Just Like Riding a Bike

You may remember that the process for learning to ride a bike was not a smooth one in our house.  But they mastered it (after a very loooooooong year) so they are on to something else.  Water skiing.  We bought a "ski trainer" a couple weeks back and it has been the talk of the town since the day it arrived on our doorstep.  But actually trying it?  A whole different ball of wax.  First, there was the screaming.  Then there was the yelling.  And finally, there was the wailing.  And you know how noise carries on the water.  I would not be surprised to find out that half the lake filed CPS reports last night.  They both were able to get up, but it was late and the carrying on was just too much to take.  So we called it a night.

This morning, we tried Round Two.  And after a bunch of screaming and just as much bribing, they both got up!

 (Notice how happy she looks...)

 There were a couple falls,

 but they got right back up and tried it again.

 At that point we were into it for 2 packages of MnM's, some chocolate milk (I think he means malt?) balls, some Legos and a coconut water.  Don't ask.  So I decided to show them how it was done...

 And after dinner, with no pressure and no bribes and no riff raff (because Daddy had to go to work and I'm not as nice as Daddy...I don't drive the boat when people are screaming) we decided to give it one more shot...

 And it is amazing what being calm cool and collected will do for you.  Just like riding a bike.

 She loved it so much

 that she just kept going

 and going

 and going

Four and a half times around the lake "and I only fell once!!"  I couldn't be more proud.

As soon as Abby went more than 10 feet, Ben announced that he was going to try it again (gotta love competitive kids!) but as soon as his turn came he decided that he will just try it tomorrow.  Listen for the screams.