He says he wants to be on the X games when he gets older and be a BMX stunt rider. I am still pushing the doctor thing, but, I guess a kid can dream. Maybe he can be a doctor and a stunt rider on the side.

So here comes my disclaimer, he wasn't hurt during the tumble. Although he did want me to delete it, he said his crash was "his business". It sounds really, really bad. Let's just say thank goodness that day he was wearing his helmet, knee and elbow pads. They came in handy several times. But, I can't help sharing.

Here is what he was really trying to do:

I must say he has really improved and gotten adventurous with his bike riding since just learning to ride in late May, it has only been just over a month he has been riding his bike. He rode his bike all over the track and even learned a trick from the older boys for almost two hours. He is hoping to go back every Saturday and even asked for private lessons. He says he can't wait to do a 360. I can definitely wait for the 360. Not sure my heart will be able to take it.