Bikers

Since the weather has turned warm, we've busted out all our outdoor toys and the kids have loved being able to ride their bikes again. Ethan is zooming around at lightning speed. I have no doubt that he could ride his bike without training wheels but we'll wait to try that. Emily can now ride her bike too! She is getting to be so big.
This afternoon the kids wanted to ride their bikes around the block. I usually walk with Willow and help Emily along the way. Ethan zipped down the sidewalk, across the street and over to his friend's house. By the time Emily and I caught up to him, the boys were playing and Ethan asked if he could stay for a while. No problem. Emily got off her bike to walk around and I discovered that she had wet her pants while riding her bike - yuck. So Emily and I headed back to our house to get Emily changed. When we were just a house away from ours, I heard the boys bursting down the other side on their bikes. I looked back just in time to see Ethan go flying off the sidewalk into the street. CRASH!
I immediately began running back toward him, yelling at Emily to stay there with Willow, and tried my hardest to get to him as fast as I could, despite the fact that I was still wearing my heels from work that day. When I arrived, Ethan was still sprawled out on the street crying hysterically. The other boys didn't really know what to do. I got the bike off of him and had him stand up for my inspection. A few scrapes but no major injuries - phew. Then, through his tears, Ethan told me his stomach hurt. He lifted up his shirt and it was bright red. No blood but he had obviously skidded on his stomach across the pavement - ouch. Despite the trauma and the pain, Ethan's major concern was being able to keep playing with his friend. He is a trooper. I brushed him off and sent him on his way, warning him to go slower. As they headed off, I raced back down to street to where Emily was still waiting for me. I was so relieved that she hadn't moved and Willow was sitting next to her on the sidewalk. It was a bit of scary to leave Emily completely behind and out of sight in order to help Ethan.
I know that with the summer months ahead there will only be more crashes, falls, bumps, and bruises. I just hope that we will all be able to brush them off and keep riding.